In 2009 I completed the Great North Run, but just missed out on the 2 hour mark, So here I am already training for the 2010 event.

In order to compete I have had to pledge that I will raise £400 for Cancer Research UK, with 1 in 3 of us suffering from cancer at some stage in our lives most of us will be effected by it in some way at some point.

If I'm hauling my rather overweight self around 13.1 miles of Tyneside’s finest tarmac in less than 2 hours, I figure the least my friends and family can do is put their hand in their pocket for such a good cause, thanks in advance.