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 :)