2010, April

[El Gordo]

Hi Guys

Thought I'd better say something about my recent absence.

As far as running goes, I've had to write off the spring. This calf injury just hasn't gone away, and I've not been able to find the singlemindedness needed to spend weeks working on core fitness, which is apparently the answer.

It will happen -- will have to happen. I can't imagine stopping running: even my peculiar version of it. I'm planning to walk the Connemara Half course to take in the scenery and generally get my heart pumping a little faster than it does when walking to the pub, which is the main exercise I'm getting at the moment. I'm also hoping that the experience and the race excitement will restore my exercise mojo.

I've lost my job as well of course, though this has no bearing on my silence. If anything, it should be increasing the urge to splurge. Before I get any more well-intended, and greatly appreciated, words of sympathy, let me reassure you that I'm still feeling a greater sense of delight and excitement than I am of dread and fear, but maybe the need to work on solutions has pushed the blog out of my immediate view and concern. The good news is that I have a couple of irons in the fire which I'll write about when I can.

Connemara is just a few days away now, so that will certainly merit an entry or two. After that, I'm hoping I can fall into a steadier routine, both in writing and exercising.

Thanks for all the continued contributions (and emails). Where would we be without the irrepressible Sweder? He has his own serious family concerns at the moment but finds time to run, and to write about it. I need some of what he's on. Perhaps he'll finally reveal the secret next weekend, once the Guinness has got to him.

Cheers,

Andy