I knew it would happen sooner or later, and I’m glad in a way that it happened sooner – yep, I’ve got a cold which has seriously hampered my efforts to stick to the training plan.

I managed a grand total of 2 miles in week one of my training. This was on Tuesday in the gym and I was pleased that running felt like it did before the 10k – not too much effort and not too painful.

This week I read that after a race you should have a day’s rest for every mile you ran in the race. So I should have had six day’s rest rather than carrying on as usual after the 10k, which is why I found it so hard and dispiriting getting back on the move.

Wednesday I woke up with a bunged-up nose and an aching face and since then I think I’ve produced more than my body weight in snotty tissues. I’ve read that it’s OK to train with a cold as long as it hasn’t affected your chest. As I coughed about four hours ago I think it’s best to avoid pounding the streets until next week. I wouldn’t be quite so put of if it wasn’t so cold and damp outside.

Hopefully normal function will be restored on Monday and week 2 of the training plan can commence with the usual gusto.