SuperConic

What a day the Gibbering Midget and I had on the Way on Saturday. Although it was close to freezing, the sun was shining and the views were spectacular.

We started at Croftamie and took the number seven cycle route (which I'm sure must circumnavigate the globe) on to the West Highland Way, two miles from Drymen. Over Conic hill and then back on the track by the road. A crackin' 15 mile circular route.








It's quite challenging on the ol' pins, as it's every so slightly undulating. Average 10.04 m/m which is not too shabby...considering.



Yesterday I went out for a four mile recovery and my legs felt great. Tonight I'm off to the new all-singing, all-dancing track to Scotstoun. Well, all going to plan I'll be going to the track.

'tis me again!

Hi folks. I know, it's been a while. I'm always full of great blogging intentions, but somehow get caught up the day-to-day duties of the rock 'n' roll life I lead. It's just a whirlwind of working, running, feeding, washing, tidying, cooking, cleaning..and that's just looking after Sonic. Actually it would be more accurate description to say I just go round and round picking up things, but the place doesn't get any tidier. We have decided to rename number one son HurriCAIRN. It's an evil combination of far too many Christmas toys and a mobile child. I didn't even buy the bloody duplo bricks, but I seem to spend my life picking them up.

Well, since my last post, things have somewhat improved. The snow and ice and cleared and I have managed many good runs. I didn't moan going round a track (I was glad to pick up the pace) and was delighted to get back to averaging 7.30 (ish) for my tempo runs. My calf is still giving my gip, but it's definitely on the mend.

I've had two consecutive weekend of cracking long runs. The first (Jan 16) was with Jill and three of the boys from the club. Sonic devised the route, which meant it took in every nosebleed hill in the West of Glasgow. Let's just say his ears must have been burning. Quite happy to average 8.45, even though I was a few jelly babies short of a great run.

On Sunday there, I ran on the WHW with JK Blog, Sharon and David (JK's clubmate, who has entered the Fling). Pictures curtesy (well pinched from) JK Blog. (The last one makes me laugh, as Sharon and I look like we've been caught with our hands in the cookie jar!)

All in all I had a great run. Lots of peaks and a few troughs. My calves were ok, but I managed to bash my toes to bits. Amateur mistake really, as my socks were too thick for my trail shoes.

Now that I've got boring running stuff out of the way... Cairn was one last week. Can't believe how fast the year has gone. We took him to the Edinburgh Zoo for his birthday. Trust me, there's not much to do with a small child on freezing January day.





We spent the night at the Holiday Inn (next to the zoo) so took him swimming in the morning. Sonic had been to Hampden for a fitness test recently and was told to do some aqua jogging...



... I'm sure this is a mild form of child abuse :-)

The plan

Even with the best intentions, I still have to rely on being injury free and remain at mercy to the weather. Although my intentions are honourably, the picture below would best depict my approach to training thus far.



I've had enough of shuffling about in the snow and ice. Apart from a few rural run (which have been most enjoyable), most have been on the glass pavements of the urban jungle. My calves have given up the ghost and even my jaw hurts from clenching in sub zero temperatures.

Last night I even went to the track at Kelvinhall with some (equally p*ssed off) Garscube folks. I know. Me? At a track? And, more importantly, actually enjoying it. Last time I was at the track I spat the dummy during the 20 warm-up of going round and round and round. I stomped off to the stadium seats declaring it was "f-king pish" and refused to join in until the reps. OK, not my finest moment but you get the gist of my track opinion.

I'm still working on my plans for 2010. Maybe because I waiting on the green light to start training for 2010. Here are my key races and races I would like to participate in so far...goals TBC.

February Jack Crawford 10K
March Balloch to Clydebank half marathon
April London Marathon
May 23 mile cateran trail + women's 10K
June WHW race
August Devil o the Highlands
October Himalayan 100 mile stage race

Twenty ten

'Tis upon us. Feels like five minutes ago that there was the huge hype for the Millennium, doesn't it. Now ten years on, life has changed dramatically for probably everyone reading this.

This time last year I was the size of a small house. This year, after a month of over-indulgence, I only feel like the size of a small house.

2009 was a great year. The highlight (of my whole life actually) was the birth of my beautiful son.

Here's my year in pictures...

(Cairn was born on January 21, 2009)
(posing for his thank you card picture)

(posing for Valentine's card)



(First family holiday - Center Parcs April 09)

(Highland Fling April 09)

(Cairn supporting at the Fling)

(First post-Cairn race - Glasgow Women's 10 May 09)

(The baby jogger debut)

(Sonic receiving finishers goblet from the legend)

(Sonic and the superfast gibbering midget after the race)

(Family holiday part deux - to Rome - in June)

(Cairn in Rome)

(Cairn with his own finishers "goblet" for being the youngest embryo to finish the WHWR)

(cairn's first attempt at sitting)

(August 09 - Second lady in Devil o' The Highlands)



(Sept - Mount Toubkal trek in Morocco)


Happy Halloween - Oct 09
Nursery picture Nov 09
Merry Christmas Dec 09

Ice Road Runners

Forget Ice Road Truckers, I'm not sure I will be able to walk on "dry" land anymore. I've forgotten what pavements look like.

Anyway, I did it. I completed the Marcothon and ran everyday in December. My shortest run was 3.5 miles and my longest 25 miles. My calves are in tatters, but apart from the obvious terrain constraints, I've felt pretty good.

Today, I ran with Sonic, Athole and Sharon on a 12 mile circular route from Strathblane on to the Way Highland Way and back via Killearn. It was definitely the highlight of my running month. The piece de resistance of what has certainly been a challenge. The initial inclines on sheets of ice were a struggle, but after that it was amazing.




Well done to everyone else who completed the Marcothon - Fiona, Pauline, Anita, Euan, Mark, Karin...and I suppose I better mention the founder, Marco. Anyone else I've missed?

Here are some pictures of Cairn sledging with Mama Sonic.




Happy New Year everyone! If you see/speak to sharon, be sure to say "all the best when it comes, darling" It's her favourite saying :-)

Belated Christmas wishes

Obviously I haven't had time to blog about running, because I've been too bloody busy running! That's 28 days on the trot. I've lost count of how many of them have been skiting on ice of trudging through snow. I'm all for a white Christmas, but I'm kind of over it now. I don't think I've run faster than a 9m/m in what seems like weeks. I think it's more mental training than physical. Every day I tell myself to wear my fell shoes on the next run. Every day the conditions get worse and I still go out in my road shoes.

Today I had first-hand experience of Karma when I chuckled at a young ned landing on his a*se at the foot of the Squiggley bridge. 20 seconds later I did the exact same thing. Same spot, same graceful landing.

Seems like the majority of Marcothon recruits are still on track. Well done, folks. Not long to go now. Keith - Dave's going to send you a lovely second-hand blouse :-) That's Karma.

Here are few shots of the Garscube Harriers' Santa Race. It's handicapped, so I used the Baby Jogger sob story to go off from scratch. Bev (the winner) also went off at the same time. I must have looked quite comical watching an elf with a buggy chasing another elf through the streets of Bearsden. The best elf won on the day. Well done, Bev. Cairn and I came second. I'll need to come up with a better excuse for next year...eh, baby Santa is heavier... :-)




(Bev the winner!!)
(Cairn - mortified by his parents)

Day 17 and still on track...just!

The founder of the Marcothon assured me that after two weeks I would feel "fit and light". Well yesterday, I felt like I was riddled with injuries and my nose was running faster than my legs. OK, slight exaggeration. The said founder knows I am prone to slight exaggeration on this blog. Poetic license I think. I do have niggles in my left calve and shin. Mainly because I made the mistake of mentioning a few weeks ago that I never get lower leg problems, it's always my thighs and hips. I have, however, had a cold and sore throat for over a week now. The said founder claims to have been struck the same virus - although he seems to be symptomless. You go figure.

So day 17 of consecutive days running. Well 18, but the one in November doesn't count. There have been many days when I've wanted to chuck the challenge. Possibly in the region of, er, 17. Fitting in a daily run along with the duties of a full-time working Mum trying to get organised for Christmas, has been a challenge. Last night when I sat down to my dinner at 9.30pm, I honestly thought I was hanging together with a very fine thread. Thank heavens for wine. Which brings me on nicely to a comical e-funny I received from Mrs MacPirate.



And to quickly summarise some running:

This week I've been taking it a bit easier, as the last two weeks have been relatively high mileage (over 55 miles)

Saturday: WHW - Milngavie-Drymen-Milngavie 24 mins in 3:52
Sunday: 3.5 miles easy
Monday: 3.5 miles easy
Tuesday: 8 mile tempo (7:49)
Wednesday: 3.5 miles steady
Thursday:7 mile tempo (ave 7:47)

Tomorrow I need to get up before the larks to fit in my run before the day begins. It's my office lunchtime Christmas quiz tomorrow, which will involve a few refreshments. Sonic asked me why I just don't drink, so I can do my run at night. Ha ha. Cue the cartoon strip above.

'Tis the season

Scottish Advent Calendar



Great gadget gift for runners (according to Runner's World gift guide)



Solar-powered baseball cap, £9.99: The piece of kit you never knew you needed. Perfect for running under the harsh summer sun, this cap has a solar panel on top, which runs the fan integrated into the peak - so the more the sun shines, the faster the fan turns to keep you cool. www.nigelsecostore.com

I could match this with a WHW buff, compression tights, arm warmers and go for a wee stint with the Baby Jogger round the Balloch Horseshoe. Bob's your straight-jacket :-)

High five for day five

Still on track for "The Marco Challenge" of running every day in December. As previously mentioned, I'm following Marco's November task of running at least three miles (or 25 mins) every day. In hindsight we should have called in the Marcothon - minimum of 2.62 miles or 26.2 mins. Maybe that could be January's challenge. Although I fully intend on sitting with my feet up on New Year's Day. But don't quote me on that.

Seems like there's quite a following. So far there's Sharon, Anita, Keith, Fiona, Pauline, Andy L, Karin, Deb C, Ailsa, Mark, Euan, and - obviously - Marco and I. Is there anyone I've missed?

So, this week:

Monday: Recovery run round Balloch (This doesn't count as it was still November)
Tuesday: 8 mile southside tempo run (ave 7.48)
Wednesday: 5.5 with warm up and 10 x one minute intervals
Thursday: 5.9 mile club run (ave 8.07)
Friday: 5 mile strides in Glasgow Green
Saturday: 18.5 Home to Balmaha - via WHW (ave 10.26)

Today I ran from home to Balmaha - over the Balloch horseshoe and onto to West Highland Way - with Sharon. I'm loving running with her every weekend of late. We're a really good pace for each other - and we gibber like budgies all the way round. As you can by the elevation chart below, it's tad hilly. Quite pleased to average 10.26 m/m over the 18.5m route.



Maybe it's the oxygen to the brain, but the Sharon-isms are starting to surpass the Marco-isms. To set the scene, Sharon suffers from excruciating painful hands in the cold. She hasn't been diagnosed with Raynard's, but she's as good as. Who would run with gloves in the height of summer? Granted it's not exactly tropical, but you get my drift. Anyway her new theory (passed on from another) is that it could be driving on bumpy roads that has affected the nerves on tips on her fingers. Apparently it's quite common with workers using drills and diggers. Her words "the tips are destroyed with overuse of vibrating tools". When I suggested that might be something she keeps to herself, it took a wee while for the penny to drop :-)

Are you a Marco or a mouse?

I'm going to take The Marco Challenge and run every day in December. Not sure why, as it wasn't even a wine-fuelled decision. Marco (that's his real name, in case any readers think my husband's name is actually Sonic!) has informed me that the only rule is that the distance/time must be at least three miles or 25 minutes.

Anyone care to join me? It's not a competition. Just a personal challenge. Or an incentive to burn off a few mince pies. So far I two recruits: One willing (Anita) and one not-so-willing (Euan).

So today I did an eight mile tempo at lunchtime (ave 7.49). That's one day down, 30 to go. I think hogmanay has a new-found appeal. Next rest day? Next year.