Only 8 miles more

As attentive readers will know, Gordon Johnston isn't the only guy oaging these days. So is David Aaronovitch. Here he tells of his last long training run before the day of the London Marathon:

Towards the end it was agony...

Yup. I have a photo of myself (wearing 'Gillette 8222') taken at about the 18 mile mark of the London Marathon in 1982. It was taken by a friend whom I spotted amongst the spectators as I approached. I saw that he had his camera at the ready. So I'm smiling big, with my right arm raised. But boy, was I struggling at that point. I mean, real suffering. The outward appearance tells you nothing.