Sir, – Mary Jennings is spot-on in advising runners to be ready to look their best when they cross that finish line at the end of a race ("What you should do to prepare during race week", Health + Family, May 10th).
Some practical examples of looking good might include breathing through your nose and pulling in your stomach whenever you see a camera lens pointing your way, and absolutely never being photographed drinking or eating during a race.
The best example I can recall of finishing with style was during the Florence marathon two years ago.
One gentleman runner, who was ahead of me about 200 metres from the finish, suddenly stopped, and out of the crowd was handed a portable hairdryer with which to give himself a quick blowdry before crossing the line without a hair out of place.
Well, it was Italy! – Yours, etc,
ULTAN Ó BROIN,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.