Hello again campers, how are we all? It's been a busy weekend for yours truly. I was working at the Beeb on Saturday, after doing a 5 mile run in the morning I might add. It was horrendous. One of those days when you feel that even walking would be a trifle difficult. In mitigation, I've had a heavy cold, so breathing has been intermittently problematic..... but even so, with Kingston just two weeks away, I am feeling a tad trepidatious......I'm also wondering whether I should do a mini taper at all? Any advice gratefully received..... after Saturday's effort, I'd quite like to taper down to nothing right now....

But whenever I even think about moaning, my mind invariably drifts to the challenge facing Josh Lewsey currently and I keep stum. Lewsey is of course retired from rugby these days, and a big loss he continues to be for England too. But he is about to embark on the adventure of his life, when he sets off to try and climb Everest tomorrow. Now I know athletes can often struggle to adapt to life after sport, but I can think of a hundred things I might like to do when retirement beckons and climbing Everest isn’t one of them. Lying on a beach figures fairly high, as does living by the sea and eating Cornish pasties.

But Lewsey it seems, is one of those men who needs a challenge to keep him going. Well it's fair to say he's picked a real doosey there. My favourite line in the fascinating article about him, is when it describes Lewsey, who is 34, as confronting this challenge in the twilight of his youth...... what a lovely way to describe your 30's..... I wish him all the very best, I really do. It's makes my 8-mile target feel piddling...... In a good way I might add.... And next time I feel like I can't run another step, I will think of him and have a word with myself........