Sadly because of the lockdown and social distancing rules, this year I could not do the London Marathon.

It’s OK, I understand that saving lives is more important that completing a race. As Spock would say, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” so I totally understand.

I also hadn’t signed up for it, done any training or even taken up running, but it’s nice that I can blame this on Covid-19 for a change.

I wasn’t the only one prevented from competing on Sunday but it became another heart-warning lockdown story as people took up the 2.6 Challenge instead. In place of running for 26 miles people found other things they could do at home 2.6 or 26 times.

Many people did their events in their gardens but I read of one athlete who was doing laps of his living room. It showed great ingenuity although probably bothered his other half if she was trying to watch something on TV

Thankfully it wasn’t all running as I’m not naturally gifted at sprinting or long-distance so I avoid those sports. If someone asked me to do a 1.6k I’d run a mile.

Swimming events happened too. A charity worker was in the news for swimming 2.6km in her back garden. Thankfully she had a paddling pool or it would have been even harder.

Award-winning mixologist, which is a fancy word for bar tender, Paul Martin attempted to make 26 cocktails in 26 minutes. That’s impressive. It was more impressive before the lockdown but some of us have been drinking so much we’re getting near that hit rate without trying.

There was Lynn Hedgecoe who walked round a six-acre field 26 times in 26 different outfits, including doctors’ scrubs, a scuba suit and an Elvis costume. Firstly, maybe those scrubs should have been sent to a doctor. Let’s not start the 2.6kg of PPE challenge.

She also could have called that a “Getting changed in a field 26 times” challenge. I’m sure there were people online who’d pay for that.

It’s great that we can tailor these challenges to our abilities. I may not be able to run 26 miles or but I could eat 2.6 packets of biscuits. Actually I might fail that challenge as there is no was I’d be able to stop with 0.4 of a pack left. Looks like I’ll have to do the 26 pack challenge.

The point is, yet again, with all of the bad news around about the coronavirus crisis, we see stories about people pulling together, kindness and indefatigable spirit. With that spreading we’ll beat this lockdown challenge.