Yamauchi, who finished a disappointing 10th in London after a body-sapping six-day trip across Europe to get to the starting line, said: "As an athlete you have to be able to cope with unexpected events and mishaps, and try to not let them affect your performance."

Yamauchi, who won the NYC Half-Marathon in the spring, added: "Hopefully this time there won't be any volcanic ash clouds to deal with, but you never know - something else might come up.

"I have to be ready for anything and still make it to the start line on November 7 prepared to give it 100 per cent, and that's what I'll do."

In April, Yamauchi saw her hopes for victory at the London Marathon go up in a plume of volcanic ash as the Iceland Eyjafjallajokull volcano snarled air traffic for days.

It forced the British Olympian to take a mind-numbing and body-sapping six-day journey from the United States through Portugal, Spain and France by plane, car and taxi just to get to the race.

With the assistance of New York Road Runners officials, Yamauchi and her husband and coach Shige are leaving their training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico, today to fly to Newark, New Jersey, where they will stay overnight at the airport before taking a train down to nearby Princeton, New Jersey tomorrow.

They will stay in the peaceful college town, only an hour train ride from New York,  to complete her training before arriving in Manhattan early next week.

"After our trip to London in April for the Virgin London marathon unexpectedly turned into an epic voyage of volcanic proportions, we decided this time it would be a good idea to stay near New York in the run-up to the race," said Yamauchi.

"The NYRR team recommended Princeton and we are really looking forward to staying there, especially the easy train ride to New York City afterwards."


Related stories
April 2010: Yamauchi tired but here at last - after losing her sanity in the Gare du Nord station...
March 2010: Yamauchi takes bite out of Big Apple
April 2009: Mara Yamauchi - If I keep improving I can win a medal at London 2012
June 2008: Yamauchi praises proposed London 2012 marathon course