So ... What Now?

[Sweder]

Some stats, for those who eat them with sprinkled chia seeds.

In 2018, between 1st Jan and 31st March, I ran a grand total of 2.98 kilometres. 
That's two point nine eight. Chest lurghie did for me, and some. I was press-ganged into a gig in Shanghai and missed the Moyleman, despite my extremely poor lung function and ever-present cough. 

At time of writing, 26th February 2019, since 1st of Jan I've logged 124.0 (nicely rounded number!) kms. 
That includes a brisker-than-expected Almeria half, thanks to Antonio being in terrific form and knocking ten minutes off his 2018 time. 
Runkeeper tells me my average pace this year is 7.40 minutes per kilometre. Last year was 7.33 m/km. I can explain the drop by confessing that several times this year I've forgotten to switch Runkeeper off, logging at least 2 hours of wandering about post-run. My bad.

2018 saw a total of 77 outings. This year, in 7 weeks I've managed 22, including my 100th ParkRun (now up to 106) and a few Twitten sessions.

Health-wise breathing remains an issue. My chest is clear, yet the asthma that reappeared after last year's illness lingers, announcing itself with an apologetic crackle at the end of each long exhalation. I have a 'preventer' somewhere in my car, a small drug dispenser that I click and suck on before exercise. I keep forgetting to use it (it's in my car, not round my neck). It helps a bit, and I might use it more once I start to improve. 

It's a bit 'catch 22' of course. Like this morning. I took the hounds - I'm back up to three after the recent addition of Mabel, a delightful Cockapoo with more energy than a huddle of suns - for a blat over the Chalk Pits. Such a beautiful morning, the sun rising over Caburn, mile 23 of the Moyleman, viewed from halfway up mile 1. Mist clung to the town rooftops like gun-smoke as sheep marched south across Landport Bottom. 

On the way home I stepped on the gas. A full-throttle blast for as long as I could manage, around 40 seconds or so as it turned out, until my alveoli popped and crackled like a once-famous breakfast cereal and I had to pull up just to find some oxygen. 

It's good to be out there. Long may it continue.