Bad news and good news......

    This is going to be short for, truth be known, I'm a little under the weather after a couple of traumatic experiences this week.  First was another of those nasty steroid injections into my Rt eye on Monday to reduce the lasting inflammation. It may not be wise to run with triamcinolone crystals shaking around in there at the moment, but I should be flying by weekend!
The second is a stitched up hole in my head as a result of a biopsy on Tuesday to identify a rash of itchy little lumps my dentist became concerned about, advising me to have them checked out.
I'll know the results on December 22nd.  Hopefully.

Selfie taken on a sunrise run last week, at -4ºC    (Click to enlarge)

    I've kept having to remind myself that Christmas is only spitting distance away, but I reckon it finally sunk home when cards started plopping through my letter box.   Stamps, cards. wrapping paper, tags, shiny ribbon, sellotape - and presents - have all been purchased and work has begun on the onerous task of dispatching things to their various destinations. 

    Among today's batch of cards was a letter that cheered me up no end, proving just the tonic I needed to dispel much of the gloom that's overshadowed the last two days.  It was from Charmian Heaton of the Fell Runners Association telling me I'd been granted Honorary Membership of that esteemed organisation.

Three times winner of this rose bowl in the Three Peaks of Yorkshire race

    In my short racing career I competed on roads, track, X-country and fells, giving a good account of myself in all disciplines. But should anyone ask me which was my favourite my answer would always be the fells.  

    The Three Peaks was one race I felt I had to run when pulling on a pair of studs for the first time at the tender age of 54.  And run it I did.  Indeed, I rate my finest racing achievements as having my name engraved on the Clayton-le-Moors rose bowl three times as winner of the MV60 race.  Seven marathon wins pale to insignificance.
Another thing that came in the post yesterday to cheer me up was the amazing 'Storytime' DVD by the Swedish heavy metal band, Nightwish.  I played it throughout, volume turned high, my eyes glued to the screen, and went to bed feeling 50 years younger. Here's a sample track
Time to go, more presents to wrap.  I may or may not be here next week....