Before the Foston and Thornto-le-Clay 10k

It is just past 10pm on the Saturday night before the next 10k. I have eaten late tonight (about half nine, when normally I never eat past eight) as I've been long at editing a possible new school website.

You can see the template at: www.thequillguy.com/test2

I'm using a wordpress template to maintain the functionality necessary when you don't have a plethora of spare technicians with both the inclination and the time to maintain. What does that mean? It means that I've pumped 6-7 hours today on editing it and experimenting which plug-ins will be most useful.

In doing so, I've distracted myself almost entirely from the possibilities of racing tomorrow. It was a great race last year - I was fit, lean and purchased red running flats. I managed to maintain the fast time I aimed for in the Sheffield 10k (43:06) and better it. The last mile was immense.

My fitness now is... different. I have done little running this week. By little, I mean none. I competed in the Filey 10k on the beach and pushed 50 minutes. There was no strength in my running. That, and I was happily ambling along. On Tuesday, I failed to eat after work and decided that I would best give the running a miss. On Wednesday I left work at 9:45pm, which precluded any exercise, and on Thursday I saw my lads play football until 6pm, which again gave me inclination enough to miss exercise. On Friday I went to run, but failed again to eat after school.

It was perturbing how little energy I had on Friday. I attempted to use the stepper for nineteen minutes - I couldn't manage two. I tried to run at 5:30 km pace - again I couldn't manage two minutes.

While there is an element of wanting to try to get at least near to my time last year, I'll be amazed if that's the case.

All of this is without the mention of my aching muscles in my feet, and in my legs. I have put my feet in cold water - I will try iced water tonight...