It's all in the mind

Or is it?

After getting a last minute place in Devil and after Ian dithering all week about whether he was going to run or not the decision was finally made for me to run and him to support. I'd ran no further than to work since the WHW. 3 weeks off completely to fix ankles and short runs and races were the order of the day.

So i was a little nervous about whether I'd get round tbh, it is after 42 miles, quite hilly rocky ones at that.

Arrived in Tyndrum around 9pm and everyone was very kindly and patiently waiting on us before we all schlepped off to Paddy's. Pub was full of Ultra runners & supporters. Proper serious athletes that we are.The really serious ones ie- Karen, Tim, Anne etc all went back to cottage after couple drinks. The really silly ones stayed on to talk to everyone left in pub and drink even more.

Probably not cleverest idea but hey ho. In bed around midnight, up around 4am. Think i was still bit drunk when got dressed and ate my weetabix. I managed to remember my Chanel ribbons and a quick squirt of number 5 and it was time to head to start. 6am is perfect race start time for me, I'm usually out for my run way before that so i was raring to go. And son enough we were off.

I settled into a nice  pace and ran all the to BoO with Lorna & John Mac Lean, we chatted quite happily the whole way and we seemed to arrive in no time.(1.07) I hadn't expected to see Ian here as he said he was going for breakfast so i just said a cheery hello to the man in the midgie net until he started running next to me and demanded a kiss.

Strange man in midgie net chasing me....

Spotted Gavin just as i was about to head up hill and he rubbed me down with Skinsosoft and retied my laces, still on support duty even though he wasn't supporting me this time :) By stopping here (i never normally stop) i lost Lorna & John, both went on to have cracking races.

I was feeling pretty good here and got caught by my club mate Tom. He decided he was going to stick with me as he'd passed me early on in Speyside last yr and i ended up beating him by over an hour. I was quite happy to have someone tag along and it made the miles pass easily. Even on Rannoch Moor which was a hell hole of Midgie fog. Tom kept scratching and trying to get rid of them, i took one look at my arm and decided not to bother as it was exact same as last yr ie- pointless exercise.

evil, no other words.

Few miles from Glencoe and Ian appears, another unexpected surprise.I knew he was meeting me here but hadn't expected him quite so far out. He told me Julie was ahead with her Saltire and it gave me wee spring in my step, wish I'd stopped for photo now but i was on a roll. We got to Glencoe (3.15) after picking off around 6 runners, we ran straight through CP and said our goodbye's to Ian. Midgies seemed to disappear on this bit, same as they did last yr thankfully.  Tom was still with me and still happy as larry. It was good having the company for the road bit after Kingshouse and rejoin the Way as i really struggle on that bit for some reason.

The run towards the Devil's staircase passed really quickly as Tom was telling me the names of all the hills around us, he is a Munro bagger and knew them all so it was taking our minds off the running and the heat. The Devil loomed ahead of us, now here's a strange thing. I struggled up here last year and remember thinking "how the hell will i get up here on WHW race if I'm struggling now?"

My ankles were pretty damn painful by time i got to Devil on WHW but weirdly i seemed to get up there quicker, or were my ankles so sore i blanked out how long it took? Whatever the case it was a long slog up, and hot. We got to top and got a very welcome Jelly baby baby from the ever smiley Fiona. I was out of lucozade again even though Ian gave me new bottle at Glencoe,  i suddenly remembered a can of irn bru in my bag. I'd bought it after leaving the pub thinking I'd wake up with raging thirst, as you do. But it wasn't required and and it was like amber nectar at the Top of the Devil

The descent down was fun, we overtook a few people on our descent and with a few miles to go Ian appeared after trekking the 2 mile uphill. We overtook about 4 people just as he appeared and someone mentioned Ian's starring role in the WHW DVD to him just as we were passing them. This pleased him greatly, he then tried to take the credit for us passing folk, even though we'd passed around 12 people without his help so far! ;) It was brilliant getting on the move updates from Ian as to what was happening ahead, so i knew Lucy was pretty much going to win with Debs 2nd. Thomas was fighting it out for a win and Andy was in 4th. I may have mentioned in pub the previous evening to him that this could well happen but he is way too modest and poo poohed the very idea....

As ever the road to Painlochleven never gets closer and we headed on down passing John Pickard just over the bridge. Passed through checkpoint(5.35) and Ian ran after me with more drinks for me, i shouted on Tom to keep moving and he dutifully joined me on the road to hell aka the climb out that damn place.

This is where i think i broke him :(   he was slowing down and i kept waiting but he told me to go on, that he was slowing me down. I heeded his advice and plodded on but i really struggled here too and was much slower than last year. I stopped for last pic. If you look closely you can see Tom looking back to where we'd came from

So i was on my own again and it was to stay that way pretty much most of way across Lairig Mor, got plenty of cheering and well done's from the many walkers and it was a joy to once again see the Wilderness Response Team again.  I stopped at their 2nd checkpoint and refilled my bottle and drank 3 cups water. Many thanks guys, great job as usual.

Just as i left here i bumped into Karen & Helen who after mucho hugs and laughing at the Midge's stuck to me also gave me updates on the happenings ahead. Not long after i left them Ian appeared, i was still a couple of miles of Lundavra and was more than surprised to see him, turns out he got a lift up so ran out from there instead of the long trek up the hill. I was starting to fade a bit here and for the first time since the Devil i was passed by someone. My feet were really sore, my toe specifically which was odd as i hadn't particularly kicked  that many stones but i mustve gave it a bashing at some point.

My feet in general were sore actually and this was more of a problem than general tiredness or sore legs. I guess it's understandable after running for no longer than 45mins in the previous 7weeks.

Ian pushed me on as ever, thankfully. I didn't moan like i had that double day from hell, and i was thankful i wasn' in same world of pain that i was during WHW race. I recalled evey step i'd painfully hobbled down, and wondered how the hell i'd managed it on those ankles, made me quite proud of myself  & proud of Gavin for putting up with me!

Loved the run down but still walked the flat bits! And i ran walked the road part too, until i was *told* to run rest of it. So i did.

Finished in 8hrs 55min.

Around 20mins more than last yr but you'll not hear me complaining. Ian was as ever,just brilliant support.

But there was time for stopping, oh no. I managed a quick 5 min chat to congratulate Andy and say *told you so* then it was off to Leisure centre where i got a hug and congratualtions from Lucy. to quote Julie -his is on a par with David Beckham praising my performance in a pub team kick-around. Ridiculous but delightfully satisfying!

Lucy mentioned my neck was covered in Midgies, how delightful! Yet she still hugged me, maybe cause she'd borrowed Deb's clothes ? ;)

Quick shower which i nealry leapt out of after discovering horrid chafing on my back. I'd worn a tshirt, not sure why as i always wear a vest but it mustve been riding up all day and i had a mark the shape of my bag on my back. Ouchy.

Quick scout round hall to congratulate Debs, say hi to John, Katrina and few others then we sped off towards Edinburgh as we had a festival show to go to. Arrived home, dumped back and 5 mins later we were in cab (pre booked) in torrential rain heading towards Playhouse to see our show.Half way through, a few glasses of wine down and we were both fading fast. We'd shared a sandwich and half heartedly shared a bit of pasta in Leisure centre. That was it since 4am. Decision was made to ditch show before In started eating the person in front's arm and off we went to La Tasca.

Wine, food, bed. In that order.

Rested Sunday, ran to work Monday but my toe was superhurty so i rested for rest of week. Friday i was down in Leeds for a meeting, 4 hours in car leaving at 6am, 5hour meeting then 4 hours back. Long day but productive meeting.

On Saturday i had girls day out.  Lunch, champagne followed bymore champagne and few cocktails for good measure followed by more champagne.

Sunday we were up early to head through to Stirling and run a mile. Yes really. We do this a few times a year and iv'e missed last few so i promised i'd be there this time. Fuelled by said champagne i managed a wee pb and did 7.09. Some work to be done to get my sub 7 but it's all going in right direction.

Yikes, just noticed the time, i'm sure i started this blog when i was 22......

Step by Step and Day by day

Every second counts, i cant break away.



For some reason I've been thinking about my WHW race a lot recently, afterwards i suffered the inevitable comedown. A year's worth of training, for what? Was it all worth it? Ending up in hospital, all that pain i was in, the stress i caused my loved ones, my crew? To be honest it's taken me a while to say yes. Don't get me wrong, i was chuffed to finish. But it was tinged with the *but i could've done better* though. And actually that's kinda selfish and a bit rude to anyone finishing behind me or who DNF'd
comedown

But we each run our own race for our own reasons.
Pointed out by Andy Cole only recently in his blog, for me it's "because i can"  I think as runner's we are constantly looking to others and thinking " i wish i could be like that"  I guess some of us could stop wishing and just get off our butts and do the hard work and be just like them. Of course some people are just Natural Born runners.  I'm certainly not one of those. I think most runs are hard work, but hey if it wasn't hard everyone would be doing it, right?

Getting back to WHW race. I can now talk about it with pride, i can now stop beating myself up over the time, stop asking why on earth did i pick up an ankle injury that's never bothered me before. The simple answer is why not? I should be (and am!) delighted to have finished despite it all getting chucked at me not to. I'm proud of my goblet and i now want a shirt that says i RAN the WHW in 25hrs 57mins. I want to stand up and be proud of what I've done.

be proud     I am.

Last weekend was one of best weekends I've ever had. As mentioned in previous blog we were at Scone Palace in Perth for Rewind 

Parkrun in morning, home for breakfast, pack and offski. We arrived just before check in time so we sat in the sunshine and had glass wine til we could get in room. Soon as could we headed off for shuttle bus. Arrived to find a  neon coloured queue snaking round the concert hall but it actually only took about 10 mins to board buses. There were some fantastic and outrageous costumes around, I'm not too sure too many of us dressed like that in the 80's.
  Once we arrived we got drinks and quickly found a good spot and settled there for rest of day. Weather was glorious and the whole day was just brilliant.







We quickly realised the best route to
A. The Bar
B. The Toilets
C. The food Areas

ABC were playing too btw.....

We also quickly decided that tomorrow we'd go to shops and bring fold up seats as we were some of the few without them.I even to mange to locate my pal Debbie after 15 missed calls and pics to show where we were/they were, it's fair to say she was a bit tipsy. ;)

And that's what we did.

Some people even had tables ! We also got a blanket so it gave us wee bit of space around the seats too. Very civilised.

A certain Mr Waterman was saying earlier in the day that he too wished he was there as he knew Rick Astley was playing and was gutted  to miss it. Ian very kindly called him up a few times and played some songs down the phone, much to Mr Waterman's delight. True Friendship that is.

Weather for Sunday wasn't quite so good, overcast but still warm, it didn't matter a jot. We had yet another brilliant day and played some more songs down the phones, some people were appreciative than others... ;) 

On Monday we did our own Tour of fife. Not of the running kind like that crazy lot last week though. We headed to St Andrews and spent a lovely day there then followed the coastal route back down. Stopping in the lovely Elie for a wee glass wine and vowing to go back to sample the food which looked great. Some really lovely towns on that route but also some godforsaken ones too.

Apologies to anyone in Buckhaven if your reading this but omg i was scared being in the car there. Saw one guy running and as he glanced at his watch I'm sure i saw the surprise in his eyes that it was still on his wrist.....

Back to work yesterday and been flat out since. Ian is on holiday for next 2 weeks and doing VIP stuff  and I've got busy few weeks at work working towards this award. I'm amazed at just how dark it's got in the mornings again. On my gym mornings I'm not long past 4.40 and it's been pitch black, its light before i leave about half hr later but it's sad to summer on it's way out already.

Who's up for a bit of Devilling around this weekend?  Doing this purely for fun and wont be chasing any times. Hopefully see lots of you there.

If there is such a thing.....

As Normality, i do think I'm returning to it.


I went back to the gym for first time since my injury this week. Wow it hurt, but in a "you've worked hard" kinda way. I'm also back to do doing doubles, running to and from work. Works out at 3 runs if i do it on gym day but i just record it as two. This week I've ran 10 times. I've somehow managed to get to 101 miles for the month,  not bad for my recovery month back :o) I've also managed to clock up 7 races this month, crazy short lung busting races but clearly it's been a great way of trying to get my legs back up to speed if you'll pardon the pun!

Wednesday night was relay night at the Self Transcendence race. We managed to pull about 5 teams of 3 together all to run one mile each. It was a glorious night and the Meadows were packed out with people BBQing and drinking. Ian was at a dinner so couldn't make it but decided to squeeze wee run in before hand so popped down to surprise me (and give me my instructions on how fast i should run!) Our team was Santa's & Sinners. I somehow persuaded Julie last week she should do this,i told her we'd have picnic after with wine, that it would be great fun and a very social night. I eluded to tell her how much mile races hurt... oops Sorry Julie

I did 7.20 really happy with that as my (fairly old I'll admit) PB is 7.13, not done one for 2 years and my time's for these short races have been tumbling each week.We had a rather lovely night sitting in sunshine drinking bubbly and eating strawberries and other goodies.
 Since starting doing the parkruns3 weeks ago I've gone from 25.06 to  today 23.58.  Ian decided he would pace me today, think that helped push me along.
My old PB is 22.54 BUT, it was set on Edinburgh parkrun course when it was 80metres short! I think they should really scrap all the PB's & course records set  before they remeasured and fixed it as really it doesn't stand when it's short.

 So in that case i can say i'm PBing every week at moment, it's all good.

This weekend we're off to http://www.rewindfestival.com/ woohooooo

Chip Chip Chip

Saturday Mornings are no longer lie in's, they are get up early for Parkrunning. 5k's hurt, i hate 5k's so goodness knows why i'm putting myself through this week on week.

It was a glorious day and Cramond was looking spectaculour. I even did a wee warm up, clearly i'm starting to lose plot a little.

This week felt a bit easier, maybe legs are getting used to running again. I finished in 24.24, which is an improvemnt of 42seconds on last week.So i'm about a min and half away from my PB, which im told is soft and i have to beat.  Talk about moving the finish line.....

We headed off to cafe for Tea & Scones and a good catch up with lovely people. Saturday evening we had friends round for dinner, great night.
Next race is Wednesday, Meadows relay. We've managed to get about 4 teams together and it's a purely for fun race. If weather stays as lovely then plan is to have a little refreshment or two in the meadows as a wee reward.

Back to gym this week too, feels like an eternity since i've been.

If at first you dont succeed

That famous old saying....

Wednesday night, it must be time for Sri Chimnoy Race at the Meadows.

 Although i was having bit of moan in last blog, it wasn't about losing my mojo, my mojo is firmly in place. The mind is willing it's the body that is protesting slightly. So only way to fix that is to fix me. Speedwork has never been my forte, it's never even been in my vocabulary to be honest. Although I've done one mile race occasionally at "the fetch mile" i only really went to that for the social aspect, i didn't/don't actually like running eyeballs out and lungs bursting. Who does? Actually i think loads of people do. Mentalists.

It was 20th Anniversary of these races so it was very busy. Or was it busy because it was 20p to enter? I arrived to find that Ian had generously paid for my entry fee. KeithH was most impressed by that. Half the field were HBT'ers and had silly masks on, so along with the silly chants it made them even more sillier. They might be silly but my oh my they are fast, very fast. Clearly chanting and wearing silly masks is way forward. Some incredibly inspiring times.

Met up with Kate & Anne then headed over to start. Anne challenged Ian & said she was going to try and beat him, i didn't challenge anyone. I was just hoping not to be last. I was thankful there was more people around this time mind you. It would seem that last week there was only 3 people behind me, i know it's a small race but that's the furthest back I've been in a field since i started running. Kate was nervous at start, stressing over pace, time, why she was there, why she ran, why she chose that top, why she didn't have pie for lunch etc etc. I just don't get nerves like that, I'm not sure why. Maybe i don't have that hunger, maybe i should worry more?

I decided i should try and keep Kate in my sights, and i managed to do that for most of way but she ended up finishing about a minute ahead of me. I don't know why she keeps telling everyone she is rubbish runner, stand up and be counted Kate! Anne & Ian had a bit of duel going on and she pushed and pushed him but Ian pushed on and won this time round. I suspect Ian now has a stalker until she beats him, which I'm sure will be soon, sorry Ian! Keith & Carrie also had cracking races, and Carrie only did the Clyde Stride at weekend, go girly!

And me? I finished in 15.17. Still no earth shattering records, but it IS a 29second PB from last week. I'm kinda chuffed to knock that amount off a wee 2 mile race. I'm hoping it's a start of things to come.

After the prize giving (i didn't win anything, funny that) we headed off to the pub. It was Julie's (of watching the trails fame)  Birthday and she was patiently waiting in pub for a bunch of sweaty runners to pile in. She wasn't disappointed

A glass of wine or three was had and time flew by. It was late (by my standards) by time we got home and had a very late dinner, very quick shower then bed.

I mentioned a few weeks ago about exciting stuff happening and didn't want to mention it in case of jinxing it but now that things have moved along i can tell.  I'm finally getting control back of my own Unit. It's been a year now since i was moved to where i am and it's not been an easy ride. It's been incredibly stressful at times and difficult to adjust to not being manager. On top of this our place has been chosen as one of 8 to get tested for an award. It's incredibly important and if we fail the company fails.So on my head be it so to speak. I'm actually relishing the challenge even though it means lots of work ahead  i hope i can rise to it.



Lacking Motivation

not to run, just to blog. Maybe it's because my running isn't going so well. Maybe i'm expecting too much of myself. That's what i've been told my him who knows anyway.

Every run is such hard work, doesn't matter if i'm actually trying or if i'm just meandering along, at some point i feel like i'm dragging along a couple of bags of cement with me. I look at the people who did Clyde stride at weekend who'd also done WHW and wonder how on earth they manage it.(well done everyone btw)

Did Parkrun again last Saturday, for someone taking it easy i've managed to do 3 races in a week. Finished in 25.06. Around 3 minutes off PB. It was hard work to get that even.

Have i become a big fat wuss? Will i ever run "fast" again?  Who will save me?

Rosemary , the telephone operator? ....No

Penry, the mild mannered Janitor? .....

Hmmm, i doubt even Hong Kong Phoooey can help.

Plodding on

My recovery continues.It's been rather hectic time at mo so i guess it's stopping me from going crazy and doing too much too soon.
On Friday we were heading down to London for a wedding , leaving straight from work which meant no running. Good thing. Journey down was great, only 4.5 hours but it was bit of trek once we arrived to get across London to where we were staying. Arrived then headed to bar to meet Bride & Groom for bottle wine or two lol. Plans were made to run to Richmond Parkrun the next day so we all sloped off to bed sometime after 1am.

Karen (bridesmaid) had said she planning on running around 30mins or so so i decided best plan for me would be to run with her. Chris & Brenda (bride & groom) were just running easily too so we all stayed together.Except Ian, he took off like a hare :)  What a lovelyy course it is, i really enjoyed it and had my most relaxed 5k ever just chatting all way round and enjoying the beautiful park and the company. I even walked a couple of times so Karen could catch up when i was getting bit ahead of self.Finished just over 30mins, ankle felt ok. . Brenda & Chris finished hand in hand, their last run as single people. Then it was back to hotel for big breakfast, Bren was starting to get nervous by about 11 so headed up to get ready. Ian and i decided to head out for walk to explore the area, just did couple miles, It was a gloriously sunny day.

Back to room to get changed and before too long it was time to go, car was picking us up at 1pm to whisk us to venue , Orleans House Gallery. Beautiful building with fascinating history.

Bren looked gorgeous and ceremony went without a hitch, few pictures in the surrounding grounds then back to Hotel for drinks and canapes in the courtyard. Sitting in the sun drinking Pimms, it was rather nice.

Day just flew by and table we had for meal was a great laugh, really good mix of people. Rest of day passed in a blur of drinking, hugging, and dancing. We sloped off to bed around 12, knackered. Fantastic day all round.

Sunday Breakfast with new Mr&Mrs then it was time to head back home.

Monday i ran to work and i felt almost normal again. When i wake up in morning my ankle are always sore, both of them.I can only liken it to a wee man sneaking in middle of night and giving my ankle a bashing with a mallet, once I'm up its ok. Most odd. I do hope there's not a man sneaking in and bashing me with a mallet...

Tuesday i was back in Linlithgow at the course. It was also exam day, think it went ok. Wednesday i decided that logistically i could manage to run if i packed carefully, so i did. Ran to station then once off train down to office, Total of just over 5 miles. Arrived in meeting room in my running gear and one of guys on course pipes up " do you know how many people die of heart attacks a year from running?"
"not as many as die from sitting on couch eating pizza I'll bet" i  said before heading off to get changed.

He was very nice to me for rest of day...

2nd exam was bit tougher, all about  Management Health & Safety. The Food one the day before i can get head round easier as its' stuff we should really know anyway. Risk assessments and legislation's and whatnot not is bit tougher. Think did ok though (passed Tuesday's one, find out about wed in few weeks i think)

Last night we decided to  do the Self-Transcendence Meadows 2 Miles race.Organised by the ever lovely Adrian.  This time i was racing though. Scary. I'd already done 10miles during the day so legs felt bit heavy, in fact they feel heavy regardless of what distance i do at mo! I stood at start line nervously looking around at the various skinny speedsters around me and felt like a total fraud. oh dear, looks like this would be my first race coming last...

Off we went, the meadows was absolutely heaving with people and i thought it would be carnage trying to dodge folk but the speedsters cleared the way thankfully. I finished in a rather pitiful 15.44. Slower pace than 5mile race i did week before WHW race. Yikes. I'm slow. And fat. Ok fat is pushing it, i know I'm not fat. I think i have put on about half stone since race though. Lying down doing nothing but elevate feet and drinking wine a lot will do that i guess...

Ian has told me not to expect miracles, reminded me that not only had i just completed one of toughest longest races in Scotland but I'd also got injured and have spent 3 weeks trying to recover from that.

I know all this, of course i do. I'm feeling bit better this morning about it than i was last night. Rome wasn't built in a day, Sandra wasn't fixed in an instant.