He had been bounced into running the 26-mile-and-285-yard course for two childrens charities Whizz-Kids and Action for Stammering Children.

He said he is hoping “just to finish” and has so far completed 18 miles in three hours 45 minutes in training runs. He revealed that he started running in October after six months of other physical exercise.

When beating London’s streets and parks, Balls might bump into fellow runners chancellor George Osborne and prime minister David Cameron and also might turn to Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former spin doctor, for advice. Campbell completed the London Marathon in 2003.

The chief executive of Whizz-Kidz, Ruth Owen, said that Ed is a strong champion of incapacitated kids, and their right to an accessible education and active childhood. In taking on this challenge, Ed will be helping more young disabled individuals get the right movement gear they need to live independently through London Marathon for a cause.

Reference:http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/25/ed-balls-first-minister-london-marathon?newsfeed=true