One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.... My Secret for How Not To Run

Have you ever had an idea or a plan, and it seems so right you've thought "by God, I've got it!"? But then that plan suddenly hits a new track and veers off in the opposite direction leaving you staring in bewilderment at where you thought you were going?
Same.

Let's just start by saying this year hasn't been an unqualified disaster. To begin with I had that clear idea (re The Journey To Everest Starts Here), to run the Everest Marathon next year for HorseBack UK, the charity helping military veterans get back on their feet. Great.

Off to work I went, with the whole range of 'running' emotions in tow...

Of course, you can't just do the Everest Marathon, you have to prove yourself able and so I completed Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra and Lairig Ghru Ultra in the hope I'd be ready to tackle the big hill races, all the while keeping people updated with progress and raising a little awareness of the charity's work.

And G2E and Lairig Ghru were both successes.... Cue the "veering off in the opposite direction"...

A couple of things happened: I entered, and eventually had to pull out of, the Two Breweries Hill Race (re Regroup, Replan, Re... oh f*** it), then I sprained my ankle under a horse (long story, short ending), then I got a job offer outwith the country (even longer story).

And so here I am, staring in bewilderment.

But if I'm anything, I'm stubborn. Especially about things that really matter. And HorseBack and the work they do does matter. It matters more than running, or races, or training, or injuries - I would have given up a long time ago if that's what this was all about. It's about people who have come away from doing something they either felt was right, honourable, stable or worthwhile, only to find they've been left scarred - physically or mentally - and unable to fit back into 'normal', everyday life. Without support they might never. Remember the 22 Push Up Challenge? This is what I'm talking about right now. How many ex military men and women will die away from the battlefield because they just can't find a way back to normality? And how many can be saved by programs like those at HorseBack? http://www.horseback.org.uk/

So, the original plan had been to run Everest in 2017 sure, but that's not going to be the right time for it now. So I'm going to do it in 2019, since it's held every two years. After a year of fundraising and awareness raising for HorseBack I can see how much still needs to be done to get their message across, so this extra time will allow all of us to spread the word properly and raise more money!

As for now? I've got hill races to prepare for. I'm determined to re-strategise and make myself good enough for these god-awful adventures in order to be good enough for Everest. My first step will be to find a race... 

Stay tuned, people. Over and out, the still bewildered runner.