Today I had a telephone call with a nurse from the cardiac department for a six-month check-in.

She wanted to know how I was getting on.

“Tired, a lot of the time. And I keep getting tummy upsets, which I think must be the medication.”

I also said that I was up to 7k in my training for the Southampton Half Marathon in May.

That alarmed her a little and she questioned the wisdom of running a half marathon in May. To start with I said that when I first started running I went from zero to 21k … and then the thought occurred to me that my first half was in a September and I was starting running in January.

But the Southampton Half is in May – and the start of May – which gives me a shade over two months to get from 7k to 21k.

I couldn’t even do that if I was in full fitness.

Fuck. Gutted.

Rethink required!

She was so worried, that she phoned me up again an hour after the call to make sure that I wasn’t going to push myself. I am very grateful to her the care she has shown – the least I can do is listen.

Message received!

I shall defer to next year.

Or maybe … just maybe … I’ll do the 10k in May.