I’ve done something really stupid. I have signed up for a 10-mile race in Maryport.

It wouldn’t be so bad if it was in June or July, say, but it’s next month.

Oh dear. I’m blaming social media. Fellow BodyFitter Juliet posted it and said something along the lines of “If you’re planning a half marathon in the autumn, it would be great training.”

Well, I kind of am. So I ummed and ahhed like normal, made Sam post up the finishing times from last year to make sure my time wouldn’t be oh-so-shameful and dithered some more.

There were a couple of finishers at around two hours 18 minutes – I put my times together to make up 10 miles and estimated that I would be around the same.

There’s nothing more humiliating than running to the finish line after everyone else has gone home and the organisers are (in my mind) cursing you under their breath.

The Netherhall 10 is organised by the fab running club Cumberland Athletic.

I know one of the members so I thought I’d come up with a great solution. I messaged Stuart to see if he could put me in touch with the organisers.

I had a cunning plan. I could enter the race and pay the fee, but run with the back marker as an official/unofficial entrant.

That way, I could duck out of it if I seriously can’t manage it and my pride would remain intact as I would only be “giving it a go”. I blathered on to Stuart and waited for his reply. He’s a nice man, but he wasn’t helpful. I know what I wanted to say but I don’t think I explained it properly.

Why? Because his solution was trying to get me to join Cumberland Athletic.

“Why don’t you come up and meet us on Tuesday? You could run with us.”

A lovely offer but a step too far. I’ve seen these people at races and runs. They run in shorts. You know, those shorts that athletes in the Olympics wear.

I’m not sure I can inflict that on West Cumbria. These people, quite frankly, scare me. They all look uber-fit and serious.

I’m not sure they have a tortoise section. I’m positive they’re lovely but I’d only drag down their times.

It brings back the memories of when I turned up to that first BodyFit session and that feeling of “oh my goodness, I’m rubbish”.

Actually it’s the same feeling I have when I wander into River Island or Next for a browse – I keep thinking alarms are going to go off and stony-faced staff will send me to Yours or Evans.

I have a complete network of support at BodyFit and I wouldn’t be able to fit in another night of running. Sorry Stuart.

Sam’s sorted out a training schedule for me too and it’s not at all scary. I have to fit in an extra run of 60 minutes, plus a long run at the weekend as well as what I’m doing now.

She’s also recommended yoga. It’s no good. I’m going to have to give up work to fit all this in.

Tracy, the Times & Star’s proper runner, also scared me by saying the first two miles at Netherhall are uphill. So I would like to make a public apology now to the marshalls who are going to be at the Netherhall 10-mile race.

Bring a snack. I may be a while.