Running is like moulding yourself out of plasticine. At first, you are all hard and unflexible. Then as you warm up you become more fluid, easy to shape, bouncy even. The first three or four miles always feel hard. Then as these pass running becomes easier, my joints are looser, my muscles more flexible and light. It’s as if I’ve melted the ice off the engine and the car is running smoothly again. I wonder if it is this reason that I dislike 5km races as I’ve only just warmed up by the time the race has finished. But other runners must feel like this as well so I don’t suppose I can use this excuse!