My new friends at Jog Scotland Penicuik

2018 started with the Portobello 4 mile race. It is a lovely way to start the new year off. Met up with a few of my Fetchie pals there. Rhona came to support and afterwards we headed up to watch Tracey in the New Years Day Triathlon. 2018 was off to a good start.

A few weeks later it was time to head up Arthur Seat and tackle the Great Winter Run. Again another staple in my running year. Been running this one since it started way back whenever it started. It is always a great event with the International Cross Country in the park afterwards, sadly this was the last year the cross country is to take place in Edinburgh. Be funny not see all the class athletes alongside the rest of us.

So with those two out of the road, the next race was to be the Glentress Half Marathon, but a dose of flu put paid to that, despite many weeks of running up and down big hills I still felt I couldn't make it round 13 miles in the hills (managed a 10 mile training run at Glentress but felt I didn't have another 3 miles in me at that point). So I dropped to the 10km. Was so glad I did as I  had a great day out at Glentress and thoroughly enjoyed my run. I really need to let go of my Glencoe DNF. Despite making it to half way in the Glencoe Marathon, it still irks me that I couldn't make it to the end. But maybe it is time to let that go.

So what next? I have two half marathons coming up. One is in Stirling in April, and then the other is in Iceland in June on the longest day! Last half marathon I did was last year with the Great North Run, which was amazing but I really wasn't fit for it and walked bits of it, so this year I am not going all the way to Iceland and not be able to run the whole thing. I could feel myself settling into a slow trudge and was getting slower and slower than I have ever been. My new job and PhD are just an excuse I have always run, through whatever life has thrown at me, running has always been there and will no doubt be there as long as I can still put one foot in front of the other.

I decided I needed company running, to motivate me, I have run myself for over 30 years, with company from time to time over the years, but many miles run on my own. I knew I was way too slow to join a running club, but I have so much in experience to offer others who are maybe at the start of their running journey. Having been a Jog Scotland leader at College, I thought I might find out if there was a local Jog Scotland group. I have had loads of people say I am really good at motivating them and my enthusiasm for running is inspiration. I'm not sure if that is true or not but for the moment, it is me that needs the inspiration, motivation. So I plucked up the courage to go along to Jog Scotland Penicuik.

I went along to the group and was immediately met with a warm welcome on a cold night. I was then told we were doing hill training. Yikes I thought, 2 days after Glentress, my legs were still a bit stiff but I'll give anything a go. What a great session, really lovely people to run with. So full of enthusiasm I went home and planned my next running session. Then the Beast from the East hit and we disappeared under a whole heap of snow making it hard to run. I managed to get a few short runs around the park with my trail shoes on but it wasn't easy. Finally, the snow subsided and I managed to squeeze out a 7 mile run dodging icy, snowy paths by running on roads and grassy verges.

My next Jog Scotland run turned out to not be a run (very icy paths) so we met in a local restaurant for a group meeting. Now I spend my working life attending meetings and this was one of the best meetings I have ever been at! It was fun, and somehow I managed to be resurrected as a jog leader again! Within 2 weeks I feel like part of the group already, what a lovely group of people. Jog Scotland is a really great organisation, with the rule being no one is too slow and no one gets left behind. That suits me perfectly. I have been at this malarkey for so long now I am in no way a beginner, that ship sailed many years ago, but I am really slow now, but still love my sport and want to run with and help others to start their running journey, so Jog Scotland Penicuik you ain't getting rid of me anytime soon.

And already I have been motivated by the group to get out on a very wet Saturday morning and do my 8 mile training run for Stirling Half. I decided to go out for my run along the Penicuik to Dalkeith railway as I needed to take Kobi out too. So we set off along the path, first obstacle was an icy bridge (oh and it was chucking it down with rain/snow/sleet). Eventually the snow and ice subsided and the path was just muddy and wet. The rain by about 2 miles was coming down in what I like to call straight up and down rain. Kobi was having a ball, racing up and down the banking. We got to the railway bridges and it was a real pleasure to be out of the rain for a bit. Next obstacle was another bridge covered in ice, snow and water. Even Kobi had to stop and walk over that one. Next stop Rosslyn Castle station. Almost half way.

All of a sudden the path changed from being a path into a river for almost a mile. There was so much snow melt that the water was freezing. I kept thinking my feet can't get any wetter surely? Paddling my way to 4 miles I was finally able to turn around. Even Kobi looked fed up paddling through freezing cold puddles. I was so glad to turn around and make my way back to Penicuik. It is funny how, despite it being the same distance it always seems less on the way back because you know you are going home.

Soaking wet, muddy and happy Kobi and I made it back to the car. Now I am sitting here blogging, with my feet up, watching the TV. Kobi is out for the count, cosy in his bed. Because if I ran 8 miles he must have done double! Already joining the Jog Scotland Penicuik group has given me more motivation and got me back out there. Thanks guys.

Don't worry, be happy