This time last week I was running the Yorkshire 10 Mile to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. It was one of those things that you sign up for thinking “10 miles, how hard can it be?” and then when you’re actually pounding the streets, you realise, “Oh yeah, actually quite hard!”

I definitely wouldn’t describe myself as a sporty person. In fact when I was at school, PE was my least favourite subject. On one memorable occasion, instead of watching the school tennis tournament, I sat and sneakily read my book! However, a few years ago at work a group of colleagues decided to do the Race for Life 10k together. After my first gasping training run, where I wheezed my way to the end of the lane and back again, somehow the running bug bit me. I was the only one of my colleagues to actually follow through and do the 10k, and since then I’ve done quite a few running challenges.

Without wishing to sound completely anti-social, one of the things I love about running is that it provides me with some vital thinking time by myself. As I run along, my mind is often busy mulling over ideas for my next book and working out niggly plot details. And as I have in a rush of enthusiasm signed up to do the Yorkshire Marathon in 2017 (gulp) the training runs will provide me with plenty of plotting time. Watch this space…