I feel the need.....the need for speed...(relatively speaking!)

Time flies when you're having fun!  I meant to start this post at the weekend, and now, all of a sudden, it's Wednesday, half-way through my holiday, and I'm only just putting a word on the screen!

I don't "do" speedwork...unless you count the training runs I do with Clark, since he is a significantly stronger/faster/more gutsy runner than I...that I inevitably try harder to keep up with him when we do go out together. I know there is mixed opinion on speedwork for ultra's, but in reality, most of the time it's a struggle to find time to train, never mind do speedwork!

Last weekend however brought the opportunity for a little "racing" over "short" distances, due to heading to Nethy for a week's holiday.

The A9!

Saturday was the Newtonmore 10 miler, starting at 11am...and on the way North, so no excuses really (even the drama of the A9 being closed for 24 hours before seemed not to get in our way!).  

The race itself was ok.....quite expensive I thought for a fairly basic, flat out and back (£16 entry which included a local beer), although we didn't stay for post-race scoff and awards (because the Mountain Cafe Aviemore all day breakfast was calling our names!!).  



The conditions were baltic (headwind all the way out) and snowy underfoot, so we both opted for trail shoes despite the terrain being mostly tarmac and cycle path.  The field seemed to be pretty evenly split between those in trail vs. those in road shoes.  Outbound the trail shoes were an advantage, gripping through the snow, and making me feel I had a wee edge over the road shoe runners...in fairness though I think they benefited on the return!  I did the usual race strategy and set off faster than I usually run (a 7:59 first mile), and tried to sustain it (8:21 average), although a poor fuelling strategy made the last couple of miles pretty tough going!  A decent enough time though at 1:22..and I only go overtaken by 3 runners on the return leg.....so I'll notch that one up as a speed-work session!



Sunday brought the "unofficial" invite only off road "half-marathon" at Munlochy on the Black Isle. When the alarm went off first thing, we both felt the affects of running 10 fast miles on tarmac in trail shoes the day before.....but this was the event we had both wanted to do, so, nothing for it, but MTFU, get the kit on, in the car and off we go!  Entry fee for this one was much more reasonable....cakes, a flask of tea/coffee and an optional donation to help the organiser's son go to the special Olympics!  A quick pre-race briefing in the village hall, followed by a mad car dash up to the Mount Eagle mast before the 11am start.  

Me, Cori and Kate (from Cairngorm Runners

Dogs were allowed to run too, so Cori got to try out his new cani-x kit (which worked pretty well, although I don't think made me run any faster!).  He ran with me the first 9.5 miles (by which point Clark had finished, coming 2nd no less!!!!), so I dropped Cori off on the way back through for the second section.  A really nice off road route with a few challenging hills in it, and some options for those who didn't want to do the full route (12.2miles), or wanted to bike it.  First Aiders on bikes and marshalls on all the key junctions, and on bikes were all on hand, as well as an official photographer!  Great organisational efforts put in for a "social" run.  I think there were maybe 30-40 people in all, and there was talk of making it official in year's to come as it was thoroughly enjoyable!  I still count this as speedwork as my average of 9:37 miles is faster than my usual!

Running through Ryvoan Pass

So, now we're firmly entrenched in Nethy Bridge, enjoying the peace and quiet....both pretty tired from the hustle and bustle of "normal" life, combined with a weekend of speed!  

Managing to make the most of the beautiful surroundings though, with a 15 miler yesterday through the Ryvoan Pass...at a "better" pace....albeit the last 4 miles were all around 9:30 or less....!  A sports massage yesterday, a rest day today and a 30ish miler planned for tomorrow!  All peppered with good scoff, and a few cakes/wine!  Perfect holiday!  Just can't believe how quickly the time is passing!

Lochan by Ryvoan

Oh yes, and we managed to find time to join Cairngorm Runners club....the things I'll do for a discount at the Mountain Cafe!!

So, that's all for now....back to the log fire, and to raise a glass to toast absent friends!

Run on, and stay safe.....

Tales of a Leaky Bladder

I've been threatening to write this blog post for about a week now, so some of the memories are fading, and my bravado about revealing both leaky bladder stories has faded....(Fiona 'Chief Grumpy' MacDonald you get a reprieve......what happens on tour, stays on tour....)...

Ready for "the off"

Anyway, what a great weekend we all had at 'Highland Fling "Training Camp"' last weekend...there was fun, laughter, old friends, new friends, fear, frights, food, drink....oh, and a good dose of running too!  

Arriving on the Friday straight from work I dumped my bags in the cabin I was to share with Johnny Fling, Lorna and Carol and headed across to the hostel for a coffee with the ever chirpy Fiona (who'd "just come down fae the Isle of Skye" (she's not very big....but she ain't very shy....;-))) and then off for a wee 4 mile warm up with Dawn, Frank and the 2 dogs, just as the sun was setting.  Great start to the weekend to clear the head after another busy week at work! And then followed later with a few drinks, and some lovely dinner cooked by Mr Fling himself (he obviously know's I'm used to being catered for (before Clark makes any smart comments!!)), which we shared with Vic O'Reilly who'd arrived late from Bute and missed the other's trip to the Real Food Cafe (cue the funniest story I've heard for a long time from Fiona.....(leaky bladder part 1....) which had tears rolling down our faces!

A few more drinks and introductions in the hostel......lots of chat about who was running where, with who, how far and how long....and then off to bed!

Saturday dawned fairly clear...a wee flurry of drizzle and a wee bit cold...but turned into another beautiful day to be running on WHW.  I had my heart set on a 30 miler, so headed north with a big group, who, after a short interlude to ensure Ian Minty picked himself out of the icy stream, spread out pretty quickly.

I love this part of the WHW - the views are stunning and the terrain is pretty runnable (except the power march up Murdo's Mount, which called for a snack stop and photo opportunity at the top!)

Admiring the view from Murdo's Mount (photo by Dave Hetherington)

The only downside of the day was my leaky bladder...and if I'd had a fiver for everyone who mentioned I had orange squash running down my legs for the first 2 hours, I'd be rich by now!  And it wasn't very pleasant as it froze in the cold!  Wrapping it in a poly bag didn't make any difference either!  On the plus side, once the fluid higher than wherever the mystery holes is had leaked out, I still had enough to keep me going for the rest of the day!  So now it's time to re-evaluate hydration packs and work out which to go for next!  I have about 6 Camelbaks already, but am tempted by one with bottles instead of a bladder next....

The 30 miles seemed to pass in a flash with time to chat with loads of different folk, stops to take pictures and have a bite to eat, as the pace and hills affected everyone differently...and we were 'soon' back at the By The Way accommodation for food, showers, a trip to the shop for some soup...and a wee disco nap before the communal (and delicious) chilli and sticky toffee pudding scoff later that night.  I was surprised how well I felt I had run, and that I didn't feel too 'burst'...and that I managed to stay up eating, drinking and chatting til past midnight (almost unheard of these days!!)

There was much chat of a run the following morning at 9....but as it transpired, there was just me (I know Dawn went earlier with the dogs and Fiona, Vic and Dave were going cycling)....so I managed to hijack John and Katrina Kynaston's (and Caroline) first couple of miles south (I think they were off for a 32 miler having not been with us the day before), before turning back, just to get a few extra wee miles in.   And then back to the cabin to deal with clearing the devastation....you'd think the 4 of us were planning a month's survival/feeding of the 5,000 the amount of kit and food we'd all taken!

After many sad goodbyes, had to head back home to see how much mess I could make before Clark got home, in the house which he'd tidied before he went on his wee jolly to Aviemore.....it's fair to say I succeeded, before lighting the fire, wrapping myself in a blanket and falling sound asleep in front of the rugby.....

Happy running, good times....and still feeling the effects a week later....!  But there's still training to be done.....as always!  Here's hoping this good weather is here to stay!