Peace...

My training this week has been sporadic to say the least. We had the interment of Alistair's ashes at St Monans Church yesterday. It is a beautiful spot, where Alistair's Dad is also buried, and the weather was just perfect.

I don't really like the american idea of "closure" but I do think we all needed yesterday to bring to a close a tragic time in our lives. It is by no means the end of a painful process but at least it puts an end to this part of it and we can start to move forward at our own paces.

So to my training. As I said it was a little sporadic and I didn't really stick to the training plan this week as I was emotionally all over the place. However, I did manage a couple of four mile training runs working up to my first longer run of 14 miles. It took a bit of talking myself into going out but I did get myself out of the door. It was a really tough run, emotionally all I could think about was the interment. Whilst it was tough it was really reminding me just how mentally strong I can be. I managed to get back before the snow came on.

Today I went out for my first back to back run (although technically it wasn't back to back but it was as close as I could manage this week). The sun was shining and it was actually quite warm. Today was to be an 8 miler so I set off with slightly tired legs from my long run. I believe the back to backs are the back bone of the Ultra training plan and I can see why. It took a lot of effort physically and mentally to stop myself slowing down to a ridiculously slow trot. The other thing I noticed on my way home, from the turnaround point of my run, was that I wasn't thinking about the interment any more but was writing my research proposal for a PHD in my head. Where did that come from I was asking myself? I guess I just needed to see Alistair at rest with his Dad to be able to free my mind up to think about my own life again. It was nice to be able to just concentrate on something else for a change. (After this I am going to go and write down what I was thinking about as I have a meeting with Dr Davis at the University at Easter and it would be good to have something to present to him!). Finished my 8 miles happily tired and putting the kettle on.

Hopefully, this week I can settle back into my training program and do my best for Alistair in April at the Ultra. Although, I am starting to panic a bit about that as now the Kielder website is saying it is going to put up the cut off times - eeek. Kind of forgot there might be cut off points, not totally sure I will be fast enough to finish the Ultra. Still got the Edinburgh Marathon as a back up plan, so my training wouldn't be totally wasted.

That's that...

don't worry, be happy :)

A tale of two runs...

Yesterday lunchtime...

I had one hour to go for my run - 30 min run, 15 min change and 15 min eat lunch. Very tight time schedule. That kind of went out of the window and ended up running into class eating a bit cake and drinking tea out of my flask! Read on...

 I was skipping along happily thinking how lovely it was that the buds were on the trees already and despite the horrible weather down in England maybe spring was tempted. The WALLOP I was on the deck in a puddle!!!

I had slid down a path that was wet, covered in leaves and muddy. Quick check that the Edinburgh College Construction students I had just passed were out of sight (I surmised their subject from their hi-vis vests and hard hats, and I snuck past them in the Hub on the way back hoping that they hadn't seen me!) and I wobbled back up. So for the rest of my run I was nursing a sore hand, bruised bum and ego! And I was soaking wet. What a plonker. That's what I get for diddling about longing at the leaves.

The rest of my run went okay. Given how horrible the weather was down in England it was remarkably gentle and calm at Cramond. 

A fabulous run, despite the fact my arm, wrist and leg was both sore and soaking. I was all covered in mud and had to slope back into the college hoping no-one would stop me and talk to me whilst I was all covered in mud.

So that was a wet muddy three miles.

So to today's run...

Woke up this morning very stiff. My wrist hurt all day at work whilst I was typing and my left leg was slightly niggly sore. Until I started running and then everything reminded me that I had fallen the day before! I had been at work in the morning and then visited a student on the way home so was ready for a run when I got in. First part of my run was quite muddy but I had my trail shoes on so no falling over today. 

Look - Spring!!!!

Once I was in the Estate I headed for my favourite bit of the run. I call it Rapunzel's tower but I am sure it was probably just a grain store or something but I like to imagine there were secret assignations happened on dark starry nights. 

After my wee run around the tower I headed off down to see if there were snowdrops near the big house. And there were - lovely. First sign of spring. Bit sad that Alistair isn't around to see them this year but happy for the lovely memories of walks around here. Next year I can run through them with our wee doggy! 

Second part of my run took me down through the Chinese Gates down to the pond at the bottom of the hill. Absolutely beautiful and stunning. Interestingly enough, given that the Winter Olympics start tomorrow, the top of the hut, which looks like Hagrid's hut, has a curling stone on the top! This pond is used as a curling pond and I am guessing the hut belongs to the Curling club. 

(I won't apologise for the amount of photos - it was just so beautiful out there today.)

I have absolutely fallen in love with trail running and was even practising running straight through the mud rather than teetering around the puddles. I figure if I have 31 miles to run on trails I had better get used to hills and mud! 

Two runs, a few bumps, loads of mud but terrific fun. Running really is medicine for the soul.

don't worry, be happy :)

Ultra training, mountain bikes and lots of snow.

Rhona had arranged to go mountain biking at Glentress with her friend. Obviously that includes me as the bike taxi! But I didn't mind one bit, meant I could pull on the Addidas Kanadias and head for the hills.

However, last night we kept looking at the weather forecast which said SNOW! So we agreed to take stock of the situation this morning and make our decision then. But when we woke up although it was cold outside it was a nice morning. So by 10am bike was on the roof and we were good to go.

As we were driving down to Peebles the wind was really getting up and with two mountain bikes on the top my poor wee car was really struggling to find any pace at all. Bit like myself!! Finally we made it to Glentress got the bikes off the roof and the girls headed off up the hill for their morning of mountain biking. My run route was going to be two laps of the red walking route which in total would be 10 miles. Lots of hills. So off I set.

Yep that is snow clouds coming my way!!!

It is quite a hill up to The Buzzards Nest car park where I was to meet Rhona and her pal. But I was having a blast, I don't mind running up these kinds of hills, not keen on road hills but I may well be falling in love with trail running! Soon I started to see snowflakes. One or two to start with but soon they were falling thick and fast. Almost at the top of the hill I found Rhona's picture that she put down at her favourite spot where Alistair and her used to stop for juice and a blether. She put it down two weeks ago and it is still there. Beautiful view.

The next part of my run took me into dense woodland. The path ran through a really dark tunnel and when I popped out the other side it was like I had wandered through the wardrobe and into Narnia. Look at all the snow!!! 

Last wee bit to the top of the hill and look who I ran into....

So loop one over now I had to head down again and then turn around and do it all over again. The girls headed on up to Berm Baby Berm (I think that is how it goes) and I went down the hill. Got to the bottom of the hill and headed over to the start of the red walking route which was at two beautiful ponds. 

I am sure the hill on the way back up the second time was steeper than it was the first time. Oh my legs could feel it. The further up the hill I got the snow started to fall thicker and thicker. Finally I got to the top again, met Rhona, Zoe and her Mum and Dad (who were also there) and we all agreed it was time to scoot back down the hill for soup and coffee. By this point it was a total white out and really cold. I headed back down into the woods and they headed for the mountain biking trail back down the hill. The gorgeous view that I photographed (at the beginning of this post) was totally white and the snow was driving in towards the hill. But strangely enough, still enjoying myself. At this point I started to talk to Alistair. I was just saying to him that I hoped he was proud of his girls getting out and living life, and me driving in snow!! When we got to the bottom Rhona said she got a little sad when they met up with Zoe's Mum and Dad but when Zoe's Dad started to nag Zoe in the way that Alistair did her, she smiled to herself and said how proud she was of herself being independent and doing this for herself and not needing nagged. That's his girl!!!! All that nagging was worth it Alistair! 

So that was our Glentress adventure. I do believe I might be getting addicted to trail running, ten miles in the bag and I feel great. A bowl of soup, a pot of tea, some nice chat and then we were back putting the car on the roof, in a blizzard, and heading home for a heat. I had a delicious bath, and Rhona went into her bed to get cozy and watch the TV. She said she had a brilliant time and was glad she did it. That makes two of us.

don't worry, be happy :)