Shaping up for charity challenge

WITHIN minutes of agreeing to it, I regretted it. "Yeah, I don't mind doing it," I said to my colleague who had already listed her excuses and escaped.

Seconds later, an email drops from my new "trainer" - race director Phil Barker. There was no going back.

My usual evenings spent sprawling on the sofa with a glass of red are about to end.

For the next 12 weeks, midweek alcohol and copious amounts of chocolate are out. Instead, I will be slipping on my running shoes and training four - yes four - times a week in the build-up to the Butterwick Fun Run.

I'll be honest, I'm not looking forward to the challenge. I'm extremely unfit. I get out of breath walking upstairs and my trusted car is my favoured form of transport.

So it's understandable why I nearly choked on my mid-morning Mars bar when I opened my training schedule.

First off, Phil wanted answers. I put the Mars bar down.

How many days a week do you have time to train? Please take into account family life and other commitments.

Does Coronation Street count?

When was the last time you did any form of exercise? Can't remember.

How far do you think you could run at this moment in time? Not a step.

Phil reckoned I would run a mile but this was changed.

"Measure out a one-mile loop course from your house," he said. "Select four points on it, approximately 400 yards apart.

"On day one, go out and walk normally, then, when you reach the first point, walk briskly until you reach the second point then back to walking easy.

"In other words easy, quick, easy quick. Try and do this three or, if possible, four days during that week. The aim is to eventually jog the whole mile.

"Once you can jog the whole mile, we can take the next step, ie adding a little more distance.

"This way of getting you fit is tried and tested and it doesn't cause any sore legs or other niggles."

I think I'll be the judge of that.