IT’S been two weeks since we last met and I have been doing some exercise.

It has been slow and steady to say the least, hampered somewhat by my colleagues setting me ridiculous but irresistible challenges such as eating a muffin in 20 seconds (I failed) and running to a point outside within 45 seconds (failed again).

However, apart from their gentle jibes, they and many others have been very supportive as I start on the road to the Great North Run (Sunday, September 18) so thanks to you all who have given me a boost.

I have been on three runs, ranging in length from two to three miles, one along the Auckland Way between Auckland Park and Spennymoor, another around Leasingthorne and a third around St Helen Auckland.

I hope to overcome some technical hitches and upload maps of these runs soon.

I have already amassed several running partners, Angelina who motivates me up the Auckland Way, Paul who trudges beside me around Spennymoor and my actual partner Stacey, who leaves me in her wake around West Auckland.

She is part of the reason I want to do the Great North Run, having completed it last year even though she spent the night before it on her first date with me, an excruciating experience for the lass no doubt having to put up with my nervous chat and clumsy fumblings.

One early revelation (which perhaps comes as a surprise to someone who grew up in flat old Lincolnshire,) is that hills hurt. I can manage alright on a flat but throw a small incline in and suddenly I am struggling.

I have already got an ache in my knees and my plantar fasciitis (an inflammation of the tendon in my left heel which my caring co-workers have renamed lard-arse fatty-itis) but I am also starting to enjoy it, and not just because of the tasty energy drinks which I can now justify having (cherry is my favourite so far).

Since agreeing to run for Oxfam I have also been looking into their work a bit more.

Every heart-wrenching photograph and story of impoverished children surviving against the odds in some distant land is a sharp reminder that I will be running for fun, they have to do much more just to live.

So now to the thrust of my point, namely I can now be sponsored with money being raised for Oxfam.

I feel quite uncomfortable asking people for money (apart from Papa Leatherdale of course) but this isn’t for me, it is for a very good cause and over the next few weeks I hope to enlighten you even more about what it is Oxfam does.

To donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runduncanrun.