I’ve had nearly 3 weeks off training. It started with a cold which then spread to my sinus’s. I’ve never had sinusitis before. It’s horrible, constant nagging headaches and toothache join the almost limitless flow of luminous yellow snot.
With the Denmark training camp looming, let alone the first world cup race in Hungary the following week, I was starting to get worried. A bit of Googling for treatment options has seen me with my head over a hot bowl of steamy Olbas oil and a search through Boots for a decongestant not on the UK anti-doping banned list. In the end I decided to try a do or die run on Tuesday night at club training on Cannock Chase. I was even late arriving there having had a puncture on the motorway (when it rains it pours it seems) so only had time to run a short course before it got dark.
Other than a slightly fuzzy balance feeling where the world seemed to wobble slightly I was fine, the snot clearing in the first few controls. I ran the whole 25 minute course perfectly at about 85% effort until the last control which I overshot, mis-sreading the map due to darkness falling and sweat in my eyes.
Top tip though for the time being: don’t overtake me on the right in a mass start in Hungary! I have a defense mechanism in place at present…..