Changes & tough decisions

I've decided to turn my training upside down a bit as bit of experiment and it seems to working ok.


I'd gotten into bad habit of having really hectic day and work and not going to gym due to tiredness aka laziness. I'm fine when i get there & i do enjoy it but it's a chore to actually go after work.



So I've been leaving earlier and running to gym, then going to work. It's working out fine so far and it also means once work is done it leaves me time for the more important things in life.


Talking of which... i made tough decision to postpone the trip to Old Trafford on Saturday for 2 reasons. Stephen had an important football match and didn't want to miss it and one of his Friends was off to Oz for 2 yrs and it was his night out. So i asked the lovely Nick who'd very kindly got me the tickets if i could postpone our trip down if he could resell them and he could, thankfully.



Only one problem there. SNOW. It's like the North Pole here at the minute and the game was called off, as was the night out! And we only went on to win 7-1!! how gutted was i???

Still, the snow will not stop me running that's for sure. It's bit tricky getting out of my estate as it's at top of hill but once I'm out it's fine. TBH if i hadn't run to gym/work yesterday i wouldn't have got there at all as all bus services had stopped til gritters got out. I was like a walking snowman by time i got to gym haha

Security at work just shake their heads at me now, i guess they're getting used to seeing me run in any weather and have stopped making the "you didn't run in THAT did you?"comments now...

Went for lovely run on Sunday morning, and although i was in shorts i conceded and wore a jacket for a change, oh and a hat too! Ian said people were still giving me double takes when i passed them though and i got a fair few comments fired at me!

Now i although i said it was lovely it was also bloody tough. It's a bit of a slog through the deeper snow and really works your legs, not helped by coach making me run fast, not sure i like it or him!He keeps throwing these crazy figures at me about what he thinks my capabilities are and i just laugh at him. Maybe i should stop laughing cause i think it makes him work me harder. When i said i felt sick the other day he was delighted ffs.

Day was finished off with bit of shopping, footy fest & Sunday Roast. Perfect.

Almost up to 2000miles for yr now, should hit that by end of week. I used to be a mileage chaser and that stopped for me when i got injured and it became secondary to getting back to full fitness and staying fit & healthy. Still nice to see I've hit such 2000 though, well nearly...hope don't break leg on way to work this morning :-o

Finally started my Christmas shopping last night. I get stupidly excited at Christmas, only time of year i enjoy shopping really. I like shopping for other people, just not myself, love to try and fine the right present rather than copping out and buying vouchers. Got busy few weekends ahead with various stuff so really need to get organised. Yikes, its 5.42am, too late for gym. Not too late to run though

laters....

Recovery

My legs seem to have recovered remarkably well from the Marathon,which has surprised me really. Although did spent entire day Monday doing pretty much nothing i tried to go up & downstairs as often as possible to keep legs moving.

Back to work on Tuesday so i decided to run in. Did the middle distance route of 6.5miles. Had really busy day at work then i ran to gym.It's first time I've been to gym for about 2 weeks. it was packed! Maybe folk are trying to shape up for Christmas or something?

I got through my workout fairly quickly & efficiently and was literally sweating buckets by time i fin shed,nice thought i know! After gym i ran up to my Big Brothers house.Not seen baby since he was week old, he is now 7 weeks old! Bad Auntie.Met Stephen just as he got off bus. He said he saw me about a mile back and i beat the bus :)

Got to Alan & Marie's and was delighted to find Mick & Grainie (Marie's bro & niece) who were over from Ireland visiting so had good catch up with everyone. Fiachra (still have issues with the name!) is gorgeous and Stephen was singing to him and making him smile.

Stephen then headed off to football training, not before having a shower at Alan's though! lol, who has shower before training? I wearily headed off home the day/weekend finally catching up on me.

In bed before 10 exhausted. I guess 3 runs, busy day @ work, gym and Marathon few days previous might do that to you....

So i decided i needed a well earned rest day today. Mind you not much of rest day when you're short staffed at work and it's month end,stock take & paperwork day. Hey ho

Got call from Roger tonight, asking me to do some modelling for him for his coursework, said i would as it doesn't sound anything too daunting!

Football tonight, if Rangers play like they did last time i will be shouty at TV again i reckon. Stephen has his earplugs ready....

Looking forward

Need to start making plans

Phil is coming up next weekend and planning on basing himself at Oak tree Inn so i might just have to join him if he has space for wee one.Had lots of folk asking me to let them know when I'm planning heading up to WHW for training runs so think we're going to have some fun weekends if it's anything like this yr was anyway.

Yesterday's race really surprised me. I actually didn't think i was capable of running that fast. I know it's not *fast* compared to lots of folk but it's fast for me. I guess I'm always surprised when people tell me I'm a good runner,i certainly never see myself as that. I have a huge lack of confidence in myself sometimes and people who've met me find that quite surprising.

I guess my next step is tackling a sub3.45 this makes me more than a bit nervous because it lays down the gauntlet. If anyone had said I'd come close to that yesterday I'd have laughed in their face. I'm a bit rubbish at short distances and i know i have to tackle that too, as someone said to me recently we have to run faster to run faster.

So i'll try that i think.

From now on my focus is the WHW race,everything else will be training towards it.I have a great crew, i just need to start believing i can do it justice.

I guess I'm mentally strong and i think my life has shaped that. There's many things I'd rather have not happened to make me that way (My mum dying when i was 21 for instance)but we cant go through life with regret

I think I'm stupidly naive sometimes and stupidly trusting. And I'm always paying for it. It then makes me look at my life and think of how i can protect myself from the inevitable. But when i say that i get told I'm amazing just the way i am (to quote a song) I'm lucky to have good friends to tell me that and to make me believe that not everyone is the same.

Been up & downstairs few times now and my legs seem fine, quite pleased with that.There's always a positive if you look hard enough.

Newcastle Town Moor Marathon

or Newcastle moorathon as we were calling it.

After dreading this race last year and then finding i enjoyed it i decided to revisit it and try and beat my time. After getting offers from 3 sets of people to take me down there i finally decided Alistair should be the (un)lucky one to have my company. nice to be so popular though!

Had a perfect Saturday morning then got home & spend rest of day ensconced on sofa. I'd had a sore throat since Wednesday and it got worse as week progressed to the point of me coughing my guts up every 10mins or so.Things wre not looking good for this race at all! Had some lemsip (disgusting stuff) and some paracetamol spent day watching football then had early night. Up at 5am and after bath a cup of tea felt not too bad.Not great, but not too bad either.

Alistair arrived at 6 prompt and off we set for Newcastle Got lots good luck txt on way down, people thought i was mad to even consider running it after way i'd been feeling but hey ho nothing ventured nothing gained. I could always pull out.Arrived in car park and it was raining, this set mood for rest of day. Hugs all round from loads of familiar faces and special hug from Phil who ive not seen in Way too long quite frankly. Popped down to bandstand where Lesley, Helen and few others had set up fetchpoint, hats off to them to stand cheering us in that weather!left bags and drinks there. Al decided he wanted to wear a tutu, so he got one off Helen and ran in it lol!




Wasn't too long before we were called to start and we were off.Yikes it was wet, huge puddles and a mud bath at certain points. The hill was only real part you run on grass and it was like a bloody ice rink, i tried running on side where it was less muddy but my poor wee adizeros were not coping well with it at all! Really wished i'd worn my roclites & my sealskins. My poor feet were soaked to bone!
Still i ploughed on. weirdly i hadn't coughed at all since i started running, wasnt complaining though!

I had my rain jacket on for first lap and Alistair's cap but i discarded both ot fetchpoint which was based at bandstand again. This was a 5 lap course so i could easily pick it up again if needed.I rather like the lap thing as it was great to highfive folk on way past and it kept you motivated when you saw folk all time. The rain was relentless, every time i got into most exposed part of the moor it got torrential, sideways in face and just awful. Heyho,i wasn't expecting great weather in middle of moor in November!

What i genuinely dont get is walkers in marathons, i dont mean people who take a walking break, i mean those fast walker folk. I think the guys doing it were part of the 100marathon club and i guess they were adding another notch to thier belt, i just dont get it. I cant see point in doing marathons for marathons sake, each to thier ow though...

The Marshall's were brilliant, really cheery and supportive. The hill got worse every time i went up it but i was on a countdown by saying we hey, only 4 times more, only 3... etc By time i was on my 4 lap i was starting to lap people! me, lap people!
By time i got to hilll for last time i was taking a few walking steps, it was so slidy i was convinced i was going to fall ,soon found out it was harder to stay upriht walking though so just ran again.

I also knew at this point i was going to PB so i reckoned it wouldn't do me any harm to walk a few steps.I was soon running again though and then powering back down hill, After looking at my spilts my last mile was at 8mm. woop!:o)

Passed fetch point for last time and headed up the river, sorry path towards finish line. Crossed line in 3.45.59 official time shows it as 3 secs later though so i guess its 3.46.02. Either way its a PB of around 12mins. Not too shabby for those conditions and my poorly body doing everything it could to scupper it! Not forgetting the Ultra last weekend.Got over line and started coughing like i smoked 60 a day i was hanging onto fence whilst folk looked on in horror.
Popped to bandstand to get my bag back and headed off to get changed whilst Phil got me much needed cup of tea. Took about an hour to start to thaw out everyone was in same boat though. After watching some of prize giving we headed off to pub for some lubrication, where it was all warm & cosy. Great to see everyone and many thanks to all those who stood out in the cold wet moor for hours upon hours cheering us on and handing out goodies and hugs. Huge thanks to Al for chauffering me.

Got home around 7ish exhausted. In bed early again with strange sense of foreboding. It would seem that once again I've been too trusting too naive and just plain utterly stupid. I should've learnt by now that people lie and will tell you what you want to hear.

C'est la vie.I should be used to it by now.

No more races this year.That was my first Marathon this year & I'd forgotten quite how hard they are! Give me an Ultra any day. Legs were really sore last night and i had dreadful sleepless night coughing and fidgeting. Feeling better this morning though and I'm glad i have day off to just chill out. although sometimes it's best to be busy and distract your mind from other stuff.

Next weekend I'm down at Old Trafford with Stephen, need to start my Christmas shopping too. Christmas lights go on in Edinburgh on Thursday, i love seeing them. so I'll probably go then and it might put me in proper Christmas mood.

The Road to Tyndrum

Can be a rocky one!

Had pretty quiet week and only ran 3 times, work has been really busy though. I wanted to be extra rested leading up to race as although i wasn't racing it, it was going to be my longest run since perth and i needed to make sure i was going to be strong enough to get Susan through the latter part of race.

Was out for drinks and lovely dinner on friday but in bed fairly early. Sat morning was spent cleaning house then watching the fottball as it was early kick off. Before too long Susan said she was @ penicuik and i realised i hadnt even packed yet! ffs.

Threw stuff in suitcase and Susan arrived. Quick coffee and we left, Susan put my case in car commenting that it was very light. It was then i realised i'd not packed any trainers! jeez, had to run back in and grab them and off we went. Roadtrips with Susan can be an adventure, a few years ago we headed up to do Lochaber Marathon and somehow managed to go round Loch Fynne and through Oban. Seriously.

THis time we'd got instructions and we kepy kinda foccused on road ahead. We made it to Tyndrum without any worries and after checking in to our Luxury Hotel we went off to grab some supplies and get food. Clearly the Tyndrum Hotel is anything but luxury. I'd stayed there few times before but Susan hadnt had the *pleasure* Our room was baltic.Radiators freezing, luckily there was a convector heater to compensate, that and a *fat* telly with no remote control. And a sticky carpet. Lovely, really it is.

Anyway...we had great burgers in Paddy's bar and few glasses of wine. We decided to head to our room with bottle wine we'd bought in greenwelly to watch classic saturday night telly. Susan emptied out all her supplies ont bedside cabinet, here is her side of bed.

Here's mine >

lol, i did have some supplies honest. And because we were leaving too early for breakfast the hotel kindly made us packed lunches. You cant fault the service there I'll give them that, they couldn't have been more friendly & helpful. We decided it would be warmer to watch xfactor actually in bed but not sure this made us any warmer, as Susan quite rightly pointed out it was a 0.5tog duvet. lol.

Up at 6am to have breakfast and get organised. It was then i realised I'd not packed my garmin ffs. Oh well, i wasn't racing no big deal. I was wearing my kilt as the race organisers were trying to break record for most people wearing kilts in a race.

Before too long it was time for off, got lift up to start (kinlochleven) from Phil & Liz, many thanks. Logistically it wasn't exactly easy to get to and they saved us any major running around next day.

Got to start and register and we got our fabby tshirts, we had choice of jacket or tshirt but opted for shirt, they're techy ones and at least will get used again.Met Dr Andrew Murray @ start, what an incredibly lovely humble guy. Most people had long tights on under their kilts, i was only one with wee shorts on lol, most folk told me i was nuts lol

Ian & Lorraine arrived and after few hugs and pics it was time for offski. Susan was more than a bit nervous but i told her I'd look after here and get her to end.

Conditions were just perfect, a proper sunny winters day and the higher we got the snowier it got. It was really icy on some parts too which made it bit hairy but it was great fun. Everyone was chatty & friendly and it was a very social race. It was pretty snowy at top of Devil's staircase which made it all the easier to run on instead of the patchy ice. Ian had done that part before but it was all new to Susan and i was explaining that the descent is far quicker than then ascent (going from kinlochleven to tyndrum anyway! the other way takes FOREVER)

We had great fun bounding down devil and we got to bottom before too long. We enjoyed the run towards kingshouse and everyone was still in good spirits. The road up towards the ski centre was really quite icy and horrid to run on, we passed a couple of walkers who congratulated us and suddenly one was lying flat out on ground after slipping, we checked he was OK and headed off along Rannoch Moor.

We overtook MrsMac, her hubby & few others on moor and we eventually lost Ian here too.I think our eagerness to get off it meant we pushed on that bit faster. Sun was beating down on us by this time and i decided to change into my vest, so there i was standing in my bra when who appears from nowhere but Andrew Murray! lol, of all the times.. He told us we were flying and we had quick chat before he took off , we kept him in sight for about 20 mins before losing him. He'd apparently taken a wrong turn somewhere and did extra couple miles hence he was behind us. lol too funny.

Soon enough we were off moor and heading towards Victoria Bridge, it was here that Susan started to wobble. She told me i should go on ahead without her when we got to bridge of orchy, i told her in no uncertain terms that wasn't going to happen, this was a recurrence for rest of race.

we had nice view of way up hill ;)

<<

She would keep stopping & tell me she couldn't go on, I'd tell her she had no choice unless she could fly to end. Then she said she wanted to sit down, i told her that certainly wasn't going to happen! Then she got cramp every time we climbed a stile, then she felt sick. lol, i was used to all this after buddy running her last 12miles of fling 2 yrs previous so everything she threw at me i was ready for.

I lost count of times she told me to go on ahead to leave her. I lost count of times i told her to fuck right off. She said she was spoiling race for me because she was so miserable, that she was making me miserable. I turned to her and said *do i look miserable to you?* she agreed i didn't

I was actually having the best day ever, totally chilled out and loving the scenery, the run, everything. The fact i wasn't racing was party to that, the other fact was i had said to Susan I'd run the race with her and that was exactly what i was going to do.

Susan doesn't realise just how Strong she is, she was running really well but it didn't matter what i said, her head was saying something else.Considering our stopping and starting we still managed to overtake several people on last last stretch, and before too long we were at gate top of hill where a smiley Lorraine was takin

g pics having completed the 7 miles run and was on her way back to bridge of orchy. We ran down that last hill like the wind and we crossed the line hand in hand to huge cheers & applause. we finished in 5hrs 43mins

Just brilliant.I was so proud of her but she still couldn't see how well she'd done, i think after a few days reflection she will though. With few more back to back training runs in she'll be more than ready go tackle the Fing again.

We went off to collect our medals, have chat with Andrew Murray & few of marshalls and missed Ian coming in. It wasnt until we were safely enconssed in green welly with tea & a crabbies ;) that i realised it was Ian's first Ultra! Because he'd done so many training runs with us up WHW and in braemar last yr i completly forgot that was his first,felt bad about not seing him in after that! doh.

Went back to see Liz coming in but missed her , seemed to be theme of day! was starting to get cold by then so after saying our goodbyes we headed off to Hotel. Oak tree Inn is like the polar opposite of Tyndrum Lodge. Amazing rooms, warm, cosy, inviting and fantastic views. What more could you ask for? Had lovely dinner and drinks n front of roaring log fire, perfect. Had many a drunken in night there last yr with Karen, George and the motley crew, we were always last ones in bar and usually got thrown out haha

Out this morning for 4 glorious miles along Loch Lomond, it was a stunning but very c

old day. great way to end a brilliant weekend.

In Demand

Crikey it's been bit of busy week. Work has been bit mental and I've been catching up with lots of old friends.

Friday night i was at a surprise party for Kim who i used to work with in Woodmac. Met Martyn for few drinks beforehand in wetherspoons, place was packed and we stood at side of table which was occupied, old bloke started chatting to me about everything from football to music. As we were leaving he told me I'd made his night and said to Martyn that i was vivacious! How come i only ever get chatted up by old men? lol

Finally got to meet Martyn's boyfriend too,he is rather lovely and i invited him along to wedding next day as my guest.

Got to Living Room & there were masses of hugs all round.I've really missed all the woodmac folk so i was wee bit sad too :( Kim arrived about an hour later and was hugely surprised to see us all. Martyn had said to me before we'd even arrived that he was only staying for few drinks as had had wedding next day (as did i) and i said same thing. So after that statement you'll not be surprised to find out we were still there at end of night! lol Great night.

Saturday was Claire & Joe's wedding. I headed down to Jemima's for dinner and drinks,then he all headed off to wedding. More old face and loads more hugs to be had! Claire used to work for me in Museum, that's where she met Joe, 2 of the bridesmaids also used to work for me and I'd not seen them in aaaages.Jemima & i were of course first on dance floor as per usual and it stayed that way most of night. We had brilliant time. Claire & Joe looked really happy, he thanked me for my part in them meeting and i threatened to beat him up if he didn't keep her as happy as she clearly was :o)

Sunday was spent running round pentland hills in the first snowfall of year! Some parts were bit icy and scary, slightly reminiscent of conic hill last January but nowhere near as bad. There was only snow on 2 highest peaks though rest were icy or just bit slippy from all the rain over the week.Weather was glorious though and me being me i was in my vest which prompted a few surprised comments from people we passed lol

Been really busy again so far this week again, work is super busy and last night i went to a reception at Scottish parliament with Jane.I arrived at her hotel and txt to say i was downstairs, i was told to order a drink and charge it to their room. Jane arrived 5 mins later asking why i hadn't ordered champagne, lol. I told her i didn't want to be quite so presumptuous but off she went to bar and got some anyway. The exhibition was great and really interesting. We got chatting to an MSP (Jamie Stone) and after telling him it was our 1st visit there he insisted he show us the chamber. So off we went, we met another MP in there and were kept amused to stories about a certain Tommy sheridan haha. I sat in First minister Alex Salmond's seat and got pic taken, wasn't until we were leaving we saw sign saying *no cameras,no sitting in minsters seats* LOL ooops, they were on Facebook by then so if you don't hear from me again it's cause I've been dragged off and thrown in the tower...

Mind you Jamie wasnt exactly discouraging me, he even gave me his email address so i could mail him the pics.Jane said he was totally chatting me up.

Many thanks to Jane & Allan for inviting me along, had lovely night.

Was bit tired this morning but i still ran. Deliberately taking it easy this week as I've got Kinlochleven to Tyndrum race on Sunday. Although I'm not racing it. I said to Susan I'd stay with her and get her through it. She is starting to get bit nervous now as it's going to be longest distance since return from injury, but i know she can do it. I got her through the last 12miles of the fling which was no mean feat i can tell you (I'd already done first 12 miles in relay,it was before my ultra days!) Really looking forward to it and hope weather is ok as i plan to wear my kilt, don't fancy the chaffing I'll get if weather is pretty wet.

Footyfest with my boy tonight (and his pal) woohooo, we so better win..

Leave me alone....

I mentioned recently about running through the lovely crisp piles of leaves and loving the Autumn weather. There is a bit of a flip side to this though.

The last week has seen many a downpour, one day i even wore a jacket! The hailstones bouncing off the window and it being windy, and dark and 5am i conceded and wore a jacket, and a hat, and gloves!

Anyway, back to those lovely crisp leaves. The ones now lying there in a soggy slimy pile just willing some poor person to dare step on them and see them flying through the air faster than Eddie the eagle..... It's now like an assault course.And living at the top of a hill having to dodge leaves on a fast downhill sprint pushes running into the dangerous sports category at the mo.

So far i've manged to stay upright, but now that I've just typed that i expect to be borrowing Stephens crutches anytime soon ;)Oh talking of him... I crumbled and for 1st time ever in his life gave him money, this was indeed a surprise to him as i kinda don't agree with giving money, i prefer to give gifts. Wouldn't appreciate anyone giving me money either, much prefer the thought that goes into present buying. I did also buy a shirt which he liked thankfully, and last but not least tickets for Old Trafford. Wooohoo, clearly this is wee present to myself too, we didn't get down last season and we cant wait to get back. Mind you with our current form at mo i fear it might just be our first visit down there that doesn't see us winning....

Still been gymming it as well as running and it never fails to astonish me some of things i see there. For instance, is your life so damn important that you cant put your iPhone in the locker whilst you work out? ffs i want to go over and rip phone from them and smash it under the current weight I'm using and tell them to get a life. I love my phone truly i do but i don't need to take it inside the bloody gym with me. numpties.

Work has been mega busy this week but enjoyable.Busy weekend beckons.

just perusing this website and liking it, running porn at its best...
http://www.equipio.com/home-auth?wicket:bookmarkablePage=:com.equipio.ui.signedin.productsbrowse.ProductsForASport&sportId=3