Last Triathlon training update...

22 December 2014

Swim/Run session

Rhona and I decided that it was time to tackle the 50m at the Commie. I was fine right up until I looked out the changing room door and saw how far away the end was. However, once I got going I really, actually did enjoy the longer distance and less turning. So swim done it was time to head out for our 5K run. Was quite a nice day and we were both soon running into our stride. We decided at some point along Queen's drive that our pace was different enough to make it hard to run together so I suggested we just ran out our own pace. So that was decided. I let Rhona run at her own pace and I stopped to take some photographs of St Mary's Loch and the Queen's swans.

Then the big hill appeared and it was head down and climb to the top. Nearly thirty years of running up this blooming big hill and it never gets any easier, probably won't now, as I am getting older and slower and the hill frustratingly stays just the same. Still Dunsappie Loch a welcome sight at the top!

As I turned to look back I was struck by the view. The loch at the top seems to just roll in to the Forth despite it being high above the sea line. Lovely view from up there. 

But it was time to head back down and get food and tea at the cafe. I wasn't far behind, having spent time taking these lovely photos, Rhona was waiting for me at the bottom with a smile on her face - good sign!! Stunning views of Edinburgh and Salisbury Crags.

26 December 2014 - Boxing Day 

Bike/Run brick session

This was the one that was terrifying me. As we drove into the car park at the Commie and attempted to untangle the two bikes from the back of my small car. All I could feel was my stomach doing back flips thinking about how on earth I was going to get up this hill twice today never mind the three times I need to on race day. Still off we went. Again we decided that our own pace was better (Rhona is so good on the bike, she just danced away off up the hill).

Me, more of a slow, wobbly plod but surprisingly, to me, I made it up the hill twice without having to stop once. It wasn't fast and it wasn't pretty but I definitely managed. There was also a freezing cold mist starting to creep in which was making it quite hard. Glad I was heading down to do the run.

Got to the bottom and Rhona was waiting to meet me, "Third time lucky?" she asked. I agreed and off we cycled for another time around. I figured if I could make it around three times today then that would put the demons to bed and I could just get on with it. So third time around and we were back at the car/transition area. Changed into our running gear and packed the bikes back into the very small car and then headed out on our run loop. I had already decided that I was going to walk out of transition to try and avoid the bike/run jelly legs. So we just walked down into the park to let our legs remember that they belonged to us and then again we separated and headed off at our own pace. Now I was happy, on my feet. And tired legs I can run on no problem. I had a great run all the way around and really enjoyed that loop, elated on the back of managing to cycle up that blooming hill three times without stopping. 

Run done, I waited on Rhona who wasn't too far behind. Quick brick session selfie and back to the car for some fuel and a cup of tea. Don't go far without my trusty flask.

28 December 2014

swim/run session with Tracey.

No photos for this one, there is only so many times you can photograph Arthur Seat before you have seen it all. But on Saturday Tracey messaged to say did I want to go for a run so agreeing to run on Sunday it turned into another brick session. This would be my last before race day

It was an absolutely stunning day, the sky was blue, very cold but very sunny. The pool was in 25m lengths which I wasn't all that thrilled with now that I have a taste for the longer distance but it was still good to be in the water again. I still had the panic breathing a little bit and am really hoping that it won't happen when I start to swim on Thursday but I suspect it will and I will just have to calmly deal with it and hope I don't drown.

750m swum, would have liked 1km but didn't really have time. Then we changed into running gear and headed out off up the hill. It was quite sunny (so it was just as well Tracey left her jacket and had her go faster sunglasses on) and just a nice temperature. Got to the top of the hill to the welcome sight of Dunsappie and having run and biked around this hill 6 times since the 22nd my legs were starting to object and feel heavy. I was really glad to be heading back down the hill. 

Brilliant run with Tracey, lots of blethering, can't really remember what about now but that is the sign of a good gossip! Back to the Commie, got changed into warmer stuff and then had a nice natter, cup of tea/coffee and a scone. Brilliant end to a week of training.

One more wee swim maybe on Tuesday to keep the pre-race nerves at bay but that's it. Let the taper madness begin!

don't worry, be happy 

Triathlon training - update number 4 (and Christmas card run)

I would have liked to have stuck to the training schedule I set myself for this triathlon but what life just getting in the way it hasn't happened. However, that being said I have regularly been in the pool, maybe not so regularly been on the bike (kind of given up hope of being able to actually cycle up Arthur Seat - resigned to walking up pushing my bike) and most definitely, without a doubt been on some fabby runs.

I have been on runs up the Pentlands, Glentress, around Penicuik and Roslin. My runs have taken up me up hills and past reservoirs and rivers. I have run through rain, sun and wind. Every run different, every run just as much fun.

 

Today though was different though, the first real snow of the season. So as I was working from home marking I decided to set out for an early morning run to deliver my Christmas cards. It started off with very light snow, just soft snowflakes falling gently on the grass as I ran past. As the run lengthened the snow got heavier and heavier until it was stinging my face. That being said it was a really good run, at one point I was the only person around and there was an eerie peace to Cornbank which was kinda nice.

at one with nature...

Uttershill Castle

Near the beginning of the run

Near the end of the run - spot the difference!

Christmas cards all delivered and on such a Christmassy day. Brilliant running around Penicuik - as always.

I want to add something to the bottom of this blog which doesn't have a whole lot to do with running but I wanted to share with everyone who reads my blog. In September I joined a young widows group. Now those of you who know me will know what I think of that horrible label. To mean it just has nothing positive about it so quite frankly wasn't for me so just decided that I wasn't going to conform and ever use it. However, curiosity and nosiness got the better of me when I was told about this group so I joined it. And only a few visits onto the chat forum I met a lovely man called Mark whose wife had died the same year Alistair died only in the summer. We got chatting and realised that we had an awful lot in common and also found that we were able to chat about Alistair and Alison (his wife) with ease and this was a real comfort as you do just need to be able to talk candidly sometimes about what happened to them with someone who knows exactly how awful it was to share in someone's death so closely. After a few weeks of chatting on-line Mark and I agreed to meet up for coffee, which was on my part a complete disaster because I got hopelessly lost (which I have been doing all year) and we only ended up with ten minutes for a quick chat as he was on his lunch break. Gladly my chaotic sense of direction didn't put him off and we have continued to see each other ever since. What is so lovely about this relationship is that Alistair and Alison are never far from our minds, always in our conversations and always there guiding our thoughts. I just wanted everyone to know that Mark and I have decided to give being a couple a go, he lives in Dunblane so definitely a bit of a long distance (although not that long unless you get lost finding your own house again Mark!!) relationship but that suits us just fine. 

I just want to say that it is lovely to have Mark, Caitlin, Arwen and David in our lives at this time especially at Christmas. 

For my Fetchie friends, unfortunately Mark is not a runner (yet - give me time) but does take to his bike. He seems to be okay with the madness that is my running life, but that could all change with the first marathon he has to hang about at for hours to welcome home a bedraggled, knackered JaneyM needing a cup of tea and a lie down. But we will see. Meantime I hope everyone is happy for us and I want everyone to know that Alistair will always be in my heart and a huge part of my life and meeting Mark will only add to the rich tapestry that is the history of my life,

Don't worry, be happy :)

Triathlon training update number 3 continued.

Saturday morning saw Rhona and I take Kobi down the railway for a run. The thing with running with Kobi is that he doesn't really run in a straight line which results in you running all over the place. We followed the railway path until we came to another path which took us down by the river. It was a beautiful run through the autumn colours.

Sunday morning came and I talked myself into going out on my bike. Rhona's front wheel is still at Edinburgh Bikes being fixed so I had to drag myself out on my own. Headed along the railway again, but much faster this time. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning again. The colours were just stunning. Tackled the big hill again and managed to cycle from the railway to the top of the hill in a oney! Which is a biggie for me. If I am to manage three times around Arthur seat in 8 weeks time then I have to tackle bigger hills than the one I did today. But today was easier than last week, so progress is being made. It would of course help if my easy peasy gear would have worked (but got Ryan on the case for that one!). Might even have enjoyed myself out on my bike today but don't tell Tracey, Douglas or Rhona that! :)

No swim managed this week but not too worried about that have been regularly swimming 1K at the pool so I am sure 400 m won't be that big a challenge, even if it is over 50m lengths. But am going to head to the Commonwealth pool to get a go at swimming the longer distance. Am also working up to a brick session around Arthur Seat (maybe in two weeks time).

don't worry, be happy :)

Triathlon training update number 3

This week has been an odd week. It has been tough to find time to fit in tri training but I have managed some.

Had a couple of runs this week (although to be honest, probably just playing with the running as I know I can pull 3 miles out of the bag). But did go for my cycle today which was a bit more serious and focused mainly on me trying to get myself up big hills. And that wasn't easy when my easy peasy gear decided it wasn't going to work. But I did it in the end.

So here is the low down on some of my training this week.

Wednesday night saw Rhona and I take part in a spooky hallowe'en 5k fun run in the Meadows. It was excellent fun. Probably the daftest run I have ever taken part in but excellent fun. It began with the race briefing at Potterrow. The instructions were "we are not telling you the route or where the start line is, but basically you have to collect four glow sticks and a pile of sweeties then come back here".

We walked down through George Square to the start, a motley looking bunch all dressed up in Hallowe'en costumes. When we got to the point which looked like the start the race organiser looked at us all and said the start could be anyone of the three paths which led into the Meadows. Mass chaos ensued at this point and like a flock of starlings doing that fancy thing they do, we all swooped around and headed off up the path back the way we had come. Who knows if this was the right way to go but that was the way the masses were going so we followed. 

We ran this way and that way in the Meadows, no idea really where the route went. We passed one person running really fast and someone said that he was the winner but no one else seemed to be coming after him, how anyone knew he was the winner I have no idea. Anyhow after a hysterical half hour of running round in circles we finally had 4 glow sticks in our hands and we were able to head back to what appeared to be the finish. As with the start there was no finish line, just some people standing and runners appearing to stop running so finish line it was!

It was probably the most fun I have had running a 5K ever. I had no watch on, had no idea how long it took me or whether we did actually run 5k or not but it was just brilliant fun. Definitely doing it again next year if it is on! 

Next blog will cover another run and my cycle.

don't worry, be happy :)