Just over 9 weeks to go before the Antarctic marathon, so I’m still in the ‘peaking’ phase of training.

It’s important not to let the greyness of the season dampen enthusiasm for clocking up the hundred miles per week needed at this stage.

So far, it’s still warm enough to enjoy comfortable early morning city runs up and down the Thames, crossing bridge after bridge and watching the slow emergence of autumnal colours.

The Kingston Profeet 16-miler this Sunday is a nice way to round off the week’s training: a brisk 8:30am start, no rain anticipated, the Thames, Hampton Court and Bushy Park as glorious backdrops – what’s not to like?

It’s fast, flat and well attended (both runners and spectators) and it offers the added pleasure of a guilt free English fry up afterwards.