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...

Funny old day...

Yesterday morning's 5 miles was really quite pleasant, I left the house just before 8 and before sun up. I like the early mornings in the summer - 0530 time but this was pretty close, not too much traffic or noise. I wasn't sure where I was going or how my leg would feel so headed off and it eased off quickly and I had soon settled in to a reasonable rythm, something I've been struggling with this year so I went round the farm roads and back up the lovely hill near our home. It's mile 11 in our local half marathon and loved (dreaded) by many, but I managed to trot up it quite comfortably which really pleased me.
I got organised and set off to Annan just over 2hours South of here to go to my friend's funeral, the journey although mainly motorway was pleasant as the sun was shining most of the way and the hills were looking green instead of white. It was as you'd expect a very sad affair, it is so unfair when a person who loves life and brightens up everyone elses is taken from us. The priest mentioned how she touched the lives of so many people but that she didn't come into their lives so much as charge in head first :-) I think that summed her up beautifully.
Although it was very sad I met 3 wonderful friends there and it was great to be able to share with them the sorrow of the occasion and share our loss.
So, today I was supposed to run 15-16miles or 25km. I set off about 10am after a slow start to the morning - I woke at 6! I was really stiff in my shoulder/back which I blame on the 2hour drive, sitting hunched in a freezing cold church then a 2 hour drive home, with not much other movement in between to balance it out. Even when I stopped for a coffee I was so cold I was still huddled over... Anyway, excuses huh? I went out to do my run and it was awful! It was much colder out than I was expecting although I was dressed warmly enough and my legs felt like lead, I couldn't get them eased off at all and the elusive rythm which I had tasted so briefly yesterday was once again, just a dream, I had absolutely no energy to call on...
I stuck it out for 17km just over 10miles and gave up. I have spent the rest of today moaning and grumping about feeling tired and having no energy, poor John :-(
I don't feel quite so negative now and am off to have dinner, bootcamp tomorrow so will see how I hold up :-)