History dictates that it all started in ancient Greece.
 
Now, from Olympic athletes to stressed executives seeking an antidote for the daily grind, it seems we're all at it.
 
From Loch Ness to Tokyo, Edinburgh to Chicago, thousands of people of all ages are pulling on the lycra and lacing up the trainers to cajole the legs and complete 26.2 road miles without the aid of a one-way bus ticket.  Better known as the marathon.
 
Why? Psychologists point to many motivations, from a life goal to tick the box marked 'marathoner' and help raise millions of pounds for good causes, to basking in a sense of personal achievement, or to simply stick two fingers up at one's advancing years to yell - because I can!
 
For the elite athlete it's a desire to be the world’s best.
 
In 2007 Haile Gebrselassie, the double Olympic 10,000 metre champion set a new world record marathon time of 2:02:26, racing round Berlin's streets at a pace of well under five minutes a mile.
 
Of course the Ethiopian star, whom won't compete at the 2008 Olympics over his concerns about the air quality, isn't the only world class runner who can run like a gazelle.
 
Paula Radcliffe's women's world record time of 2:15:25, set in London in 2003 is equally eye-wateringly fast.
 
Alas, this marathoner-in-training is somewhat bereft of their athletic prowess as he prepares for the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon on 5th October.
 
Forget world records. This debutante to the marathon world, who will run in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind and Arthritis Care Scotland, is focused simply on reaching the finishing line before dusk.
 
Indeed, my aspirations are very simple. To remain injury free, complete the 26.2 miles without recourse to a taxi and to raise lots of cash for charity.  Naturally, it'll be a bonus if the whole experience is fun and alleviates some of the guilt served up with the Friday night curry!
 
It has now been a month since I signed up for what is surely the world's most scenic marathon.
 
And in a desperate bid to be in fine fettle for the big day I've reverted to all manner of ploys.
 
First, apart from carbo-loading, there's the brand-spanking-new trainers with go fast stripes. 
 
Old academic books on sports psychology have also been dusted off to brush up on techniques like visualisation, a technique some of Scotland's athletes apparently use to boost their mental readiness when going for gold. 
 
So, in theory when during training runs my knees are almost scraping the pavement (the word training is used lightly) I'll alleviate the pain by visualising myself bounding effortlessly along the eastern shores of Loch Ness, oozing vitality and feeling refreshed by gulps of spring water.
 
The iPod is another handy tool, blasting out motivational tunes and drowning out laboured breaths as I narrowly avoid running over Auld Reekie's pedestrians - and being run over.
 
So with the miles clocking up, it's tempting to believe my rudimentary plan is working. But nagging doubts persist - especially how to survive the physical effects of my relentless pounding on the roads.
 
Not that there's a lack of friendly advice. 'Train only on the roads,' says one. 'Make sure you do plenty of leg weights,' advises another. Ok, I agree it's best to go easy on the Friday night pint and curry. 
 
But I need marathon enlightenment.
 
So who better to approach than Tommy Boyle, the athletics coach extraordinaire who once helped propel 3000m and 10000m athlete Yvonne Murray to Olympic, European and Commonwealth greatness.
 
Now a project manager with Winning Scotland Foundation, Boyle is currently busy spearheading his innovative Positive Coaching Scotland (PCS) programme across the country.
 
Delivered through the likes of teachers and sports leaders, it's a programme designed to use sport to impart, positive, character building life skills to Scotland's school-aged children, including an awareness that 'winning' is not just about beating an opponent but about achieving success through a commitment to learning and sustained effort.
 
My school days may be long gone but I hang on every word as Boyle imparts refreshingly clear, simple and jargon free advice.
 
Should I just run on roads? "Definitely not," he replies. "Remember there's life after your marathon. (To protect your joints) try and do the longer runs in country parks (and on the grass). The roads will kill your legs and it'll also kill your back," cautions Boyle.
 
He also explains that as I increase my mileage the connector (muscle) tissue may tighten and my stride length shorten, leading to ankle and foot problems.  So, in addition to balancing running on roads with training on other surfaces, Boyle also recommends a good warm-up with plenty of mobility exercises.
 
Likewise, instead of weight training, he recommends incorporating a good (all round, aerobic) circuit programme into my running schedule. "It's one of the big mistakes some people make, tending to let it (circuits) drop off as they increase their mileage."
 
More great advice but do I really need to ditch the Friday night vindaloo?
 
"Just use common sense," he replies. "Eating a curry 3-4 times a week may be an issue but it's all a question of balance."
 
Though the curry (in moderation) is saved, he emphasises the need to maximise carbohydrate intake with plenty of fruit and vegetables. I also need to consume sufficient protein and fat. Being partial to chocolate, the latter is unlikely to be a problem.
 
Boyle has one final piece of advice.  "Properly hydrate. If your body is just 2% down on fluid intake, your performance can be down by as much as 10%," he cautions.
 
Thanks to Tommy Boyle's sound advice, this aspiring marathoner may well reach the Loch Ness start line in fine fettle.
 
I also hope to complete all 26.2 miles – albeit just that little bit slower than Mr Gebresellasie!

CH
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(On Sunday 5th October Colin Hutchison will run the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind and Arthritis Care Scotland. If you would like to donate, please visit his secure JustGiving charity page at www.JustGiving.com/helphutchrunlochness).