However, there is a new addition to the running calendar this year - The Greater Manchester Marathon, the route of which goes right past our house!
I've married a runner - if he doesn't run he gets grumpy. Many a time I've stood by the side of the road cheering him on as his little legs whizz round like 'Roadrunners'! This time he's the Manchester Marathon 4 hour pacer (just a slow one for him this time!)
Not only do I live with a runner, I socialise with them. Facebook is currently full of reports of completed 16 mile training runs.
Not wanting to miss out, when Tris mentioned a 16 miler on Sunday I jumped at the chance to join him - on my bike! You didn't think I was going to run did you?
However, all did not go to plan. I missed him at our rendezvous point and ended up playing catch up for the rest of the morning. But it was a lovely morning so it wasn't all bad.
As I cycled along the road, I wondered why cars kept beeping their horns at me. Surely they'd seen a purple faced fat lass on a bike before. It was only later when I got home that I realised that I had in fact been giving the fortunate Sunday morning drivers of Altrincham a wide expanse of thong over the top of my cycling shorts. Oh dear!
Anyway, I've decided that if I can't beat them - I'll just have to join them. I did give running a go a few months ago, but the indignity of being overtaken by some ducks and then being struck down with shingles, put the mockers on things.
I've never been able to conquer running - I think now might be the time!
I've discovered 'Cool Runnings'. No, it's not the Jamaican bob sleigh team - they have a training schedule called 'Couch to 5K' in 2 months! I think this might be the one for me.
Week Workout 1 Workout 2 Workout 3
1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
I don't think I'm going to be doing a marathon any time soon - but I'll let you know how it goes!