Its been a while....

...and a lot can happen. So where are we now? Well, for the first time last night I completed a run which made me think I may be finally getting back to a reasonable level of fitnes. Only about 5k, but over an undulating course and mileage splits all under 8:30, taking over half a minute off the best time for that run this year. All in all pretty encouraging and although there's a heck of a long way to go, it makes me feel that I'm heading in the right direction and the Peopleton Scenic Six in early April is a realistic target for my first race. More threatening to the positive mood is the fact that the Mavern Half Marathon is rapidly approaching, giving me a nudge in the ribs and reminding me that I need to be upping the mileage on a regular basis, getting out there over 5 and 6 miles next week instead of the 3's and 4's I have been doing. Against this positive backdrop the health is on an upward stroke too. After the Asthma diagnosis things just seemed to get worse with the cough, back pain and tension being even more of an issue (although the two were clearly linked), forcing me from Osteopath's table straight back to the GP's office. That last visit resulted in a brown, Steroid inhaler being prescribed and although I'm still a bit rattly, the wheeze has improved and......... wait for it....... after a full four months I've finally stopped waking up with a raking cough every morning. Hurrah! What a relief that is, I can tell you. Okay, so I still have my moments, and the back is still sore and stiff, but I'm working on that with a Yogalates DVD and regular stretching to compliment the osteopathic treatment so I'm still hopeful it's not going to keep me off my feet. Just to add to the problems though I've rubbed up a tremendous blister on the instep of my left foot, which I think was mainly down to gathering mud on the bottom of my shoes when running along the canal, making them heavy and more prone to movement against the foot. Painful, yes. But it'll go eventually. So that's all the prosaic news, oh, that and the fact that on last Wednesday I was laid off by my erstwhile employer. A predictable meeting in Little Chef prompted a run across the Malverns - madness - talk about continuous hills! Truly exhausting but what I needed to clear the head in spite of the aching muscles on Thursday and Friday. So it looks like over the next few weeks the running will take on added importance to keep me on track as I look for a new job. It's an opportunity I intend to take advantage of and on the plus side I've got three months notice and a strong possibility that my former employer will take me back (if I bend my kness and tug my forelock sufficiently). Its all good. Total Mileage: 49.19. Getting better.