I have not made any attempts at running since Christmas Day, in an effort to clear up the nightmare that is my respiratory system. I can only take heart from the fact that 99% of the population seems to be suffering with similar stuff this Christmas. I am grateful that my normal good health is keeping me going, but it is getting me down.
Today I decided to go for a four mile round the block job, and resigned myself to - if I have to have a walk break I will - but it was worse than I thought. Much worse.
As soon as I got onto a slight incline and my legs wanted a little more oxygen, my lungs responded by seizing up and after a stop-start effort I eventually ended up sat by the roadside at good ol' Joe McBain Avenue wondering how I go about volunteering to be a helper at the Edinburgh Marathon.
I managed to get back home - it's downhill - but that was a wee while ago now and my breathing sounds absolutely dreadful. I dare not go near a vet - they will put me down, for sure.
In all seriousness, I am gutted. I have lost so much running in the last four or more weeks that I really don't think there is any way I can manage the marathon. I am too behind with my training now. I maybe will swap to the half marathon, but for now, I think I only managed a mile today before I pulled up.
Apart from the lung malfunction, everything is fine, legs etc all working well, so I will stick to a bit of indoor bike and maybe some circuits until I am better. (Although it is traditional to run on New Years Day, so look out for a miler!)
Trying to keep my spirits up and be thankful for the good stuff, and with that in mind, Saffers can have this run. I'll get one another time, when I am all better.