I'M BACK!

Still in the running.

Regular readers will recall last year's weekly column on my efforts to train up for the run the Belfast Marathon. Well, I am now about to step on to an even bigger stage - the Virgin Money London Marathon 2015, this very Sunday.

I can't wait. A marathon is one of the hardest sporting tests for any human being, but for 55-year old office-based men, it is an even harsher endeavour.

But that's part of the challenge.

On the more positive side, I have watched the London event on television and it is a wonderful spectacle. also I am running with my son Jonathan, who at 26 has done lots of road running, half-marathons, duathlons and triathlons, but this is his first 26-miler.

He is based in London as a newly-qualified solicitor so is on home territory.

And the First Lady is coming down to cheer us on, no doubt disappearing into Fortnum & Masons for lunch while we sweat our way round the streets of London. So everyone wins.

Indeed I hope even more people get something out of the jaunt.

As with Belfast, I am fundraising.

It's a slightly different cause - I am a member of the Jesuit Missions team. Eh?

It's kind of a long story.

After I ran Belfast, I decided to try for London.

It was already past the deadline for the public ballot and I probably would not have got in anyway, so someone recommended finding a charity team.

I enquired all over the place, and all of a sudden became aware of the Jesuit Missions.

This was fortuitous (or maybe a sign from somewhere?) as I had attended St Aloysius College, the Jesuit school here in Glasgow, and knew of the work of the Missions.

Whether you're religious or not, it's a great institution - as I say on my Giving page: The work its members and colleagues do is essential and is in the best traditions - alleviating poverty, providing medical care and always providing education in the hardest places on the planet.

The provision is for all no matter whether recipients have one faith or another - or none. And costs are absolutely minimal.

So far I Have raised nearly £2,000 and if any readers want to join in, the link is www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/austinlafferty.

Jonathan is also running for the same charity - he was at St Aloysius as was his sister Hannah who sparked all of this off by running the Loch Ness Marathon in 2013 ( do you get the impression the Laffertys are all just a wee bit competitive?).

Although Sunday is the big day, it has been a long slog to get here.

My proper training started in December, with a few runs in the cold and rain to get my legs conditioned to pavements again after a few months of mainly gym treadmill exercise. As the weeks wore on, I added miles and found routes around Glasgow to keep the distances growing. Paisley and Renfrew featured heavily this time, as has Govan - a place I barely knew but found architecturally and socially fascinating to jog through.

I also developed a route from my home in Newlands, straight through Shawlands and into town, over the Clyde, turn left and follow the walkway under the Kingston Bridge to Finnieston, then up to Argyle Street and further west to Kelvin Hall and beyond.

I went as far as Annieland Cross on morning, and found that the distance between the corner of Byres Road and Anniesland is not flat, as appears in the car, but is a switchback of three very long and large hills in sequence. Gruelling.

Indeed the west end runs have actually been the most enjoyable.

After getting to my longest run of 21 miles I have been tapering back in the last couple of weeks, and running up to Kelvingrove and back is exactly 10 miles.

One time I was on this route, i stopped at my halfway point and in one of the many cafés asked for a glass of tap water. While in, I took the notion for a wee double espresso coffee.

That was a revelation. The caffeine hit was a perfect pick-me-up for the second half of the run, and I have now done this a few times. It is probably cheating, or bad for you, or just not the best kind of energy hit, but it works for me.

No such provision will be likely in London.

Apart from the fact that there are 30,000 + all on the one road, I don't think I will have time to nip off to a coffee house to order up a brew on the way.

But I will be prepared.

The night before the race our team, family and friends are all meeting for a pasta party, and on the day I will have an early breakfast of porridge and banana.

The start is over at Greenwich, and the finish is in front of Buckingham Palace. I will give you a report - and no doubt a photo - from there.

Wish me, and the boy, luck.