Running has got to be up there with the top ways to deal with stress, writes Hannah Webster.

There’s just nothing like it as a constructive form of releasing tension. I came home the other day after a rather horrendous day of wrangling with people who seemed intent on making my life more difficult for no particular reason. It was just one of those days.

I got back, and the last thing I felt like doing was going out for a run. But the fact is, when you are training for a half marathon (the Reading half on March 20), your body does not give two hoots if you had a stressful day. It just knows you haven’t done the work and you pay for it on race day.

So I went for the four-mile fast run as planned. And boy after that first mile it was hard, but I kept my pace and finished the run with all my energy spent. I can’t describe how an exhilaratingly fast run obliterates all those thoughts that buzz around your head incessantly when you are stressed. I’m telling you, doctors should prescribe it.

*****

I got a lovely letter from a reader the other day, which started out “Your newspaper tells me that you are in training for the New York Marathon. I think you need to be applauded right from the start to sign up to such a commitment.” It’s really lovely that someone took the time to write me a nice letter about my efforts. The letter did, however, go into great depths about the Bible and God, who apparently “rejoices over me with singing”.

I won’t go into my own religious beliefs, suffice to say that this doesn’t figure in them, but if the Big Man really is on my side in this challenge, I’m not going to argue.

*****

My fundraising page is up and running for the New York Marathon, which I am running with the aid of Sports Tours International. People have been very generous so far and I am incredibly grateful for the support. I know Walsall Hospice is as well. I tend to look at fundraising websites and think it will look a bit weird if I randomly sponsor someone I don’t know. Please don’t think this where I am concerned, I really am grateful for any and all donations, even if it’s just a couple of quid.

My fundraising page can be found here.