Trying to sort my head out...

These are tough times and they call for tough measures, in our wee community of ultra runners are some of the most responsible sensible people I've ever had the pleasure to know - we love our group runs, our sweaty runner hugs but we also understand the pressure on MRT and other rescue services so fully appreciate why events are cancelled. We are in the main fit and healthy but that doesn't mean we aren't carrying viruses even if not displaying any symptoms. I am gutted that our races for the foreseeable future are cancelled or being rearranged and between that disappointment and the extra stress of working from home and doing extra stuff, I am finding it very hard to get motivated to go for a run. I know I need to as I will feel better when I've been but my head is too busy with all the other stuff that's buzzing about in it! I know from friends' posts that others are equally confused/stressed. I'm not writing this for sympathy just trying to get my thoughts in order. I want to head to the hills more than anything else at the moment, especially on a beautiful day like today but I can't. I am going to try to drag myself out and go for a walk/jog on the local cycle path then I will come back and do some more work in the hope that I can keep just a little ahead of the game for tomorrow - we have a plan in place for tomorrow but who knows if that will change overnight... I think that is the most disconcerting thing for me at the moment, the speed with which things are changing, we often moan - and I am one of the worst - about the lack of guidance coming from "Them" in this case I guess the Government but I think that "They" are in the same boat as the rest of us...
Working in the arena I do I am used to having to sometimes make tough decisions and make them quickly but at the same time trying to be proactive and put pre-emptive procedures in place - there isn't time to do this with coronavirus. Yes we have the evidence from countries who are ahead of us in the spread but we don't have enough time to think then act, it's about doing it all at once!
It's all happening so fast, and irrespective of our Political views or disdain towards the politicians, at the end of the day they too may have elderly relatives who are at risk and children whom they can't get to hug etc., lets not forget that
I am saddened at the thoughtlessness and selfishness of some of my fellow humans but if I'm honest not overly surprised, just annoyed - there are always going to be people who think it will never happen to them, they only think about themselves, we've all seen the reports in the news and social media of people 'escaping to the highlands' with no obvious thought for the small communities with limited resources that they may be having a negative impact on.  We've seen photos of folks still drinking in pubs or cafes etc and never mind the horrors of the panic buyer/hoarders!!
If you have a nurse who lives in your street, chances are he/she will be working 12 hours shifts from now on. If you can spare one, leave a toilet roll or a bag of pasts (or a bunch of daffodils) on their doorstep next time you're passing.  If you've an elderly person in your street, pop a note through their door offering to pick up shopping/prescriptions etc. or even just sharing your phone number in case they're in need.
I have spent this weekend feeling very close to tears on a number of occasions for no particular reason and I guess that might continue...
We are fortunate we are both in good health, the freezer/cupboards are pretty full and I have flour so can make bread.  I ordered a ton of slate chips and some more sleepers yesterday morning so hopefully can use this at home time to get the garden sorted out, it's been sadly neglected since we became van owners.
I guess I should stop rambling now, I was needing to try to get some rambly thoughts in order in my head and this was the easiest way to do it. 
I hope that you are all healthy and stay that way, I'm looking forward to all the hugs and catchup runs/cake/fizz that will come in the hopefully not too distant future. To sum up all the advice about handwashing/social distancing/not hoarding etc in true Ultra 'speak'

Don't be a Dick!

This is the next race on my calendar - hopefully...

Some musings

“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley”  Robert Burns Nov. 1785

“Well that was a bit of a wash out in running terms” John Munro Nov. 2019

After much checking of weather forecasts during the week, the final decision was to head to Aviemore for the last long run for both of us. We managed to get away from work a little early which meant we got well up the A9 before darkness descended and settled for the evening.  The forecast was for a cold, clear day on Saturday and I’d 18miles on ‘easy trail’ on the programme so intended running across the Ryvoan pass from Glenmore to Nethybridge and back.  I went to bed Friday evening looking forward to the day ahead and had a good 10 hour vansleep. 

Saturday morning was grey and damp with mist hanging right down to below the tree tops!  However apart from feeling a bit pissed off that the forecast hadn’t been true, we had breakfast, got ready and headed off.  John had decided he wasn’t feeling the love so would head off and see how it went but most likely leave his long run til Sunday.  As I trotted down the road from Glenmore to the Hayfield I was already feeling the dampness catching in my lungs and decided I would change my plans and do loops of the G24 route. I know this well, it’s varied and it doesn’t take too much navigation. I texted John to tell him and set off up the grassy hill remembering how much I’d looked forward to this year’s race but been thwarted by the dreaded lurgy.  As I danced across the patches of icy snow I changed my mind again and headed along the side of Loch Morlich, this is a nice trail which leads out onto the road which is usually a bit tedious, but as there’s been a huge amount of forestry work here, the road was thick with mud which had been compacted by heavy plant and with a coating of snow was a reasonable surface for a change.  I was running and hiking and maintaining a constant pace which I was pleased with but still struggling with the damp making me wheezy and by this time John had texted to say he’d stopped and was back at the van. I decided to run to Aviemore and asked him to meet me there. I continued to trot along at a steady pace but wasn’t feeling 100% I couldn’t put my finger on it it just wasn’t right however I finished my run but it was only 9.25 miles - half the distance on plan 😢

After a relaxing afternoon in the van we went to the Pine Marten bar for dinner, a couple of beers and a singalong with the resident musician who we’ve seen before and is really good! Walking back to the van I started to feel uncomfortable with severe stomach cramps and a sudden but thankfully short lived bout of D&V knocked me for 6! I don’t think there was anything wrong with my food or the 2 shandies I had, I get these episodes once every year or so when I am tired and/or stressed and it goes as quickly as it comes on, always without any warning but it meant that today I am completely washed out so didn’t do any running. I’m almost feeling back to normal now after a nap when we got home and a lovely steak pie dinner, will have an early night tonight and hopefully be back on form tomorrow.

So yep it was a bit of a washout in running terms but we had time together with no interruptions to talk about future plans and reminisce a little too - we don’t get those chances too often and it was nice to sit watching the snow falling at breakfast time.

We leave for Oman early next Sunday morning so I need to be back up to full power before then! 

Miwok 100km - not to be

So, as we say... 💩💩💩 happens! In this case literally 😝 

A severe does of gastric flu hit John Thursday evening, thankfully not so severe symptoms but unpleasant none the less, along with the resultant sleep loss for me Thursday evening (ironically once he was ‘finished’ he slept like a baby - I lay awake all night fretting!) meant that yesterday we were both wiped. 

Went to bed and set my alarm for 2:30 just in case by some miracle I felt better, however I woke at 2 and switched it off at 0215. It’s a tough decision to make but this is a course and a distance that I needed to be 100% for both physically and mentally. Physically I would have been lucky to hit 65% and mentally was all over the place so decision made and a good 4 hours sleep followed. I’m sad to have had to have made this call, this race has been on my want to list for 5 years and up until yesterday I felt I was as close as I was going to get to being ready, I’ve worked hard to get here and was really looking forward to giving it a go. I’d rather be a DNS and be somewhere familiar with John than a DNF miles away and not being able to get back to him for hours.

When we get thrown the curved ball, we either catch it or duck out the way complaining that it’s not fair. I feel I’ve caught it this time, I’m sad that I’m am not out on that stunning course today chasing cutoffs but I’ve a good whack of training in the bank and I’ll find another race to put it to good use (there are already a few lined up for rest of year) so it won’t be wasted. We’ve had a great trip over here which we wouldn’t have had without the race, we’ve been new places and I’ve achieved things I never thought I could and wouldn’t even have attempted a year ago. We’ve caught up with great friends and had a really good and well deserved break together with time to just be together and enjoy each other’s company and share the adventures so it’s definitely not been a wasted trip. 

Bonus is we can spend our wedding anniversary together instead of being apart for most of it as it would have been! 

2019

It's been on my mind a few times over the last couple of months that I've not put any of my random ramblings down on virtual paper.  I'm not sure of all of the reasons but think that it's mainly because social media as it is today means we almost live in the moment and each others' moments too.  This is brought home really strongly if we're away for a weekend at a race and you realise that you've not touched your phone all weekend other than to message the next checkpoint when first runner and sweeper has passed you.  I have heard myself say on a couple of occasions "I've not been on facebook all weekend - but that's because most of the people whose expolits I would be following are here"
I love following friends on social media,looking at their photos, listening to them on podcasts or just reading their tales and I guess the corollary to that is that there's no point blogging as it's all on instagram/twitter/facebook etc.  I do however like the blog for my own personal use, it's like the diary I never kept very well when I was a teenager and I like to be able to look back and see how I felt about a particular race or a trip we did or whatever.  So here's a wee recap of what I've been up to so far this year.
Interestingly when I came here today, I reread the last post (from Sept 2018!) which was about my new friend Consistency. I am pleased to report that she has stayed by my side all year this year and I have so far, had a good year.  I have been training for a number of races of varying lengths in 2019 and so far all has been going to plan - apart from not being able to motivate myself to get out the door this morning, which has left me feeling really sorry for myself all day today.*

In December we went to Oman, John ran and I was put in charge of an Aid station, I have been meaning to write about that since we got back and I will still try to write it up, it will just be out of chronological order!

2019 has gone pretty well so far:

At the beginning of January we went to Kielder for the Winter Series. We ran a 10mile run on the Saturday morning and a 10km in the dark on the Saturday evening.  It was great, trails are superb, weather was kind, stars amazing!  I was final finisher in both races but worked hard, did my best and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

End of January saw us fly out to Chamonix for a spontaneous crazy weekend - deep snow made our usual trails interesting but fabulous! The last minute-ness of the trip also added to the excitement and adventure.



The first of the 'big' races of the year was in Gran Canaria at the end of February. 
I did the Starter (30km) and John was entered for the Advanced (65km) however he had been rehabbing a calf injury in the weeks before and made the right decision not to start while he was waiting to board the bus to the start line.

I loved the race, from start to finish even the big hills and the technical stuff and the weather was spectacular which was a bonus!
I wasn't the final finisher this time, there were a fair few behind me :)
We also discovered the joys of  "All-Inclusive"which was great on the Sunday for post race, poolside recovery!

Our first marshalling event of the year was D33/99/133 on the 15-16 March.  This was a one off race series to mark the 10th anniversary of the D33 and George's final event as Race Director.  What an amazing weekend it was! Weather was fickle as usual, very windy and bright but cold on the Friday for the D99/133 and then on Saturday it tipped down and was freezing!  As per usual, the Sunday was a beautiful day though still bit blowy and we had our traditional run out to Dunottar Castle before heading home.  So many stories and photos already shared from this weekend that I won't add more in here.

Sunday 24th March saw me running round the North Inch in Perth, and round and round and round 21 times!  (though lots of folk went round 42 times!)
We have been to spectate at the Self Transendence & Anglo Celtic plate races a couple of times in the past few years and the format of this event has always appealed to me.  Contrastingly it's John's worst nightmare :-)  I like the sociable side of it, you see your crew and everyone else's and spectators every lap and the speedy runners pass on the loop with words of encouragement or a thumbs up as they fly by.
When the race opened in November I think I was the first to enter!  I was the last over the line in the 50km but I had a brilliant day!

Now it's mid April and we are getting ready to fly to the USA next week, we will have some holiday time exploring Boulder and Colorado Springs, then my 'A' race - Miwok100 is the weekend before we fly home. John is also running it but not sure if it's his A race or not.  I am looking forward to this with a degree of trepidation because although the distance and terrain aren't phasing me, the cut-offs are tight and right on the edge of what is doable for me. I am going with the intention of giving it my all but also aware that there is a fair chance I will get timed out.  I intend to keep smiling though as that seems to have been the theme of the year so far!
So there you are that's a quick round up of the year so far...


*I am sitting writing this with a sore throat and a snuffle and absolutely no motivation to go out and run even though it's a beautiful morning. This is due to combination of things, I have been carrying a bug for about 6 weeks which abates but just doesn't go completely away. I am working in an office with people who are sniffing and coughing all around me.  I've found work quite stressful over the past few weeks - all of which combine to make me feel a bit run down.  To try to counter this I have been taking spirulina as a supplement again and trying to get back into the clean-eating habits I'd established well since the beginning of the year, but this week has been a struggle.  Add in the pre holiday stress which I always suffer from and you have the perfect recipe for procrastination

Relationships, good and bad

Some musings from my run this morning, in no particular order so forgive me if it’s a bit rambly.

All of my running life I have had a long standing on/off relationship with an acquaintance I wish I’d never met, she is called self-doubt and regularly raises her ugly head in an effort to scupper my endeavours.  Sometimes she wins, and when this happens, plans go awry and good intentions falter and I get fed up and occasionally get as low as wanting to give up running altogether and just get fat and miserable. I loathe self-pity I don’t believe there is a place for it in our lives and most of the time I can get over the blip and put her back in the dark recesses.  The last 3 weeks I’ve had a new companion her name is consistency and I am delighted to have her in my life, it’s early days and I’m working hard at it but I think that this will be a positive relationship which we will all benefit from.  However... self doubt is a jealous bitch so she decided this week that she was going to have a go at me and see if she could push the ‘new girl’ into the background- think playground fall outs when a new kid comes to school... she rode back into my head carrying a banner with three words on it, Flat, Road, Test!  She nearly won! I was ill thinking about it at the beginning of the week and this contributed to an almost sleepless night but my new friend consistency stayed by my side and helped me pull up my ‘big girl pants’ flick her the bird and do the workouts on my program.  Self doubt hovered on the sidelines, close enough to feel her presence but the positivity from my new companion was keeping her at bay and I even contemplated entering a race to do the workout but I couldn’t find one close by, at one point I thought self doubt was going to win again, John offered to run with me to help me, but I couldn’t put him through that stress, he has enough to do getting himself fit and ready for his next big adventure.  This morning I sat for a long time watching and listening to the rain and feeling that presence on my shoulder and it was a struggle not to let her win.  She was trying to convince me that as I couldn’t do it I shouldn’t bother going out at all I should just stay in the warm and dry.  At the same Time I was chatting online with a friend who is struggling in a different way but there were analogies which struck me so I went out and I ran.  I ran the prescribed mileage, I didn’t run on the road, I ran on a familiar trail, it wasn’t flat but it was flat enough to be runnable and I ran without
walking further than I have for at least a year! This Is a big win for me.  The analogies from my chat with my friend?  In education circles there is a lot of talk about readiness for learning and about how instead of forcing children to fit into an environment or fit a particular model, we should perhaps alter the environment/change the model to suit the learning styles of children, particularly very young children.  I strongly agree with this and as a teacher would do my best to adapt teaching styles etc to suit the needs of the child - and believe me I’ve had my fair share of pupils where a lot of adaptation was required.  Today, with apologies to my coach, I adapted to suit my needs, I altered the environment and I had a successful run.  I finished it feeling, happy with consistency by my side and self doubt well and truly put back in the corner.  Tomorrow is another day, but every day we can keep self doubt at bay is a win and I will gladly take it!  Work at the good relationships, nurture them and everyone learns and grows, stifle the bad relationships and keep them in the past.  (Big hugs to a brave wee soldier called Archie who is fighting his own battles just now but with help from the people he has good relationships with he will win of that I am sure).

Chamonix - good for the soul!

It's been a few months since I've updated my blog, and seeing friends' photos from Chamonix this past week has prompted me to write a wee bit about our last trip out there.  As we prepare for the next one...

Last year, John and I headed out a few days before UTMB week and we spent 3 days fastpacking on the first section of the UTMB route.  We left our suitcases for the following week with the lovely Bob and Gail Allison and after lunch/beer with them, Karen and George, we headed off on the bus to Courmayeur and our first overnight stop.  Early start, hills aplenty and views to die for, another fab overnight stop in Arnouva and repeat.  By the end of the third day in Champex Lac I knew I couldn't manage a 4th as I was very tired (annoyingly so - but the reason became clear when I got home!) We got the train from Martigny to Chamonix and what a fabulous journey that was!  Way up high then down through awesome gorges and forests etc.  We picked our cases up and checked into our apartment soon to be followed by Amanda and Julie.  A fabulous race week ensued.  Amanda successfully conquered CCC and Julie conquered all sorts of fears to hike up to Le Lac Blanc amongs other places!

So to this summer... John was successful in getting a place in TDS so we decided that we would head out and do another bit of the TMB route to give him some climbing/hiking practice and us both a well earned break.  By the time we left I had also got a race place in the new 'baby' race, the MCC so this gave me a good feel for my race route too.  Again we had lots of climbing, amazing views and spectacular weather, we discovered that it was Marathon de Mont Blanc and it's associated races that week, so John did the VK and I did a 10km race.  Our friend Gayle was doing the 90km and we managed to get out and about and see her on the route!
It's only 4.5weeks til we go back again and we can't wait!  When my lottery ticket comes in I think I will be looking for a wee apartment/retiral home out there...

Am I going to Die? (no not yet)

Imagine the scenario it's the middle of the night, you're so far North it never actually got dark last night and you have a wee fire burning to welcome runners as they run down the hill towards you. A car stops, a runner has DNF'd at the previous CP and his wife has picked him up and driving him back to their hotel. They wind the window down and I lean in to speak to them, "there's a runner about a mile up the road, she's being sick lots and says she's vomiting blood" - ok thanks - (heart sinks slightly as yes you have your outdoor first aid certificate but I don't think it covered vomiting blood other than that's pretty darn serious - and remember we're in the middle of nowhere)

About 10 minutes later the runner appears, head torch bobbing as she runs down to the CP, slowing to a walk as I go out to meet her... "you okay?" There's a genuine petted lip trembling slightly as she shakes her head "no" was the pitiful response... "I keep being sick and it's horrible, there's loads of bits of blaeberries and then it's like dark blood" - blaeberries?  I ask her to confirm that's what she said, "yeah" - it was hard not to laugh out loud and I tried not to sound too incredulous as I said "ok let's get you over here and you can sit down and we can check you over."
Seated in the camping chair she's lucid, bright eyed and really happy to see us, telling us how pleased she is to see us "I love you guys!" then in the next breath she asks "am I going to die?"  We did laugh out loud at that point!
John asks her lots of questions, all of which elicit a rapid fire response, I have seen this particular lady in a far less lucid state on a couple of occasions and in my opinion, she's in pretty good shape.  She wasn't the first runner to arrive with us 60 miles in to a really tough race who had been sick - it sort of goes with the territory, you're pretty wiped, you've not got much left in reserve and your body is too tired to process what you do put in so tends to eject it fairly rapidly after it's been eaten/drunk.  Anyway back to said runner we were tending to, after we agreed she was in pretty good nick and she'd drunk a can of pink fizzy lucozade and eaten a banana and we had managed to reassure her that she wasn't going to die, at least not at this point in time, her friends appeared in their van and one of them agreed to run to the finish with her.  This lifted her spirits, she announced she would "just have a quick pee behind the van then we'll get away" and off they went heading into the darkness.
Jeni is an amazing lady, a damn good runner who has struggled in the past with nutrition but is working on strategies - just not blaeberries!! - or if you must, then remember they look like blood on the way back up :D
Thank you for giving us the best laugh of the night Jeni after giving us probably the only wee fright that we might have a medical issue that couldn't be cured by a wee bit of tough love and a mtfu pill - believe in yourself, we all believe in you and you were AWSUM!
(photos with kind permission of and credit to Jeni Rees-Jenkins)

She did It!

Un Aventure Tres Grand!

A few months ago - October 2017 to be precise, John and I set off on the biggest adventure of our lives... I have been waiting for him to finish his write up before I wrote anything at all about it from my side.  Here is his version of the race of his/our lifetime and now that it's done, I will maybe try to put some of my version together.  Enjoy!!

Catching up

It's been a wee while since I was last here - 2 months** and a fair bit has happened in that time.  I tried once more and failed once more to complete the WHW race at the end of June.  I had trained hard for this and felt confident that although I'd be one of the last finishers and would be pushing the cutoffs at least in the early stages, I was in the right place physically and mentally to make it to Fort William.  39miles in, the path gave way and I slipped - feet first towards the loch!  It all happened really quickly and I instinctively turned my body towards the wall of rock and grabbed for a handhold!  Luckily I got one so didn't end up making a big splash!  I climbed back up onto the path, a bit shaken but determined to keep going, I felt like I had a dead leg and it slowed me down more than I wanted which meant that I didn't make the cutoff at Beinglas Farm :-(  I was absolutely devastated and sore, I still feel badly about my selfless and amazing support crew and everyone else who was wishing me well and wanting to see me make it...
sorry xx
I was lucky that the weather was kind to me and the biblical rain and gales didn't come in until about an hour after I'd stopped.  Then boy did it come in!  I will confess to lying in bed at 0230 listening to the storms raging and offering up a wee prayer of thanks that I wasn't out in it!  Utmost respect to those who were and ultimately yes, I would rather have been there too.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me with their best wishes since then too, you know who you are and it means a lot.
My next goal is Loch Ness marathon at the end of September so it's been right back into training and was really enjoying it and ticking of the workouts until Friday morning when I was almost finished my hill-reps and 'ouch' it felt like someone had stabbed me in the back of my right ankle!  A very painful and numb ankle for the rest of the day gradually easing off over the weekend.  I tried to run a little on Sunday but only got 1.2miles done before it was really aching again, then last night I set off to run home from work and 1.8 miles in I got stabbed again :-(
We had massage sessions booked for last night so I got plenty of work done on my legs and specifically my ankle, ouchy but helped with the movement so hoping after another couple of rest days I will be back on the trails at the weekend.
Since WHW, we have marshalled at the Great Glen Ultra and the Clyde Stride, in between we have been exploring the Southern Upland Way, St Cuthbert's Way and a little of the Borders Abbey Way, all good fun.  This weekend we are off on a Mystery Tour, then it's the Devil of the Higlands a weekend off Speyside Way, then off to Chamonix for another adventure.
** UPDATE - it's now mid September!!
I had saved this as a draft at the end of July and never got back to it...it's probably not worth publishing it but hey ho I'll stick it on the list and think about the next one :)
Our Mystery Tour was fun, as was the Devil, Speyside and our trip to Chamonix.  I am going to try to write a little about that while it's still fresh in my mind and before we head off on the next Grand Adventure!
I am currently on the injury bench though not technically injured, just enforced rest to try to let me body recover from the after effects of a particularly nasty virus which floored me for the month of August and won't be running at Loch Ness - so I will be climbing the walls shortly!

Clocking up the miles...

On Friday 3rd of March at 1430 John and I picked up our latest acquisition, our brand new wee motorhome - it had to be wee so that it could a) go the places we want to go and b) fit on our driveway.  The Eldiss Autoquest 115 fitted the bill perfectly and apart from the fact that the upholstery is totally impractical for manky runners - a beautiful light grey and blue - it has been the best purchase ever!  We have already over 2500 miles on it, but it has helped me to clock up the miles in my training calendar this year and really reduced the logistical stresses.  This weekend for example, my run was to be Milngavie to Balmaha, we've had a week of fabulous weather with hot temperatures and non stop sunshine, and I was wanting to get the run started early so that I could be finished by lunchtime and hopefully benefit from cooler temperatures in the earlier part of the day, so we drove through to Milngavie on Friday night and stayed over.  This meant I had time to have a leisurely breakfast and my usual ablutions and still be on the trails by 0650.  The hope it would be cooler was a tad forlorn though as it was in the 20s already!! It was a roasting hot run, by the time I got to Conic Hill the sky had clouded over a little which was a welcome respite from the sunshine beating down but it didn't really get much cooler... The thermometer on the dash was showing 26C

I enjoyed my run, I achieved what I'd been tasked to do, I know where I can hopefully shave off a few more minutes, but I started on a very empty tank as the past too weeks have been physically and mentally hard and I was very very tired.  There were tears at the finish, I was so delighted to have got there in time!

After a quick shower - another luxury of having the van!  We headed off up the road to Aviemore to spend the night with Clark and Amanda and celebrate Amanda's birthday, there was champagne, nice food and a few laughs then another run today - so all in all a good weekend!  Good running, good people, good fun, good food, good champagne!  There is a lot of shit going on in my life at the moment, which for now will remain close to only a very few, but suffice to say a good weekend was exactly what I needed and yes I know we could have done the same miles in the car  but the van has just added another dimension to it all!  There's a lot to be said for the hashtag #vanlife 💕👧🚐

We are Muitants!

This year's MIUT race series' tag line asks "Do you dare?"  We dared!

I always thought that Madeira was where old people went for holidays in the style of the TV show "Waiting for God" in they sun.  Having spent a week there, it probably is a fair assessment of this lump of rock in the Atlantic Ocean but it is also a place of raw almost primeval beauty, covered in lush forest and flowers.

John is notorious for finding races which are a wee bit out of the ordinary and he signed up for the full MIUT (115km 7000m of climb) and convinced me that I would 'be fine' on the Marathon (44km and 1200m climb) so I signed up for it as I was going anyway...

We booked into a lovely hotel from the Monday before the race and enjoyed a few days of proper rest and relaxation with luxurious surroundings, good food and the occasional glass of fizz.  EasyJet got us to the recently renamed Cristiano Ronaldo airport in Funchal at 7pm and we disembarked into glorious sunshine and a welcome temperature of 22°C - this was an unexpected bonus as the long range forecast was for overcast, showery but warm.

Our pre booked driver was waiting in arrivals with a card with our name on and after a slightly scary drive we arrived at our hotel, checked in to our lovely big room and headed to one of the restaurants for dinner.

I had booked massages for us for the Tuesday morning so after a long lie and a leisurely breakfast we spent the rest of the morning getting scrubbed and pummelled from top to toe.  It fairly took the flight out of our bodies and left us feeling relaxed.  I had a 5 mile run programmed for Tuesday so we set out about 3pm in scorching sunshine and a strong headwind - I asked at hotel reception if we could run along the coast into Funchal, no said the young chap, but you can run in the other direction so we ran along away from town, but after only a mile or so we had reached the end of the runnable path and turned back - John ran on ahead from there and we went different routes but I got my five miles done. 

Race registration opened on Wednesday morning so we had a trip on the local buses to Machico, the original capital of Madeira and home of the MIUT.  It's a lovely wee traditional fishing village nestled where the narrow glacial valley opens into the sea.  We were in about the first 10 runners to register and apart from the computer refusing to printout John's paperwork it was a quick and efficient process.

It was a gloriously hot sunny morning, so after we had picked up our packets, we wandered along to the old fish hall which is now a restaurant for a cooling refreshment and a seat in the sun watching the sea.  We tried to work out where the course might come into the town and had a walk up to the old fort on the headland but found no evidence of where the path would come out, then had a paddle in the sea and wander along the beach before going back to the same restaurant for a delicious lunch of fresh fish.  Caught the bus back to Funchal, did a wee bit of touristy stuff (expensive ice cream and a visit to the cathedral) and then headed back to our hotel.  

We planned to have a feet-up day on Thursday so after a 4mile trot down to Funchal and back, we showered had breakfast, then booked a deep tissue massage for the afternoon.  A lazy few hours hours reading/dozing by/in the pool before our appointments.  It was well named Deep Tissue it certainly was!  Legs felt good afterwards though.
lol

Friday morning- another bright sunny morning - John's race day so we hopped on the open top bus tour, we didn't hop off until almost back at our hotel where we went to a nearby restaurant for the most awesome steak I've ever tasted!   John had his kit all organised and I did mine while he snoozed then we went to get him an early dinner, he was meeting Craig at 8pm and they were sharing a taxi to the race start

After the boys left I went for a drink with Craig's wife Annemarie and their two daughters then it was time for me to go and do last minute checks of my kit and settle in for the night. I was a bit nervous about getting myself up and out in morning so set three alarms but was awake before them!  I was able to get the tracking working and could see that John & Craig had made it safely through the second checkpoint which was the worst of their climbing in the dark done and as the sun was coming up I felt a little happier about them

I had a taxi booked for 8am so got organised and tried to eat some scrambled eggs, I felt incredibly nervous but still not sure if that was pre race nerves or just the logistics of getting to the start myself, however taxi was on time - early - and I got dropped off at the bus meeting point as the first few runners were gathering.  I was on the first bus and it was just under an hour's drive to the start.  The race started in an Ecological Park and we were dropped off on a narrow road and walked back about 1/4 mile to where the start was setup.  It was very well organised with baggage trucks, portal loos, start line and music, I found a shady rock and settled down to eat my second breakfast I'd brought with me and sort my shoes, bag etc... the place filled up as more buses disgorged runners and after a last Q for the Loo it was time to get her in the pen with the crazy DJ rocking his stuff!
11am and we were off, running slowly down a gentle incline before a sharp left turn and the first of the UPs! 2 miles of climbing interspersed with some short bits of running, a wee bottleneck to cross a rickety bridge and then we were up on a flat bit, did my legs want to run? Did they heck! Eventually the shuffle became more of a run and I trotted along until the next climb.  Up and Up we went again, eventually topping out and then managing a run down to the road crossing, counted in by marshals and off again at a trot til the first of the log steps and first levada.
I was about 4.5miles in at this point when I heard footsteps behind me and a Giblinesque figure of one of the fast runners in the MIUT came flying down the trail, I stepped aside to let him pass and this would be the first of many times I'd do this!
Soon it was into the forest which had been burned in large forest fires a few years ago, the silver trunks still blackened and the new growth underneath distracted me from the relentless dusty trail with runable downs and steep, scrambly climbs.

post forest fire

 At about 12.2km was my first checkpoint, a village hall set up with first aid, toilets, a fab array of food and drink and cheery helpful marshals, I didn't hang about, I visited the loo, had a drink of Pepsi and water then off up the road until a policewoman waved us onto the track again. More good running trail, more log steps(!) then more of a 'tourist/walkers' bit where there were people out walking looking at us like we were mad! Soon  it was next checkpoint, another well run operation, more coke & water, a quick pee and a text to Amanda telling her that it was "F***ing hardest thing ever but Awesome!"  Now, when leaving checkpoints there was a board which told you how far to next checkpoint and what the cumulative ascent and descent was for this stage, I still don't know how I missed it but I can't remember what it said the ascent was but even if I'd seen it I would have no clue as to just how tough it was! The climb up from the road was just that, straight up a hillside, no really distinct path, no stones, the occasional tree root and nowhere to step aside to let folk pass!  Fortunately nobody was climbing any faster than me so I didn't hold anyone up.  However, what goes up has to come down, at least  that's what I kept reminding myself!  Eventually yes it did - down lots more LOG STEPS!  Checkpoint 3 and I was 18 miles in, I left here with a real skip in my step, the sun was out, it was early evening and I could hear the surf crashing against the foot of the cliffs.  A view down to the finish was a tad cruel given that there were still 10 miles to go, but I fairly skipped out of here grinning and singing to myself "you got this!"  A family was parked at the top of the hill cheering and blowing horns and drinking beer, a wee sip of the beer was like nectar and really boosted my mood, so I ran along the trail until eventually I came to the cliff paths.  The views ahead - I didn't dare look down - were amazing, the surf was crashing and the trails were pretty good, even the scary bits! Talking of scary bits!! On the reach description there was mention of a technical downhill about 5 miles from finish - understatement!! It was extremely scary, extremely steep and with only a couple of rickety wooden handrails and lots of bits with no handrails which could have benefited from them!  Eventually we were back on a decent trail, it was starting to get dark but not dark enough to need my head torch and as we approached the town we were back on more levadas, accompanied by the barking of dogs - it was like the scene in Lady and the Tramp where the dogs communicate across Paris by barking in sequence.  This cacophony rang all the way down the valley however we didn't, we stayed right up at the top! A long way up! Eventually the last checkpoint on a road into town, but guess what? You don't go that way, you cross the road and follow more levadas along the top of the hill for another couple of miles.  I put my head torch on here and there was a lot of stepping aside to let speedy blokes past, but then we were back out onto a road again and I thought 'yes' nice wee gentle run down the road to the finish.. wrong again, it was off down a slippery, grassy hillside then onto  some concrete steps and out onto the road at last!  Along the promenade, over the wooden bridge, running and feeling strong, and grinning like a Cheshire Cat!  Awesome support from cheering crowds and kids hanging over the barriers for high 5s!  I felt really strong but tired and ran the whole way in, I was so pleased!!  

Super Cheesey Grin!!

Crossed the finish line to get a microphone stuck in my face and I can remember answering his questions and thinking at the same time, am I making any sense?  Anyway, that's a 'brief' resume of my amazing adventure, I got my bag, a beer and some food then sat and waited for John finishing his...

As I read write this, a week on, I am still bursting with pride at what I was able to achieve, I wasn't ever going to be fast but I ran every single bit of the trail that I could and I dealt with some pretty scary stuff!  My legs, my heart and my lungs did me proud!  I'm now trying to shake off the lurgy I picked up on the very delayed flight home!!

Another weekend, another long run!

photo courtesy of Bob Marshall

I love that I can write that sort of title again :)  At the start of this year I had a notion I would write a post every month or so, but I've not quite managed it - been a wee bit busy with this thing called training!  Yes, back out there on a regular basis doing the planned sessions, and in the main nailing them and feeling good - I am hugely grateful to so many people for their support over the past couple of years, some are more aware than others of the stuff I've been dealing with, but your support and encouragement has been really appreciated.

Yesterday was the John Muir Ultra Trail Race - 50km over varied terrain along the East Lothian coast from Port Seton to Foxlake just outside Dunbar. 
There was a 4 hour cutoff to get to the half way point at the RNLI shed at North Berwick and I worked hard from the start making it with half an hour to spare!  I was absolutely delighted, I felt that I was running hard but wasn't dead on my feet as I was aware I still had another 25km (ish) to go and needed to keep something in the tank... unfortunately I didn't leave as much as I'd like in the tank and between miles 20-22 (ish) I really struggled with the mud and cambered/slippy trail.  It's a shame as it was beautiful but I really struggled here.  My left hamstring did it's usual and started to seize up resulting in a pretty much non responsive left let which made running the really narrow paths difficult, at one point I was trying to run a narrow path alongside a field and was staggering like a drunk!  I was also petrified of putting my foot down a rabbit hole and twisting an ankle!  The terrain was testing, there was tarmac, trail, very narrow trail, soft sand, a grand wee run at North Berwick across the hard packed wet sand, farm roads, grass, woodland trail covered in needles/leaves, you name it they laid it on for us, even laid on fantastic weather!  The winds of the past few days disappeared - though they're back again today - and the sun came out :-)
We drove down to Foxlake straight after work on Friday, meeting up with Amanda and Tim and enjoying Donald & Elaine's hospitality for an hour before dinner.  A quiet evening listening to the rugby and an early bed.  6am alarm, breakfast, kit organised and registration - nice to see so many friendly faces!  8am prompt the buses left to take us to Port Seton, a visit to the conveniences, catching up with more friends, a thorough and amusing race brief from the RD, some group photos and then we were off!
I won't deny it was tough in places, it was, but I am pleased with the fact that I could keep shuffling on and motivate myself to keep moving forward, finishing 7h52mins after I'd started which is a bit slower than I'd like, but apart from the dead leg, I felt good, strong and compos mentis.  A chocolate milk, a quick shower and change of clothes, a ginger beer, wee drive down to Dunbar Harbour then a bottle of pink cava shared with Elaine while we giggled at the mixup over her and Donald's results!  John and I wandered across to the Volunteer Arms for a pint and some food and they joined us for a pint later, then we wandered stiffly back to our vans, just before the rain started!  It was heavy but we woke to blue skies and sunshine again today.  I have tired legs today but nothing is 'broken' big muscles are tired and a wee bit tender to touch but otherwise I feel great and so pleased to have got that run under my belt!  It's the longest and strongest I've run for almost 2 years and what it means in my head is too difficult to put into words, but if you've been out for a while with injuries/health stuff and sometimes question if you'll ever get back to it you'll understand.
TO top it off, the sun is still shining and the first laundry of the year is blowing outside in the sunshine (it's the little things...)

What it says :-)

Forward progress & Fun with Friends

This weekend was the annual West Highland Way training weekend and it also marked the end of the second month of my training programme, both events worthy of recording.
As always the WHW weekend was based in The Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha and a motley crew of regulars and newbies turned up to enjoy the exercise, the company and the hospitality.  Some folk arrived Friday night, some came Saturday morning and stayed overnight and some just rocked up Saturday morning, ran and enjoyed the company and post run soup then headed home.  The full run is out to Inversnaid and back which is 30 miles though there were many variations and distances on the day.  For many people this is their first long run of the year and for some, it's  their first sojourn onto the WHW.
I'd a 10mile run on my programme but went to Rowardennan with Julie where we turned for home. Unfortunately at about 11miles we had to slow to a walk as Julie suffered cramping and we were lucky that Lorna was passing and offered us a lift back just as the watch ticked over the 13mile mark!  I was happy though with a wee bit further than planned, some good climbing and no ill effects.
A long hot shower, then as John had also returned from his run, we headed down to the pub for some food and to catch up with everyone's tales of their adventures and their hopes and plans for the coming year.
Afternoon rolled into evening and then it was dinner time, and proseeco and giggles later we were getting gently ushered out the door - oops! I can't remember the last time we were in a pub til closing time!  Great evening catching up with friends, a good sleep, nice breakfast and after a wee walk to say cheerio to Karen & George and Donald we headed home.  Tired but giggling as we remembered some of the conversations from last night!
This weekend is always special as it reminds me of the fun to be had when spending time in the company of friends, you meet on the trails and then again over a bowl of soup or a drink and for me it marks the start of the year for real.
As I said at the beginning I have now completed the second month of my training programme and am feeling quite proud of that achievement, I've managed all the workouts, some better than others and have been enjoying the discipline and the routine.  I'm also sticking to my healthy eating and this is paying dividends too as my weight is slowly starting to come down,  both of these factors are helping me to stay positive and stick at it.  Here's to February and whatever it brings! (Hopefully some snow!)

Happy New Year!

I was looking back through the Facebook memories thing this morning and came across this in a blog entry I wrote in 2013...I still feel the same way! 

In 2013/14 I achieved the goals I set myself then various health stuff kicked in and it all went downhill and the last 18-24 months have been pretty crap, and only made bearable thanks to the love/friendship/support from some very special people. It's back on the straight and narrow now, the eating is back on track and the running and training are back underway too. I've got goals to achieve this year and I'm going to do my damndest to nail them. I'm pleased that whilst I put on a couple of pounds while on holiday it was only a couple of pounds and I'd managed to lose 6.5lbs before we went away so am still on a nett loss.

I think we still had a good time over the festive season with enough indulgence to make us feel that we'd not been deprived, but definitely nothing like the gross over indulgence we used to undertake - for no reason other than I think we were conditioned to believe that that was what you did... in the same way as the hundreds of people who flock to the supermarkets on Xmas eve and Hogmanay and panic buy as if the end of the world was nigh - the shops are only closed for 2 days!! So, if there's a moral to this post it is this - in the same way as we are conditioned to overeat and drink in December - how many times do you hear - 'oh well just the one then it is Christmas' or similar excuses from people who can't say no thanks? - We can also condition ourselves to make healthier choices, to get up out of our chairs, to park a little bit further away from the door of the shops, to drink more water etc etc...

None of these things cost us much time but they will make a difference to our health.

So a toast to all my healthy friends, and a 'come on what's stopping you?' to the rest... you decide which category suits you xx

It's nearly always worth it...

It was Clyde Stride weekend this weekend.  This 40mile run from Partick railway station in Glasgow to New Lanark was my first ultra in 2011 and I will never forget the sense of achievement when I finished, albeit second last and after most of the folk had gone home, packed up.  In 2012, I ran leg 4 of the relay with some work colleagues and the last 3 years we have taken part in a marshalling role.  I love watching the finishers come through the 'hole in the wall' it is extra special when they are first timers as it brings back happy memories of how it feels to achieve something bigger than you've ever done before.
The past 3 years we have stayed over on the Saturday night in the wee row Youth Hostel and had a fab post race party. It gives us all a chance to chill/unwind over a plate of Dave W's awesome chicken curry, socialise and stay up late!  Last night was no exception and after curry, much gin and giggles it was 1am before John and I headed up the stairs.  We had agreed that today's training would be a hill climb and he had suggested The Cobbler - I like this climb, but didn't fancy the drive home afterwards, so inspired by Ross and Norrie doing it twice yesterday(!!!) I suggested Ben Ledi which is a bit more local, therefore an easier drive home.
This morning we were a little sleepy and after a coffee and goodbyes to the others who were up and about, John and I headed towards Callander.  We stopped at Dobbies for breakfast - very good and great value - and at this point I was NOT feeling the love!  I wanted to go home to bed!
Thankfully John turned a deaf ear to my gentle whining and soon we were getting kitted up in the car park and off we went- straight up then up some more!  Two miles of continuous climbing before we reached the saddle where it was blowy but we still managed a wee jog.  After the first mile we were in the thick, wet cloud so visibility wasn't great and it just got foggier and drizzling until we reached the cross barely visible through the mist.  A wee bit more climbing and we were at the summit, we didn't hang about, just time for a few daft photos

The Top!

then it was about turn back the way we came.  I was a bit worried about this, as on the way up there were some stretches of scree and bog and I was happy enough climbing up but not looking forward to going down... I took my time but managed well, much better than I feared, I had no 'wobbles' I didn't slip and by the time I got into my stride, coped even on the bits where it was blowing a gale!  I was delighted when I got to the steps as I was able to come down them 'normally' and got a huge boost to my confidence and less pain in my leg!
We even managed to jog down once on the path proper and with a mile to go, we came back out of the cloud again and could see where we were going.  Wee trot back to the car and job done!  So, I too got the same sense of achievement as the folk yesterday even though I'd only gone 5.5miles (and climbed 2707 ft!) and it was definitely worth it!

It's been a while

I haven't been on here since September last year, I've thought about popping back but then I've thought "what's the point?"  I've not had much to write about... In retrospect that's a bit harsh on myself and on the folks who have been there in the past 9 months to listen when I've  moaned or to stay quiet when it was best to say nothing.  Who have been there with a reassuring word or a hug.  It's been a funny old time with a couple of fairly significant health issues to deal with and regular periods of self doubt...

I am sitting here full of pizza and wine (not really full of wine, just 1 glass) and recovering from the weekend.  It was WHW weekend this weekend past, John was running and he did brilliantly!  He was crewed by me, Amanda & Clark and between us we did a damn fine job finishing with a 2 hour  10min PB for John and a healthy, unbroken runner 😊 Result! 

I'm sure in due course he will write it up himself so I will say no more other than it was a blast!

It was a fantastic weekend, wonderful weather and surrounded by friends old and new.  Many of whom achieved their dreams, some like me last year, who didn't but who will hopefully recover over the next few months.

I was in a wee bit of a 'post race blues slump' last night when Cat (or Mike) posted the marshall's brief for the Great Glen race in 10 days time and the buzz was back!

In the past 3 weeks I've had good news on the health front which means I have no more excuses ;-) So now, I'm sitting here with goals in place and plans afoot, who knows I might even post some more ramblings on here...

Thank you to the wonderful ultra family for helping me get my head back on

Life is for Living!

It's been a long time since I have been here - I've not been back since my failed attempt at the WHW race in June...
There has been lots of stuff to deal with, not just that I wasn't able to finish the race, and it's way too much to go into in detail.  However, hopefully things are on the up again and although I'm still banned from lifting any heavy weights or circuit training, I am allowed to run 'gently' I guess lumbering slowly along counts as gently!  I've had setbacks and injuries before and come back from them, stronger and wiser.  It's a wee bit different this time around as nothing hurts I don't have an 'injury' per se... just some bloody inconvenient blood clots in my Retinal vein :-(
However, I was back at the hospital on Monday for a checkup and there's a treatment plan in place so here's to moving forward and taking each day as it comes.  I was browsing earlier and came across a Huffington Post blog from a young woman who died this morning of bowel cancer at the age of 36!  Things like that make you stop a minute, take stock and give thanks for you what you have, even though it's maybe not all that you would like to have.  She wrote a final post to be published after her death and these words touched me.  I'm sorry if you find them a bit cheesy, but I thought they were worthy of note...

"Embrace your loved one and if they cannot embrace you back, find someone who will. Everyone deserves to love and be loved in return. Don't settle for less. Find a job you enjoy, but don't become a slave to it. You will not have 'I wish I'd worked more' on your headstone. Dance, laugh and eat with your friends. True, honest, strong friendships are an utter blessing and a choice we get to make, rather than have to share a loyalty with because there happens to be link through blood. Choose wisely then treasure them with all the love you can muster. Surround yourself with beautiful things. Life has a lot of grey and sadness - look for that rainbow and frame it. There is beauty in everything, sometimes you just have to look a little harder to see it."
Charley Kittley 16:09:15

50 weeks ago...

At 1am on Saturday 5 July I lined up in the dark for my longest race to date, the Great Glen Ultra - 72 (3?) undulating and stunning miles from Fort William to Inverness.  John's parting words were 'be good if you could get home before it gets dark'.
21hours and 51minutes later - before it got dark, I crossed the finish line in the Bught Park to the most amazing welcome from a surprisingly large crowd of fellow runners and supporters.  I will never forget it, not least because I managed to run all the way around the track, but mainly because I didn't expect so many people to be there.  I had been at the back of the pack for most of the duration - criss crossing with the legend that is Ray for a fair bit of the course from Laggan to Drumnadrochit.  Then after a wee strop at the checkpoint, thanks in the main, to the amazing George Reid, I made it up that feckin great hill and then plodded my way home.
When I finished John said to me 'could you do another 20 miles?'  I nodded and said I think so but slowly, 'that's ok' says he 'you'd have another 13 hours'.
I had always thought that the West Highland Way race was beyond the grasp of an ageing and decrepit - ok not quite, but rapidly falling to bits, wummin of a certain age and whilst I loved being part of the crew last year and supporting John the year before, I'd never thought of giving it a go.  Not seriously.
Long story short, I thought about it a lot over the next few months - mainly in the why not vein, and the if you don't do it now, you're not getting any younger vein.. Come November I filled in my details and submitted my application for WHW 2015!
8 December I'd just got into work when my phone buzzed, a very excited David Meldrum "You might want to go check FB" it said, followed shortly thereafter by one from Amanda Hamilton - yep I'd been one of the lucky ones, I'd got a coveted place, as had David and Amanda.
Fast Forward Fifty weeks and I will be on the start line at Milngavie station tomorrow night (another 1am start) There have been a fair few miles, in all sorts of weather - well you have to train for all eventualities and "there will be weather" on all sorts of terrain in some beautiful parts of Scotland, a fair few tears and a couple of health scares along the way, but my stuff is almost packed, my plan is almost complete and I am looking forward to crawling/stumbling that last mile of tarmac from Braveheart carpark to the Leisure Centre sometime on Sunday morning.
Thank you all for the messages of support, encouragement and Good Luck in the past few days and indeed over the course of this year, I hope to see most of you over the weekend. 
To those of you who are also running, Good Luck, have a great race. 
To those who are marshalling - thank you - we couldn't do it without you. 
To those whose journey to the start line was thwarted by illness or injury - commiserations, the trails will be there for you another year. 
To the Committee who gave me this chance by putting my name into the ballot so it could be drawn out - thank you.  Also for the hours of time you put into the organisation of the race each year...
To those who have inspired me and supported me in countless ways - HUGE thanks you really are the best.
God I know, it sounds like an Oscar speech :-)
The inimitable George posted something on facebook which I hope he doesn't mind me borrowing as it sums the whole thing up perfectly:
"Looking forward to seeing the family and biggest support crew I have ever known."

TWTWTW!

Still running...

(you probably need to be over 50 to get the reference in the title but never mind!)

I always wanted the luxury of having a week to train and not have to worry about anything else, and last week I was lucky enough to realise that ambition.  We had volunteered to help at the inaugural Skye Trail Ultra and decided to take a week's holiday beforehand so that we could run and run and run.  Unfortunately John had 'tweaked' his calf again but I was able to run - every day, twice a day on all but 2 days!  I am very proud of my longest ever training week and my stats:
Distance: 74.64 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,578 m
And I'm not broken either!  Tired, but not broken :-)

On Saturday 24th May we headed up to Skye, the weather wasn't great, rainy and windy.  This set the tone for the week, rain, occasional sunshine and gales.  Add in the sleet, snow and hailstones and you get the gist - character building, challenging, (hellish!)  I soon discovered that there are no flat bits on Skye, every single run I did was hilly!  We managed to catch up with some friends while we were there, had a lovely curry with Andy and Karen O'Grady in their house and then I met up with Fiona, Rachel and Andy again on the Thursday evening for a run.  We also managed to explore a fair bit, I ran around the North of the island on Sunday, we went to the Quiraing on Monday as John had hoped he be able to run but unfortunately his leg wasn't as strong as he'd thought so instead, I ran home.  Tuesday we went to Broadford and I ran on the marble line to Kilbride, this is a beautiful trail and is also the last 10 miles of the Ultra race.  The trail is beautiful it has hard packed trail, heather and peat bogs, grassy headlands and scrambling up rocks add in the path along the beach where the cliff has fallen down and it's got something for everyone!  The views when the sun comes out are spectacular, you pass through Boreraig and Suisnish - villages cleared during the Highland Clearances - strangely eerie and emotional places with a single solitary headstone in the clearing.
I ran five evenings as well, a different session each time, whatever my coach decided I should do.
We also managed to catch up with some much needed restorative sleep, including a few afternoon naps.
On Wednesday I set my alarm and got up to run early in the morning (in the rain), with good reason.  It was Amanda's birthday and we had arranged with her husband Clark to meet them in Plockton for lunch.  The Plockton Inn is one of her favourite spots for food and it didn't disappoint!  Beautiful seafood and great to catch up with them, Amanda didn't know we were going to be there and I think she enjoyed the surprise (and the gin)!  Wednesday evening I went out to do intervals and it was the worst weather of the whole week, it nearly reduced me to tears on rep 5!  However I toughed it out and did more than the previous time!

Waternish trail

Thursday dawned a bit brighter and we headed to Waternish - there was mud, lots of it but there was more sunshine than we'd seen all week and only a couple of heavy downpours.  We visited the old church at Trumpan and  John walked up to see the Brochs.  On the way he tried to rescue a sheep who'd got stuck in a ditch but unfortunately she died :-(
Clark had told us they'd done this route a few years ago and it was muddy, he wasn't wrong!
The trail did get grassier and less mucky and more runnable later on and on the way back I managed to run through some puddles to try to clean off my shoes a bit, they still had to get a proper rinse under the tap and they've still got some peaty brown bits ingrained into them - as have my toes!  We stopped off in Dunvegan for lunch and by the time we got home, I'd half an hour on the couch with my feet up then it was time to get changed again and go meet some fellow Grumpies for the second run of the day!  The weather was getting wild again and we headed off to the Quiraing where Fiona, Rachel and Andy were going to take me up the hill that I'd chickened out of on Monday.  Suffice to say it was scary!  Gale force winds, hailstones, beautiful rainbows, mud and my legs were pretty dead before I started - I found it really tough and Fiona took pity on me and we stayed on the 'low' bits!  Thanks Chiefy xxx
Friday was my last training day as we were marshalling the race Saturday and Sunday, so  we headed back to Kilbride and I ran the marble line again in the 'right' direction this time ie the same way as it would be for the racers.  Thursday night's rain was torrential and the difference on the trail from Tuesday to Friday was huge, it had been fairly dry on Tuesday and it was a complete mudfest on Friday.  I was very tired on Friday morning and found it hard going at the beginning, however the sun came out and the views were fantastic.  Then the hail came!  Then the sun came back out, then the hail, this was to be the pattern of the afternoon, sunshine and showers.  John met me at the end of my run and we headed to the Broadford hotel to meet up with the competitors and Jeff the Race Director.  More friends, Donald and Elaine were staying overnight in Uig on their way to Harris, so we met them in the pub for a drink and a catch up then we went 'home' to get packed up and ready to leave the cottage on the Saturday morning.   4am Saturday and the alarm went off, time to go to Duntulm for the start of the race - but that's another story...

home for the week

Girly Weekend with a difference

Taking 5 minutes out of a somewhat upsetting day to think about something that makes me smile...

The stereotypical 'girly weekend' is usually an allover fake tan and glitzy nails.  We came back with a patchy tan and wrecked nails!  But we had a great time :-D
Amanda wrote a great wee blog about our trip so I'm sharing hers instead of writing my own - not being lazy but really not much point in writing the same thing twice!
Read all about it here in Amanda's blog