One week to go to the Great North Run

Having been down to Huddersfield, NDNA head office for the day I had to pass through Newcastle on the train. I have made this trip a few times now but today there was added excitement, the Great North Run sign was up on the Tyne Bridge, resplendently announcing the arrival of the Great North Run next Sunday.

I went out for a run with Tracey last night and despite a slow start, both of us were tired and it was unusually cold, my legs soon loosened off and I really enjoyed the run. So a few more short runs this week and next and I will be ready to take on the streets of Newcastle. Me and Mo Farah!

The bridge looked amazing in the sunshine, I can't wait to be running over it, waiting for the red arrows to pass and hearing Mark Knopfler's Local Hero in my head! Great North Run - here comes JaneyM!!!!

Great North Run - 3 weeks to go.

This year hasn't been my finest running year. I have had lots of other stuff going on. PhD fieldwork, new job, injured children! But whilst I haven't churned out loads of races I have still been out running, with my wee running buddy Kobi.

Those who know me well know that I have done a number of fundraisers over the years. After Ali died it felt right to raise money for the charities, organisations that have helped me get through the last four years. Cancer starts by taking away your loved one and then like ripples of water from a stone dropped in the pond it just keeps on going eating away at the fabric of the life you once had. Ali said when he was diagnosed that it felt like a train wreck had happened where all the carriages were thrown up in the air and only when they all hit the ground would I be able to start piecing our lives together again. It has taken four years for those carriages all to hit the ground, life is slowing finding it's new groove for us all. It will never be the same again but it can still be good, fulfilling and we can all face different challenges in our lives. But it hasn't been easy getting there. We have all had to find our way at different rates and in different ways. My running has been something that has kept me afloat and being able to thank the organisations who have helped me has felt very important.

So with three weeks to go until the Great North Run, my last fundraising effort to say thank you is underway. The last charity I want to say thank you to is the Samaritans. Often they are seen as an organisation that you only go to if you are desperate. And I am sure that is absolutely true for some people but for me they were a calming voice on the end of a phone, and an ear when I just needed someone to talk to. I am not embarrassed nor do I feel weak that I used their services, often someone to listen who had nothing to do with my situation was just what I needed. And they were always there. I could not have gotten through the last few years without their support. They gave me the strength to carry on through very difficult times. So as I said this is my last charity event, not my last ever race just my last charity event. I have thanked the Haemophilia Centre, Cancer Research, Maggies and MacMillan. So with this one I will have put a little back into a charity that really helped me, and could well be there for any of you in the future, I would always say just phone them, it is not embarrassing or a sign of weakness, it gave me strength, quite the opposite.

As I said earlier this hasn't been the most spectacular running year for me but I have steadily kept on going out and I did do the Moonwalk in June with my Mum. 26 miles running or walking is still 26 miles! But I have turned out a few 10km's and plenty of parkruns this year. My favourite I think was the trail run in Glentress with Bannockburn a very close second, really enjoyed that route, very me, hilly with spectacular views. So from spring onwards I have been regularly going out to just enjoy my running. This weekend will see me do my last long run, hopefully around 11 miles.

My race number arrived in the post yesterday, 41,194! I thought that the London Marathon was huge but this race is enormous!!!! I am fairly confident I won't be last in this one!

Other runners have said to me about the Great North Run "Oh it is too busy"', "the last mile is horrible", 'the wind is terrible along the sea front", "it always rains".... but you know what? I have run 31 miles on my own across hills and moorland in Kielder forest, I have run shoulder to shoulder with thousands in London. Over 30 years of running and racing I have run in hail, rain and shine. Great North Run is just one to tick off. I can't wait, I am getting quite excited. I dearly hope the Tyne Bridge is a little less rainy than it was though on a trip down to NDNA head office! Very rainy that day....

So if you are continually amazed at what I am getting up to next please go to my just giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dont-worry-be-happy-janeym

Just a few pounds will help fund the samaritans good work, you never know when you might need them. My life and my children's lives have been turned upside down with what happened to their Dad. It has been a long road, we are all getting there, but rebuilding your life without a loved one is incredibly difficult and everyone takes it at different rates. I thought as Mum I had to hold it all together, it took me a while to realise that I couldn't sustain that and that my kids needed to work through their own grief in their own way. That's when I needed the samaritans, to give me the strength to continue to be there whilst they worked through their grief. So please if you can donate to my chosen charity, just one more time. I can't thank all the organisations who have helped us enough, this is my way of trying to say thank you.

don't worry, be happy :)

Glentress 10Km Trail Race

After a week of snow and ice, wind and rain, I was less than enthusiastic to get up out of my bed this morning and face the muddy hills of Glentress Forest. The rain was battering against my bedroom window and quite frankly pulling on my trail shoes was the last thing I could really be bothered with. However, a sucker for a new t-shirt I got my bahookie in gear and set off for Peebles. And am I glad I did! What a great wee event that was.

I registered in the cafe, there were a lot of people taking part in this event. There was a 42km, 21km and a 10km. So there were lot of jokes about not signing up the for the wrong distance and having to run much further than expected, or signing up for a shorter one and getting home early! As always there was a lot of fun and excitement. The weather outside still wasn't wonderful but gradually the sun began to force it's way through the very dark clouds. Might turn out a better day than expected.

Still had my hat on and my many layers on at this point though. It was still pretty chilly. I did decide eventually though that given the sun was trying to come out that I would part with my hat and my extra top that I had on under my coat.

Finally, it was time for the 10km to get started. So we all walked up to the start line. I chatted to a lovely lady called Shell. We were both looking forward to our run and cracking lots of jokes about how hard it was going to be, particularly the finishing straight, or should I say mountain! We were pretty confident we weren't going to be running up that at the end!

So after a bit of instruction about where we were to go and what the course conditions were like, off we went, beeping our way over the chip timing mat. After Glencoe I have had a real problem catching my breath when I start off on a trail run, particularly if there is a hill immediately after the start. Not sure why this happens but I just stopped and walked for a bit until I got my breath, blooming asthma, but once I was sorted off I went.

It was a long slow climb up to the Buzzard's nest. We were soon off the forest track and up into the trails. I was much happier with this, this is the fun bit. Winding our way through the forest path's we were soon splooshing through muddy puddles and carefully placing our feet on tree roots and stony paths. Fantastic. It took a while before we started to catch some of the stunning views that the Tweed Valley has to offer.

Just after the Buzzard's nest we headed down again, following the Peebles Link, the views started to appear at that point. It was then that I met with Charlotte and Lisa. What lovely people. We shared stories about what had brought us to trail running. And we kept each other going for a good long while. The stories we told we fabulous. I love trail running for that, people are always willing to just chat away, there isn't the same pressure for times in trail running, no real competition to speak off (unless you are off up the front). I kept with them for a good long while until we hit a hill again and that was me, as per usual, heading up the hill backwards!!! So at that point I just got my head down and enjoyed clambering through the muddy puddles. It was around this point that we met with the marathon and half marathon runners. Some of them were just looking awesome, hardly looking like they had done anything. I later found out the marathon runners were only on their first lap, they had to turn around at the start line and do it all again!

As I came past the Buzzard's nest for a 2nd time, I felt back on familiar territory, this is my way down from my training runs up here. I shouted a quick hello to Ali (the memorial spot that Rhona picked), told him I loved him and then toddled on back down the path to the finish line. You get a brilliant view of the Tweed Valley from this point on. It was great. We had a good laugh when from behind the group of us working our way down, heard "fast runner coming down" to which many of us laughed and commented on how none of us were fast runners so who the heck where they talking about??? That then led to a series of "alcoholic coming down", "slow running waddling down", "old man running down" etc etc... Just good fun.

Finally, the finish line was in sight. At this point a few of us were starting to think about the finish line which was that horrible up hill stretch. So we all agreed that we were going to run up it if it killed us. So steeling myself for the agony that was to face me, I dug in and took on the hill to the finish line. It was one of those hills that you tackled head on and then gradually started to run out of steam just before the top, and then your lungs feel like they are going to burst (Windermere Marathon had a similar hill at the finish). But I was determined to run to the finish line. At the finish line Shell was waiting. I was ever so glad to see her. She high fived me then was waiting as I crossed the line. At that point Charlotte and Lisa came over too. Charlotte made us laugh saying that despite the men being very good looking you could spot the ones who were ultra runners as they had that special glint of madness in their eyes. Maybe I had that glint once upon a time?

The sun had come out and it was one of those finish lines that you just didn't want to go home from. We stood chatting for ages and then finally we decided to wander down to the car park to beat the rush out.

Charlotte (in yellow) and Lisa (pink)

Me with Shell

So for my first trail run of the year, this was a definite winner, really good fun course, lots of mud, lots of chat and just wonderful people met. I had a great day. I may never run on the road again! I am a trail runner at heart I think! Happy days...

Don't worry, be happy :)

Where have I run this year? My 2016 round up.

A return to Janey's Running Ramblings after a year of doing events for Two Tackle Three Take Two.

http://twotacklethree.blogspot.co.uk/

January

So just what have I been up to this year on the running front? Well let me take you back to January 2016. Starting on January the 1st with the Portobello Promethon.

You just meet the loveliest of people at the start of races.

It was a bit chilly at the start.

I made it onto the TV!

It was such a lovely atmosphere and a brilliant way to kick of 2016. Rhona and Kobi were my official supporters and tea holders.

Then a week later saw the team back together and heading to the Queen's Park for our annual Great Winter Run outing. Hazel came up, as is tradition now, and we met up with Tracey and Fiona.

It was wet and chilly but as always as always a brilliant run, with great company and a fabby afternoon of athletics in the park (watched on TV by the time we got home). So what came next? Well my early season was a little different with my training taking on a different direction because I was taking part in the Edinburgh Moonwalk. Therefore I was doing a lot of walking instead of running which made for a complete change of pace. Really tough to train for, in a way that I never thought would happen. I used different muscles, I was out a lot longer to cover big miles and my fuelling was a lot different from a running marathon. But determined to keep my running legs I kept up with a few races.

March

So the next one was the Meadows Half Marathon, although because the walking took precedent, I did end up just doing the 10K but as always it was a lot of fun.

The obligatory warm up!

April

Tracey and I had a mad moment when we decided to enter the Great Edinburgh Run, 10 miles. It was really tough. The run up from the bottom of the Royal Mile to the top of the Mound was a killer, but we did it Tracey! And thoroughly enjoyable too, lots of chit chat on the way around! And maybe a bit of swearing up the hills.

May

In between walks I found time to run two half marathons just a few weeks apart. In a rash moment I jumped into the car with Rhona on the morning of the Keswick Half Marathon and we whizzed down and I entered on the day!!! It was a brilliant run. Quite wet and a bit windy but a good run.

My trusty support team with me as always

Can't remember this man's name but we had a great blether as we staggered up the huge hill in the Newlands Valley.

Derwentwater from the far end of the lake.

With one Lake District Half Marathon out of the way, you would think I had run quite enough hills for one year? No! Of course not, two weeks later we were back in Ambleside for the Brathay Half Marathon. This time it was my support team (minus Kobi) and Hazel for company. Also met up with the fabulous and amazing Chris Renton who is not content with running once around Lake Windermere but does the 10 in 10 year after year. The man is an inspiration! A thoroughly wonderful run as always.

Towards the end of May I was part of Fiona's relay team for the Hairy Haggis Edinburgh Marathon relay race. I was leg 2 and I took over from Fiona at Musselburgh and then handed over to Tracey at Prestonpans. It was a beautiful day and we had such a lot of fun. Thanks for inviting me onto your team Fiona.

June

After many miles of walking and walking and walking....

Finally the day of the Moonwalk arrived! Rhona and I had a lazy, sleepy afternoon in preparation for our long night of walking 26 miles. It was the strangest event I have ever taken part in. I am not sure I will do it again, but I am really chuffed that we did it. People had said it was a long night, I didn't find that. I found it odd to be walking when the rest of Edinburgh were asleep but it was an amazing night of laughs and struggles. The hardest part of the night was around 1.30am when my body clock was definitely screaming "why are you not sleeping???" but it was lovely to walk into the dawn just as we were heading back up into the city centre. I am really glad Rhona and I did it.

With the Moonwalk out of the way my attention turned to training for The Glencoe Gathering Marathon. This was going to be my biggest challenge. I was going to have to take to the hills. One thing I noticed with the Moonwalk was that my muscles had all changed shape and I had built up different muscles from running. Which proved to be quite a challenge when I started taking to the hills. My hamstrings were really tight which made striding out down hills a bit of a challenge. But with a boot camp in Keswick in July I really started to enjoy myself.

September

After a summer of running in the hills I tested my hill running legs in the Keswick Lakeland Trail 15K race in September. It was challenging, muddy, wet and terrific fun. I had a blast and was ready to take on Glencoe.

October

After a fantastic run in Keswick I was all set to take on the Devil's Staircase, little did I know that was going to be the least of my challenges! Hazel, Tracey and I set off in October to take part in the Glencoe Gathering. The atmosphere in Fort William was great, the weather was stunning and the mountains looked so inviting. All we had to do was get going. So number picked up and a fairly good night's sleep (hard when Tracey snores so loudly 😉) we got on the bus and headed down to the Red Squirrel Campsite which was the start of the Marathon. Tracey would join in at the start of the Half Marathon).

This girl was brilliant fun.

Then we were off. It was pretty solid underfoot for a good few miles to start with then the fun started! approximately 5 miles of bogs (might even have been longer). We were up to our knees in bog! It was strength sapping. But the sun was shining and we were all strangely having fun. The views were what made it worth it, absolutely stunning. It never fails to amaze me the places I get to when I am running.

It was a stunning run, that all began to unravel when we realised that we were not going to make the cut off at the half way point. I eventually convinced Hazel that she should go on and that I was going to get myself to the half way point and pull out even if I didn't make the cut off. I didn't make the cut off sadly. I wasn't the only one. The bogs were just too much for quite a few people. I was gutted at the time, I shed a tear out of disappointment. And it stung so much to see Hazel and Tracey delighted with the finish and their medals. It was the first time in 30 years of running where I did not finish (DNF). But there was nothing on this earth going to get me up the next mountain which was almost as big as the one we had just gotten up. After a few days I began to get over my disappointment and begun to accept just what I did achieve, not everyone could run 13 miles up some of Scotland's biggest mountains, but I had done just that. It wasn't a normal marathon that one, and if I am honest I should have trained for an ultra and not a marathon. Still lesson learned, I am already signed up for the half marathon in 2017 to go and complete the half I didn't run from Kinlochleven. That way I will cross the finish line and the ghost will be laid to rest. Then I might even come back and tackle the marathon again - who knows.

With my wounds thoroughly licked I decided on the spur of the moment to enter a little race which was organised by Women Run Strong. It was a 10K trail race up Arthur Seat. I met a lovely lady who had only just started running a few months back and was doing the 5K event, we had a great blether. It was brilliant fun! Just what I needed to get my confidence back. Cracking wee event. And I won a beautiful bunch of flowers in the draw at the end.

I won flowers!!!!!

And so we come to December. I have entered a whole host of events for the new year. I am starting with the usual suspects - Portobello Promathon and the Great Winter Run. Followed by a 10K trail race and a trail half marathon in February. Then longer term I have the Stirling Marathon in May and the Glencoe Half Marathon in October. And who knows what else in between. I keep thinking I will give in and not race the following year, but then the bug gets me again and I go and enter tons of races. I can't help myself, not ready to chuck in the towel yet!

So to my last run of 2016. Edinburgh Parkrun at Cramond. And what was special about that I  hear you ask? It was my wee running buddy's first parkrun! My wee pal Kobi. He was a wee star. Despite a comfort break (which had to be removed before a whole load of runners stepped in it!) and a howling wind between us we toddled along at the back (dogs have to start at the back) in a fairly respectable 36 mins. He had a great time running and then playing on the beach.Then slept for most of the afternoon. Perfect last run of the year.

So that was 2016. It was a busy running year, I crammed a lot in, and as always I thank my lucky stars that I continue to be able to run in all these amazing places, meeting lovely people and sharing my running life with all my lovely friends, old and new. Hugs have to go to Rhona and Kobi as well for always being there at the end of my races with my flask of tea, without them races would be harder, knowing they are at the finish line for me gives me the push I need to get to the end. Life is indeed good. I may be a little stiffer and a good bit slower but running isn't all about getting to the finish line fast, it is about the experience you have along the way. I am truly grateful to still have my fitness and my health to keep on enjoying those experiences. Have a good and prosperous 2017.

don't worry, be happy.