ON Sunday Tavistock Athletic Club’s Andy Houghton, completed in the first 50 plus mile week of his 18 week marathon training plan.

Andy is one of a number of TACs preparing for the challenge of the London Marathon (26.2 miles), which takes place on April 24. Also running are fellow members Allan Herdman, Andrew Alcock and Adrian Pitcher, Claire Pitcher, and a few others.

Andy, aged 69, qualified as ‘a good for age’ entry but is also running on behalf of the charity Parkinson’s UK — a condition that his brother has.

He told the Times: ‘Somehow this feels like a milestone because with ten weeks to go the heaviest week to come is now “only” 60 miles.

‘The eight mile run on Saturday morning was one of the most memorable ever. Not because almost every footfall across the commons was in a puddle or because the 50 mile per hour blasts on my back made me wonder if I would ever be able to run back home against them but because the sheer wildness leads to a feeling of being intensely alive.

‘Being out in the elements must be a primeval thing. I splashed in puddles with the joy of a five year-old, was in awe of the wind roaring through the trees near Warren’s Cross and yet felt secure and warm right through in the little plastic (though quite expensive) running jacket that fell runners have to take with them in the mountains.

‘It might just as well have been a Bronze Age hunting smock. Humans are designed to deal with such conditions and doing it feels good.

‘The thing is that without the marathon schedule I know that I would have taken one look at the weather and stayed in or possibly gone down town for a cup of coffee or bacon sandwich or perhaps to marvel at the swollen River Tavy - especially as my wife, Sheila, and I had been late to bed the night before having had a drink or two after the wonderful Meavy Pantomime.

‘Dubious politics mixed with laughs and tears with a happy ending – what more could you want on a Friday evening? Yes they had a bar as well!

‘So marathon runners and actors do have commitment in common and some people might say that the London Marathon is a drama – otherwise why are there so many spectators who line continuously the 26.2 miles of London’s streets? Not to mention all the weird costumes worn by runners.

‘Some runners pile on the pressure by committing themselves to raise around £2,000 for charity — not an easy matter and if they don’t make it they have to fund the difference.

‘It’s so popular that increasingly it’s the only way for most to get a place into what is a once in a life-time experience. Fortunately I’m in without the need but I will be raising a small sum for a favourite charity by offering some free coaching lessons to whoever guesses nearest to my finish time. A risky speculation and perhaps not quite in the spirit but please support my less fortunate running friends if the begging bowl comes your way!’