Well, the original intention of providing a weekly update to accompany my (ahem) weekly training session has well and truly bitten the dust. I've managed to keep exercising pretty regularly, though it's not always been running.

Perhaps someone else can answer this though. When both parents work, and you've got 3 kids, how on earth do you manage to find room for "us-time" in the marriage? Short of stretching the day to 30 hours I'm struggling. Walkinground Asda at 11.30pm doing the shopping is not my idea of fun.

I'm pretty sure in in mid-mid-life crisis mode. I've taken up Thai boxing again after a 25 year gap. I first did this in Manchester in the mid 80s under the legendary Master Toddy. I looked him up the other day, to see that he'd decamped some years ago and was now a trainer to the stars in Las Vegas. In terms of a total body workout Muay Thai takes some beating, as it exercises your entire body, and the 100 or so sit-ups we do each session helps the waist.

Today was a really big day, as it was little Benni's first day at school. I'm never sure whether it's more traumatic for the child or for the parent. It just makes you realise that they are not babies for ever, and how precious that time is.

Anyway, the good news is that I've found the Polar Heart Rate watch, so I can start to monitor with a degree of accuracy as to how far I am running and the times. 4 hours for the Virgin London Marathon is looking a long way away at the moment!!