Free Press features editor DARREN BURKE was among those pulling on his trainers for the day...
"YOU do realise its two laps of Sandall Park don't you?," said a colleague just three days prior to the 5K run around the park's perimeter.

I'm used to her wind-ups, so took it with a large pinch of salt.

And so it was, I found myself on a cool but dry Sunday morning, jostling for space with scores of other runners in Sandall Park when I spotted one of the course marshalls, long time Sandall Park resident, family friend and local councillor Moira Hood.

"Ready for it then Darren?," she shouted cheerfully. "Yes, I replied. Its only one lap so I'm pretty confident."

"One?," she replied. "No, it's twice round," just as a public address system with Aurora organiser Martin Blagden at the helm crackled into life, repeating Eve and Moira's words.

Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear.

Let's put this in to some kind of perspective here. Running is new to me. I'm no Paula Radcliffe (although strangely we do share the same birthday). I only took it up a couple of months ago as part of a fitness kick which has so far seen me shed more than 30 pounds.

That and the fact that Sandall Park is a stone's throw away from home and I wanted to get in on the running lark having seen a large group of my female colleagues do their bit in the Race For Life this summer.

So for the past few weeks, I've been pounding the streets and parks of Clay Lane, Wheatley and Kirk Sandall in all weathers - suffering from shin splints, asthma attacks, stitch, blisters and ouch - worst of all, joggers' nipple (look it up in a book).

Now during my training, I'd managed two laps of Sandall Park (which, I realise, is not really very far at all), but I came back looking like I'd been in a sauna for the best part of two hours and puffing and panting like Rik Waller after ten seconds on a treadmill.

But, being spurred on by my mum and dad, and colleague Barbara Goodall, whose sister sadly recently passed away from cancer and whose passing had inspired me to do my bit in the first place, I was ready for the challenge.

Warm-up finished, courtesy of Fitness First instructors, there I was, on the start line - ready to do battle - but more Saddam Hussein than Usain Bolt.

The countdown came and we were off - more than 800 runners, streaming uphill and, more alarmingly, past and away from me. Including scores of kids. And a bunch of pom-pom wieding cheerleaders. And my own family GP.

But I knew I'd reign them in - and reign them in I did as the early pace and sunshine breaking through the clouds put paid to the foolhardy ones.

Like a fisherman, I gradually reeled people in on the early stages along the park's edge, sodden and squelchy underfoot, more akin to Sandown on a bad day than Sandall Park.

However, despite the sun beating down, I kept up a good pace - I was determined to complete the run without stopping to walk.

The first lap was easy - as I sprinted through the finish line with another lap to go, I felt confident of achieving a good time - I'd aimed for around 30 minutes (yes, not exactly the four minute mile).

And despite the sweat pouring off me and mud splashing my calves and pristine Aurora t-shirt, I began lapping those still walking the first lap.

A few at first, then loads. Yes, it wasn't a race and yes, everyone's efforts were just as valid as mine. But being new to all the this, the wind in the hair and the euphoria rush as I sprinted towards the finish felt pretty good.

And so it was I charged across the line in a time of just over 31 minutes (my dad doing the timing missed me and didn't stop the stopwatch). I might have been 12 minutes behind the winner and Calendar presenter Carolyn Hodgson probably wasn't best pleased to have my sweating form bearing down over her for a celebratory photograph, but I'd done what I set out to do - finish the course, finish in the top 100 and finish without stopping to, well, die or anything like that.

However, as anyone will tell you. Its not about the winning - its the taking part. And I was proud to take part and what's more raise money for a very worthwhile cause at the same time. Everyone else who was there Sunday can feel the same justifiable pride too.

Roll on the 10K next at Castle Howard on October 12.

Wonder how many laps that one is?