I HAVE never done the Great North Run but really wish I had. I have never run more than about nine miles in one stint.

I did play Rugby Union for many years and always wondered how many miles I covered in a game. Two of my rugby mates did the Great North Run the weekend before last. George Nicholson who was a county winger in his heyday has now run every one of the 38 Great North Runs, raising funds for Acorns.

My neighbour, ex-Durham City prop forward Steve Meikle, did a Tough Mudder down in Cheshire on the Saturday running for some three hours then came up to Newcastle to do the run on the Sunday.

He came in at another three hours and raised in excess of £4,000 for St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham.

Quite a feat in my book and I seriously take my hat off to top lads like these. I envy them greatly.

Malcolm Rolling, Carrville