The battle for Brittain

Just do it!

Out-of-shape office-worker Mark Brittain is running this year's London Marathon in a bid to fulfil a burning ambition and prove his doubters wrong.

Taking his lead from celebs such as Kylie and super-slim Geri Halliwell, Mark, 27, has embarked on a rigorous fitness programme after joining Kensington's hi-tech gym Holmes Place.

His friends say he can't do it. But he says he can. This is London aims to find out who's right by following his every move.

So forget Bridget, read, Mark Brittain's Diary ...

In Week 2, Mark hobnobs with Seb Coe, has a near miss with Geri Halliwell and despite his new diet succumbs to indulging in a curry!

WEEK 2
Thursday 17.01.02:
I arrived at the gym at lunchtime only just to miss Geri Halliwell working out, which would have been a much more preferable to doing my first 5 ? mile run.

We ran round Hyde park and Ryan (my trainer) had certainly upped the pace from last time. He has developed this habit of asking me questions and then running slightly ahead so I have to increase my pace so as to continue the conversation. I managed to do it in 52 minutes which wasn't that bad, but it does leave me no lunch break, so think I am going to have to be slightly quicker if I want to eat.

Friday 18.01.02:
A rest day, hurrah! Felt slightly guilty though as I was in a curry house late on Thursday, which can't be good for my diet. However, I still managed to avoid the drink, which made the whole experience rather strange, as I've never had curry sober!

Saturday 19.01.02:
I was going to do a run, however ended up playing tennis for 3 hours which I felt counted as my exercise for the day, and actually felt fitter than I have done in a while, might have something to do with the psychological effect of winning!

Sunday 20.01.02
What an early start! I went to the Niketown Marathon seminar in Oxford Street. In fact, I nearly missed it all together as I woke up at 9.21 and it was a mad rush to get to the store on time.

This event was the first time that it hit home what I had really undertaken, being surrounded by other runners, and listening to discussions on running times etc made it all seem very real.

Seb Coe introduced the seminar and spoke of his experiences of the 1991 marathon. His time of 2hours 40minutes is really only achievable by those top athletes, but his advice is really relevant for all.

He called his marathon experience a "fantastic day out" which made it sounds like a Sunday stroll in the park rather than a 26.2 mile run, but his message was clear that afterwards it was an experience that will live with him forever, and I suppose is why so many people go back for more!

However, hearing so much talk about the reality of the run made me want to walk out there and then!

Click here to read more about what Seb Coe told our Mark, exclusive to This is London readers!

We then started the 5-mile run around Regents Park. (Sadly, Seb couldn't run, claiming he had flu, excuses excuses!) The weather wasn't great but I still managed the run, went with a friend called Luke who is a lot more experienced, but I now see how easy it is to get carried away and try and keep up with people.

But it was good to run with a group even though compared to everyone else I looked like I had run 10 miles rather than 5! Oh dear.

The highlight though was the massage that Nike had laid on after the run, and if only this were available after every training session life would be a lot better. All in all it was a good morning and it made me realise that many other people are in the same situation, but did hammer home that it is only 3 months away!

Monday 21.01.02:
Went for a 36-minute run with my friends Mark and Kate. We all decided to do the marathon at the same time and are doing as much training together as possible. I felt quite good as managed to do the run much quicker than before which must mean an improvement somewhere or just that I am keener to get home.

Tuesday 22.01.02
A run with Ryan, and this time he was keen to really make me feel it. We did the usual lap around Hyde park, but he introduced the added extra of running fast for 1 minute and then slowing down for 1 minute and continued this until I nearly collapsed. He assures me this is good for me to increase my heart rate so as to be working to maximum capacity. I wasn't so sure as it seemed to be it was just for his enjoyment.

Managed to make it to the end, but have started to get a sore left knee and my shins felt bad. Ryan says these feelings are common due to the amount of training I have been doing and the fact the a lot has been on concrete, maybe it is time for another massage!

Wednesday 23.01.02:
Rest Day, at last! Alas, I still can't have a pint.

Mark's personal profile.

The new diet and losing weight.

His Aussie trainer: Ryan Wilkin.

The grand fitness plan.

Just talk about it!