new york marathon

It's not just that she's the best British woman runner, she's the best British runner, man or woman. So I' relieved that after two years out to have a baby, a bit nerve-wrackingly longer than we all expected due to an injury when she started serious training, then an uncharacteristic second place in her first race back (the Great North Run)... Paula Radcliffe is well and truly back.

My brother is fat. Okay, okay, he's not "fat" or "obese," but he's also not svelt. He's not unathletic - far from it; he used to play professional volleyball in Europe - but let's just say his "playing-weight" days ended around the same time people were just getting over the Y2K scare. Since then, he's hovered around the 230-250 mark. In other words, he's the fattest guy that'll ever kick your butt all over a volleyball court.

My brother hasn't run in a competitive race since "Slick Willy" Clinton's second year in office. Even then, his longest event was the 800m.

My brother's idea of a "carbo loading session" ends with a hangover.

Have you placed your bets in the Runner's World contest?

I have him down for 2:59:58.

Yes, he's 30 pounds heavier than a Paul Tergat and yes, his joints aren't used to the pounding, but this guy has got a very strong mind and a killer competitive instinct.

If Armstrong is way outside 3 hours then he may decide to just have fun and run to finish without doing too much damage to himself. But if he gets within reach of a sub-3-hour run, I'm betting he will go for it.