St Luc in the Valais, Switzerland

The land! That is where our roots are. There is the basis of our physical life. The further we get away from the land, the greater our insecurity.
HENRY FORD

So maybe the mountains are my roots? It feels like home to be back amongst them. This time I lie in my tent - the beauty of a skyline ridge above me, stars in a clear sky. Sleeping in the laps of the gods? For now home is St Luc a quiet village in Val d’Anniviers in the Swiss Valais - preparing for my International Mountain Leader Assessment next week. Fretting …. So this time being ‘home’ is tinged with anxiety …

Since last up high it seems to have been a whirlwind. Dublin via London - to give a talk at the 53 Degrees North store as part of their lecture series. Daunting and humbling to be invited to talk in the wake of icons such as Chris Bonnington. But I was made very welcome and well looked after. A bit astounded by the media interest after countless interviews I felt ‘talked out’ even before my presentation. Ultra and endurance running doesn’t tend to draw huge attention, but people seemed to like what I said. Maybe in someway I gave them something to think about? Back via London and a meeting with Right to Play. I am very happy to support them as one of their Athlete Ambassadors (see link) - afterall when ‘children play, the world wins’. A special day with all the family (rare now that we can all - parents, brothers, sisters, nephews and niece can be together at the same time) and then back again to the Alps.

Ahead - the summer solstice and a meeting in Frankfurt before train back to St Luc and assessment …..

And the running? Just the last day or so it has started to feel more ‘normal’ - will be careful a little while longer - but maybe I’m on the road?

http://www.righttoplay.org.uk

Graubunden, Switzerland

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
GOETHE

Do you ever wake up in the morning and not know where you are? It seems to be happening every few days at the moment! But this morning I awoke to birdsong, the insistent sound of the flowing river, the breath of cool mountain air on my face and the gentle rhythmic patter of falling rain.

Home. Back in the mountains .....

Of no 'fixed abode'. A nightmare of packing up and making logistical plans - but now I'm on the road - I feel like I have a one way ticket to a blank destination. A wonderfully terrifying sense of freedom. The Leeds flat is packed up, books and kit in storage, and leaving from an oasis of tranquility staying with friends in Linton the unknown lies ahead.

After a first aid course in Wales, a mad capped swop of bike for rucksack at Euston train station and a week of The North Face meeting in Austria now I have just a couple of days here in the mountains. Then next week a talk to give in Dublin.

If I manage to be in the right place at the right time with the right things and having done the right preparation it will be a miracle!

But now I concentrate on getting some 'time on my feet'. Still running only 15 mins at a time. I think healing is nearly there. But I need to be sure .... And so I must be patient and take things slowly.

But may I leave you with a challenge?

Whatever you can do, or believe you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Endurance IS exploration.
Be bold - begin to explore one of your dreams.
Sometimes, just sometimes dreams come true.