Combustion

BOOOOOM! Well.....nearly....!

I don't know if it's early taperitis, hormones or just a whole heap of mad stuff all going a bit bonkers at the same time, but maaaaaaan, it's getting increasingly stressful day by day, and keeping that spark from setting off the fuse is becoming a touch and go experience!

Not just a drip of blood -
actual cut right down

The irrational tears have started.  Thinking about the prize giving on 22nd June (I'll WILL be there collecting the first of my goblets for achieving something crazy and amazing); thinking about some of the superstars who'll be completing the race for their first, second, tenth or anything in between; reading blogs from those who've been there, done it, whether running or supporting (sometimes the crew blogs are the hardest...these guys selflessly sacrificing so much time and effort to help a friend achieve their dream); thinking about those who've had to withdraw from the race due to illness and injury; from stressing about running to much, too little, about not getting enough sleep, about not getting injured (at which point I promptly fell), about getting ill, about lists, planning and preparation; about work.......and well, about pretty much everything really!

However, the big miles are all done, it's all to play for now.  With just 3 weeks left to get through! Eeek!

And I've had some pretty good training runs (aside from the Glen Turret one where I fell!).  Last weekend we were up in Plockton for the Bealach Beag cycle sportive.  A weekend of mixed emotion as Clark's dodgy back has been bad so he decided not to risk racing.  Gutting for him as the training had been looking good, and the conditions on race day were as near perfect as we've ever seen in the 6 or so years we've gone up for the event.  On the plus side, dinner at the Plockton Inn (twice!) was to die for, and it was a great escape from a stressful week, with some great company, and the chance to see my eldest brother and some friends do well in the event.

Glenelg - from the ferry deck

On the Sunday I had decided I wanted to run from Plockton to Kylerhea on Skye, hop across on the Glenelg Ferry and run to Sheil Bridge.  Luckily I had uber support crew in Clark and Cori who pretty much bimbled around after me - with Cori running a couple of sections and Clark getting to see the sea eagle at Kylerhea (I missed it!!).

Climbing 1,000ft from Glenelg

It was a road run, with an epic amount of climbing and some challenging descent, but boy, the views are worth it! And after a drizzly start it fair heated up...good training for the potential race day heat...we've not had that many days of hot weather to prepare!

Looking down towards Sheil Bridge

St Andrews Beach

After a rest on Monday (a wee bit DOMS from tarmac ankles) I managed a couple of mid-week runs (busy week at work!) - one of which, after a late night of fancy dress, pub golf shenanigans with my marketing colleagues out along the Old Course golf course and back along the beach!

Bluebells, blue skies and hills in the distance

Today, with a hot hot hot forecast, and the scaling back of the long runs (the big miles are banked....no time for heroics!) Cori and I headed out to one of my favourite training grounds - Loch Ard Forest near Aberfoyle. 

(Thankfully) it was overcast for a large chunk of the run, but really humid (and I ran out of water....), but I can feel my skin tingling from the tan tonight, even having run with sun screen - gotta love a runners tan!

Rounded off a good day, with some beers (alcohol free!) in the sunshine in the garden...and then it all begins again tomorrow.....low miles again and hopefully some more sunshine!  

Life definitely feels less stressful when you've done some pounding on the trails!  Getting the balance of this over the next 3 weeks is going to be 'fun'...all these months of soooo many miles, so many hours out there training, and now it's time to nurture, compose, contain....rest, strengthen and BELIEVE!