2018 Season: Part 2

[Bierzo Baggie]

Oh dear, just read the above. So much for flatter running…
 
Summer update.
 
Salvaged the season with careful injury management. The ankle gradually got stronger and I managed to do some races.
 
June. The Aquilianos long route. Shouldn’t have taken the risk but I just didn’t want to ruin a 22 year streak. Over 13 and a half hours were taken, mostly walking. At one point as the long mountain ridge stretched out before me I lost visual contact with those in front of me. Looking back I couldn’t see anybody behind me either and I suddenly felt very lonely. Will this be the last one? Struggled horrendously on the big big climb which took me a record breaking two and a half hours. Kept inside the ever diminishing cut-off times and finished for another year.
 
July. Did the Catoute Vertical time trial. It’s an uphill only vertical kilometre so the ankle twisting risk here was minimal. Finished penultimate but enjoyed it anyway.
 
Also slipped in a Park Run in the Mortimer Forest near Ludlow. Wonderful events these park runs. Everybody is very friendly and you can just roll up 5 minutes beforehand, wave your little barcode about a bit and off you go. So simple. Genius. This particular event is amongst the top ten  hilliest park runs in the land with similar characteristics to one down Lewes way apparently.
 
Kept going through August unlike last year. Found a new race in Valdefrancos last Sunday which was being held during the village fiestas. It was a no-nonsense trail-run up and down either side of a steep sided valley. Two long climbs and two rapid stony descents. The ground was hard and I ran in road shoes. Finished in just under an hour, 8 minutes behind Wild Oscar who has cracked the descending this year. I’m just happy to be running. I’ve lost a lot of confidence since the last ankle injury and for the moment I’m going for cushioning, maximum concentration and careful steps. 
So far so good..