My alarm was going off, it was still dark and I felt distinctly annoyed as it was Sunday. Then I remembered, I am going running!

Now that Max has sailed off to Antarctica for 2 months I needed to replace my missing running buddy somehow. My plan is to fit in training and socialising, by running to friend’s houses for coffee and catch up before either running or taking the train home again. This weekend, to keep it simple, I was going to join the Grand Union Canal and run to Kings Langley. Two 7 mile runs – flat, easy route with food in the middle, plus see my friends. Win!

I got up and checked outside.

Snow. Inches of snow… and it was still snowing. SNOW!!

Family said I was nuts to go out, but I have all the right kit for snow. I packed my 8litre Salomon pack with a compressed synthetic down-like Montane coat into a watertight bag and put on my Altra Mountain Kings (amazing grip in the snow, if not the most supportive for flat routes), and headed out. It was beautiful.

However, the best part of today was getting home to find in my inbox confirmation that I got a ballot place on the West Highland Way Race (96-ish miles) next June! Here is to getting my act together and making that start line in 6 months time!!!