I’ve been a runner on and off over the years, but never as seriously as in the last ten years. I used to run at school, and I especially remember running along the beach when I lived in Filey on the North Yorkshire coast. My decision to take it up again in 2013 was prompted by a desire to raise money for the Salvation Army’s Annual Appeal, as well as the need for a significant challenge to get fit.

So, not having run for many years, I entered the Middlesbrough 10K road race (that’s 6.2 miles). But, after my first training run round the block, I seriously wondered what I’d let myself in for. This was going to be a challenge in my late fifties. In the end though, I ran it twice with both times under an hour.

Now, in my late sixties, I don’t want my young children to see me as an old father, rather as a fit and active dad who’s fun to be with. So, I regularly run 5k parkruns, even if nowhere near my personal best of 25:03 set in 2014 when I was fifty-nine.

Advancing years are working against me, but I’ve currently got no plans to retire from running!