Well it's been quite an eventful couple of weeks for the whole country, n'est-ce pas? A couple of weeks where running has frankly not been on anyone's agenda - apart from those with gym membership, who have taken great pleasure in reminding me of their continued training while I've been basically couch-bound.

There were a couple of days immediately after my last session (which was a fairly successful 6 mile jaunt) when I would have run, only I managed to contract some horrid infection that first attacked my throat and then spent a week boinging merrily from ears to eyes to throat and made life miserable. On the Wednesday of that week, global warming kicked in and screwed things up for everyone.

I've been waiting ever since for the pavements to reappear and the weather to sort itself out. And it did that today - and how! It's an absolute beauty. And to ensure I'm where I need to be by the time of the Sussex Beacon Brighton half marathon, which is freak-out close, I'm not going back to what I should have done over the past couple of weeks but have today done the 8 mile long run that's in the plan for today.

As I've said, conditions were too perfect. This did mean that the prom was properly crowded, but this was not a problem apart from the occasional pig-ignorant dog walker. I think there were more of these out than usual, but maybe I'd just forgotten how many there are. Keep your animals on a lead and, unless you're letting them run around on the lawns, keep them to heel, for crying out loud.

In any case, the long break does not seem to have done too much damage. I completed the distance in 1 hour 14 minutes and 35 seconds - exactly 20 seconds slower than last time. And last time I was trotting up and down the playa on the costa de Almeria.

I'm really hoping there's some consistency in the weather from now on and that I can get back into regular training. My other half's gleefully informed me that there's more snow expected for Wednesday - weather people, if you're listening, please cancel that; I don't have time!

Over the past couple of weeks, I've reacquainted myself with the joys of Terry Pratchett, Janet Evanovich and Christopher Fowler, decided that Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Wii is a work of genius and fallen deeply in love with Alexandra Burke. So this afternoon I'll be playing some games and then reading a book in a hot bubble bath with some music on (and perhaps a tiny drinkette). Now THIS is what training for a marathon should be all about.

Finally, and just in passing, did anyone see the item on The One Show in the week about Polari (var. Parlare and all sorts of other spellings)? If you did and you think it deserves the revival I've abortively tried to give it in various arenas (it didn't work at all in the office), feel free to comment in the bona way! Fantabulosa, duckie.