Inspired by my recent reading into running I will join my friend Paolo on the annual Villa Gentile – Monte Fasce race in 2 weeks time.

The distance is only 7.31km, but the change in elevation is 795m, which makes it a vertical slog for which I’m little prepared.

Deciding for the baptism of fire approach to training I kicked off my campaign yesterday with a half marathon at 2000m :

It was a roundtrip with several hills, but this was the biggest climb :

The result is predictably that I can’t walk, but I feel that the burning sensation, stiffness and crippling pain must indicate that I’ve done some good. At the very least it’s a taste of what’s to come…