Post Box Run

Having been inspired by an article which I read on Fetcheveryone

http://www.fetcheveryone.com/cms.php?id=3

I was inspired to go on a post box run. The idea was to run around Penicuik collecting Post Boxes. This meant that I was forced to run a different route from one of my many usual ones. To begin with it was a bit boring and I was only finding post boxes which are mounted on lamposts.

As I was running looking for the post boxes I started to think about the article. Fetch started his article by saying: 

"For every gold post box commemorating Olympic triumph, there are a thousand more like this one - tired, flaky paint, with a weed growing up the side. This is the one nearest my house, and although I’ll never be responsible for having it painted gold, I can remember a time when I probably couldn’t have run to it, and more tellingly, couldn’t imagine wanting to."

With this in mind I started to reflect on my own running career and worked out roughly that since I started running in 1986 I have probably run around 20000 miles. I know that compared to elite athletes that may not be that high for that amount of time. But for me, "joe bloggs" runner, it is pretty damn impressive! As Fetch said I may not be good enough to get a post box painted gold but I have, in 26 years, run past a lot of post boxes. When you look at all the races that go on over the world there are a lot of people like me, way more "joe bloggs" runners than elite runners. So I think we deserve a huge pat on the back, if not a post box painted a different colour. 

So on my run went, eventually I started to find more exciting post boxes. Real post boxes. 

Still reflecting, I started to think about how these post boxes could represent the races that I have done over the years. Some of them were a bit boring, some in quite pretty places, some quite hard routes, some nice easy routes, some in friendly places, some in not so friendly places, but on the whole they are always there! (well most of them). Then I got to thinking what races would be my gold post box. 

I think my most successful race ever was the St Andrews Half Marathon. Hazel will remember the anguish of waiting to see if I was going to win a t-shirt for being in the top 15 ladies. Yippee I was 15th!!! I still have that t-shirt somewhere in the loft - will never throw it out despite it not fitting at all anymore :) Not sure there were that many more than 15 ladies in the race but still 15th lady over the line is not bad at all!!!! 

Then my next success would probably be the Dublin Marathon. This was my first marathon and it took me forever to run it but it was my first marathon - 26 miles!!!! That is a bloomin' long way. I have now done 5 marathons but Dublin still holds a place in my heart as it was my first. And then my final ultimate success is probably the first Edinburgh Marathon I ran which I did in 5 hours. This represented a 1 hour improvement on my Dublin Marathon time which was amazing for me. Never quite got back there but maybe one day I will get that illusive 4 hours 59 mins that is my dream marathon time! (not very fast I know but just to have a 4 in the time is my goal).

So where did my post box run end today - where else but the Post Office! Has to be said all the wee old ladies waiting for their pension were looking at me a bit oddly as I took a picture of the post box but I just smiled and ran on - let them think I'm a bit mad - do I care? Not a jot!

So many post boxes, miles and races later I am still running and still enjoying it. And I ended up having a nice run on a totally random route that I had never done before. 

And the last words goes to Fetch:

"So why don’t you start by taking a run out to your local post box – and better still, take someone with you. And when they can run there, help them find the next one. You may never change the appearance of that post box – but you may change yourself in the process."

Nice one Fetch! Thanks for the inspiration :)

don't worry, be happy :)

Our Olympic Adventure - part 2

I know it has taken me a few days to get around to typing this but I was back to work this week and have been absolutely nick knacked after our quick trail around London.

So, where did I get to? Oh we were off to The Jersey Boys. Dinner was fab in the Soho Pizza place. Then we headed over to The Prince Edward Theatre. The show was going great until "pop" there was load bang like a light bulb bursting right in the middle of a song. The stage lighting went off and the main lights came on, the microphones were all gone and the actors just looked at each other and then calmly walked off! We all looked at each other and started saying "was that meant, is it the interval". Then a nice wee woman came out and started trying to shout at us that there had been a power cut and that the health and safety dudes wanted to check everything before they carried on. Fifteen minutes later and the cast came back on, picked up where they left off and the show went on. In the end an excellent show and highly recommended. The audience were rocking by the end. 

We then decided to take the tube back to The Tower and we walked miles. We wanted to take pics of the Olympic rings on the tower bridge with lights on. So from the Pier we were able to get right down under the bridge and take some fab photos. Then Alistair decided he wanted to walk over it. My feet were sore by this point, and having claimed this bridge in the VLM I knew it was a bit of hike. But off we set! It was stunning to see the Olympic rings from underneath.

 Then he decided, in his enthusiasm, that we should go right over and walk along the other side of the embankment to the next bridge and back again.

It was lovely, and we now have about a million pictures of the Olympic rings from both sides of the river. By the time we got back my feet were absolutely killing me and I was starting to NEED a cup of tea. Now, the thing about London, which I had never noticed before, was that there are no late night wee supermarkets - plenty of small Sainsburys but no late night openings. So having used all the milk and tea bags in our room I was well and truly stuck with no tea. Not a happy bunny. When we got back to our very posh hotel, we realised we could get tea at the very nice relaxing lounge. So settled in a comfy sofa, a bit tired, but very happy, we quietly sat and watched Mo Farah win his second goal (being repeated at regular intervals right up to 1am!). Time for bed, we've got a marathon in the morning.

Up early, had a bit of a lie in as we had already decided that the £21 per person breakfast in the hotel was not really for us and had found a Weatherspoons doing a full English for £4.99. Not that we are skinflints but it is only bacon, egg and toast!!! At 9am the crowd was slowly beginning to build but we were right at the turn around point at the Tower so we were confident that we could get out in time to get a ring side seat. It was still touch and go though, we sort of forgot about the fact we had to run along to the nearest open underpass to get to the other side of the road! aagghh! We hurried and got ourselves a nice spot, under trees at All Hallows church right at the railing. We met a lovely lady from Hong Kong who offered us a Union Jack to put on the railing next to her flag. We tied the two together and put them on the railing. We had our own wee flags to wave.

 Alistair decided at 9.30am that he was bored already (only 2 hours to go Ali!) and was heading for a paper. So I had to try and keep his space which was not easy with spaces at the railing at a premium. He was on his way back and this man jumped into the space. I mumbled that I was keeping the space and he said that was fine but was there room for him to squeeze in? We decided there was and he introduced himself as Michael. He was an interesting sort! He had theeee most colourful tight lycra vest and equally tight colourful patterned lycra shorts.

 He had a little teddy bear with him which was being sent around the world to different events to different events to promote a campaign against hate crime. He had a unique ankle bracelet, oh wait, I think you call it a tag!!!!! We had great fun later on trying to guess what he got that for! My guess, campaigning against gay rights and it going wrong. He did say he had been on a World Pride march in America and had marched in Britain at Gay Pride marches. Anyway, what a laugh we had with him. He then spotted someone he knew and hot footed it after him. In his space came a lovely girl from Croydon, called Emma, who we had a great laugh with all through the race. 

11.30am and the helicopters appeared in the sky and the Samba band along from us struck up their rhythm. Within seconds the lead runners appeared. Talk about graceful. They just looked like they were floating along rather than running. The cheers were huge. After a bit the first Team GB runner came past - Scott Overall. 

The cheering went up a notch at that point and if there had been a roof it would have truly have blown off. Shortly after Lee Merrian passed and he was duly given the same honours.

 At this point they all looked like they were doing okay. There was only two groups on the first lap. So they were passed quite quickly. By the second lap they were beginning to string out and Kiprotich was leading. 



The cheering went up a notch at that point and if there had been a roof it would have truly have blown off. Shortly after Lee Merrian passed and he was duly given the same honours. At this point they all looked like they were doing okay. There was only two groups on the first lap. So they were passed quite quickly. By the second lap they were beginning to string out and Kiprotich was leading. 

Scott at this point was still ahead of Lee but was beginning to look weary. Lee appeared quite quickly behind. The crowd were keeping up their side, the cheering went on the whole time there were runners on the road. And in between time there were plenty of mexican waves and the Vounteers were keeping us entertained by having Usain Bolt stylee races, with the obligatory lightening bolts by the winner. By the final lap the field was quite strung out and a different Kiprotich was leading. 


Very exciting. Then Lee Merrian appeared! Where was Scott? He came past quite a bit later looking absolutely knackered, but he smiled and waved as the wall of noise followed him around the turning point. It took quite a while for all the runners to pass. The runner from Lichtenstein was really enjoying himself and showboating to the crowd. The loudest cheer of the day was reserved for the final runner from Lesoto. He was smiling all the way. I saw him at the finish line on the recording when I got home, and I do believe he probably had that wall of sound his whole way back! He was a true hero. He looked slow compared to the last runners but still pulled out a well below 3 hour marathon (amazing! inspiring!). 

We had been in touch with Garfield during the race but we were just separated by too many people and too big a distance to be able to actually meet up. There were also Fetchies at Leadenhall but once we got those spaces next to the railing we were not leaving it for anything. 

We had a lovely lunch sitting on the steps at The Tower of London and soaked up the different nationalities. It was a brilliant atmosphere. Then we went back to our hotel picked up our bags and headed back to the centre to go to see Big Ben, London Eye etc. We wandered around for ages, had a seat at the Jubilee Park at County Hall, had ice cream and then had a walk around St James Park towards Buckingham Palace. 

We saw the end of the Changing of the Guard. At that point we had to head back to Victoria Station to catch the Gatwick Express back to Gatwick.

Absolutely knackered but happy, we had our tea at the airport. By the time the plane was ready for boarding I was about sleeping. Just as I was about to have a wee dose, this nice lady sat beside me and said "have you been to the Olympics?" well that was my nap! She had been to watch the Ladies Pentathlon (her daughter had just missed out on being picked for the team) and the girl who came second was her daughter's training partner and pal!). She gabbed the whole way home. She was very nice.

So that was that. Our Olympic Adventure! And I loved every minute of it. 


don't worry, be happy 

Our Olympic Adventure - part 1

Got up at silly o'clock this morning to head for an early flight to London. After a car drive, a flight, two train journey's and a tube journey we arrived at the swankiest hotel I have ever stayed at, The Double Trees by Hilton hotel. It's location is two nano seconds from the turn around point at the men's marathon. The French supportbteam were staying at the Novotel opposite us and it appeared that some of the Russian support team were in our hotel. How exciting is that??

We were a little too early to check into our room so we dumped our bags with the very polite man at the desk and then headed out into the brilliant sunshine. We headed straight for the water to see the Olympic Rings on the Tower Bridge. AMAZING!!! I am so excited. After taking about a million pictures and wandering about we headed back to the tube to go into the Centre. The men's race walking is on today and bloomin heck that looks like hard work! They were fair skipping along and we found out it was the long distance on of 50K I believe. The atmosphere was amazing. The cheering, expecially for the Irish medal hope and the two GB guys was really loud, at one point we saw one of the GB guys having a laugh to himself as the cheers were so loud it was actually quite funny. They were only doing 2K laps so naturally it was going to take a while. So we headed off to try and get some lunch. Eventually we got some lunch and took it back to Hyde park to sit on the grass in the sunshine. We were sat just under a loud speaker shouting out what was happening in the race and guess who was the commentator - our very own Brian Burnett!!! Last time I heard him at the end of a race he was shouting to me "go Fetchie!" (Keswick Trail Run) so there you are I am up with the best!!! The athletes looked done in as it was very warm. 

After that we went to Trafalgar square and sat on the steps there, then we headed to Covent Garden and milled about there. Then we headed off to find Leadenhall Market where the Olympic Fetchpoing is tomorrow, found it no problems and it is only ten minutes from our hotel so we will hopefully mosey on over there tomorrow.

Once we had seen there we walked back to our Hotel and had a good hunt for the kettle (found it in a drawer?? what's that all about). Cup of tea and a shower. Sorted for going back out again. 

Tonight we are going to the Soho Pizzaria for our tea and then off to see The Jersey Boys! 

Olympic Men's marathon tomorrow - can't wait! Watch this space for more blogging!!

don't worry, be happy :)

Major breakthrough on the swimming front!

I got up this morning and was ever so slightly nervous. I had arranged to meet up with Andy and Rhona's swimming teacher Lynne to see if she could help me get over the "getting my head in the water" problem that I have when swimming. I have been trying lots and lots but just cannot get over the thought that I will never be able to breath under water and then I end up gasping for breath and not being able to get back into my stroke again. This is really holding back me improving any so with another triathlon on the horizon I really wanted to get this licked.

Anyway, off to the pool I went. When I got there Lynne was already there and waiting. We started with blowing bubbles in the water which was fine, I could cope with that. Then we progressed to putting our eyes in the water - there you go - now I can't breathe! gasp gasp gasp, right ready to go again. Lynne was so patient, we tried lots and lots of different techniques to try and calm my breathing down. I am fine until I have to put my full head in the water and then I stop breathing. So Lynne asked me to swim up to the end of the pool the way I would normally. She said I almost had my head in anyway and that I was not far off being able to turn my head into the water. mmmm easier said than done. So by this point we were up the deep end. So Lynne then tried getting me to sink to the bottom of the pool and breathe out. Firstly could not get myself to sink (?????) not sure why? and Lynne was sitting at the bottom waiting on me. Then first time I held my breath and then popped up gasping. The next time Lynne told me to close my eyes whilst I did it so I did that and lo and behold! I managed to take a breath and then control it under the water. "It was a panicky breath" said Lynne "but a breath nonetheless". making a teeny weeny bit of progress. I suddenly realised that after 30 mins I was still breathing and maybe I could do this after all. Lynne decided then to try and get me to use the breast stroke and to swim with my mouth in the water and breathing in and out. I did that and managed it! Then she said "just tip your eyes in to the water as you stretch out" - and hey! I managed that too! She then told me that I had swum half the length of the pool in a serious of push and glides! She wanted me then to count to two as I pushed out with my arms which meant I had to control my breathing for a little bit longer. Bloomin' eck I managed that too! There maybe is hope for me yet!!

Lynne then had me do some back stroke, which was really hard work, but I did feel I was quite good at that. So might practice that a bit too.

By this point Lynne's one-to-one (a lovely wee 3 year old girl who had no fears at all) had arrived. I stayed for a bit longer and practised a bit longer. I actually felt like I am a real swimmer! who hoo. Not sure I will be able to do this for a whole 30 lengths in the triathlon (as it is only 4 weeks away) but I can certainly work on it over the winter. I have a bit of a secret plan for next year which will be dependent on me learning how to swim properly and comfortably! But watch this space all will be revealed sometime next year.

I am absolutely delighted with my breakthrough and it is all down to Lynne's calming tutoring! She is running with the Paralympic torch in Edinburgh on the 26th August. So we will be there to cheer her on - if you are there give her a shout out for us too!

Now I am off to pack my wee bag for going to London tomorrow to catch the last of the Olympic's in London. The men's marathon is the last event on Sunday and we will be there to cheer the runners on!

don't worry, be happy :)

Celebrations and sunshine

The first part of today started with a lot of nerves. Andy's Higher results were due in and the Postie doesn't usually arrive until 11.00am so between getting up at 8am I painted the skirting boards in the hall, put the washing on and hung it out, hoovered, polished the living room, tidied the kitchen and a whole host of other non jobs to while away the time. Andy was prowling about getting more nervous as the time went on. I ended up sitting in the back garden because I couldn't bear to be near the letter box. Whilst I was sitting out the back I could hear the Postie dropping letters into neighbours boxes and then he got to ours. I shouted to Andy who nervously took his envelope into the conservatory and began to rip it apart (doesn't really do envelopes does our Andy). I could hear him opening it whilst I was sitting outside. Two seconds later I heard the conservatory door fling open and he came out with a huge grin - "I've done it" he said "five A's". I could have cried, the relief, his dreams of becoming a Doctor are still there. First hurdle, several to go yet but at least the first bit is done. He got an A for his English, he failed his prelim so we used some of the money left to us when my Grandma died to get him a tutor. So in some way Grandma was with him in that exam and he passed.

So now that the nerves are all away we can all relax. Andy and Rhona are heading to Keswick next week with my mum and dad and Alistair and I are going to London for the weekend. We can all relax now.

So with a beautiful sunny day waiting me I decided I would head out on my bike and ended up cycling about 14 miles. On a gorgeous sunny day like this you really realise how lovely a place we live in. The sky was pure blue over the Pentland Hills and it was warm and sunny. The fields are all lush looking and there were loads of wee sheep milling about. Just a lovely bike ride.

Worked my way down to Rosslyn Chapel which was really busy.

Alistair is taking us out for our tea to The Cavalier tonight to celebrate Andy's success. 

don't worry, be happy :)

Getting chased!

It was very wet this morning and I couldn't really be bothered running or taking my bike out so I said to Rhona and her pal, Hannah if they wanted to go to Peebles swimming pool. They are both taking part in an aquathon in September so are both training. So off we went in the rain to Peebles. It was chucking it down when we got there so we ran into the pool and got ourselves changed.

The pool was really busy but there was a lane up so in Rhona and I went. Hannah decided the people in the lane were a bit fast for her so she did her lengths in the bit without lanes. It has to be said she was right there were three other people in the lane and they were really fast. Rhona was fine she just does her thing swimming up and down. I am not quite as fast and efficient as Rhona so I kept having to stop at the end to let the fast lady past (she was annoying me a bit as she was doing drills and kept using the whole lane despite us having to have squeeze past her every time she passed). Rhona eventually went out and went to swim with Hannah and by this point it was just me and the fast lady. She was chasing me up and down the pool - made me work very hard. My arms were about dropping off. And then in climbed "very tanned sculpted man". So I had her chasing me and I was chasing him (in a swimming fashion you understand!). He may well have been very handsome but was a total lightweight and only lasted a few laps before he toddled off to the fun part of the pool. Ha - beaten by two women!!!

So after my 750m I ended up at the deep end of the pool. Fast lady was swimming towards me and  I laughed because as she swam up the length the lifeguard was dragging the lane away from her. It was toddlers swimming lesson time. She looked up when she got to the wall - I laughed over to her and pointed to the lack of lane. "Well that's a good excuse to stop" she said. She ended up not annoying me as she was really nice. We had a good chat about how going to a masters class helped her to learn to swim properly and she suggested me going to an adult swimming class rather than trying to teach myself to get my head under the water. So off to contact Lynn now and ask her about classes at Beeslak.

It is funny how different pools can feel different to swim in but Peebles definitely feels different from Penicuik - I don't know why because it is all just water but somehow Peebles felt harder although shorter. Does that make sense? The water felt tougher to swim through for some reason. Anyway, enough rambling. Nice swim and the sun came out when we came out and it is still shining now.

don't worry, be happy :)

Parkrun and a first!

Alistair, Rhona and I took ourselves down to Cramond today for the Parkrun.

 It was really sunny and warm and the beach at Cramond looked lovely. Alistair had decided that he wanted to give his bike a go on the flat after almost two years of not being on it. Rhona said she would go with him on her bike and chum him. It was so nice to see him back on his bike - where he should be! He said he didn't feel the clot at all however, a lack of muscles and perhaps a little too much Alistair meant that he could feel his muscles groaning a bit when he was on his bike. Still baby steps! Six months ago he was saying he would perhaps never get back on a bike!!

I left Alistair and Rhona, as they cycled off along the foreshore, to go to the start of the Parkrun. I still have a bit of a niggle in my left hamstring and have been working hard at trying to stretch it out. It doesn't seem to bother me too much when I am running other than to nip a bit when I try to stretch out in my stride. However, I was determined to try and run under 31 mins today as I have been feeling quite good recently. It was roasting and not a breath of wind, which is really unusual for Cramond. Still I kept pushing on. Passed Rhona and Alistair at the 3k mark and gave them a wee wave. As usual I started to struggle a bit at 3.5 - 4k (I swear there is a bit of an incline here but Tracey disagrees with me - although Alistair reckons there is too!!!). I passed the 4k marker and started to feel a bit better again. And then my final struggle, the wooded path. This is the very last stretch where you know you are nearly home but it is still quite a wee bit away. I always slow down here no matter how much I try to speed up. But try I did and what was the time on my watch??? 31.11 aaaaggghhhh!! Not sure even the official parkrun time will be less than that. So nearly there. It was just too hot. :( I also think that not having Tracey bearing down on me made a huge difference to my perseverance,  I think I must subconsciously must keep going as I know she is behind me normally. 

Anyway, I was still delighted as Alistair was back on his bike! He loves his bike so much and it may be that he can't do mountain biking as this does involve lots of falling off but if he could get back to his road bike then this would be good. Rhona and him reckon they cycled about 4 miles so that is a good start! 

Now I am going to watch Mo Farah run twice the distance as me in half the time ! ha ha ha :)

don't worry, be happy :)

Flotterstone and the Pool

Today started with a really nice run up to Flotterstone with Tracey. We had planned to go running around Sir John Clerk's Estate however it was so muddy the other day I was there that the plan had to change as I am sick of wading through fields of mud. Flotterstone was just the place to go. It was a really lovely morning and the sun was shining and it was really warm. I did warn Tracey that there was a bit of a hill to start with (well it is the Pentland Hills) and then it levels out at the reservoir. The reservoir was really full, which is nice to see as it was a bit empty earlier on in the year. No problem with a lack of water now!! We got to the turnaround point, stopped for a second to look at the view and then headed back down the hill. I like this route as it is hard work to begin with and then you are rewarded with a huge downhill on the way back. It is a good 4 mile run as it doesn't feel like it.

After lunch I decided that I would top of the training today with a trip to the pool. I really enjoyed my 750m today as it was quite quiet and everyone who was in the pool was swimming lengths which was good as it meant a straight forward up and down. I am really starting to enjoy swimming and my plan is to try and sort out my breathing over the winter when I am not training for anything.  It is hard to keep training and to try and work out technique at the same time. Will get Haddington out of the way first and then crack on with trying to re-learn how to swim properly.

don't worry, be happy :)

Janey's biking blether

After a whole month of running I decided to head out on my bike this morning. 


My very own personal bike mechanic decided to tackle the problems I was having with my back, shoulders and hands (was finding it really hard to change gears and brake). He measured the handlebars and stem that my bike came with and announced that they were "massive" and then promptly whipped them off the bike and bought new ones. It now has sparkly new handlebar tape on it and the bars themselves are woman specific and the stem is much shorter. 

Look at how sparkly the handlebar tape is!!!!

What a difference! It was like riding a different bike. I didn't go that far as I wanted to get back for the cycling on the television but did manage ten miles and as I say it was like riding a different bike. Much, much better!


I ended up cycling around by the Edinburgh University Campus at the Dick Vet, it is really lovely around there with the Pentland Hills at the side of you as you ride along.

All he needs to do now is get a yellow car, stick some bikes on the top and drive along at the back of me and hanging out the car to fix my bike when it won't work!  

Anyway, settling down now to watch the individual time trials and marvel at the way that they can actually ride a bike!!! (as opposed to what I pass as riding a bike as )


don't worry, be happy