Do run run run.....the Marcothon...

I wanted to capture all the random 'poems' I've been writing as I work my way through the Marcothon for 2016...and successfully manage to achieve the running (minimum 3 miles, or 25 minutes every day in December)...and have written some variation of a rhyme each day...with questionable levels of success...

Day 1
The Marcothon has just begun
And I've no excuses not to run
On holiday in Aviemore
So getting it done was not a chore!

With many lovely trails to choose
After an extra long-lie snooze
To Craigellachie we did go
Looking for the falcon, which was a no show!

Day 1 is done, it's in the bag
And now on Facebook we're all quick to brag
Not every day will be such fun?
But we will get all 31 done!

(3.1 miles at Craigellachie Crags)

Day 2
The holiday's over
But we'd time to spare
To grab a last gasp
Of fresh highland air

A quick wee blast on the Speyside Way
Is a lovely start to any day
Thankfully it's starting to rain
So going home's not such a pain!

(4 miles on Speyside Way)

Day 3
Day 3, and into the hills we went
Up above the cloud, time well spent
Trying to keep steady momentum
To burn off the fajitas in my tum

My knees were sore both up and down
After falling off my mountain bike like a clown
I never seem to stay upright
Even when I try with all my might

I thought of those less fortunate than me
Who haven't discovered the running glee
To clear the mind and free the head
My motivation to get out of bed!

(4.8 miles Blairdennon)

Day 4
A hangover run, there's always one
Bu the Marcothon still has to be run
A fresh sunny blast up Killer Hill
Wearing my shorts, so my legs they did chill!

The sun shone brightly in my eyes
But my legs kept moving, much to my surprise
Now it's time for the sofa, some tea and a nap
And to catch up on last nights tv...I bet it's crap!

Another short one for day 4
With 1000 ft of climb, well, just a little bit more
Another green tick on the Marcothon chart
Getting this off to a pretty good start!

(4.2 miles at Blackford)

Day 5
These are the hard ones, in the dark
Getting up before the lark
Rewarded though with a nice sunrise
With the hills set on fie before our eyes

Cold and crisp beneath our feet
No sign of black ice, what a treat
Just a short trip to Braco park
Me, Cori dog, and hubby Clark

Last day of work, gotta go back tomorrow
So going for a spa day to ease the sorrow
And then it'll be back to the grind
Analysing booze sales at Christmas time!

(4.4 miles - Braco Castle Loop Short)

Day 6
Day 6 and to another place
I attempted to inject small bursts of pace
Ended up confusing Cori dog
And being scared of imaginary people hiding in the fog!

The run was done and time to spare
Ten minutes to stretch and do press ups off the chair
The dog has it easy, he's off back to bed
And I've got to go into work instead!

(2.6 miles intervals on Sheriffmuir Road)

Day 7
Managed to leave the dog in bed
And went out on my own instead
Tried to keep a steady pace
Working on my fitness base

A fasted run, it's hard to smile
When you've nothing left in the last half mile
Into a head wind, up a hill
Why can't you lose fat by popping a pill?

My bad knee buckled on the last bend
Luckily my better knee is on the mend
I stayed upright and carried on
And to Taylor Swift kept singing along!

Home now and the dog's not chuffed
He came downstairs and huffed and puffed
He'll get a run later with his 'dad'
So hopefully he's not too sad!

(5.8 miles - Braco Castle Loop)

Day 8
A lack of sleep, too much awake
Does not a sprightly runner make
Feeling a bit tired and jaded
The alarm I snoozed
But the ringing never faded

Photo by Clark Hamilton Photography

Shorts, t-shirt - it's warm out there
And I've messed up my 'brand new' hair!
Another few miles to the shop
Means the Marcothon we've not stopped!

(3.3 miles to Braco)

Day 9
With Christmas lights still glistening in my head
Once again it was time to get out of bed
A German bratty in my tum
Meant I'd no excuses not to run

Returning to a familiar trail
Up to the Cattle Grid, I would not fail
The headwind up was pretty tough
But Cori dog and I are made of stronger stuff

Steady back down, tail wind instead
My hair like Lois noodles blowing round my head
A smoothie to make and then work to be done
Day 9 complete of the Marcothon fun!

(4.7 miles Cattle Grid, Sheriffmuir)

Day 10
Was great to get up in the hills
For sunshine and some windy thrills
The wind was blowing with such might
At times it was hard to stay upright!

Up and along some Ochil tops
Just one other runner did we spot
Another 9 miles on the log
At least 3 of those were through the bog!

Today the knees were a bit jaded
On some of the downhills I felt a bit faded
Tomorrow we will need to see
If the rest of the Marcothon is to be!

(8.8 miles Glen Sherrup)


Day 11
An easy run thru the woods today
After a long-lie, well it is Sunday!
We kicked thru leaves and slipped and splashed
It certainly wasn't like a Santa dash!

More work today, fixing runners
This time of year, there seem to be hunners
Keeping on top of their aches and niggles
And quite often having fits of the giggles!

Day 11, ticked complete
And no disasters with my feet
A third is gone, lots still to do
With many more rhymes needed to get me thru!

(3 miles Keir Woods)

Day 12
Up before 6 and out the door
To rattle out another 4
Feeling the Monday morning love
Think we needed a motivational shove!

Back to a route we've already done
We're not doing the every day new option
And every corner did Cori dog sniff
Making Clark grumble 'that dog's just taking the piss...'

Stretch, shower, smoothie and back to the grind
There's no let up, it's Christmas-time
At least we've got the running to keep us sane
Still playing along in the Marcothon game!

(4.4 miles Castle Loop)

Day 13
Today was a day I could easy have said
Let's just roll over and stay here in bed
But up we got and out into the fog
Clark, me and Cori dog

What a fabulous moon we saw
That was worth going out the door
A perfect sky, splattered with stars
No other people, and no pesky cars

A lovely run, the stresses gone
I was even singing one or two songs
And once again it's time for work
With lots to do, no time to shirk!

(4.7 miles Cattle Grid)

Day 14/15
Tonight we went for the midnight double
Up Killer Hill to stay out of trouble
Dark and misty, no super moon
What a pair of crazy loons

I missed day 14's early start
A restless sleep and missed alarm
Then the quandary of a run to fit
To not end up with a Marcothon quit!

One rhyme or two, another quest
To put my brain cells to the test
Just the one, it's too taxing
It's night time, I should be relaxing!

(2.1 and 2.5 Killer Hill)

Day 16
Day 16 and I'm still in
The hunger for dinner did not win
Today I'd left it pretty late
And had to pass the miles by counting to eight

An 8am rise after yesterday's party
Meant no time to get it done smartly
It prayed on my mind, all through the day
But work has a habit of getting in the way

A basic flat out and back
Keeps the tick list on track
Tomorrow a long run is the plan
Out with Glee Club, led by Stan!

(2.9 miles Braco)


Day 17
Winter miles make summer smiles
And that's just fine with me
I've had a fabby day today
Running around with friends from Glee!

Fifteen miles at a social pace
Will get us ready next year to race
Around the Braeval three lochs loop
Then to the café for cakes, toasties and soup

Furthest run for a long time
Tonight I might self-medicate with wine
Feeling please with how it went
Focusing on the training has been time well spent!

(15 miles Braeval)

Day 18
No views today just miles of fog
Lucky to keep eyes on Clark and Cori dog
My mission today, on the climbs to keep going
So my arms kept a-swinging, even when my pace was slowing

One week from now it's Christmas day
We'll still be running, come what may
That's me over 1,500 for the year
I think that's earned me a celebratory beer!

More work today, stacking Famous Grouse
A bottle should be in every house
At least my run is done for the day
So a happy wee smile will help me on my way!

(5.3 miles Blairdennon)

Day 19
The weeknd DOMS are firmly here
Along with the Monday morning fear
A week of mayhem lies ahead
I wish I could just stay in my bed

So off we went a simple loop
Dark and damp, a murky gloop
Three miles kept us in the game
Until tomorrow when we have to do it all again!

(2.9 miles Castle loop)

Day 20
Let's do this again
We've so much to gin
Just a little to lose
To loosen our trews

Cold? it's minus three
And thick fog, nothing to see
But once we got high
Crystal clear skies

Another short 'fast' one
I think it was fun
Skating along
With no time for songs

Turkey lunch today
But it's not yet Christmas day?
The end is in sight
Let's not put up a fight!

(3 miles Sheriffmuir)

Day 21/22
This week's double had far less appeal
Storm Barbara arrived with a wintery feel
Tired and cold, a fight to stay awake
But with such a good streak, our commitment could not break

Pondering on a route to give us some shelter
In case the wild storm sent us flying helter skelter
No trail tonight just quiet lanes
Moving with care to avoid any sprains

Still in the game, and now off to the city
An early morning flight, it ain't going to be pretty
Maybe a chance for day 23 down south
Depending how much alcohol passes my mouth!

(2.2 and 2.5 Blackford/Sheriffmuir Mast)

Day 23
Waiting for Barbara to bring her worst
We managed a run in the 'daylight' first
The route we chose more swamp than path
But I've earned a mulled wine and afternoon bath!

With work all done until next week
Time to sit down, rest, eat and sleep
Yet promise we did, everyday to run
And we will keep doing the Marcothon

It's been a challenge to get this far
Juggling work and life and visits to the bars...
We're almost there, not far to go
And maybe in this last week a run in the snow?!

(2.7 miles Gathering Stone)


Day 24
A bimble round Keir Woods today
With weather ranging from sunshine to grey
A quick dash into Tesco first
To grab a couple of things, I feared the worst!

The car park empty
And shelves full of plenty
An easy job done
Then on with the run!

The storm had been
Her destruction was seen
But for us it was calm
And we came to no harm!

(3.1 miles Keir Woods)

Day 25
A merry Christmas to everyone
But let's not neglect to Marcothon
Yes it's windy, before the sprouts
We've got to stay in this, that's not in doubt!

A blowy yomp up Killer Hill
My head was fuzzy but I wasn't too ill
To make it to the top but not very fasy
Once again I reached it last

So that's it done, the Christmas run
Time to kick back and chill, have fun
Another wee glass or two of fizz
Will make this Christmas day the biz!

(4.8 miles Killer Hill)

Day 26
Storm Conor's here and plenty of snow
Up into the Ochils we decided to go
We headed into the eye of the storm
Climbing up the steep ascents to keep us warm

Stunning views across the tops
We took a couple of photograph stops
Then about turn and into the hurricane blasts
Meant none of our miles were remotely fast!

We made it back to the car in one piece
And only burnt off a little of yesterday's feast
My toes still numb and eyeballs sore
But created some memories and that's what life's for!

(5.2 Blairdennon)

Day 27
If only every run a tailwind there could be
I'd always be running pretty speedy!
With out and back a headwind return
So extra effort and calories to burn!

A 'tempo run' for me at least
Burning off the Boxing Day feast
Dry and clear, a little sun
And feeling ok, it was a decent run.

(4 miles Sheriffmuir / Mast)






Day 28
Back to work for me today
So an early three to help me on my way
The boys not impressed by the early start
Or the uninspired route around Braco Castle park.

 

(3 miles Castle Loop)

Day 29
It's getting close, we're near the end
The lurgy is brewing, driving me round the bend
Another run up Sheriffmuir
In the dark again, that's for sure!

The sun just glimpsing across the hill
Gives a simple morning thrill
Now smoothie time and off to work
There's stuff to do and I must not shirk!

(4.7 miles Cattle Grid)


Day 30
Today wasn't pretty
I'm feeling fairly sh!tty
A very short slow one
Just the bare minimum

(2.2 miles on the Sheriffmuir Road)

 

Day 31

I'd hoped to finish with more of a bang
Instead of a whimper before the bells rang
I lasted the month, more than some
And now this year's Marcothon is done!

I left my lungs and a trail of snot
As in between walks I broke into a slow trot
I watched for the boys, who'd gone way up the hill
As I sat on a rock and popped another flu pill

Mission accomplished, pat on the back
But much more pride for Clark than that
A year ago, from a hospital bed
He may never run again they said!

Team Hamilton, we did the task
The month of December we had a blast
A run of sorts, every day
Now it's time to pack 2016 away!

(3 miles around the bottom at Killer Hill)


December total = 128.9miles

2016 done!