I love to exercise. I love being fit. I love the feeling I get when I've finished a workout, a ride or a run. I love being optimistic and positive. I also love burying my head in the sand.
Burying my head in the sand meant I ignored the achillies niggles, and the niggles developed into an ongoing injury which has had me away from any sort of proper running for months.
At the end of July is the Lakeland 100, a ballot entry classic that I earned / gained a place in and it was to be the crowning piece of this year.
For weeks now I've been trying to be positive and have been determined to make it to the start line, of course with the ambition of getting to the finish. Just days ago I packed my race pack in a bid to be more positive.
However, today I laid it all out. The risk Vs the reward.
The reward is finishing the event and gaining Lakeland legend status. The risks are numerous as even if do finish I'm unlikely to not aggravate things.
Possible outcomes include any and all of the following:
Exacerbating the injury to a point where I can't exercise Needing Surgery Not being able to work Not being able to guide a 6500m peak I'm working on in October Seeing my mental health crash Being a grumpy sod at home Being a crap Dad and Husband Not being able to work towards my 8000m peak goal in 2024
And so, really the answer is obvious. Don't start this event and continue the rebuild back to full fitness. I'm gutted, but it does feel like a weight has been lifted.
Thanks to those that have supported me to this point. Good luck to all those taking on the L50 or L100 - go get it!