It was going to happen sooner or later- I have injured myself! nothing major but I seem to have got myself a minor case of “runners knee”. Despite it being a bit painful and meaning I have to wear a sexy knee bandage, I do feel like a “real runner” now that I have an official running-related injury.

Over the last few days, I have noticed a change in the early-morning folk I encounter on my jaunts. Of course, there are still the leathery, middle-aged men, packs of minuscule old ladies all talking at once, and impossibly glamorous never-ageing women, but I have spied a new breed infiltrating the track.

With race day almost a month away, the “REAL runners” are out in force- long-limbed, sinewy, effortless, slightly muscly, and in professional-looking get-ups, they sweat and huff as they speed past me, each stride worth at least five of mine.

Their presence serves as a reminder of how tough this is and that I have a lot of work to do over the next 32 days.

On the bright side, I did manage to snap a photo of Barry in all of his majesty. Look at his happy little face!

Barry the Labrador

Despite my slight limp, on I plod. To keep me motivated, and more importantly to support the ongoing fight for media freedom in Malta, please dip into your pockets and send a little donation my way. The Shift News cannot continue without the support of readers and kind individuals who value the work that we do. Every little helps!