Under lilac skies.

Well the condition affecting my left leg appears to be chronic, whatever it is.  I am hoping that careful planning will allow me to do enough training miles to do some ultras/marathons this year.  The long rest has done some good, I can feel the injury in a more critical way.  This might allow the possibility of redesigning my training and of modifying my gait to minimise  aggravation of the injury.  Even moderately quick road work causes a flair up.  This will mean abandoning my lunch break sessions, a shame as they were very convenient.

Popular events get more popular all the time, entry lists get full earlier and earlier.  It is going to be difficult to plan ahead with my present lack of confidence in my fitness.  I will go for Beachy Head Marathon, I just love that event.  The time limit is generous, if worst comes to worst I will rest rather than train for it and then walk round with the occasional trot.  I would also love to do the Isle of Man Mountain Ultra again, though I don't exactly have much time on my hands in that one.

I went down to Barlaston Downs for a gentle walk with friend Geoff Berrow, Geoff is a bit knackered from chemotherapy at the moment so just a gentle stroll. This allowed me a pleasant recce of the area with plenty of opportunity for photographs.  It was a bright day and evening crept lilac into the sky, my photographs do not do the light justice, I hope Geoff will share his later.


Long shadows as evening creeps over Barlaston Downs.

I enjoyed the Downs greatly, careful route planning would allow good runs of around 4 - 5 miles, laps would be needed for more.  I doubt if I will make the journey often, a twenty mile round trip in order to run five miles would make me feel rather guilty and indulgent.

Lilac skies as the sun goes down, Barlaston Downs.

Nearer home everything is getting rather muddy, a momentary lapse of attention caused me to slip and hurt my right ankle again.  I am back in action, though I think I have put recovery from the previous ankle sprain back a good bit.

The woods look fantastic with their bare branches everywhere.  I cannot capture the impression the scenery makes on me.  The complexity of it all just seems overwhelming in photographs, the eye and brain seem to 'zone' things when actually there.

Perch Pool, Watermills Wood, full to overflowing at the moment.

Watermills Wood, another lilac sky

I was looking forward to my first proper fell run in six months last weekend.  What with the knee still playing up and re injuring my ankle, I decided to give it another week.  Trotting round my local ten mile route went well enough, I think I'm up for a leisurely fifteen in the Peak next Sunday.  I will just have to see what the weather brings.