My Covid-19 Lockdown Garden Running Adventures

Well 2020 is turning into a year like none of us could have envisaged. After a busy start to my running year, where I managed to cram in 4 races before the running year came to an abrupt end, we all suddenly found ourselves with no races to train for, a limited once a day out for exercise and not being allowed to run with others. No more Parkrunning, No more Jog Scotland nights, no more training with running buddies.

Running has always been the way I deal with difficult situations that I find myself in. I wanted to find a way of challenging myself and keeping myself safe (I have asthma so was very aware of being susceptible to coronavirus). So one day I thought I wonder if I could run up and down my garden. That way I can run, still take Kobi out for a walk for our exercise, maximise the time I could spend outside. So out I went. The first run was quite tough, getting used to stopping and turning and just plodding up and down the garden. It was clear that I was not going to get any speed up, but at least I would be maintaining strength and stamina. And most importantly my sanity. Three miles into my first attempt and the plan started brewing. People who know me well know that I love a running challenge and on that first garden run my #gardenmarathon was born.

As a member and leader for Jog Scotland we work with SAMH to support them because both organisations believe and promote the benefits of exercise to mental health. So I thought I would fundraise for them as there has been a big drop in fundraising due to cancelled races etc.

A few days into my garden marathon, I realised that I was going to get to 26 miles fairly quickly and lockdown was going to last a long time, so it turned in a garden ultra marathon of 50 miles. Suddenly the challenge was a lot harder and that gave me the determination I needed.

Kobi ran the whole way with me, trotting up and down and getting under my feet but after 32 days of running up and down the garden we got there!

As I was running the last few miles to 50 I decided that I wanted to push the challenge a bit further. Up to that point the furthest I ran in my garden was 6 miles, which was tough but I knew I could go further. And there the #gardenhalfmarathon was created! I had been due to run the Windermere Marathon on the 17th May so it was fitting that I ran the half marathon on that weekend. So Saturday the 16th was the date I chose. I invited everyone who had followed my journey to join in with the fun by running, walking, doing whatever in their garden at the time I was running. The purpose was just to get everyone to join together, apart, and do something that celebrated running and life at a time where everyone is beginning to really feel lockdown fatigue.

On Friday night it dawned on me that I was running a half marathon. Somehow running in my garden didn't really make me feel like it was going to be as hard as running a half marathon on the road. How wrong was I???

So Saturday morning dawned. I set out my water station, complete with gels for pick up at appropriate times (4 miles and 8 miles). The race start was set up, waiting for me and Kobes.

The sun was shining but it was really windy, I had joked on facebook that the wind wouldn't matter much on my route. But actually as I started running it really did, the wind was really swirly and was making running a bit harder.

I steadily got through the first three miles. My next door neighbour Stuart, cheered me on over the fence. Then the postie came to the door and had read my notices out in the front garden to come and cheer me over the gate, he popped round, gave me my parcel and shouted "good luck with your run".








Shortly after that my friend Cathy appeared at the gate and shouted good luck and gave me a cheer!

After Cathy left,  I started running mile 4. Suddenly, I felt myself tire, I definitely slowed down on that mile. I think I let myself think about how much further I had to run and it took it's toll.

I had been posting my times each mile onto our Jogscotland Penicuik chat and just said "that one was tough". I took a gel at 4 miles, as planned and that definitely perked me up. I decided at that point that maybe I hadn't been drinking enough, again running in your garden lulls you into thinking you haven't gone very far, but I had run 4 miles by that point so I should have been drinking.





Just as I was getting close to 5 miles, I heard my name being shouted over the fence, and up popped Jo, Aila and Christopher (although he was still snoozy in his pram). Jo brought her speaker and was pumping out loud tunes for me to run to. They were both running back and forward out in the street, which was great fun to watch.

It definitely helped having them cheering me on. Aila was having great fun passing me flowers through the gate (dandelions) and then waiting for me to come and then she and her mum would head off over the road to the fence on the other side and come back. Her giggles were infectious.


Shortly after they arrived there was an almighty toot and John appeared at the other gate with his air horn shouting "go the runners". We were all in fits of giggles because Kobi was leaping about all over the place with excitement.

Then I heard "go yourself Janey" and Stuart and Jan were hanging out their dormer window up on the roof, it was turning into quite a support crew.

After a while my support crew left and I was back to my ipod and my own thoughts. I was between 7 - 8 miles and again the dreaded wall loomed. I was really struggling and my time slowed right down. Then I started to think about other half marathons and the 8 mile points in them. At that point it really kicked in that I was actually running a half marathon and not just plodding up and down my garden. I always find things a bit tough around the 8 mile mark, which is why I usually take an energy gel at 8 miles. So on my way past my water stop (garden table) I lifted another gel. That did the trick. After ten minutes or so I started to get my energy back. Usually in a half marathon just after 9 miles I really start to pick up as I know I am nearly into double figures and this was no different. Although the aches and pains were different, I had to keep alternating the way I was turning at the gates as my hips really started to feel the strain. Doing this really helped. As did my next cheer squad. 

The highlight of my day was when Clare turned up with a set of step ladders so she could see over the gate. And she brought skittles with her!!!!! They were like a wonder drug, I could feel the sugar rush right through me and I sailed into mile 10. Clare put on her music and cheered very loudly as I ran.

Clare was brilliant, she kept telling me "you've got this", "dig in".

After a while I heard someone else shouting from the other end of the garden and it was Lyn and Jessica. They arrived on their bikes. So again I had a socially distant cheer squad at each end of the garden.

I took a photo of Lyn and Jessica and then headed back down the garden to Clare. 

I was getting very close to the finish and the fatigue was beginning to set in. I normally run a half marathon in around 2.20 hours but today, because of all the turning and the lack of opportunity to run quicker down hills and stride out I was nearer 3.30 hours. So it was tough, and mentally it had been a real challenge particularly in between cheer squads.

Next to arrive were Kirsty, Millie and Issac. They all took turns standing on the step ladders to cheer on me! Millie and Issac had made me the most amazing poster saying "Good luck Jane". 

Then Yvonne, Norrie and Olly (the dog) arrived, I was growing quite a crowd. I just kept shouting at them all to make sure they were socially distancing, all I could think was "I am running in my garden to raise awareness of the message - Stay at Home". They all laughed and said yes they were and I could see that they were taking turns to shout over the gate but were standing 2 m away from each other out in the street.

The last mile was really tough. I think because I was getting really tired and I had everyone supporting me (and waiting on me to finish). 

Last mile

It was quite emotional. My Jog Scotland family mean so much to me and we have all worked very hard to support each other through this lockdown and to keep encouraging each other's running endeavours. Lots of our members are parents and have done so well keeping their children happy and learning. I am in awe of how well they have all coped. 

So finally I got to the end and once I had run the extra point one to make it a true half marathon I finished right back where I had started - under the flags. 

Everyone disappeared to the front of the house and I came out to a round of cheering. 

To support and say thanks to all the key workers I had also joined the Race the Distance virtual event where you run any distance for the NHS and to support the message Stay Home, Save Lives, Protect the NHS so I had a lovely medal to wear at the end of my half marathon. 

And my lovely running buddy Yvonne had wine, and lots of goodies for me at the end (all handed over in a socially distant manner).

It was probably one of the hardest half marathons I have ever run purely down to the mental challenge of running on your own up and down in a small space, but I am so glad i did it. It was amazing to give myself a focus during lockdown, maintain my own sense of wellbeing and also to have so many lovely people join in with my half marathon in their own gardens.

Here are just a few of my friends and family who joined in with their own Lockdown challenges:

I can't thank you all enough for joining in my crazy adventure, you all looked like you enjoyed yourselves to be fair! 

So there we have it, 13.1 miles in my garden. Probably the daftest thing I have ever done but certainly won't be the last (I know I have that reputation!).

And I am so proud of my wee running buddy Kobi. He has run every one of the 63 miles I have run in the last two months in my garden. He was absolutely puggled after 13.1 miles though, he slept like this for 3 hours afterwards. He is so adorable. 

My Garmin map looks like I managed to colour in my whole garden. But if you look closely you can see that my start and finish were almost in the same place and where the miles clocked over. I still can't believe I ran 13.1 miles all at once in my very small garden. 

It was an amazing day, I had so much fun. But I mustn't forget to remind you, the reader, why I was doing this. 

Coronavirus has come out of nowhere and changed all of our lives. I have always run and running has gotten me through tough times. As a Jog Scotland leader I know all too well the difference running can make to a person’s mental health.

So during this time where we are in lockdown, I set out to run 50 miles in my teeny tiny garden to raise money to help those who are finding self isolation and social distancing very hard. Somewhere along the way I decided it would be a good idea to complete my challenge by running a half marathon all at once in my garden.

During lockdown it has become even more important to raise awareness of how good exercise is for your mental health. Jog Scotland support the work of SAMH whose services will become even more needed as people find the lockdown mentally tough.

Life is tough just now but staying in is about staying safe and saving lives. We can do this, help me help those who might find this really tough.

Thank you

Don't worry, be happy. Xx

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jane-malcolm2

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

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 :)