Training was going well 7k / best 49 mins. I then ran part of the route - River Mersey path to Parrs Wood, & back to the Woolpack turning right across the river . I then completely missed the turn for Northgate Road ending up at the Farmers Arms on Edgeley Road, which. isn’t open at 6am so I ran on past Edgeley Park & down Town Hall hill. a MASSIVE 12k, in 1hr 45 mins. The furthest I have ever run. The August plan to give up beer failed though. Will do more 7k `s & then go for 16k giving me confidence for the big day.

Week 2 w/c 28 May A 3 k run is followed up by a 5.6k run taking in Vernon Park hill! Now I am highly positive. However, on Thursday I bash my knee and slice my foot running up a down-escalator with two full bags of shopping. Training programme suspended

Matthew has never run further than 11k before , and that was 30 years ago , and now having reached 52 years old ,and with an ever expanding waistline, he is bravely set to conquer the 21k of the Stockport race.