I HAVE only just begun working in Swindon and the town's half marathon had never been part of the original schedule. In fact, the plan was to run the Cabbage Patch 10 in Twickenham, and I had already received my number for this very popular race which is rated as one of the flattest and best 10-milers in the country.

However, with a new job in the Wiltshire town, it was hard to ignore the Nationwide Swindon Half Marathon, which is now in its fourth year. The Swindon Advertiser, where I am editor, was one of the race sponsors and what better a way of finding out more about the patch where you are working.

Would this be just another fairly ordinary town half? I was pleasantly surprised. The Swindon Half is brilliantly organised. There's loads of car parking to the south of the town by the huge Nationwide offices, and thanks to the council the whole route is closed off to traffic. It was superb. No car trying to muscle their way past a gaggle of runners.

The race started near the building society headquarters with a sharp uphill climb, but then headed out along the Marlborough Road and out into the country.

The route was surprisingly hilly, heading up to Wanborough, through the lovely village of Liddington and then back into the town. There were climbs aplenty, but the route was sprinkled with scores of very enthusiastic spectators and loads of drinks stations.

The weather was good, and this was a wonderful race. I enjoyed myself and the runners alongside were chatty and friendly - which made a pleasant change. There were an estimated 2,000 runners taking part.

I clocked a time of 1hr 37min almost identical to my time at the Great North Run a fortnight earlier. I'm not running as fast as I used to, but I am consistent.