The running revolution

But like thousands of others before her, she eventually forgot the blood, sweat and tears and is now in training for this year's race.

The 32-year-old IT programme manager, who works for Zurich and lives in Beatrice Street with husband Andrew, is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

It was important to her to show some gratitude after Macmillan nurses supported her family through her stepdad's illness and eventual death last summer.

"I got married last May and my stepdad, Trevor Hambly, had already been suffering from a rare form of cancer for two years," she said.

"He was on pretty good form on my wedding day - walking me down the aisle, doing his speech, even doing the twist with my friends at the disco!

"However, a few weeks afterwards he started to go downhill very fast. Once the oncologists could do no more, we knew we needed help. That's where Macmillan came in.

"Our Macmillan nurse helped us to cope with situations we couldn't have envisaged we would ever have to face. It was thanks to Macmillan that my mum and I were able to look after my dad at home until in September, at the age of 53."

Julia is currently putting in the miles in preparation for the big day - about 30 miles a week. "The training is going passably well, but I'm just at the point where I'm remembering why I said "never again" the last time," she said.

"My 16-mile run last weekend had me feeling about 95 years old the following day!"

• To sponsor Julia go to www.justgiving.com/juliaglen cross

Ian Pickering

Ian Pickering got such a buzz from taking part in last year's Flora London Marathon, that he decided on the train journey home to apply again for 2008.

"The whole experience is really something special," said Ian, 38, of Old Walcot, who completed the course in 4hrs 28mins.

"My family went up to watch me - my wife and children, my mum and dad - and we made a weekend of it.

"It felt like the whole city had come out to watch and cheer us on. I've never experienced anything like it.

"When it's over, you forget about the physical exhaustion pretty quickly, and only remember the good stuff."

Ian, who is married to Lisa and has two daughters, Lucie, seven, and Jessica, four, has been involved in sport all his life.

He works as the athletics facility co-ordinator in the sport development team of Swindon Borough Council and is currently running for 30 miles a week. But even he admits that the going can get tough.

"I'm training better than last year but it doesn't get any easier," he said. "My 30 miles includes a long run at the weekend, of about 16 miles.

"I usually run alone with my iPod. But when the weather warms up, the wife shouts at me from her bike!"

• Ian and friend Kirsty Keck are raising money for the Swindon Counselling Service in Bath Road. To sponsor either of them, contact SCS on 01793 514550, or call Ian on 01793 511033.

Michael Affleck

MODEL runner Michael Affleck, will be in action for the 33rd time in April. The 61-year-old has been a late starter to racing, but has stuck to marathons in the long run.

He took part in his first marathon in 1994 and he achieved his personal best time of 3hrs 24 minutes in New York in 2006.

He says the sense of achievement that comes with completing 26 miles is highly emotional.

"The feeling of finishing my first marathon brought tears to my eyes," he said.

"You can't beat finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.

"It is about going through the mental barrier. We have to run through the aches and pain."

The dad-of-two is raising money to help people who have Parkinson's disease, as his wife Paddy is a sufferer as well as his sister-in-law.

Michael, from Haydon Wick, is a member of Swindon Harriers and coaches beginner runners every Tuesday evening.

He says that anyone can build up to completing long distances and recommends starting off gently by training towards 5k before moving on to 10k and higher.

• Michael says anyone who is interested in running should visit the Swindon Harriers website at:www.swindonharriers.com.