Reflections on 1001 miles

My run tonight marked 1001 miles in 2012. So whilst I swooshed through the leaves,

I was thinking about what I have achieved this year in those 1001 miles. This year brought Twotacklethree and a great new friendship with Tracey. We both trained very hard and completed three challenges each raising a whopping £1800 for The Haemophilia Society. I took part in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon, The Edinburgh Marathon and also the Peebles Triathlon and Tracey  cycled up Mont Ventoux, did the Peebles triathlon and cycled all the way to St Andrews in the worst rain of the year. 

Once our epic challenge was over, it was only June so what next. I was enjoying my fitness so I decided to keep going and I entered the Keswick Trail run and had a blast. I love Latrigg and to run up it and then whoosh back down it was just bliss. 

Then Tracey and I were back in training for Triathlon, we both entered the Haddington Triathlon. Not sure I enjoyed this one quite as much as Peebles but I still finished it and as ever quite proud of myself. It was lovely at the end though to meet up with Lesley and Michelle (Fetch) to display our numbers on our legs!!!

So that was another Triathlon done and dusted. After this event I decided I really needed to learn to swim properly. So after a few lessons with Lynne I have finally managed to learn to swim fairly respectably and I am enjoying my new found sport very much. Still not sure I am much of a Triathlete, as I am a bit rubbish on the bike but am really looking forward to giving an aquathon a go.

July and August brought us the Olympics and the Paralympics. I had a great time at the Paralympic torch event at Meadowbank where my fabby swimming pal was carrying a torch. And the Olympic torch came through Penicuik, that was a great day. And to top of our Olympic experience Alistair and I whooshed down to London for two days and had the best time. We watched the Olympic Marathon. Brilliant experience.

So onto my next race - I had planned to run the Glasgow Half Marathon, however one dodgy tooth and extraction later I wasn't really fit enough to run the whole thing, however my Mum was doing the 10k so really wanted to do it too. And a great race we both had! Met my Fetchie buddy Margaret there too!

After the 10k I had a bit of a slow down in training as I only had one race left to do for the year.  The Bupa Great Edinburgh Run. Andrew did the 5k and I did the 10k. He only bloomin well came in 16th!! Not bad for someone who doesn't really train very hard. Me I came in with a nice 65mins despite the massive hills all the way around.

So back to my run today. That is me hit 1000 miles for the second time in my whole running career. Fetch has a lot to answer for. I have just gotten fitter and fitter since I joined Fetcheveryone two years ago and my buddies on Fetch are just wonderful. I love you all!!! Ironically, Alistair getting so ill has also made me change the way I think about myself and has made me want to try different events to keep me interested and motivated. I am also dead chuffed that a side affect of all this running has meant that I am down to a size 12 in clothes for the first time in 17 years!!!! 

So what next?  I am officially back in training for the Meadows Half Marathon in March next year. This is a race that Gavin (Fetch) introduced me to last year and I, despite what I thought, actually really enjoyed it. It is about 8 laps around the Meadows and has a great atmosphere. Then I have the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Edinburgh again in April (was amazing last year) and then the Edinburgh Marathon (despite me saying never again last year) in May. I do have the Great Winter Run in January to start my year off, and Rhona and Hannah are doing it too. As is Tracey. 

So that is that as the sun sets over Penicuik park my run is over for the day, a short one but an important one topping off an amazing year in my life of running. 

Finally, it goes without saying that my attempts at racing would not happen without Alistair, Andrew and Rhona. Particular thanks to Alistair for picking me up at the end of the Edinburgh Marathon where I actually got stuck on the ground in the Pinkie playing fields in Musselburgh. 

don't worry, be happy :)

Biking, tea and swimming :)

Yesterday, Alistair and I had a rare day off together so as the sun was shining we decided to put the bikes on the roof of the car and head off for a nice bike ride together. We took the car down to a spot near Roslin and got on our bikes. I did have a bit of a giggle before we started because Alistair's bike computer had a great instruction on it that I totally wanted to follow!

We headed off down past Kilburn Woods.

Now I thought we were going for a nice road run but nooooooo Alistair had other ideas. Well he hasn't been on his bike off road like this for nearly two years so who was I to interfere with his fun! As he rode his bike effortlessly down farm tracks and up and down forrest trails, I was on and off my bike, with lots of swearing. (I am so not a mountain biker). But, I did manage it and I did actually enjoy myself.

Finally we finished with the off road stuff and turned onto the railway path to Loanhead. That was really nice. The sun was shining and it was quiet so we just trundled along for a bit chatting. Then I asked a stupid question "so, Alistair, how is it that Tracey can overtake me and then disappear off down the road so fast that I can hardly see her for dust?". "High Cadence" was his answer!!! This then resulted in him showing me how I should increase my cadence without getting out of breath. Ha, I get the principle, but I was still out of breath!!!! 

We cycled all the way down to Loanhead and then took a turn around Loanhead before coming back onto the railway back to Roslin. More cadence work - by this point I was bloomin' knackered! My legs were like jelly. But it was good fun and I was cycling a lot more smoothly than I had been at the beginning.

Eventually we were back in Roslin and stopped for a wee breather. The sun was shining and it was warm. Perfect for bike riding. What a brilliant day we were having. 

Not wanting to go home just yet, and we still had a bit of time before Rhona was due back in from school I suggested we head down to the chapel for a wee nosy! After a stop to look at the beautiful view Alistair suggested we stop for a cup of tea at the Stable Snack Bar. Best cup of tea ever!!! Being outside with great company and a nice cup of tea is a perfect way to spend a morning off. 

Then it was time to go home. What a great morning we had. It was so nice to see Alistair back on his bike enjoying himself. It has been a long time coming and I think he really felt great after it. Me on the other hand bloody knackered with wobbly legs. How come Alistair can be so strong after not being on his bike for 2 years and me, training all the time, still puggled! Oh well, had fun though.

Then to top it off I headed down to Beeslak swimming pool at 8pm to meet with Lynne, my fabulous swimming teacher, who totally transformed my technique and gave me lots to practice next time I get in the pool. 

Bed time, absolutely knick knacked! But happy :)

don't worry, be happy :)

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 :)

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 :)

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