March of time is taking its toll

LIKE a hibernating bear, I got heavy, slow and lazy over the course of the winter. I ate and drank too much, and there were too many days when I found other things to do rather than lacing up my running shoes and getting out on the tracks and trails.

- Guy Henderson on Friday

Now, in this magnificent early spring of bright sunny mornings and fresh sea breezes, I am paying the price for a long winter of indolence.

It is a smidgeon over 25 years since I last ran the London Marathon, and, as always, watching this year’s model on TV the other day made me wonder if I should get out there and give it a go again.

But these days the chances of a bog-standard club runner with no huge sponsorship pledges behind them getting a place on the entry list are remote, and in any case my marathon days may be done and dusted.

At the weekend, I tried one of the old training routes I used to run through the winter of 1999-2000 in preparation for that year's London. Before starting a late shift at work, I would head out from Paignton to Windy Corner, then go out through the lanes and paths to Churston Cove.