It is the addiction no one really talks about.

Until it's mentioned coyly by a fellow enthusiast and then you just can't stop rabbiting on about it.

More people do it than you think.

That person sitting next to you in the office? Probably a twice-a-weeker.

All shapes, sizes and ages - there is no barrier to it. And that's why it should be celebrated.

Running. It changed my life and with the zeal of the converted, I think everyone should have a go.

There's also loads of people I know who I've seen at events who I would never have dreamed in a million years were runners.

I know it's a small world, but really! This weekend is the Festival of Running at Workington and I've signed up to do the 10k route with my mate Dianne and there's a large crew of my running club, BodyFit, going along too.

There's also a 5k and a 1k available, so there's no reason why Sunday shouldn't be the day you decide to try it.

There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I wear Lycra with gay abandon and don't care if I frighten the horses.

Go on, see what all the fuss is about - I can promise you almost 100 per cent you won't be last. That will be me.

I run a slow mile. But it's still a mile.

I'm never going to be the fastest and I'm never going to win a race. My physique does not scream "runner" at you.

But I just can't stop. This will be my fourth official 10k of the year and most certainly not my last.

This former confirmed couch potato loves every minute of it and tries to sneak in extra runs each week.

Last weekend, Margaret and I met up at Watchtree Nature Reserve, near Carlisle.

It is running a free 5k on the last Sunday of the month and the course is lovely. There's an abundance of wildlife - although Marg did nearly trip herself up looking at some birds chasing each other in the sky so it's maybe not such a good idea to look around while running.

It's fairly flat, which is why we quite like it, but for some reason, it was a slog.

Parts of the course went on forever and my legs felt like lead.

So it was a nice surprise to find out I'd managed to complete it in a personal best time.

That's the adventure with running. You never know how your next run is going to go, so it's always worth taking the chance.

Join us - and remember to wave as you pass me!