This week was a novelty. For the first time in ages, I managed to make it to both BodyFit sessions and the Saturday run.

Monday, we had the Hill Street blues. It was the return of the looped tag run and Jo ran us up to Fitz Road.

We had a choice of going round Princes Road to Harrot Street and back or Hill Street, Henry Street and back.

The first is a long gradient that appears to go on for miles and Hill Street is a short sharp shock up.

You would think that Princes Road is the better option, but I actually prefer Hill Street as you get it over and done with.

I've developed this weird thing with hills like that too - I seem to be able to power up them at a remarkable rate of knots, passing people and everything.

On Saturday, I bustled up the Jennings hill with no problems at all.

But when it comes to the long gradients, I really struggle.

I wish there was some magic pill you could take that made them easy, but I know it's just practice. The more I do, the better I'll get. Although I can't help thinking a move to Norfolk would be easier.

It was the same on Thursday. Sam was in charge and we ran to Sullart Street.

I have a love/hate relationship with this street.

I love the fact that I can run up it now - this time last year, I remember struggling to get to the first lamppost and stopping with Lynn, thinking I was going to pass out.

But I hate the fact that it hurts. I start off okay, then when I get to the first crest, my legs twig what's going on and refuse to move without a great deal of willpower.

It didn't help that Sam wanted us to belt up there flat out, go up the cut and run down Fitz Road until the first person got to the lamppost at Dunmail Crescent, shouted 'turn' and then come back full tilt. Needless to say, I never saw the lamppost.

I didn't help myself by forgetting to eat on Thursday either, so by the time I got to the cut, I was feeling sick. Totally self-inflicted and not a mistake I will make again.

It's all about positive mental attitude though, says Sam, so despite the fact I was positive I was going to throw up, I tried very hard to continue.

By the fourth time of doing the exercise, I was feeling better and more confident that I was going to be able to complete it. Unfortunately, then it was time to go home. Shame.

Without BodyFit and the gang , I would have given up running as 'too hard' a long time ago.

But it's worth persevering with and it doesn't matter how difficult it is - that feeling at the end of a class/run is hard to beat.