In my column of June 19, 2020, I featured what I considered to be a very moving story about the time when, during one of my FOP Group Training sessions in Felthorpe, I watched a lovely elderly gentleman known as George walking round the park in the opposite direction to which the group were running.

Just a few months earlier, George had a lifesaving operation for cancer of the oesophagus and would walk a lap of the park each day or evening to help with his recovery.

On this particular occasion, though, as the group ran past George, it entered my mind that one of our guys, Bhaskar Kumar (Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia) who is a specialist surgeon in oesophago-gastric cancer, was more than likely to have been the surgeon who had performed the operation on George.

However, it was not until the session was completed and we were heading to the car park, I pointed to George and said to Bhaskar, “I have a feeling you may well know him”.

The next few seconds were priceless as Bhaskar stopped in his tracks before running towards George, who was also very emotional, repeatedly saying, “he saved my life, he saved my life”. I have always said that this was one of those stand-out moments which you never forget.

Sadly, George has since passed away, but my contact with Bhaskar is still very regular, particularly as I am helping him with some training advice for what will be his first marathon, next March 16 in Rome. It's something he said he would never do, despite me telling him that one day he would take on the challenge of running the distance.

Needless to say, there is also a driving factor and one which is very much work-related to him.

Having recently attended the funeral of a patient he had operated on just under a year ago, before the disease returned despite surgery and chemotherapy, Bhaskar told me that he felt it was now the time for him to participate in an activity which would represent the courage, hope, perseverance, and physical resilience his patients show.

They're his words, not mine. He also said: “OG cancer affects not only the old but the young too. Avoidance behaviour to seek medical attention for symptoms such as difficulty when swallowing food, is an issue with middle-aged male patients, who represent the majority of cases. Gastric (stomach)  cancer is often forgotten about and remains the second to third commonest cause of cancer related death worldwide. A fact which is often overlooked.”

It is these factors which remain a focus of his research at the University of East Anglia and the NNUH. "As a specialist within the field of oesophago-gastric cancer, I have spent the best part of my career treating patients with this dreadful disease and whilst I have had the privilege of being at the forefront of successfully treating a number of patients who I still see in clinic today, I have also been witness to the suffering and pain which OG cancer has caused many patients and their families.”

So, all roads lead to Rome for Bhaskar next March, when he not only intends running the 26.2 miles of a marathon but would also like to raise further awareness of this horrible disease as well as raising money for the Upper Gastrointestinal fund of the Norfolk and Norwich hospitals charity.

Knowing Bhaskar as I do, I know he will put in the work required to not only complete the marathon, but also do it in a good time too. The one thing you can be sure of is that he will always give 100pc to everything he puts his mind too. I should also mention that he is a very high-level tennis player too. Going forward, keep watching this space as I am sure you will be hearing more of Bhaskar’s journey during the next few months.

Talking of marathon running, my saying of 'perfect pace makes for the perfect race’ is never more relevant than when it comes to running the precise pace over 26.2 miles.

When you toe the start line, if you want to run to the best of your ability then there is only one way to do it and that is to know exactly where you are at with your current fitness level and, of course, ability.

City of Norwich AC's Logan Smith executed his marathon plan to perfection last Sunday in Frankfurt with an amazing run, finishing in two hours, 15 minutes and 49 seconds in what was his second ever run over the distance.

I have known Logan for many years, and he really does know what it takes when it comes to preparing himself for a challenge ahead. Mind and body, that is, along with help from his equally talented coach James Senior. My congratulations go out to both of them.