I am a Brit novice runner aiming to run the Madrid marathon in Spain in 2010 and in the meantime attempting to run the equivalent distance to Madrid from home all in aid of a local children's hospice. I am blogging my experiences on www.madridrun2010.wordpress.com. Here is an extract from a training run I did assisted with fishcakes.Hope you find it amusing.

I have been injured by mosquitos over the last few days as unfortunately my ankles (or should I say trotters) swelled up after being nibbled on Sunday afternoon. So no running for me until today.

I was a bit silly as I didn't really eat much lunch at work and when I arrived home was beginning to feel light headed. Probably idiotic to go for a run tonight I thought... but aha... my two sons had not finished their supper and daddy was about to take advantage. Fishcakes and a bit of a potato waffle. I pounced on the leftovers. It all went in the microwave and within 2 minutes I had hoovered it up. Great home cooking.

I got into my kit and the light headedness began to pass. It was a beautiful crisp evening with a full moon so too good an opportunity to miss.

I just thought I would do another 5km or so and take my time. Just get round. Nice and steady does it ... I don't want to faint or anything. Within 1km or so I had a stitch and was beginning to regret my greedy binge. Then I got to Brook Lane. Now I know why it gets that name. Strangely the unadopted road I run along, Wood Lane was flooded at the Brook Lane junction. I had to stop and go around the grass verge (grannies came into my mind - see earlier post). Things were not going well. I plodded on.

Finally I reached the lovely downhill run to the Boathouse Inn. I settled a bit more into a nice slow but steady pace. Then I felt it. I can't put my finger on it - just a surge of energy came. It took me a few moments to work it out and then the penny dropped. The fishcakes it must be the fishcakes !!

I began to accelerate down towards the Boathouse Inn. Some drinkers were leaving the pub. As I drew level with them they were murmuring to each other in respectful tones and nodding. I just caught a word ... "fishcakes". They had noticed too. I nodded back at them knowingly.

This was wonderful I haven't run like this since I was a teen. The front at Parkgate is not a quiet place even during a cool Autumn evening. I noticed a change. I no longer saw pity in people's eyes when they looked at me. I saw admiration and I kept hearing the same word over and over ..."fishcakes".

Then the mother of ideas came to me. I was approaching the Chinese fish and chip shop. Dare I ? ... I might run like the Gods if I was to pop in and "top up" ? No. I must not. I will save that one for another day. Parkgate is not quite ready yet.

I flew towards home and in the distance I saw a stranger in the dark. To my disbelief he shouted to me "Get a move on Robert". It was my neighbour and one of my sponsors Barry. All I could muster was a "bl**dy hell... it's you" such was my surprise. I was brought down to earth again with a bump.

A great run back though and you know what, I may have found my secret weapon !!!