Round and round we go.

Round Hill after taking a tumble

It seems some considerable time ago now that I sat on my kitchen floor after a Harrogate League race (from which I withdrew) and despondently announced to my wife that I thought my racing days were over. Mercifully they are not.

All year I've been afflicted by rubbish form. Worse still, there've been moments in some races when I've needed to stop and regain my breath. Take the 10 mile mark of the Blackpool Half as an embarrassing example. Fortunately I had the wit not to try the full marathon that day.

When running up hills I've been puzzled by my weakness and left scratching my head wondering if I should get down to the gym and work on some leg strength. Similarly, after around 2 miles on flat road races I've been reduced to a wheezing weakling. There have been palpitations, agonising chest pains and dizziness. So finally I hauled my reluctant backside down to the quack shop and declined the polite offer of another visit to cardiology until having had some blood tests and x-rays. Well wouldn't you know it, I have iron deficiency anaemia. Suddenly it all makes perfect sense, and to paraphrase Lord Prezza, I'm a happy bunny. All I needed was a course of ferrous sulphate tablets.

Now I'm not fit, not by any stretch of the imagination, but I am enthusiastic, which is more than I've been able to say for a some considerable time. So today I ventured out to Timble with Mother Earth to have a crack at the Round Hill Fell race hosted by my club. At £3 it is an absolute bargain for such a charming and well managed event. It was won by some bloke called Zeus in 54:12 and I came home in 34th in 66:08 and with a very broad (internal) smile. My only goal was to run non-stop and, aside from the small matter of a fall that ultimately cost me a place that I'd spent 5 miles battling to retain, I managed exactly what I set out to achieve.

What now? Next weekend I'll be camping up in the Lakes and getting up early on Saturday morning to tackle Skiddaw with Ginger Majik. Then later in the day we'll take a hike up Dale Head to spectate the Borrowdale race. Next year...

Last year I promised myself that I would do the Burnsall Fell Race and immerse myself more in the spirit of the Feast. How lucky I am to be back enjoying myself again and just counting my blessings that I don't yet have to leave this glorious life behind.