This time next year.......

.....I'll either have massive blisters and a big grin or will still be on a drip in a Moroccan hospital somewhere feeling a bit down. Either way, the race will have been run! That's quite scary.

The 2011 MdS has just finished meaning next time round it's my turn. But first there's a whole shed load of training and planning to do. Plenty of shiny new kit to buy too, all of it of course will make me much much faster. Due to work going a bit nuts recently I've not been able to follow any of the race but I'm hoping to review the web for info on it.

The last few weeks' training have been fair to middling I'd say. Did a couple of longish runs, including back to back 10 milers on successive days. The second of those was round the Derwent Reservoir at night - an awesome run and one I'd be keen to repeat.

I've had a minor bout of plantar fasciitis in my left heel so have refrained from too much running, but it was tested last weekend with a cheeky 8.5 miler in the sunshine and seems to have held up since. Still no news on the shoulder, but it's troubling me a lot less currently so am not too worried - I have another appointment with the consultant at the end of April.

All in all, a fairly low key beginning to the final countdown.