THE last time I was in Guernsey two years ago, the island was fogbound, cold and, quite frankly deathly dull. What a difference a hefty dose of superb weather can do to change appearances.

Easter weekend in the Channel Islands has been glorious. Temperatures in the mid 50s fahrenheit, non-stop Spring sunshine, and Guernsey takes on the appearance of a blissful mini paradise.

Every Easter for the past 26 years, the Guernsey Island Amateur Athletics Association has hosted a four-day running festival. It's an event which attracts runners from across the British Isles for some quality competition and decent social activities.

This year, the festival drew runners brimming with class, including a top Zimbabwean runner, a couple of useful Kenyans, and some stars of the future from the Aldershot, Farnham & District Club.

On Good Friday, the festival began with a 10km race based at Rovers Football Club to the north of the island, run along tight roads which sweep the rocky coastline. A slight breeze took the edge off the heat but made for a fast and furious run. Williard Chinhanhu from Poole Runners destroyed the 201-strong field with a whippet time of 29min 19sec. I ambled round in a much more sedate time of 44.09 for 84th place.

On Saturday, the competition moved down the road to L'Ancresse for the Keith Falla Memorial Cross Country, staged over a lumpy 4.75-mile course dodging the occasional rabbit holes on the short, sharp hills, before setting out on the coastal path, past the historic Martello Towers and with a stiff sea breeze for company.

It wasn't a particularly comfortable run; short and testing. Williard won the race in 23min 33sec, I finished well back in 67th in 34.48.

Race three on Easter Sunday featured a return to L'Ancresse for a 4x2 mile relay on the millennium stone course. I ran with Stubbington colleagues Glen Street and Richard Simms, with Brigend's John Embling running the anchor leg. What's great about this race is that is attracts a lot of young runners, and some of the under-15s scorched round the course in times which put the likes of me well into the shade.

I ran leg three with a split of 13min 45sec, as our team called Bridgington Men finished 21st out of 38.

Come Easter Monday, tired legs headed for the capital St Peter Port for the finale, a gruelling half marathon. Though relatively flat, the weather was at its hottest for the weekend, and thankfully the organisers had six water stations which was great.

Together with Richard Simms, we set out to run consistent 7min 30sec miles, and I was delighted that we came home in a very respectable time of 1hr 38min. It was Richard's first half marathon, and he ran very strongly towards the end.

Williard was a convincing winner of the race, and in 17-year-old Aldershot star, Steph Twells, she marked herself down as one for the future by setting an age group British record for the half marathon - it was her first half.

Four races in four days, and ideal preparation for the London Marathon in two weeks' time. Now is the time to ease back and to taper for the race on April 22nd. Bring it on!