Ding, Ding....round 4

I couldn't believe how quickly we got to Fling day again this year, but Saturday was the day.  I'd had a busy lead up to race day, and maybe partly due to feeling a bit more 'experienced' this year, was less frenetic about my preparations, aside from some concern about the every changing weather and what to wear (generally I always over-dress!) given we'd had significant snow over-night on Thursday.

That was a worry I needn't have had as Johnny Fling clearly had a word with the weather Gods and we couldn't have really asked for better conditions, with only a couple of light rain showers during the day, a nice cool start and some beautiful blue skies and sunshine.  If anything, maybe a little too hot at parts, but I think I got the kit choice right!

What did I wear.....x-bionic boxers and shorts, compressport calf guards, drymax socks, Hoka speedgoat, x-bionic vest, ronhill t-shirt (last year's WHW one), salomon cap (recently purchased in Chamonix, to give me strength for the hills!) and a wee headband (instead of my usual buff), x-bionic arm sleeves (perfect to roll down when too hot, and to dip in the streams to help cool off) and some wee skinny gloves (which I did actually take off eventually!).  Had my UD pack...I think its the AK from last year (still hankering after a new ladies one...).



Photo by Chen / Running in Scotland

After a quick whizz through registration on Friday night - super slick and surprisingly quiet compared to last year (although it was after 9pm), Clark dropped me off at the Premier Inn, and after the compulsory kit layout, a wee cuppa tea, an antihistamine and a dram, I soon drifted off to sleep....and slept surprisingly well until the 0410 alarm call!  Followed the usual routine then of 2 porridge pots, a coffee, and a guzzle of orange squash while getting organised.  5:15 depart and the short(ish) walk up the road to the start line. 



Photo by Monument Photos

The crowds were gathering and there was a positive buzz.  The weather I think was helping, and the drop bags, toilet queues and chat were all going well.  Before long it was time for Johnny Fling's briefing from the top of the fling van! Eeek I hope that washes off Sheona!!  And then it was time to go!  I started in the second wave, times estimated 10-12 hours and was hoping for between 11:30 and 12, all being well.  I wasn't too sure how my training had panned out this year and you can never be too certain heading out to run 53 miles as to how it will go!


About 6 miles in.
Photo by Ross Lawrie



Photo by Monument Photos

I felt comfortable throughout the first stretch to Drymen although was conscious that I was running a bit faster than I possible would have expected.  My heart rate was fine and I did ease off a couple of times just to ensure I wasn't over-cooking this 'easy' section.  It was nice to cruise along, and have some chats along the way (sorry to Pauline for thinking you were Fiona though!  Having caught the kit out the corner of my eye, it was an easy mistake!)



I made sure to keep drinking every mile or so (Tailwind) and ate a packet of mini Cheddars before Drymen.  Think I was about 2hr 10.

Off over Conic (fuelled by a mini bag of Haribo) and still feeling strong.  Nothing hurt, breathing was steady and all was good with the world.  Where else would you rather be at 8am on a sunny Saturday?!

Was great to see Ruth Howie for a hug at the top of Conic, and the look on her face was priceless (if a little worrying) about why I was there in such good time!  Also bumped into Jeni R-J at this point (which was a bit of a worry as she's waaaay faster than me!) and Sharon Hassan.  Oh, and a double-dunt of photographers too....



A view from Conic

Steady descent to Balmaha with the plan to get the drop bag done asap.  The marshals were super efficient and the only downside was the sun had melted my mini Mars bar (boak...), which I ate anyway....and some other stuff (some mini 'party'/scotch eggs I think....(I'll stop wittering on about what I ate now....)...and that I heard Davie Mooney say 'well done' just as I was leaving, which was sad as that meant he had pulled out (right decision though to save longer term injury!)

Normally I struggle a bit with the next section to Rowardennan, but all felt pretty good.  I passed Carol Martin at Millarochy...another sign I was possible moving a bit faster than I should, but again, my breathing and heart rate felt ok, so I opted to keep moving.  I faffed a bit longer at this next checkpoint, stuffing excess drop-bag contents into my pack...naively thinking I might get round to eating them all (this was a stupid decision, which I repeated at every subsequent checkpoint and resulted in my pack weighing about 3 times more at the finish than at the start!)

I ran with Lucy for a good stretch after the checkpoint which was really good as her chat kept me going up the long climb.  She dropped me on the descent though, never to be seen again....

I didn't find the lochside as congested this year which was good, and I opted to not try and push too hard here.  I had a couple of stumbles, and while remained upright, were enough to give me pause for thought.

Through Inversnaid, with some additional cheers from Chris Anderson from work who was walking with some friends (or drinking beer perhaps...), and onwards for the final scrambling section (where I caught Alan Doig (who promptly fell over....)) and then up to the Angels Playground to share my Macallan with Dario, and soak up the view (cue my first tears of the day)....


A perfect spot to share a dram

And.....I was still feeling ok.....
I think at this point I was recalling the last 2 years of Fling's being a build up for the WHW race...a pleasure I won't be enjoying this June (aside from as crew), and maybe that puts the head in a different place...who knows.  I was sure enjoying myself though!

Not entirely sure that a wee dram is the optimal running fuel mid race in the heat though...

Photo by Chen / Running in Scotland

I was expecting to see Clark at some point on this stretch too, and got the joy of a wee kiss, and cuddle from Cori dog just before the Beinglas checkpoint.

Photo y Clark Hamilton

Another brilliant reception into Beinglas, and a lovely marshal helping me with all my stuff (thank you whoever you were!).  I topped up with Tailwind and potato scone, and some cheese...but maybe didn't eat enough?  Who knows.   My time was a little down at this point on where I would have liked to be, knowing that these last 12 miles are tough, and usually take the best part of 3 hours, so my quest for a PB was potentially off the cards here.  I was also feeling a bit nauseous at this point, but there was nothing else for it but to march on, and get the headphones in for the first time.  There's a lot of long walkable (walk necessary) content in this section, and even my little chant of 'marginal gains, marginal gains' which had got me shuffling into a run during the first 41 miles, was struggling to gain traction here.  I passed Alan Robertson here...very unusual!

Photo by Clark Hamilton

The cows at Derrydarroch were fine (I walked past them just to be sure), and Sheona skipped past me making it look easy!  Through the low tunnel (thanks Helen and John for all the warning signs this year!) and up the short steep climb.  My legs I think still felt strong, I just felt pukey.  Decided at this point to crack open my (Sainsburys version of) Red Bull and see if glugging some of that down would help...was it fluid/caffeine or sugar I needed??

Carol passed me just before the Bogle Glen gate (I knew she would catch me at somepoint!), gave me some words of encouragement and did a little dance as she skipped on up the hill.  I think I scoffed another bit of Mrs Tilly's at this point...again, head and stomach the stalling factors in getting a better pace on.   March up, shuffle down, march up, shuffle down....and the roller coaster was over.....3 miles....that's all there was to go.....

A wee weeble wobble at the road crossing trying to stand still to let the marshals tell me when the traffic was clear, and a check of the watch I knew that a PB was touch and go, but more likely gone, unless I suddenly had a burst of life.  I tried to not let it mess with my head and just keep going.  The head wind into Auchtertyre never helps with that!

With half a mile to go I had a monumental toe stub and almost ended up in the heather (thanks kind spectator who caught me...oh no, wait, he didn't even try!) but I knew the pipers were just through the gate and round the corner...there was no stopping now!

The finish always makes me cry - a fabulous red carpet finish and hundreds (it seemed) of people cheering and ding, dinging their cowbells just for you.  And a lovely big hug from Julie Clarke at the end!  The photographer missed me (as did Clark since I was late!) and asked me to go back and run in again....I'm in dread of how ridiculous that photo is going to look!

So, my second fastest time, and I think my most enjoyable Fling of the 4 I've done.  I love the WHW, and would run on it every week if I could.

11hrs 47m 39s (ave 13.22min/mile).  About 9 mins slower than last year.
349th out of 673 finishers (I think 700 starters)
58th out of 185 females

Great finish area - from huggers, t-shirts and goody bag givers, beer providers (and a choice of beers!), soup chefs (the tomato was delicious again, thanks Mum and Dad Fling!), ice cream, baked potatoes.....the list is endless!  It was great to see many smiling faces, and friends with trophies, and to hear the course records had been smashed! This was highly expected given the conditions and that the race was the British/Scottish Ultra Trail running championship and there were some incredible elite competitors running!  The organisation is second to none, and with a crew of 180+ volunteers, I think every wish is catered for!

So, two days later...I'm tired, and a bit achy....the sorest part bizarrely is my left forearm.....no idea why (feels a bit like tendonitis and is now taped up), but my right is also a bit sore....  no blisters, no scars, no skint knees....result!

A recovery week now, before Glen Lyon on Saturday (not great timing but I'm not planning to go eyeballs out!), and another day on the sofa today reading race stories, checking photographs and reliving a great day out!

Will I be there next year??  You better believe it!!  I think I thought I might marshal.....but I just bloody love this race so it would be a tough call but either way I'll be there!






End of March catch up

A better mileage for March, and my highest since May 2014...that's an insight in itself... Perhaps I can deduce my running performance is not as good at the moment as I'm not getting enough miles in.  It's that balance between quantity and quality, but that's maybe something for me to explore in more depth another day.  To be fair, mileage is fairly similar to last March, so maybe I protest too much....

March stats:
Running:
179.84 miles (lets call it 180!)
33hrs 41 mins (that's almost a full time job for a week!)
18 runs
Ave distance 10 miles
Longest run 33 miles (D33)
Ascent 4.5k metres (almost 17k feet)
(YTD -45 miles vs last year but marginally more ascent...)

Cycling (woohoo!):
53.5 miles (39 road)
4hrs 38mins

Other:
Rock climbing 3 hours
Strength & conditioning 3 sessions (1hr 40m)
Versaclimber 3k ft (27mins)
Pilates x 2 hours

John and I dreaming of beer on our final
mile (of 27) on the Logging Way
Photo by Helen Munro

Cross-training has fallen back a little, but there have been quite a lot of work things impacting mid-week...and I've favoured the running over gym/pilates when time has been challenged.

We also managed our annual March week in the Cairngorms this month....slightly later than usual, but a fab week with good company, some good running and biking, and plenty of quality time in the Mountain Café and Cairngorm Hotel!  There just wasn't enough time to do everything...as usual!

Possibly the best house we've stayed at in Aviemore and definitely one for a repeat visit!

Really need to up my focus now...the Fling is only 4 weeks away...and the Great Glen is a big undertaking I shouldn't under-estimate!

Cori at Cairngorm after a 9 mile shuffle

Green Lochan



Burnside House

Speyside Way at Dalfaber

Relentless forward motion

Crossing the finish line on my 3rd D33....."I am not f***ing doing this race again.  Ever."

I think I mean it this time.  Although the stubborn streak in me still strives to find that feeling I had from my first, when I paced well and passed several people on the return leg.  This year was an entirely different ball game, and I wasn't feeling the love from about the first 10 miles onwards.  And when you still have another 23 miles to run, that doesn't make for a great day out!


Photo by Keith Ainslie



Start - picture by Brianbat photography

Once again, the organisation was faultless - easy registration (even with me having looked at a previous year's email for my race number!), short queues at the portaloos, great beer and medal and the benefit of Clark coming for the journey, made for an easy drop off at Duthie Park (the wonderful car park marshals let us do a drive through on the promise Clark left swiftly thereafter!)

I arrived in good time to gather my thoughts, some hugs, wonder why I was there, and an obligatory selfie with Mr Ainslie.....

And before long, we were off.  I've no idea what was said in the race briefing as I couldn't hear it, so hopefully there was nothing I didn't expect.

The concept is simple, follow the Deeside way for 16.5 miles towards Banchory (and for someone who does analysis for a living you'd wonder why I spent the first 15 miles of the race believing half-way was 18 miles), turn round at the checkpoint/feed station and come back.  No frills, no nonsense, no moaning (well....maybe not that....).

I started too fast, as usual.  Just trotting along trying to find a wee bit of space in those first few miles, and the pace felt ok.  Randomly the idea of running 9.5 minute miles throughout was in my head.  No reason, just a number.  And not a pace I run very often, so clearly a bonkers idea.

I tucked in behind a couple of girls for a good few miles, until one of them dropped back, and I got chatting to the other, who turned out to be Sharon Hassan and we had a good blether for a few miles.

At about mile 5 a chap in front deliberately chucked away a gel wrapper into the grass verge...grrrrr.....he had headphones in and was a little too far away to shout at....he clearly knew what he was doing and I made it my mission to hunt him down.  It took me a couple of miles, and when I challenged him about who he expected to pick up his rubbish, and his inability to understand the race rules (and common decency for that matter), I got a cheeky retort from him.  This really got on my goat and I could feel my heart racing with rage for several miles thereafter.  The only plus side was I pushed on a bit and he didn't get past me again.  And yes, I complained about him at the end, so hopefully someone else had 'a word' with him!

Photo by Fiona Rennie

The rest of the race passed in a struggly kind of way.  I caught up with Fiona Rennie and tried to keep up with her pace for a while (I'm sure she said she was aiming for 6 hours, which was slower than I was hoping for, so I had thought I should be finding things easier...however, Fiona must have blasted that!)


Photo by Chen

At half way (where my drop bag had the wrong number as I'd packed it before finding out I'd looked at the wrong email), I bizarrely decided that the way to overcome my misery was to down some coke, haribo, handful of jelly babies and some crisps.....cue full and protesting belly and no improvement in my energy or mood!  What on earth was wrong with all my knowledge, experience and decision making?!

One of the hardest things about the D33 is that there are no real incline/declines where I would naturally take a short walk or get some respite.  It is just on and on and you feel like a fool when you take a walk and it's flat.  That was how the second half was though.  The only saving grace was there were a few others around me who seemed to be in the same boat, and some experienced folk in that mix too.

So my slowest result for this race in the 3 year's of running, at 5hrs 50 (254/334), rewarded with a hand-crafted medal and commemorative beer (which I drank this year!), and some finish line hugs (apologies for my swearing!).

Clark had been waiting (ages) to pick me up, and sent me a suitably cheeky text about getting a shift on, otherwise I could get a train home.  So I scoffed some grapes, had some chat and hugs in the finish tent, grabbed my coat and shuffled like a broken woman down the ramp to the car park....sniffling miserably to myself.  I think I just needed a big cry!

I don't know why I'm surprised really.  I don't train flat, I don't train fast.  I don't train a lot on tarmac.  The race shouldn't work for me at all.  I think I've been 'lucky' in prior years, and maybe overthought it this year.  My trainers were also past their best (and now in the bin), and it just wasn't a good day for me.

I'm still not entering next year.  Despite it being a good distance at a good time of year.  And I guess that was the point of the wonderful race directors!

A big thank you to all those involved in the efficient operation of the event this year, from Karen and Dod directing, right through to all the volunteers who I know put a great effort in with marquees and restoring Duthie Park after the event, as well as everything else that happens in beween!

Race Website






Sad step, bad step?

Weight is such an emotive topic.  And I'm no expert.  I've been much heavier (having lost 3 stone a few years ago following Slimming World, and attending 'fat club' (my words, definitely not theirs) every week for a year or so), and lighter (when at my (self-set) target from the aforementioned club).  Now I'm somewhere in between.  Well, actually, that's not fair on myself as I'm closer to the 'lighter' end.  But I'm still not happy, and spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about my weight.  WHY?

I've started following Joe Wicks aka 'The Body Coach', as many of us did over the Christmas period.  Not really following his plan, it was just 'another' nice recipe book to drool over ever now and then, and simple, quick recipe videos as I scroll down my newsfeed on FB.

He does however, quite regularly talk about the 'sad step', in relation to why continually measuring your health and fitness goals by means of a set of bathroom scales, is detrimental to your motivation, leaving you often disappointed. View the full story here - Joe Wicks Blog

www.thebodycoach.co.uk

Deep down I know he's right - a focus on fitness and energy levels, strength and body composition, all of which lead towards being more confident, happier and greater sense of achievement, should be worth so much more than a number (or several numbers if you have fancy body composition scales like we do) on a dusty digital screen.

Yet many of us continue to do it.  I'm down to a weekly fix most weeks (a Tuesday, for all that matters).  Sometimes with a wee reality check after a particularly 'bad' day of troughing.  

The numbers are going gradually in the right direction - it's always way harder to get it off than put it on!  Weight is down about 12lbs since my Christmas indulgences, and body fat is also reducing (why do I only look at those two and not the gain in muscle? who knows).  Physically, I can see I've changed shape a little (there's far less blubber to tuck in on a daily basis now!) and I can see quite nice biceps forming (if nothing else!).  The strength training is making a difference....AND IT'S STILL ONLY MARCH!

Maybe it's a cultural thing, and the environment in which I was brought up but that negativity ticks away in my brain, and the, usually irrational, physical comparisons against those around me continue.

For fear of sounding like some sort of body obsessed junkie, I know it's time to move on.  The things I want to achieve are not measured by the sad step.  They will be measured by lifting heavy stuff, being adventurous and challenging myself, and running great trails, with great friends over great distances....to be celebrated by beer and chips if necessary!

Ramblings over.....back to some proper running blogs next time!

Glentress Marathon Review

Yesterday I ran the inaugural Glentress 42k trail marathon, organised by High Terrain Events.

While I've been to Peebles many, many times as it's where I completed my massage/sports massage qualifications, Glentress is a place I have never been....and what a treat I've been missing!

The toughest decision about entering this race was the fact it clashed with one of the fabulous Hoka Highland Fling training weekends, which are always full of good running, good people and good food.  The lure of something new, somewhere new, and the promise of 5,000ft of climb on pretty trails helped me make a decision.


Photo by Ian Garnett -
absolutely breathtaking scenery

The website promises 'several long and continuous steep slopes' along with a 'variety of forest single track, open moorland and a few short muddy sections'......what's not to love? 

There was the other risk factor of potential 'weather'....

As it turned out, the forecast was as good as anyone could hope for at this time of year.  The promise of a dry, mostly clear day, if a tad chilly (minus 6 when I arrived!), was a far better prospect than the windy, rain and snow of late!

I drove down on the morning of the race, it didn't take much longer than 1hr 15m and I was in plenty good time to register before the big queues started, and have the compulsory several bathroom visits, faff about what to wear, and which shoes, and get my post-race kit into a locker in the shower building (lovely clean and warm showers!)

Photo by Ian Garnett -
the smell of pine here was amazing

A choice of t-shirt sizes and colours (purple the winner, obviously), and a selection of 9Bars to keep hunger at bay. 

Caught up with Alan, Stan, Carol, Dawn, Audrey and many other familiar faces.  And great to see Jeni, Gayle and Karen go on to take 3 of the top 4 positions!

The 0930 start was fairly civilised, although ended up being delayed....not sure if it was a registration delay, or the toilet queues... And after a strange 'walked lap' of the bike shop to count us all, we were off....up, up, up...and up some more!  I'm pretty convinced there was far more up than there was down!

Photo by Ian Garnett -
A few snowy and icy stretches at the 'top'

The 2 lap course took in some of the black mountain bike trails, and a brilliant mix of fire roads, soft pine trails through huge forests, hairpin switchback climbs, heather tracks across the moorland, unexpected vertical yomps and a good muddy descent about 2 miles from the finish made for a varied and interesting day.  I'd estimated a 6 hour finish, for no other reason other than they had stated lap 1 cut off was 4 hours and 8 hours for the finish...  Lap 1 took me about 2hrs 47 or so, and I just had to hold on to hope I didn't slow too much on lap 2.  Mentally, doing laps is an interesting one, especially when you're learning the course and new to the hilarious climbs.  I had no doubts about going back out again, fuelled by a cup of cola and some jelly babies....even if I was just power hiking lap 2, I was getting it done!!



Photo by Ian Garnett -
hill of many bad swear words -
steeper than it looks!!

As it turned out, I actually enjoyed lap 2 more....I think not having the half-marathoners made a difference (they started 10 mins after us on our first lap, and some (not all) were very rude in grumbling about getting past on the narrower trails, and some not offering thanks even when I stopped and stepped off the trail to let them by....I was 'racing' too, don't they know??)....I guess knowing what was to come helped too.  I also think I fuelled a little better on lap 2 (including a Gu Espresso Love caffeine gel to supplement my Tailwind and jelly babies) and actually felt I was making good progress and enjoying it, with a mix of hiking, running, and sliding down the muddy descent to the finish.  Gotta love a downhill finish....that felt amazing!

A handful of supporters cheered me at the finish (no idea who they were waiting for but I was grateful of their clapping) and then I was straight into the café...bizarrely REALLY hungry, which is unusual so close to race finish.  Had a quick chat with Alan and Ian, ordered up some soup and coffee and caught up on the gossip with Dawn, Carol and Stan before a quick shower and heading home.  What a quick day it had seemed!

 

I'd highly recommend this event to everyone for next year, especially if your plan for the year involves long hilly races!  Not an easy one for early in the season, but in the conditions we had, and with a beautiful, challenging course like that, it could be a firm favourite!

 

So, a slightly lower mileage week than last week, with more climb:

35 miles, 6.2k ft

1k ft versaclimb

2 x weights sessions

 

Feb:

140 miles run, 5k metres of ascent, and over 15k calories burned off!  2 races.

7 gym sessions

5 versaclimber sessions (6k ft)

3 pilates

Fewer runs than last Feb, but way more gym time

 





I fall down...but I get up again

Another week, another fall...tarmac, flat tarmac, it's evil stuff.....and when there's a nice black icy slick, and you're taking the 'racing line' around a corner, early in the morning...that just adds to the risk factor and thump, down I go again...

On the plus side, I managed to cushion the fall with my 'good' knee this time...and the scab might heal to match the battering my 'bad' knee took last August.....well, I can but hope....

The run was going pretty well until then.  Hey ho!


Thankfully I've managed to keep running on it, I think the damage is all external, and aside from a few bruises and aches from hitting the deck hard, I think the muscles are ok.  Touch wood.


Glen Sherrup on Sunday

Not ideal prep just over a week before the Glentress Marathon which I'm doing this Saturday, but this was only ever in the plan to offer a hard, long training run.  And with 5,000ft of ascent I'm sure it will deliver.

Anyway, that was all, just a wee reminder for myself when I'm old.  Shit happens, you just get back up and get on with it.  Nothing else for it!

It's (not) all about the numbers

It's that time of year where everyone is back 'on it' and the posts on FB come thick and fast about how many miles people are putting in each week.   I'm cautious about posting exactly what I've done each session in such a public way, as I know how these posts sometimes affect me mentally, especially when I see other people churning out twice as many miles a week as I'm doing.  If people chose to read my blog or follow me on Strava, that's a slightly different thing.  In my book anyways.

Don't get me wrong, I love to see people committing to training needed for the challenges they have entered later in the year, and I'm not averse to trying to self motivating by 'checking in' when I'm at the gym.  It's important to remember though that you can, and should, do your plan, what's right for you, at whatever stage you are at.....and that you don't have to be knocking out 100 mile weeks to successfully complete even some of the most challenging ultra's (such as the West Highland Way).  I'm not an expert by any means....but I've had the pleasure of crossing that finish line on a couple of occasions (and hopefully will again in the years to come).

Anyway, that's my musing for this week.

So what have I been up to?

Last weekend I ran the Forfar Multi-terrain Half Marathon for the first time (despite having entered this race on at least 2 prior occasions but never making the start line).  Apprehensive due to a long time lack of running a half-marathon 'race' (the illuminator last year wasn't really the same), combined with a shocker of a forecast, and a wee hint of a sore throat during the week and it's fair to say I wasn't uber motivated on the day.

Photo by Helen Munro

However, with the luxury of a lift with John and Helen, and the promise of post-race cakes and soup, and a relatively civilised 11am start time, there was little room for excuses. 

The weather in the end turned out to be better in Forfar than the central belt, and the course delivered on expectations.  Leg sapping muddy paths, knee deep bogs and puddles, one big climb and all interspersed with tarmac stretches and head winds.  The sleet saved itself really until my final couple of miles, and I think I made the right shoe choice with my Salomon S-Lab Ultra's (even if they are ridiculously white at the back....or were until their first run....).

I finished in 2 hours and 9 minutes, which was better than forecast and I didn't feel like I had stinted on effort, so a good tempo run to kick off the year.

Photo by Alan Cormack's pal!

A good crowd for soup (of which there were many!) and scoff afterwards...and the obligatory post-race photo!

And so that ended a week of :
Running = 25.5 miles (2k ft of ascent)
Versaclimber = 3k ft
Pilates = 2 sessions
Strength & Conditioning = 2 times
Hike = 5 miles

This week I had low expectations....it's one of the busiest weeks at work with the annual post-Christmas insight review taking place (that's what I do...) and usually training falls apart.  I had the Glee run at Glencoe to look forward to on Saturday, and actually managed to get 3 mid-week early morning runs in.

I didn't make it to Glee - after two scary fishtail slides across the road just before Crianlarich, I turned back, and ended up in the Narnia woods at Killin/top of Glen Ogle instead.



While it didn't tick the boxes on the sociability scale at all, the snow was beautiful, the scenery mesmerising, and I got the miles done (and there was me saying it's not just about hitting a number....).  With the company of the WHW podcasts, the time passed pretty quickly (in my head at least!)

Photo by Clark Hamilton

Today I got my first real bout of challenging back-to-back weekend runs (which I do secretly love!), with a run from the house up to Sheriffmuir and back.  Blue skies and white snow made for perfect views, even if the conditions underfoot needed kahtoolas (don't be fooled by the tarmac in the first photo!)



Photo by Clark Hamilton

Tired now, and have made time for a wee granny nap this afternoon...

End of a pretty good week with:
Running = 43 miles (4.5k ft)
Pilates = 1 session

And after some updates this week from some less fortunate than those of us who are able to get out and do this stuff, I'm certainly not going to be moaning.

Here's one example David Andrew Smith.  Someone I've never met, but have huge respect for his achievements and ability to over-come challenging life events.