Slogging around London in the winter chill is only half the challenge of preparing for the marathon.
Like Running Man reader Michelle Williams, as well as many others, I need to raise at least £1,500 for my charity. Hemihelp is immensely deserving, but how to go about raising such a sum?
Well, developing a healthy sense of cynicism is a good start. Remember people, this is for charity so it’s no holds barred.
Email is of course a good way of accosting long-lost friends without too much embarassment. Set up a webpage at justgiving - a few clicks and a credit card number later and your credulous friends are like putty in your hands. Or so the theory goes.
Sadly, justgiving reckons without the staggering levels of laziness of some of my friends. A few clicks and a vague intention to revisit the site at some unspecified time in the future later and you’re no closer to reaching your target.
If you’re demanding sponsorship, remember that embarrassment works in your favour.
An email from an old mate is easy to ignore but when you’ve got some do-gooder in your face or on the phone, most people are happy to chuck in a tenner just to get rid of you.
Then there’s the social event tactic. Buy wine and dips and charge your friends some ludicrously inflated sum to change their Friday night venue from their local pub to your flat. And if anyone complains, well, it is all for charity.

Question of the week: What have you found to be the best ways of generating sponsorship?
Text your answers to 88010 (25p per msg) or email letters@wandsworthguardian.co.uk

<li>Ally is running to raise money for Hemihelp, a charity which supports children with hemiplegia, a condition similar to cerebral palsy which affects one side of the body. Visit www.hemihelp.org.uk

Donate to Ally’s campaign at www.justgiving.com/allycarnwath

Michelle Williams is running to raise money for the Putney Samaritans. Donate to Michelle’s campaign at www.justgiving.com/kiwishell