It's the final push to the starting post

WITH one month to go until the Race For Life it's make or break time for runners across the borough.

Sink or swim, win or lose, this is the big month for pushing yourself that little bit harder. I'd love to tell you my life's been transformed by my training and that I've lost five pounds on the Race For Life plan.

Sadly none of this would be true but I can say that I'm fitter and faster than I've been in a long time. When I started writing this column my treadmill pace was around 8.5km/h and now I'm up to 10.5km/h.

The real test, however, comes tonight and tomorrow with a personal programme on the treadmill and Gwen's own tutoring in the Regency gym tomorrow. Gym master Stuart Bond was good enough to make me out a personal programme which involves running hills.

I have to confess that I'm developing a phobia of running outside. Colleague Vanessa and I were geared up for a run around Entwistle Reservoir. The problem was that my gears slipped a cog. It was cold and wet and there was no way I was running in that kind of weather. I'm going to have to try and postpone the race if it's raining on June 25 in Witton Park. 'Sorry, it's all off, Helen doesn't like to run in the rain.'

Jealousy reared it's ugly head last week when Blackburn reporter, Sarah Warden, revealed she'd run 5km in 40 minutes. This poses another problem for me because treadmills get so dull after half-an-hour.

We're going to the gym tonight, followed by a work night out on the town. The plan is to ply her with curry so she'll never run 5km again.

You can see the competitive streak coming out now. The very thought of people overtaking me on the race turns my stomach and makes me want to take up full time training for a month. I'm sure my editor would understand.