I suppose I've got Anita to thank for getting me back in to running. Just as I was thinking about giving it up altogether, she decided to buy me a shiny new running watch for Christmas. Having been content with a pretty basic digital watch up to that point, I really had no idea that the sub-6 minute miles I was convincing myself I was running backwards and forwards to work were actually considerably slower.

The watch changed all that. For once I had a training partner that was always willing to run when I wanted to, and one that would never get injured (I've had a few injury-prone training partners in my time, mentioning no names!).

I knew Anita was impressed when I demonstrated the watch to her. In fact, I sensed she was a little disappointed that she didn't have one, so I decided to buy her an identical model. Needless to say, she was thrilled when it arrived. In fact, we now spend many an hour together going through her training runs, examining where she could improve her performance. It takes a lot of my time, but I know she values these sessions.

Whilst out running one day, I calculated that in the nine months I'd had my Garmin (Gary, I call him), it had travelled over 2,500 miles with me. I concluded we could both do with a holiday - or maybe 5 holidays. That?s when it came to me - Five Half Marathons, Five Continents, all in one calendar year. (Now some of you will be asking two questions. Firstly, why only Half Marathons and not the full thing? Well, just ask anyone who saw me run a marathon, and they'll tell you why. Secondly, why only five continents when there are seven? Well - and I've had this argument several times with work colleagues - the five rings of the Olympic flag represent the five continents. And if it's good enough for the IOC, then it's good enough for me).

So, after a little investigation here's the plan. Marrakesh (Africa) - January 25th. Paris (Europe) - March 8th. Vancouver (the Americas) - May 3rd. Beijing (Asia) - October 18th. And finally, Auckland (Australasia, Oceania, or whatever continent you want to call it) - November 1st.

I thought it was a bit selfish running them all on my own, and so I've thoughtfully entered Anita into each of the races. Needless to say she was pleased when I told her. In fact, so pleased she was speechless. So, five chances of a Half Marathon PB next year.

And I haven't finished there. In 2010, I - sorry we - may try the Rio Half in South America, followed by the Antarctica Half. I'll probably surprise Anita with these as a Christmas present. I'll keep you posted with our progress during 2009.

Phil Westlake

Why - oh why - did I purchase that damn running watch for Phil last Christmas? The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that I have that gadget - complete with its blessed GPS capability - to blame for the predicament I now find myself in.

At a complete loss for what to buy him for Christmas, I found myself resorting to browsing the internet one evening relatively late into December. Amazon promised that if I was brave (for 'brave' - it transpires - read 'stupid') enough to purchase there and then, they could guarantee that the shiny red Garmin Forerunner 305 would arrive in time for Christmas Day. The answer to all my prayers, I thought, and promptly supplied Phil?s credit card number.

Before all of this Phil was quite happy jogging backwards and forwards to work, supplemented with the odd weekend run. He was not the least bit concerned with how fast (or rather, how slow) he was running, and showed no interest whatsoever in pulling on a club vest (which is just as well, because it wouldn't have fitted him).

All that changed when the GPS came along. Before the Christmas turkey had been digested fully, out came the running kit and on went the watch. Long before the New Year had arrived, he had become obsessed with his new running partner - so obsessed in fact, that he decided to buy an identical one for me, and insisted on downloading and inspecting my every training run on the PC. I had long since mastered the art of feigning a hard training run, by putting in a bit of extra effort in the last couple of hundred yards, and thus arriving home out of breath. Now there was no excuse. But a bad situation has recently got a whole lot worse.

I knew Phil was considering various holiday locations for 2009, but I really wasn't expecting his latest madcap plan. Five half marathons in five continents - all in one year. And not just him - me as well!

Marrakech - that blisteringly hot place in Morocco - even in January. Paris - the cold place most probably complete with snow - certainly in early March. Vancouver - complete with a 7am start - on my birthday in May. Beijing - the place that world-class runners recently refused to compete in the Olympics in because of the smog - in October. All rounded off by Auckland in November (13.1 miles running upside down is no way to spend a holiday).

Looking at it positively, once I get these five out of the way, it'll probably quench Phil's thirst for foreign running events and I'll be going on a nice relaxing all-inclusive holiday or two in 2010.

Anita Westlake