Addison, third in last year’s race, had been targeting the Great North Run since returning from injury in June – but when that race went badly last Sunday he didn’t wait long to enter another big half-marathon.

The former Peterborough Athletic Club member entered on Monday and is now looking to run 65 minutes tomorrow.

He explained: “I felt I was in 65 minute-shape a couple of weeks ago but then went down with a cold a few days before the Great North Run.

“From having a sore throat it developed into a fully-blown cold but I decided to still go to the Great North Run. I now know that I shouldn’t have run it but I feel okay now and hope I am still in 65-minute shape.

“I was okay for a couple of miles but then it started to affect me and I stopped at three miles. A mate, who had run the mile race the day before, was there and we had a leisurely jog to the finish.”

Addison crossed the line in 76.41, finishing 76th out of the 52,000 entrants, but he’s looking to run much faster tomorrow.

Last year’s Great Eastern Run saw him become the inaugural winner of the East Road Race title.

That title was decided by a one-off race but this year a new seven-race series has been introduced and the Great Eastern Run is the penultimate event.

Andy Hennessy – who, like Addison, is not a member of an East Region club but qualifies on residency – of Wells City Runners holds a one point lead over Mark Dickinson of Garden City Runners and both will be in action tomorrow.

Addison, a member of top London club Shaftesbury Barnet, added: “I enjoyed last year’s race and it’s great that it is building up into a big event, so it would mean a lot for me to be the first local again.

“After the race I will do a few more road races and then prepare over the winter for my marathon debut.

“I had planned to run the London Marathon last April but was injured, but that will again be my target next year.”

Addison could get into the UK top six rankings for the distance if he achieves his sub-65 minute target tomorrow.