The Thames Path 100 is tomorrow. My kit is ready: jelly babies counted out, drop-bags sorted and headtorch batteries checked. Except that I’ve just had to email the organiser to say I won’t be running. Once more, another race that I’ve pulled out of with less than 24 hours to go.

This time, the reason is because of a sickness (D&V) bug that has been going around the village school which my kids and wife have now succumbed too. They will need dadddy to be around to look after them and not off on a 100 mile jolly up to Oxford. I’m gutted and I’m really upset – but it’s only a race and there will be more. If I don’t put my family first, what sort of man does that make me?

I’m sure it’s for the best – this week we’ve been moving house and I’ve spent the last 5 days moving and unpacking boxes; it feels like I’ve spent a couple of hours down the gym doing squats every day. I haven’t really done enough training and as much as I’d like to think I’m ready, I haven’t mentally prepared for this as well as I should have done.

But I’m still gutted.

Good luck to all those who are taking part and I will watch your progress online. Hope to see you next year.

UPDATE 4th March: The event got cancelled early this morning after the weather took a turn for the worst. It went from being quite a nice sunny day yesterday to being sub zero degrees and windy overnight and snow this morning. Several competitors ended up being treated for hypothermia and James, the race diretor, made the tough call to cancel the race and pull the remaining competitors out. It sounds like I had a lucky escape. Congratulations to all that finished and I hope those who got ill recover well and don’t let the experience put them off.

UPDATE 8th March: James has posted his version of events on the Centurion Running website.

UPDATE 9th March: I have a temperature of 102 degrees. Definitely a good thing I didn’t run with this brewing inside me.