I'm really torn about entry, I kept my membership running especially for this but at the moment I can't imagine being able to ride that far with the time I have available to get ready for it... But I guess you've got to be in it to do it... Hmmmm
Only you will be able to judge your commitments and training opportunities for this year, but here's my two penn'orth:
In 2005, for my first LEL, (I was 47 at the time), I did a bare minimum of preparation - we'd recently moved house, so I was very taken up with DIY etc, plus #2 sprog was still pre-school, which limited time further as I was then
Number One Parent. I mostly trained on short rides, often pulling a fairly solid-for-his-age J in a trailer. My 400km ride was scuppered by my sister's Silver Wedding plans, so nothing longer than a 300! I still managed to get up to Edinburgh in under 2 days, though had a very leisurely ride back with very little night riding.