Doug Clark has always said that he may run only the one marathon, but if he did he wanted it to be a big one.

And the 51-year-old Tewkesbury Running Club member has got his wish because he will be one of the many thousands lining up for the start of this year’s London Marathon on Sunday 28th April.

It’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that he’ll want to run another, of course, but at this stage he’s certainly not looking that far ahead.

“I’ve been thinking of doing the London Marathon for a number of years,” he told The Local Answer. “I’ve entered the ballot three of four times over the past six to eight years but I think there’s more chance of winning the Lottery!”

He could have run another marathon elsewhere in the country but for him it was always the London or pretty much nothing.

Fortunately he’s got a charity place this year – he’s raising money for the Children’s Trust – and he couldn’t be happier.

Doug has been running “on and off” for 25 years or more.

Originally from Scotland, he lives in Derbyshire although his work as a systems engineer means he stays in Tewkesbury during the week.

He joined Tewkesbury Running Club in September last year and said: “They’re a really friendly group. They look after people of all abilities from Couch to 5K up to the speedy boys.”

So how does Doug categorise himself?

“One of the old, fat, wheezy blokes,” he laughed.

That’s a bit harsh of course and you’ve got to be in some sort of condition to be able to even consider running 26.2 miles.

Ask him what his hopes are for the London and he jokes: “To finish would be good,” before adding, “Anywhere between four-and-a-half and five hours would be great.

“If I can run all the way I’ll be happy, if I can break five hours I’ll be happier and if can go under four-and-a-half hours I’ll be even happier.”

Those are pretty decent targets and if he hits any of them it will be some achievement for someone who said of his first half marathon in Fleet back in the early 90s: “I survived.”

His second half was in the New Forest where he clocked one hour, 42 minutes although he added: “There was a lot less mileage on the clock back then than there is now.”

And although he has never run a marathon he has competed in some tough events because he completed the Highland Cross Duathlon in his native Scotland.

That was in 1999 and the race consisted of a 20-mile run and a 30-mile cycle ride. Ask him what his memories are of that event and he’ll say: “It was a very long way!”

The London Marathon is a long way as well and Doug is hoping for a little extra help on the big day.

“Everybody tells me that you get dragged round by the crowd and the 40,000 runners,” he said, before adding with a laugh, “Well see how that works out!

“But that’s why I wanted to do the London, I’ve heard such great things about it. It’s a one-off.”

And while it may well be a one-off, there’s just a chance that it won’t be Doug’s only marathon.

“A friend of mine ran her first marathon not so long ago and now she’s hooked,” Doug laughed.

And if all goes according to plan, it could just be that Doug will get hooked as well!