I was lucky enough to run upto the London Marathon this week. The smattering of rain kept the crowds just manageable and it was possible to weave around the spectators.

You can see the elite women in the photo as they cruise through Greenwich. We all need a bit of help on an event like this. Apparently, around half the field, or 20,000 runners, shelled out £220 for a pair of the latest bouncy shoes.

Still, whatever fancy kit you splurge on, time doesn't stand still. Freud famously said that the unconscious has no sense of time. Whilst our biological bodies age our minds might think we are still young.

Age batters our athletic pomp. This was billed as Mo Farah's last marathon. I remember him smashing it on the track at the London Olympics. However, this time, a younger man whizzed by him on the final 400 metres. He had no response. In his mind he might still feel 20, but his 40 year old body lacked the kick of his youth.

Maybe, in our youth obsessed culture the new trainers from Nike and Adidas are a godsend. Cheaper than a trip to a dental clinic in Istanbul, they allow us to cheat the gods of decay and decline another year.

Yes, sure, perhaps you've considered trialling a one meal a day Californian youth boost. But this is surely a better return on the risk reward ratio. Zero more effort, no deprivation, five colours to choose from, and a guaranteed chunk off your personal best. Life is tragic, no wonder we are in thrall to shoes that will keep us dancing, even if its just a few steps more