away in the distance on the road down from Twyford, the runners assemble for the 7.30pm start . . the sun's trying to shine, not altogether successfully, and those of us down by the finish area wait impatiently as the competitors are given a pre-race safety briefing . .

all of a sudden, there's a puff of smoke from the starter's pistol, followed a nano-second later by the sound of the pistol having been shot, and the Charndon 5k is under way once again . .