UPDATE: Bendigo couple Alan and Jenny Buchanan successfully completed the Berlin Marathon on Sunday.
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Alan completed his 46th career marathon in three hours, 42 minutes and 35 seconds.
Jenny finished her 33rd career marathon in 4:11.03.
EARLIER: THEY have run in many marathons around the globe, but Sunday's trek in Berlin will be a first for Bendigo husband and wife Alan and Jenny Buchanan.
It will be a 46th marathon start for Alan and number 33 in Jenny's career.
The Strathdale-based couple contested their first international marathon at New York in 2009.
Since then they have run in marathons in Rotorua, Paris, London and Boston.
They have completed all of the 42.2km runs once.
Sunday's start in Berlin will be their first international marathon since last year's run in Boston was affected by two bombings in which three people were killed and more than 260 were injured.
Alan said gaining a place in the starting field for Berlin was not easy.
"Berlin is one of the world's six major marathons. A ballot entry was used for this year. There were almost 75,000 athletes competing for 40,000 places.
"Jenny and I were both lucky to have our entry forms drawn out in the ballot."
It's been just a month since Alan raced the Shepparton marathon. Berlin is his sixth marathon for the year.
"A lot of preparation is about recovery, one or two long runs of about 35km, some speed work or shorter races," Alan said.
"Once you have done the base training and the first marathon for the year, it's about getting recovery right."
For Alan it's not all about runnning.
"There's a couple of days a week cycling to assist recovery and staying injury-free."
Jenny's build-up for Berlin was affected by a stress fracture in a fibula.
"The fracture was a diagnosed a couple of weeks after the Great Ocean Road 45km Run in May," Jenny said.
"Training has mainly been lots of laps in the pool and some cycling.
"It's only in the past three weeks I have been allowed to resume running.
"My main objective is to finish, knowing that I will be walking a lot of the way," Jenny said of the Berlin run.
Both said they enjoy the challenge of every marathon and visiting great cities.
"It's the best excuse I can think of for an overseas holiday at great locations," Alan said.
They will spend a few weeks after the Berlin run doing some sightseeing in Germany, Prague and Turkey.
"Completing a marathon is still a significant challenge and a great sense of achievement," said Alan.
The marathon feats by the Buchanans are followed by many of their clubmates at University Athletics Club.
Alan and Jenny's children, Andy, Kylie and Michelle provide plenty of encouragment.
Over the years Andy has shone in track and cross-country races. He is yet to step up to the marathon distance.
Once the Berlin Marathon is complete, Alan and Jenny will take a well-earned break from training.
Chicago and Tokyo are still on Alan and Jenny's to do list of the major marathons.
