I’ve switched tack. I jog or cycle first thing each day, in the dark. This week I’ve hit my 70 km cycling target and will jog 7 kms 3 times, planning to steadily ratchet back up to 10 kms each outing. I’ve also decided to get to the gym three times a week. Nine exercise sessions a week means that on two days, I get out twice, something I’ve never attempted before. Yesterday I ran early, cycled early afternoon, and I was sore but uninjured. And my writing energy levels have increased.
I can now gaze forward at the year’s goals: 3,500 cycling kms, 900 jogging kms, 90 gym visits. Will this feeling of fitness improvement persist? Let’s wait and see.