I'd never normally call myself a runner, but I had a small glimpse into Martin and Arthur's world last Thursday. It's an unusual place, perhaps one I'll visit again, but not in any particular hurry.

I'd got myself talked into ruuning in the second day of the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in London, 12,000+ people running, jogging, walking, or shuffling along a 3.5 mile (5.6km) route around Battersea park. As someone who only runs for a train, the whole expectation of the event was a bit much, I don't think I've run that far in my life!

So did I walk? No, despite a complete absence of training I ran the whole way. The temperature was in the early 20s and it was very humid, with thunderstorms threatening, so it was a bit hot and sweaty. Plus, the huge number of participants meant it took nearly 10 minutes to cross the start line, so we had slow traffic in front of us all the way.

However, despite my physical unsuitability for the task in hand (I had "old, fat, and unfit" as medical conditions on the back of my running number), I got around the course in 32 minutes, with 5km dispatched in just under 29 minutes. With a little bit of training, more sympathetic weather, and less traffic I could have been a fair bit faster! I'm not sure I'd beat the guy who won (in 16:13), I suspect I wasn't far into my second kilometre by the time he was broke the tape and started thinking about finding the bar. I was certainly thinking about the bar by then though...