A Favourite Run - And Reason to be Thankful!

Two days of blue skies and sunshine!  Pretty unheard of in Scotland this year.  But that's what we've had this weekend, and we've made mighty fine use of it!

After a great wee bit of pedaling action yesterday (a 35 mile 'taper'/almost the only training ride in advance of next week's Ullapool Sportive), today had to be the turn of running....and the challenge of one of our favourite local runs, an off road 10.5 miler up at Loch Turret.   (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/225930549)

The first views

 It was a foggy, freezing morning, but the hope was that we would get up above the clouds and get the spectacular views of the inversion, and burn some calories and tire out the dog at the same time!!

It's an awesome view, right from the outset, as you head up the wee slope from the car park and get your first views up the loch.

The early inversion

And we were right about the inversion.  The photos don't do it justice, but it was spectacular.  And made for lots of opportunities for a breather and a photo, which was welcome relief today!

But it did get me thinking about how thankful I am that we were both there, and both able to run, no matter how painful or slow some sections were.  Probably less than 2 years ago, neither of us believed we would ever run this route again....and at that point struggled to even walk round!  At that point, Clark was still struggling with post-op issues from his double slipped disc op, and I was 3+ stone heavier, with a dodgy knee and dodgy hip which even the physio thought meant trail/hill running (or in fact any running) was out of the question for my future!

Cori enjoying a breather (and eyeing up the sheep)

Some day I'll work out how to smile for a photo!

My two boys near the summit

View from the descent

Time and determination (and supportive training partner/buddies) are great healers though....and the lure of the great Scottish countryside kept us both going through many a tough training session or moment of doubt!

Turning point for the last 3 miles along the Loch

So, overall, lots to be thankful for - health, happiness, a great part of the world to live and train in....and that happy Sunday afternoon euphoria/pain of getting to veg out on the sofa/in the garden with a satisfied and smug grin on your face! Doing it, because you can....and thousands out there can't!

Eating...and Running.....

Another challenging week...more mentally than physically....sometimes people just give you a wee shake up and you need to dig deep to adapt and over-come.....

I've been eating...and thinking about running....and eating (a lot of Doritos).....and reading "Eat & Run" by Scott Jurek.  What a great read, and very motivational when you consider some of the pain barriers over-come.  I finally finished it last night, and realised that, there's more important things to me than worrying about what others think and say, that I know who and what is important to me, but also that I needed a wee boost to get my running back on track as running truly is where you can clear your head of all other thoughts, and just be "in the moment"!

So, today has been a turn-around, and I've got my running mojo back.  One of those "wake up a see what the day brings" decisions, with Clark and I in sync as usual agreeing on a lovely "no pressure" 9 miler starting from Kilmahog, out past the holiday cabins, and back via the foothills of Ben Ledi.   (Garmin stats: Ledi Lowlands)

Me trying not to pull my usual grimace!

My perfect kind of running day: a bit dreich, but fairly mild....and the tracks were quiet (no folk, no dogs, so Cori could run free for most of the route!)

Thinking about friends and acquaintances running the Glenmore 24 / 12 today/tomorrow, wishing them all a safe and happy run, and pondering that it might be one for the diary another year!