Well, it�s raining, which is never a good thing for Bogle. Fine weather would mean a few last minute entries, people who�ve been umming and ahhing about it for a while and don�t realise the horrendous toll 55 miles will have on untrained feet. But rain can mean that even some of the people who�ve paid their entry fees will decide not to bother. It�s also no fun for the people who have to man the checkpoints. They get all the disadvantages the walkers have- cold, wet, awake at a really stupid time of day- without the advantage of being able to move and generate a little body heat.

Which is why, as ever, I�m driving.

It could be worse. I remember one year there was a foot of snow on the ground.