Memory Lane will inevitably be on Charlie Spedding's road map when he returns to familiar territory in Bristol.
A Golden Oldies race has been added to their half marathon and Spedding will once again stand on the starting line with the likes of Steve and Hugh Jones - both former London Marathon winners like himself - Nick Rose and Mike McLeod.
"It'll be terrific to see the lads again," admitted Charlie, who now lives in the Fenham district of Newcastle and runs his own chemist's business in Hadrian Park, Wallsend. "But I mightn't see them for long once the gun goes!
"I haven't trained for 12 years. I've only gone out once or twice a week for a 20-minute jog to get some fresh air and I've struggled up the slightest of hills.
"I've often wished I was a bit fitter and now I have an incentive. I'm actually getting out more often because I have the motivation."
Bristol staged the World Half Marathon Championships two years ago and they were a great success. However, last year was a damp squib and, in an effort to create more interest and publicity, the organisers decided to bring in eight former stars to run their own race within the body of the main event.
"I'm really looking forward to it - honestly," smiled Charlie. Why did I think he was trying to convince himself as much as me?
