Peroneus longus

Not a character from Life of Brian; but a muscle/tendon that runs down your leg and round your foot. It's also the reason I won't be doing the Exeter half marathon next Saturday. Mine's torn or strained or something like that. ETA for return to running: six to eight weeks. Disappointed about the half as I thought this might finally (after just four years of trying) be the one I do in under two hours - super flat course in an area I know well. Sadly, unless someone very strong volunteers to carry me, this won't be happening. Neither will the Grizzly in March - 20 miles of hills, bogs and beaches. Less disappointed about that one.

Pic: Ankle does not usually look like this.

Conflict of interest

In the red corner: my newly arrived Finchley20 race number.

In the blue corner: a large bar of Dairy Milk.

I came home from work with the intention of changing and heading straight to the gym. That was half an hour ago and so far I've managed to 'indecide' myself into paralysis. Right, this isn't helping. I shall go to the gym in the morning and eat the chocolate tonight. Carb-loading. Excellent.

The active choice

Since the 10-miler on Wednesday, I've been feeling weary. I chatted about it with a marathon-running friend and he said it was just my body getting used to the longer distances. I decided not to fight it and took two rest days this week. I love how doing nothing is now an 'active choice' because I call it a rest day. I also actively chose to go on a 24-hour eat-a-thon: porridge with bananas, scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast, spaghetti with garlic and chilli oil, a spinach and ricotta pastry, one bar of Toblerone, a large bag of Kettle Chips and a trifle. I'm hoping to turn these calories into a medal-winning performance at today's parkrun. Fingers crossed my P.E. kit still fits.

Pride comes before a cold

Woke up this morning feeling like Munch's Scream. My face was sliding off and my head was banging. That scuppered my 9 am parkrun plans, but I was determined to make Power Pump at 11. Power Pump, despite its rather off-putting name, is a great exercise class for running. Its mix of strength, core work and cardio proves an excellent support to 'miles on your feet'. That's why, after poking down a cocktail of tea and Sudafed, I headed off to my local leisure centre for a good work-out. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out like that. The class was full. Damn new year's resolutions. I asked if I could be added to the waiting list. "No, there are already nine people on the waiting list." I know when I'm beaten. So, instead of weight-lifting and squatting, I spent the morning in the cafe of the Hampstead Theatre, enjoying the sunshine, drinking yet more tea and reading the paper. A result, I think.

(Stats: Two cups of tea, one newspaper (Guardian), one magazine (Woman).)

(Pic: Soaking up the literary atmos at the Hampstead Theatre cafe.)

The beauty of rain

The beauty of rain is it means I feel no compulsion at all to leave the house. I ran yesterday, therefore I can stay in my pyjamas today without guilt or regret.

It is also a good opportunity to do some marathon training research. Despite spending a lot of time reading about training schedules, I've not really been following one. I say not really. I mean, not. I've been told by my successful running friends that I need to have a plan. One that I stick to. Not just keep in a drawer.

To that end, I've just found this 16-week beginner's one on the Runner's World website. It seems pretty straightforward and, more importantly, is flexible enough for me to stand a chance of actually sticking to it.

Well the flexibility starts here. I'm changing Monday to Sunday so I can begin today. And, would you Adam and Eve it 'day one' is a rest day? That means by not getting out of bed, I have already commenced my new regime in earnest. Result.