Summers are a time for enjoyment and relaxation in the sunshine, stretching out on your back and watching the clouds scud purposefully by. The only exertion should be to refil your glass with ice-cold juice and maybe to turn over on your front to get more comfortable in the grass.

In no way whatsoever did a shouting school teacher figure in this mental oasis to force me back to brutal reality. “Fifteen hundred metres? Isn’t that, like, a really long way to run? Can’t I just lie here for just a little longer?”

I wasn’t enjoying my position any more on the burning blue rubber of the high-jump matress, but I knew that this was only a small discomfort when compared to a k-and-a-half of pain. At that age, any distance longer than a football pitch was at least a mile.

I can smile at that easily, now. Then, such activities seemed rather pointless and were just ‘things-that-had-to-be-done-so-as-not-to-be-shouted-at’. Now, years older and wiser, I do them for a reason.

However, this kind of enjoyment is something to be savoured afterwards – not during.

Get hot and don’t bother as you sprint around iconic City landmarks such as the City of Manchester Stadium and the B of the Bang. Scramble and dangle over thirteen challenging assault course obstacles that will have you screaming for more!
Post event, if you’ve the energy, the excitement continues at the Party in the Park Festival with entertainment, food, drink and tons of useful stuff to sample. Sundays in the City just got adventurous!

Sunday 13 July is going to be interesting as hundreds of people gather to put themselves through pain, all for a good cause. I’ve chosen to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care and have already received pledges totalling almost £300.

Come along and have a laugh. At me, if not with me….