So this weekend I should be running The Montane Cheviot Goat, I’ve been excited about this for a long time now – probably about 3 years since I first entered it but was injured in the run up and so did not start the race in 2018.

I entered again only for the pandemic to delay the start several times and so we come to Wednesday, today, two days before I need to leave home and drive down to Northumberland and begin a race I have long admired.

Here’s the rub though, there are issues, positives and negatives. What do I do?

Positives

1. This is a race that I have long wanted to run.
2. The organisers have pulled out all the stops to make sure the event goes ahead after storm Arwen.
3. Running and racing in winter is one of my favourite things to do.
4. I get to use all the new gear I have bought for this event.
5. I get out of going to my daughters piano recital.
6. I get to link up with the likes of the awesome Ian Braizer and Kate Allen.
7. It’s another opportunity to race.

Negatives

1. My hip flexor and abductor are fucked.
2. After my foot injury in the Peak District two weeks ago I have not run since.
3. Covid and its variants are on the rise.
4. Storm Arwen damage may make it more challenging both on the day and logistically for all concerned.
5. I am navigationally challenged.
6. I was advised by the doctor who looked at my foot 2 weeks ago that I need 6-8 weeks of rest from running for reasons I’m not allowed to publish in case the GingaNinja reads this. The doctor did confirm though that I didn’t fracture my foot as this would have made me an immediate DNS.
7. Being fucked off by the White Peaks 50km has left me in a bit of a funk about running.
8. There is the fear of a Goat DNF.
9. I haven’t run an overnight race in about 3 years.
10. I’m not a very good driver and fear being caught and stranded in snow with nothing but a shitload of chocolate for company.

I’m not worried about the weather or the underfoot conditions or anything like that I worry about not being able to finish or being the stupid bastard that needs the mountain rescue. In fairness to myself I’ve got good mountain skills for the most part, save for being a bit navigationally challenged (though I’ve bought a Garmin Etrex as back up to my Fenix 6X to help with that) and I can read a map to a point.

I’m more concerned about my hip flexor injury and my foot both of which may make a finish unlikely but its a proper trail race and my hip flexors stand up to trail better than they do tarmac and so maybe that might mitigate the problem enough to get me round. The foot though is an unknown that might rear its ugly mug or not show up at all.

Maybe I’m worried about nothing but the question remains ‘to Goat or not to Goat’?