In order to write this week's column, I have dragged myself from a Radox-induced heaven. Running is a great release from the stresses of daily life and, with a radio and headphones telling me of Manchester United's latest defeat, you can sink into your own thoughts. However it is nowhere near as relaxing and enjoyable as the bath which follows, when weary mud covered legs are revived. During the past week, I have upped my training distances slightly and have also had my first run with other people for about seven years. Running in the evenings, it is difficult to find people to train with, but it is something I will have to get used to because running with a group of 30,000 people is bound to be a bit of a shock to the system. So last Wednesday night, in an attempt to get used to running in a group, I joined around 50 members of the Wells City Harriers for a quiet jog around the centre of Street. The run only lasted around 20 minutes, but it showed me how far I have to go to be ready for the marathon. I have been used to running around eight miles on the Mendips and at my own pace and yet I struggled to keep up with a group of people on a flat, three mile course. Possibly it was the thought of trying not to get too far behind my long time friend Andrew Hennessy, my coach for the marathon, who sailed into the distance as I languished near the back of the field. Maybe adrenalin got the better of me and I pushed myself too hard, too soon, but it has given me a mental barrier which I will have to break through as I prepare to run my first marathon. Running regularly is now becoming something of a compulsion and hardly an hour goes by when I do not think about it. I have to keep telling myself that I am not supposed to run every night because of the dangers about putting too much pressure on my legs and giving myself enough time to recover. Swimming twice a week is proving very useful on that score and it allows me too burn off a bit of energy during the week without having too put more strain on my legs. My fundraising has also started in earnest this week and already I have received donations from several people in the mid-Somerset area. I have been amazed by the response this column has generated and have been stopped by several people keen to pass on their best wishes for the marathon - in fact, it provides quite a nice break during a nine mile run.