Brian looks on the bright side ahead of his first marathon

57-year-old grandfather Brian Maddox will be tackling the London Marathon on Sunday, 24 April and raising funds for Action Medical Research – in this honest and irreverent blog he tells us about the trials and tribulations of training for his first marathon…

I don’t know why I said running the marathon was on my bucket list; at this rate, it might be the only thing on my list. I haven’t really run before… there was a bus I tried to get many, many years ago when I was 16 but I missed it. Perhaps feeding a lion who is afraid of blood and raw meat in an abattoir might have been a safer option.

You might have guessed that I’m not a natural athlete: my slogan on my running shirt was going to be ‘Run, fat grandad, run!’

The training has not been great for me. I suppose I’ve run about 400km on the road since January. Impressed, eh? Well, it’s not exactly running… let’s call it moving instead.

I was late to the game due to a cancellation in late November after I was diagnosed with planter fasciitis, which basically means ‘foot hurts when you exercise’. Not the best of starts! Anyway, I went to the physio for treatment and he quickly gave up on the foot in favour of trying to sort my back out (and my arm but that’s another story).

It was amusing when I asked if he could look at my back as it hurts when I run – a lot. I have had a fair amount of problems with it, especially after falling out of the loft a couple of years ago and landing on my back, hitting the banisters first. Two paramedic teams were needed to get me out of my house but it was okay, I didn’t break my back; I only broke an arm and leg. The physio told me he needed to see how mobile or flexible I was; I sat on the bed and he asked me to lift my leg as high as I could. He gave me a strange look and told me most people have about 80 per cent mobility but I only have 50 per cent… then he added: “And you said you’re going to run a marathon?”

When he stopped laughing (I must admit, I also found it funny) he realised what a lot of work we have to do. I’ve had various treatments on a regular basis which included ‘dry needling’ (sticking 3cm-long needles up and down the side of my spine, including my neck) which can only be described as excruciating  and having an electrode attached to my back, which feels like a scared koala bear holding on to your spine; manipulation, which was interesting and so on. The physio recommended various contraptions to help, like knobbly rollers and yoga balls which you lay and roll around on. I’m nursing an accident which involved one of these items as I write this…

I won’t mention the blisters on my feet - everyone must get them - but I’m up to 32km in one go now though the last 10km isn’t pretty. The good news is that I’ve only been rescued three times (don’t ask, I’m not proud of it but not one use of a defibrillator!).

More good news is that in January 2015 I weighed 17 stone 9lbs – after climbing the Three Peaks last year for Action Medical Research (Brian is pictured above on the right with his teammates) and now marathon training this year, I’m down to 14st 12lb… sexy and I know it! But still bald.

At the moment I’m not confident that I will make it, especially when you get emails from the organisers saying: “Don’t be despondent if you see a banana running past you in the race”. At this moment I am more worried about a person in a deep sea diving outfit or a full set of armour passing me… it’s on the cards, trust me.

Actually, the whole event has been great so far (apart from the running bit. Details, details…), not just from the organisers but from Action Medical Research too. Everyone keeps saying the adrenaline and the supporters will keep you going during the race and I’m banking on it. That and the beer, though someone said I can’t have one until I have finished. What’s all that about? After all, we pass a lot of pubs and I can do some last-minute fundraising – is there something in the rule book I am missing?

Most people I meet ask why I’m doing it. As I said, I’m not the athletic type but I’ve had had a good life so far. A lot of people, and especially babies and kids, don’t get such a good deal so if I can help and give something back and generate some sponsorship, well, that’s what motivates me. Whatever I have been or will go through, I have a choice; they don’t. People have been very supportive, none more than my wife. She is the best in the world but she thinks I’m bonkers, as do the rest of the family.

I am a little nervous about the event, I want to finish, preferably standing. As I said, the training has not been very comfortable but being me, like in the Life of Brian, I’m looking on the bright side of life. It will be fine.

Two weeks to go now. Gulp!

To support Brian’s fundraising, please visit action.org.uk/sponsor/BMaddox1

If you’d like to run for a reason and raise funds for Action Medical Research, or you’re interested in a place in the world's greatest and best-known events and races, head to action.org.uk/events/running