5 days and counting - my 15 week training program for the 2006 London Marathon starts next Monday with a slow 4 mile run, but that's not the point - the fact it's on my carefully formatted training log gives it new meaning.

To give me something to remember the whole experience, and for anyone who feels that for their donation they deserve some tedious updates on my struggle for mileage, I'm polluting the internet with my diary.

Expect emotions like despair, elation and surprise, sounds like laughter, crying and panting, and bodily fluids like tears, sweat, blood and dribble.

The fun starts on January 9th.