Back in business!

I’ll forego any artificial suspense or other such bullshit and get the most important update out of the way. I am back running again!

It has been several weeks now since those first nervous strides (more like shuffles!) on the treadmill and I have been faithful to my intent from my previous update which was to make a tentative start and build up during the month of July.

I have mixed treadmill work with some outdoor running on both tarmac and light trails. I have run up to seven miles although I have been breaking the distance up by doing shorter circuits or by taking very brief walking breaks to minimise cumulative stress on my calf. At the time of writing, all sensations in my calf feel normal both running and at rest.

I would be lying if I said I have achieved 100% confidence in my calf at this point but that will hopefully come with more time and mileage under my belt. So, onwards and upwards. My intention for the next two months is to focus on distance and elevation, with continued lower body strength work. I will refrain from higher intensity, shorter tempo efforts for a while to allow my calf to fully consolidate and re-condition. I have been surprised at how much fitness and conditioning I did lose, even with the work I was doing during the month before commencing running again. I know it will all come back fairly quickly though.

What do things look like for the months ahead then?

The one event still on my calendar from earlier this year is the Atlas Quest Ultra Trail de Toubkal in Morocco at the start of October. I remain signed up the 105km race but that is not 100% certain at this moment in time. I have submitted my race history credentials for approval but await a decision at this time. The cancellation of key events in the last few months has meant that I am relying on more historic evidence to support my case. I am not sure how that is going to go.

However, there is a fallback plan if I cannot get the green light for the 105km race. I will try and transfer my entry to the Challenge race. This comprises two separate races over two days. A 42km race with 2,600 metres of elevation on day one followed by a shorter 26km race with 1,400 metres of elevation day 2. The overall cost is identical to what I have already paid for the 105km race and I have already purchased my flights. Although the Challenge race could still be a lot of fun, I still very much hope that I will qualify for the 105km race.

Prior to that, there is a very good chance that I will resurrect my fastpacking plan for the GRP in Andorra which I had previously planned to do in June. I am looking provisionally at the first week of September, but I can decide pretty close to the time as it is as simple as a flight booking to make it happen. It would be excellent distance, elevation and terrain training for Morocco so it makes a lot of sense to do it.

I have nothing specific on the calendar for the remainder of 2025. I simply haven’t been able to look that far forward whilst the injury was hanging over me like a dark cloud. I could once again enter the Sidlaw Ultra at the end of November. It is a very local race to Dundee and I have missed it the last two years. In 2023, it was too close to the Cheviot Goat and last year I knackered my left ankle ligaments about a month before the race and had to withdraw. I have half an eye on something else in December but that is too far away right now to think more seriously about.

I think there will be great opportunities for running, fastpacking and general training right through until December before the really long nights come along. Then, eyes will look towards 2026 and I already have some tentative ideas for next year.

Meantime, I need to stay sensible and grounded in the present and refrain from doing anything too ambitious or ill-advised that might jeopardise my longer-term return to running.