Reflections on 1001 miles

My run tonight marked 1001 miles in 2012. So whilst I swooshed through the leaves,

I was thinking about what I have achieved this year in those 1001 miles. This year brought Twotacklethree and a great new friendship with Tracey. We both trained very hard and completed three challenges each raising a whopping £1800 for The Haemophilia Society. I took part in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon, The Edinburgh Marathon and also the Peebles Triathlon and Tracey  cycled up Mont Ventoux, did the Peebles triathlon and cycled all the way to St Andrews in the worst rain of the year. 

Once our epic challenge was over, it was only June so what next. I was enjoying my fitness so I decided to keep going and I entered the Keswick Trail run and had a blast. I love Latrigg and to run up it and then whoosh back down it was just bliss. 

Then Tracey and I were back in training for Triathlon, we both entered the Haddington Triathlon. Not sure I enjoyed this one quite as much as Peebles but I still finished it and as ever quite proud of myself. It was lovely at the end though to meet up with Lesley and Michelle (Fetch) to display our numbers on our legs!!!

So that was another Triathlon done and dusted. After this event I decided I really needed to learn to swim properly. So after a few lessons with Lynne I have finally managed to learn to swim fairly respectably and I am enjoying my new found sport very much. Still not sure I am much of a Triathlete, as I am a bit rubbish on the bike but am really looking forward to giving an aquathon a go.

July and August brought us the Olympics and the Paralympics. I had a great time at the Paralympic torch event at Meadowbank where my fabby swimming pal was carrying a torch. And the Olympic torch came through Penicuik, that was a great day. And to top of our Olympic experience Alistair and I whooshed down to London for two days and had the best time. We watched the Olympic Marathon. Brilliant experience.

So onto my next race - I had planned to run the Glasgow Half Marathon, however one dodgy tooth and extraction later I wasn't really fit enough to run the whole thing, however my Mum was doing the 10k so really wanted to do it too. And a great race we both had! Met my Fetchie buddy Margaret there too!

After the 10k I had a bit of a slow down in training as I only had one race left to do for the year.  The Bupa Great Edinburgh Run. Andrew did the 5k and I did the 10k. He only bloomin well came in 16th!! Not bad for someone who doesn't really train very hard. Me I came in with a nice 65mins despite the massive hills all the way around.

So back to my run today. That is me hit 1000 miles for the second time in my whole running career. Fetch has a lot to answer for. I have just gotten fitter and fitter since I joined Fetcheveryone two years ago and my buddies on Fetch are just wonderful. I love you all!!! Ironically, Alistair getting so ill has also made me change the way I think about myself and has made me want to try different events to keep me interested and motivated. I am also dead chuffed that a side affect of all this running has meant that I am down to a size 12 in clothes for the first time in 17 years!!!! 

So what next?  I am officially back in training for the Meadows Half Marathon in March next year. This is a race that Gavin (Fetch) introduced me to last year and I, despite what I thought, actually really enjoyed it. It is about 8 laps around the Meadows and has a great atmosphere. Then I have the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Edinburgh again in April (was amazing last year) and then the Edinburgh Marathon (despite me saying never again last year) in May. I do have the Great Winter Run in January to start my year off, and Rhona and Hannah are doing it too. As is Tracey. 

So that is that as the sun sets over Penicuik park my run is over for the day, a short one but an important one topping off an amazing year in my life of running. 

Finally, it goes without saying that my attempts at racing would not happen without Alistair, Andrew and Rhona. Particular thanks to Alistair for picking me up at the end of the Edinburgh Marathon where I actually got stuck on the ground in the Pinkie playing fields in Musselburgh. 

don't worry, be happy :)

My Keswick Run

Got up nice and early to go out for my Keswick Run. The sun wasn't exactly splitting the sky but it had stopped raining and the sky was bright. As I was saying cheerio to Alistair I was walking down the steps from our attic conversion of a bedroom. Just as I was saying to him that I wondered if I should wear my hat for my run was I bumping down the stairs and landing in a heap at the bottom! Not sure what I had hurt the most I sat for a moment and then got up, (a few choice words were heard!) and then hobbled down the stairs. Quick check - left arm bruising nicely, bumped knee and sore ankle. But none of it was too bad so opted to go out for my run nonetheless.

The first part of my run took in the river Greta, a view of Grizedale Pike, Skiddaw and Latrigg. Beautiful views all around. After I skirted the fields alongside Skiddaw and Latrigg I headed down to the railway line.

This took me back into Fitz park and back to the River Greta. As you can see the river was very full and moving fast. Next stop the town centre. It was market day in Keswick and the Moot Hall was surrounded by bustling market stalls.

Next stop the subway heading down to Lady Hope park and the Lake. Past the crazy golf and into Lady Hope's garden. It was absolutely beautiful, the colours were stunning.

Next stop the Lake. Derwent water is lovely and at this time of year with the autumn colours and the very changeable weather it is especially beautiful. Almost at the end of my run was at Friar's Crag. This is my most favourite place in the world. I particularly love it when it is raining and the wind is howling up the lake, this is because the visitors usually stay away and I get it all to myself. A lovely place to contemplate life.

Finally, my run ends at, what Andrew named many years ago, the family rocks. This is the spot where for many visits when they were young Andrew and Rhona had to visit before the end of our holiday to Keswick. It is funny now though, whilst Andrew won't admit it, he still likes to clamber all over the family rocks and balance just above the water on the rock which sits in the water.

Andrew's balancing rock!!!

Life is good! Right up until I fell again later on whilst we were walking down from Latrigg. At that point, I was very sore, a bit more bruised but at least I managed to get my run in this morning.

don't worry, be happy 

:)

A beautiful autumn run..........

If ever you wondered if Autumn was here - well look at these colours...

The start of my run. 

 Started out early this morning for my autumn run. The sun was shining and it was still quite warm. The woods are looking really autumnal now, with the colours vibrant and the ground covered in leaves.

I went through the woods towards the Penicuik Estate and took the red route! Was feeling quite good at this point. So I headed off down towards the woody path. 

The woody path holds a secret! You can pass this without even noticing this fabulous Rapunzel tower! It is hidden away and you have to sneak up another path away from the main one and climb over broken down trees and through mud. A cracking wee find!

Once I had been at the tower I carried on down the path and look, a log in my way, well I leapt right over it! I know it is not high off the ground but for those of you who know me, you will know that even this poses a challenge to my lack of leapyness when I am running. But I didn't miss a step - whoop over I went!!!! 

Out of that part of the estate, back over the road and onto the second part of my run, into the Lowrie's Den Walkway. I was having a really good run at this point. I really enjoy running when it is easy and I forget that I am actually running and am just going along enjoying myself.

gorgeous berries

A little bit further down the path and I came to a bridge and a burn. The question is - did I run over the bridge or throw caution to the wind and storm through the water? Those of you who know me will be saying "she went over the bridge cos Jane hates getting her feet wet!" But, no, I went straight through the water - who hoo. My feet were soaking wet but strangely liberating. It was great.

That's it - on my way home! Only half a mile to go. What a fabulous autumn run. Can't wait to go to Keswick next week and get me some more autumn running :)

don't worry, be happy :)

3 Hills and sunshine

Great Edinburgh Run 10K

A few months ago Alistair came home from work with the (secret) information that the usual 10K route for this race had been changed due to a variety of unavoidable issues. When he showed me the proposed new route my first instinct was to cry "not doing it". It was as if they had asked some runners for the worst hills in Edinburgh not to include in a 10K and then included them all!!!!!

So, with some trepidation I got up this morning, mainly because I had talked Andy into running the 5K and as a teenager he would just grab the chance to stay in his bed longer if I had offered him the chance. We headed into Holyrood Park which was beginning to get busy with 5K runners. The sun was shining but it was blooming freezing.

After a hunt for the toilets - there was an enormous sign saying "TOILETS" but there were none to be seen - they were miles down the road from where the sign was. After that we headed off to the baggage tent as Andy decided that he wanted to get rid of his bag as it was getting near time for him to start his race. Just outside the tent we found Tracey, Fiona and her Dad. We had a bit of a laugh with them and then Tracey decided that she would put her stuff in the tent, Fiona was running the 10K so was staying firmly in her warm clothes (just like me!).

The call to the start came so Tracey and Andy headed off to find their way into their pen. I wandered over to the start and was surprised to find Tracey and Andy coming back laughing. A marshall had sent them off to the back of the field and their pen was at the front. Right at the front!!!!! Then the warm up started. Now, Andy being a teenager is not prone to outbursts of enthusiasm for things but somehow or other Tracey's exuberance took over and he joined in much to the hilarity of me, Fiona and her Dad.

somebody call for a Doctor, there is something wrong with Tracey!!!!!

Tracey they said lift your rib cage, they are not your ribs!!!

Then they were off!! 

Look at the sun!!!!

Then it was my turn, off to my green start spot!

The sun was shining so much you can hardly see that it says "Green". Don't be fooled though it was really cold. We had to line up in our pens before the start and listen to the man shouting at the beginning. I was so cold I was chittering and had huge goose bumps. Time to get going I think.

Then we were off. Tracey shouted "hiya Jane" at the start which was great. Up towards Queens Drive. From Queens Drive we went to down the hill to Duddingston Loch. And then the lovely down hill turned into a huge uphill. I did stop and walk for a teensy bit here, it was just too tough. Then we ran round to the Commonwealth pool (another hill) and then onto the Pleasance and down to St Mary's Street. I was starting to enjoy myself now, and was really feeling quite good. The thing with hills is that you have to work quite hard so the miles just kind of slip past. At that point we got to 5K. Half way. Ran down the Canongate. I decided I really wanted to enjoy this bit as I always enjoyed running down the Royal Mile when it was the finish, so I settled into a nice rhythm. Just in front of me I spotted Moira, a lady who I use to run with when I worked at Dalkeith Social Work Centre. Moira is a great runner and I tried to hunt her down today. But nope, couldn't quite make it. She stayed just in front of me the whole way back. Got to the bottom of the Canongate and despite being able to see the finish, I knew I still had 3K to go. Saw Tracey at the bottom who reassured me that I only had "one more buggery hill to go Jane" (to which many runners around me groaned!). So I dug in and took to Abbey Mount. This hill should not be a surprise as I ran it a lot when I lived in the town. The toughest bit of this last challenge was not Abbey Mount but probably the climb up Regent Road to the turning point. Quite a hill. There were lots of people walking by this point. I was still feeling quite good though so I just kept on going. Finally, we turned back down Abbey Mount and weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee all the way back down the hill to the finish. What a brilliant downhill - finally :)

Got to the finish, picked up my slightly dodgy grey looking t-shirt (Tracey and Andy got a fabulous Blue one for the 5K - what's that all about?). Tracey was waiting for me at the finish. A great friendly face. We then waited for Fiona to come in. She came in with a huge smile on her face. First 10K and 3 stonking hills. Well done Fiona. Tracey got another PB and I was 3 mins faster than I was last year with 65:35 mins. And Andy, he only went and finished 16th overall with a time of 21 mins. With no training - don't you just hate fit young teenagers!

Truly A Great Run :)

don't worry, be happy :)