OOOH, what a week it has been.

Seven days ago, I ran in York at the Brass Monkey Half Marathon. It was a good race but not a great race. But what struck me afterwards was how everyone was describing in awestruck tones as how this was the best half marathon in the UK, if not one of the best races in Britain.

I guess I was feeling a little delicate after reading comments on the Runner's World website about my own race, the Stubbington 10km, which was warmly received in most parts, but which also received some of the most childish and churlish comments you could ever imagine.

For example, one person complained that the drinks stations were positioned on the left-hand side of the road, and since most runners are right-handed, this was a wee bit inconvenient. Nurse, can you take this patient away, please!

Reading comments on the same Runner's World website about the Brass Monkey, I couldn't believe how much hype there was. Come Tuesday morning, there were still no results - the race was good, but not THAT good. I posted a message on the website saying just that, and got flamed, being accused by these arrogant northerners of being stuck up my own backside.

One in particular annoyed me, so I emailed him separately and called him a northern ****, which he promptly posted on the Runner's World website. All very childish and churlish, but funny anyway.

I also managed to get five minutes live on radio with my friend, Steve Power, who hosts a breakfast time show on Wave 105. That was terrific publicity, and I got a lot of positive response from people who heard the broadcast.

So it was onto Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire on Sunday for the latest installment of the running adventure, and this was a good race.

It's called Not the Roman IX, and it is held over a rural 12km or 7.5 mile course on the outskirts of the fair town.

I loved the race. It was pretty hilly in places, with some spectacular countryside, and a lovely downhill finish, including a breathtaking downhill hairpin turn in the quaint village of Loxley.

Seven point five miles is my kind of distance, and I had a storming run. I finished 92nd in a field of 700 runners in a time of 52 minutes, going through 10km in 43 minutes.

The atmosphere in the race was really good, and I ran the second half of the race stride for stride with a local lady called Denise who helped me pace sensibly.

Compared to the Brass Monkey the week before, the Not The Roman IX is a race which doesn't take itself too seriously, the runners aren't as anal, and it was good fun.

I celebrated afterwards with a trip to the local McDonald's!!