Head vs. Heart

I'd been planning, since entries opened in July, to run the Glen Ogle 33 on 3rd November, the last day of my 'Autumn' holiday, most of which to be spent in Nethy Bridge, my (I wish) home from home!  Training however had not been going according to any long distance plan, and I seemed to be carrying some sort of wintery virus - nothing major, but sniffy, sore throat and feeling a bit run down over a few weeks at work as the date grew increasingly closer :-(.  So after a couple of weeks of head vs. heart debating, I took the decision to withdraw from the race, rather than push myself to destruction.  It took a while to reach the decision, as the event is fairly local to me and I'd been looking forward to it for ages, and I was slightly annoyed with myself for not being able to get the miles done.

However, decision made, and on the positive, I had a week in Nethy to look forward to, and the hope of some good weather, fresh air, and opportunity to get some miles in!  I love Nethy, and we come up here at least twice a year (and usually to the same house/cottage.... http://www.strathnethyholidays.com/).  And with views like this from the front window, it's not hard to understand why!!

View from Bynackbeg Cottage

Clark had always planned to run the Meall a Bhuachaille hill race on the first day of our hols, and my intention was to be official support, clapper and photographer....but with no Glen Ogle to rest up for, somehow I found myself being talked into participating!  I was still a bit undecided on the day, but we arrived in good time, the conditions looked clear, and somehow I found myself signing the disclaimer and handing over my £6 (bargain entry fee)!  It's a hill and route I've walked up many a time (apart from the random deviation to the second summit where in the race you have to detour through the heather, end up right thigh deep in a freezing bog, and then scuttle up a 'goat' path), so I thought I knew what I was in for!

A different, and still unflattering finishing grimmace!

I'm 'glad' I did it, and I wasn't last (closest to last I think I've ever been, with only 6 people behind me!), but the Innov8 Roclites were Rocsh&te in the compact snow on the summit which caused a sense of humor bypass.....lesson learnt there...ooh, do I need another new pair of running shoes?!  But there obviously was still some endurance in me (even if 'only' an 8 mile race) as I overtook 2 folk before the final summit too, and they were nowhere near me at the finish!

So, not a bad day all in all, and one to probably repeat next year, with a bit of targeted training, and some better shoes!  (and maybe less pink!)

On the way to Ben MacDui

Cairngorm plateau

Great rest of the holiday week - mileage c57 (running and walking) with some pretty decent weather (we're always pretty lucky up here), and some new routes found as usual!  And a fantastic day in the snow on Ben MacDui (with no ghost!)

Oh, and the dog has had a ball too!

Cori practicing his favorite stunt dog manouvre

Sad to be going home tomorrow, but in need of a rest!  One final 5 miler around Dell forest in the morning, before a well earned 'All Day Breakfast' in the Mountain Cafe en route home!