Its make your mind up time

Well what a Bank Holiday extravaganza that was! I enjoyed my Easter days and my Royal Wedding days (always been a fan of Kate Bush and great to see that she's now officially a Royal). Watching the wedding I was struck by the futility of wealth, pageantry and aristocracy. There he is, the young man has all the money and opportunity he could ever want. He has castles and servants and enjoys five star treatment wherever he goes. But when that young man wakes up each morning and looks into the mirror, what does he see?

Yup. He's still a ginger.

Anyway I used the time away from the coalmine to do some serious running stuff. I didn't actually do a lot of running but I did other running stuff instead.

I did pop over to Folkestone for the Good Friday Folkestone 10 - always a pleasure to venture into Caravan County on a sunny day I was aiming to get round the bally thing in anything less than 1 hour 47 minutes - my time when I did the race last year; so I was chuffed to zip round in an hour 44 - not only quicker than last year but by my calculations quicker than all but one or two other people. Think I came about 6th.

Since then though I haven't raced. Not because I didn't want to but more because the opportunity didn't present itself. I was due to be a celebrity at the Royal Wedding 5K in Bexhill but didn't get there in time and this Monday just gone was going to be another 10 miler but again the opportunity passed me by. I did manage a 12 mile training run along the coast from Kingsdown to Sandwich last week but apart from that I've been focusing on planning my big event for 2012.

I've decided to apply for this change of nationality lark and have been looking at what countries I might select. I'm still keen on Burkina Faso but I'm also looking at one or two of the fringe countries that have no decent athletes, so I've narrowed my short list to:

Canada I've always held the horse chestnut leaf close to my heart and I fancy visiting Auckland for a holiday - so Canada has to be on the list.

France France you say! And so you might. I wouldn't lower myself to wear the French trickler but I quite fancy asking them because they're useless at sport; then accepting me; then I'll tell them to take a run. Is it juvenile? yes. Is it pathetic? yes. Do I give a monkeys? No. Its France. Get over it.

Australia Another outsider I guess, but their desperation for a decent athlete might give me a real chance here. Loved Skippy.

South Africa Always had a soft spot for them down under and really respect that Manuel bloke who was their King or something. The one who escaped from Alcatraz.

Cornwall I'll be honest and say that I'm not sure if Cornwall has any kind of team in the Olympics - but seeing as its quite close I thought I'd have a bash. I'll write to Simon Cowell because I think he runs the Olympics and see if he can twist a few hands.

So, its very much make-your-mind-up time for these countries. And as Huw Edwards would say "I wonder which one will choose Ron?".

Whilst all this is going in the back door I'm looking to my next race which, ironically enough it's the Ramparts 10K in Northern France which I confidently expect to win with ease and make those Frenchies eat my dust.

Hold on to your hats Ronnettes - it could be a bumby ride.

Keep on tapering.

Ron

I know, I know!!

Finding the time to tell you all about my fantastic achievements in Indialand is proving a little difficult at the mo - but fear not Ronnettes I have not forgotten. I hope to have the next thrilling instalment here within the next 24 hours.

A few thousand of you have been worried in case something had happened to me - but as Ken Dodd would say "No - I'm fine".

My time in Indialand has been time well spent though - just wait whilst you hear how I've been doing on my own doorstop. Last week I was the Chief Celebrity Elite Athlete at the Poppy Half Marathon in Bexhill. This race is staged in Bexhill to give the people there something to look at in the winter. This year though - my did it rain. It wasn't just raining Cats and Horses, it was freezing cold as well. But I don't let a bit of weather come between me and a BP - I stormed round the course in 2 hours 8 minutes and a few seconds to record my fastest half marathon time since March 2007. Impressive Mange Tout?

I am also keeping up my gruelling training regime and last week maintained my focus on building up my strength, concentrating on speed work, warming up properly, cooling down, stretching and eating less kebabs. Well on Sunday it was quite a big day for me as I popped down to the City of Filth and Needles for the Brighton 10K. Organised by people who are obviously still learning how to organise booze-ups in breweries the race was a bit of a shambles with no water and a few other basics missing. However ... my time was a stunning 56.06 and I haven't run that quick since February 2007. So, at the moment I'm running like the ... like ... well like a man who runs. I'm coming into form at just the right time too.

In fact I don't mind admitting that as I crossed the line to huge applause from the strange people of Brighton, I couldn't help breaking into a bit of a smile. Then a little bit of wee came out so I had to dash away quickly. But the large crowd acknowledged what was a fabulous run for me.

Coming up soon I'm at the Crowborough 10K next week and then popping up to Caravan County to be the elite athlete at the Swanley Christmas Caper. I'll also be the guest celebrity starter at a couple of Christmas events.

Life is good when you're a top athlete eh?

Keep on tapering.

Ron