I'm going to try to get a place in the FLM in August - did you get yours via the ballot or are you running for a charity?

I did some cross-country in December/January and a 10 miler in February, half in April. I did the British 10K in London this month which was pretty good (20,000 people) and also a couple more 10K's. I'm actually doing the New Forest marathon in September - supposed to be quite hill but well organised so I'm looking forward to that. Going to Mexico next week for 10 days so really takes a big chunk out of your training - plan to run on the beach as much as possible and anywere else I can find that's safe!

Hi, I actually got my place via the bequest ballot, where you agree to donate your entry fee regardless of whether you get in, they draw 1000 people from those people that do this..... I was v lucky, it was my first attempt, and I only agreed to donate the fee because I thought the fleece (that you got if you were unsuccessful) looked quite good....

Blimey, that is a lot of running...... I am really frustrated at the moment as I have had lots of opportunity to run, but my toe is just sooooo painful, and this on the back of having an injured knee has meant that I haven't been able to run regularly for ages....

The British 10k has had a lot of bad press hasn't it? I bet it will be v hot in Mexico......

After reading lots of bad reviews I was actually dreading the London 10K and did think about giving it a miss (I'd already spent £30.00 to enter) and it was going to cost another £40.00 train fare to get there but went anyway and I enjoyed it. Lots of the complaints were relating to running out of water at the stations but I didn't have that problem as I tried to get close to the front - saying that it still took me 30 minutes to get over the start line!! Too many slower runners though, you were forever dodging in and out all the time. But good to run with that many people - a real buzz.

I have a black toenail which is hanging off at the moment - looks really attractive but other than that I can't say I've had any injuries to speak of. I do weight training twice a week and think that this really helps with the running.

Mexico is actually cooler than the UK at the moment. Might be better off staying here . . .

Lol! maybe you would.

Blimey £70 to enter a race... that is a lot..... Couldn't someone drop you off? Stupid question really, I guess if they could, they would have.... Are you a member of a club?

I'm not a member of a club but would love to be I just don't have the time. I work part-time and train in the mid-afternoon generally (during the week) and club meets are always on evenings. I also go to the gym twice a week as well to do weights, so basically I only get one day off training per week - I just can't fit anything else in. It's a shame because there are some good friendly clubs around Basingstoke.

Are you a member then?

I am a member of a club, although I am never in any danger of being near the front of any races.... or even in the top half for that matter, although due to various niggling injuries I have been running with them for a while. I do look forward to finally being able to run with the club again, as I just enjoy running with a group more than being on my own....

It may be worth seeing about joinging a club, if only for the support network, i.e lifts to races, advice etc. and you will probably find that other people are also available to run during the day, and may know different routes...