Sometimes you need to take a step back with training.

For anyone who followed my mini-adventure on the West Deane Way ultra last year, you’ll know that I turned my ankle over a few weeks before the event. It caused me some bother on the day, although we made it round and there didn’t seem to be any lasting damage.

The sensible approach at that point would probably have been to make sure it was fully recovered before attempting trail running again.

But my club has a friendly, very active trail group. My running friends are big into trails. There are so many fabulous local routes to discover. And the ankle seemed OK. So a little more off-road couldn’t hurt, right?

All went well until January’s Blackdown Beast. Described as a ‘social run’ rather than a race, it’s a merry little jaunt through the Blackdowns from Dunkerswell, taking a circular route through village halls and pubs, with pasties and mulled cider as an added incentive. We ran the longer 16 mile option, and perhaps took the ‘social running’ a bit too seriously. Stopping at every pub for a pint – I’m looking at you, Phil Wilson – at one point we managed to get ourselves behind the tail runner. Despite our best efforts, we didn’t come in last. I had a blast.

Only problem was, I turned my ankle over. Twice.

The good news is, it was the other one. The bad news is, I now had two dodgy ankles.

Again, it seemed to recover OK.

Then two weeks ago, the trail running group were doing a 25-mile run round the Valleyheads Way, a brand new trail to Hemyock and back.

The sensible voice in my head said: ‘probably not a good idea’.

My ego said ‘it’s a new trail! It’ll set me up perfectly for the Taunton marathon in a couple of months! What’s the worst that could happen?’

Ego won.

Six miles in, and bazinga. Blackdown Beast ankle over again. This time, I couldn’t just walk it off. Every time I tried, my ankle complained. Loudly.

Cue a long trek to the nearest pub in the freezing cold, and then the rain, where I could be rescued by my lovely family.

I have history with this particular problem. Training for my first London Marathon a couple of decades ago, I managed to miss a pavement curb and turn my ankle over. A move not to be recommended.

But one that I kept on repeating. Over and over and over again.

The problem with ankle sprains is that they weaken the ligaments, wreck your proprioception, and make you more susceptible to…you guessed it, ankle sprains.

That’s not a route I want to go down this time.

Now fate’s taken a hand. The personal trainer course I’m really keen to do runs over both the weekend of the North Devon marathon and the Salisbury 5-4-3-2-1.

I’m disappointed, especially to miss North Devon which is a fantastic event. But I’m also looking forward to taking a step back, and having a chance to recover, repair and strengthen those ankles.

And I’m making myself a promise: I will be back on the trails. Just not yet.

Now, anyone looking for a couple of race places?