I am gearing up to run the 2026 Royal Parks Half Marathon on 11 October in aid of The National Brain Appeal. In March, I ran the Paris Half for L'Institut du Cerveau - my first half-marathon - in 2:04. Strictly speaking that makes it my only time but the 'Tale of Two Cities' riff was too good to miss. And of course I'm hoping to beat my time!

Now the pitch: I have friends and relatives who have been affected by a variety of neuro conditions: MS, MND, epilepsy, autism, ADHD and neuro cancers. 1 in 6 of the UK population lives with a neurological condition. Some of these conditions are more prevalent than in the past: We don't quite know why.

The National Brain Appeal aims to transform the lives of the millions of people affected by neurological and neuromuscular conditions. It helps to drive advancement by funding research, treatments and facilities over and above what the NHS can provide. That work is important and I (and the NBA) would be hugely grateful for your support.

What about training? Well, there's a bit more of it than in March! I'm running the Thames Path in stages (I made it to Oxfordshire this morning), so if you see a lumbering form in a Serpentine RC top, it's probably me.