I had to force myself to do this.

I promised myself a long run, then a run - it rained it was blowing a sou-westerer and it was about 11c at dusk. I check the radar again, waited for watch to charge - anything to delay the run. I looked at one number and knew I had to go - zero - the first time in 12 weeks I would not have clocked some k’s.

It was fresh, my heels were tight, my fraying leggings fell. But I continued on, wheezing with a perpetually elevated heart rate.

Then I started to hit a rhythm, the pounding and strains gave way to the ipod in my head, to bits of nursery rhymes and children’s television. It was almost as once the sweat ran, the pain stopped and the mind became free.