My name is Dave Hastie and I will be 29 years old in March this year. I live in Tooting in South West London with my wonderful wife Wendy and my little cocker spaniel Mtani. 

I work as a statistician for a company called Smartodds that specialise in football betting. I would say its not as glamourous as it sounds, but I guess being a statistician doesn't sound that glamourous realy anyway!

I grew up in Worthing in West Sussex and then went to University in Bristol, where I did my undergraduate degree in maths. In order to avoid getting a real job, I continued at Bristol and got my Ph.D.

I have always been into sports but never into running. My main passion throughout my life has been football, but I also enjoy tennis and skiing. 

Until summer of 2006 I was not a runner. In fact, I remember cross country runs from my primary school with absolute fear and trepidation. I have always been ok at sprinting, but pretty useless at long distance. However, every year that the London Marathon has come by and been on TV I have sat and watched and known that one day I wanted to do that. After last years race, I finally convinced someone (Lizzy) to join my folly, and we secured Golden Bond charity places for Muscular Dystrophy for the 2007 race.

Realising that with a marathon to prepare for I had better start taking it seriously, I began running in July 2006. After a couple of setbacks due to not having decent running trainers, I finally got into running, so that now it is a large and enjoyable part of my life. I have run 2 races now, one 10K and one 10Mile. I have 3 more races lined up before the marathon, a 10K, a half marathon and a 20Miler.  

I am following a program for a sub 3:30 marathon, but in reality I would be delighted with anything under 3:45.

The reason I chose Muscular Dystrophy to run for, is because I have seen the devastating effects of the disease first hand, through my brother Jon (who is studying for a Ph.D. at Essex University) who has Duchenne MD.