At the start...

Every year I say to myself that someday I will run the Great North Run - although not being fit enough or even able to run properly sort of hampers that.

But watching as the 55,000 people lined up and started made me realise that I'm making excuses left, right and centre convincing myself that my body is not designed to run, jog or even walk the 13 and odd miles to South Shields.

I have a milestone birthday coming up in just over two years - I'll be turning 40 then, so perhaps during my 40th year I might aim to compete in the 2015 Great North Run...

Gives three years to stop making excuses...