Eddie Izzard

[El Gordo]

Another vote for the LDWA. I did one of their events a couple of years ago -- the Compton Challenge. As GM said, there was a 20 and 40 miles course (and the 40 wasn't just another circuit of the 20 course). I plodded round the 20 miles and thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautiful countryside on the borders of Berks and Oxfordshire. No time pressure, because I knew loads of people would be coming in after me who were doing the 40, and a decent plate of hot grub and mugs of tea at the end of the race.

Quite a few runners join the LDWA after hanging up their marathon shoes. Most famously, Julie Welch, whom I was critical of recently, went this way, and is now the head honcho.

Maybe some of the more, er, mature among us should consider moving in this direction? Might be just what my calf needs. I used to walk with a local group when I lived in Huddersfield. Round Marsden way. Lonesome cry of the curlew, and all that. And up GM's neck of the woods, as he will recall. Some fantastic walking/running country up his way. THe idea of some sort of cultural exchange should be revisited.