Being a management consultant I like to find the positives in situations. So what can I find positive about being ill and not running? It was hard but I have found something.

I have been doing a lot of reading and devoured stuff I normal do not have the time to read. One such item was about David Haye's trainer. Haye is the boxer that beat that enormous Russian bloke (7ft 2in). Apparrently to give his boxer a meaningful sparring session the trainer wore big platform shoes so David could get used to throwing punches upward. He said you have to be prepared to adopt unorthodox methods to achieve success.

That made me think that is what I need to do. No, not wear platform trainers so as to have a greater stride length and therefore cover a greater distance with the same cadence (hang on there might be something in that), but adopting unorthodox methods.

We are all guilty, to a greater or lesser extent, of following the same old routine, following the same routes and running at the same pace. I am now planning a whole new training regime with lots of different stuff in it.

Watch this space.

Woe, woe thrice woe. I have been brought down by some sort of flu type bug. Think of a mighty oak being felled and that is how I feel. I have not run for eight days so am getting pretty cranky, I am not pleasant to be with. Which some people may find surprising, because I think I am a pretty laid-back type. Others might think no change there then.

My running was going really well so at least I have that to look back on. My last run was with someone who was getting her longest run in preparing for her first half-marathon. As she is young and pretty it was an extremely pleasant sprint for me. Oh the joy of running.

I should be doing the Eastnor 12hr this weekend, but that is definitely out.

I am going to crawl back into bed now.