Epic New Garmin, Epic Garmin Fail, and Epic IQ Fail

As a Christmas gift from Kata I received the Garmin Forerunner 620 !!!!  It's an amazing gift and I am very, very happy with it.  Compared to the Forerunner 310xt that I have been using since I replaced my Forerunner 10 it is so light and looks very modern and is just generally awesome.  It comes highly recommended by everyone that knows anything about running watches, it made the Runners World "Gear of the Year" list, and some of the functions are mind boggling.  I can't wait to get up to speed (literally and figuratively).

Unfortunately, on Christmas day, keen to play with my new toy, I suffered a technology fail and for the first time since I started The Most Runningist Year Ever I didn't record my run on a Garmin!  I was gutted.  Basically I didn't know how to use my new watch.  I took it out for a walk in the woods, tested it, then uploaded it to Garmin Connect and so I was confident that it worked.  Unfortunately when I took it out on my run later and tried to upload the run, it wasn't in my History.  Oh no!  There were very nearly tears!  For the purpose of recording my runs I have used the very same run that I did on the 26th December on my log, 5.1km.  Suffering a Garmin failure was bound to happen at some point but to get over 200 days in then have a day missing (Christmas day of all days) is very disappointing.  Ah well, I've used the new watch since then and it works great.  I am certain the problem was with me and not with the watch.

In other news, everyone here in Kata's house is now sick with suspected and/or diagnosed bronchitis.  As I type, Kata and her sister are both in their beds coughing their guts up.  Kata was in a terrible state two nights ago so we went to the doctor yesterday.  He checked her out and diagnosed bronchitis and prescribed medicine to help.  I had similar symptoms so without even looking at me, he said that I probably have the same.  Now.....I have Googled "Running With Bronchitis" and I have since decided to believe I have not got bronchitis as surely only a total idiot would run with bronchitis?  But run I did.  My running run runs on but I think my IQ may have dropped several points.

Wrapped up against the elements, (sub zero temperatures and possible bronchitis) I ran my run.  Ones mind goes to strange places sometimes during a run and today it occurred to me that as well as looking a total fool, I was wearing a motley assortment of gear.

Mis-matched

Runners's Rule Book - Rule 3.9
If you head out for a run and you notice that your cap, watch, shirt, shorts, socks and shoes are all from the same manufacturer, head right back in and change at least one of the above.  

I think I am OK;

Hat:  Asics
Scarf:  Buff
Gillet:  OMM
Jacket:  Ronhill
Armband:  Adidas
Top:  Icebreaker
Gloves:  Hilly
Shorts:  Nike
Tights:  Adidas (again)
Socks:  Hilly (again)
Trainers: Saucony

On the other hand, I've just noticed that my iPhone, earphones, and new Garmin all match.  This is possibly not that cool.  Sounds like justification for a new iPhone if ever there was one!

Feeling blue

Merry Christmas and Boldog Karacsonyt!

I'm in Hungary for Christmas with Kata's family. I've managed 2 runs already in her home village of Nemesvamos and tomorrow I plan to run to the nearest town, Veszprem which will be a 10km out and back. 

Merry Christmas everyone!  

Nemesvamos 

Back to Where It All Began

One very hot June day in Budapest, I vocalised to Kata and Rachel an idea that I'd had for running every day.  Someone said, "was yesterday your first day then?".  Yesterday had been a run around Margaret Island in the middle of The Danube running through Budapest.  Well I am back in Budapest for Christmas (well, passing through Budapest, we are going to Nemesvamos for Christmas) and I find myself back where it all began, running around Margaret Island again with Kata.  

Taken at about 11am on a beautiful sunny morning (honestly)

Here's the view when I turn around and not shooting straight into the sun

Margaret Island could not be more perfect for running if they had built it for runners.  No wait, they have!  There is literally one lane of a running track all the way around the island marked out with 1km markers for the 5km loop.  It's amazing.  The surface is perfectly accommodating on sore ankles such as mine and the distance is perfect for one or two loops depending on how you feel.  Maybe I should finish with a run here on Day 365 to bookend the challenge?  Hmmmm.....interesting idea.  

Who's got two thumbs and loves running in Budapest?  That guy!   (Edge of Margaret Island on his right)

Kata's failed attempt to appear to be holding up the parliament is the fault of the photographer

Not An Awful Lot Happening, But I Took a Nice Picture

Running has been a bit dull and joyless in December.  I am injured for the longest time since I started, I can't run through the sore ankle, and I have had a cold for 2 weeks.  Marcothon is uninspiring and if anything is I believe having a negative effect on my running.  Possibly because I'm injured, and possible compounded by this minimum 5km thing of Marathon, I am on track to record the lowest mileage of any month since I started Most Runningist.  Moving home probably didn't help either!  The only positive thing is that despite everything I am still running every day.  With my common cold, the terrible weather, and the ankle injury, I probably wouldn't have been out at all this month if it wasn't for the fact that I have to!  Fair to say that December has been the low point thus far and I hope that when I look back on this challenge when I finished, that it remains that way.  

When I run I feel unfit.  I struggle for breath, for speed, and my body hurts.  I suppose it's my cold and I need to make allowances.  I am hoping that I'll be over the cold in the New Year and I an start to concentrate on the spring races and setting some targets for myself to beat my PBs.  I am also thinking about a 10km minimum again for February (only 28 days) but I am not sure.  10ktober was tough. 

Inverleith Park is on my Doorstep.  I am Lucky.

One morning though I did go out in the freezing cold and limped around the Marathon friendly 5km circuit around Inverleith Park.  I stopped momentarily to take the above photo of the half frozen duck pond.   Once again I am reminded how lucky I am to live and run in such a beautiful city.  

Here's the latest log.  I am on Day 201 of Most Runningist Year Ever, Day 23 of Marcothon, and despite everything the running run runs on.  

London Calling

Last week I was in London for 3 days through work.  It gave me the opportunity to mix up my regular running routes by running in a completely different city!  Unfortunately my location near Tower Bridge didn’t lend itself to the best routes – it’s a pity I wasn’t close to any of the big parks.  Each time, I ran across Tower Bridge, along the Thames to Monument, passed by The Tower of London and back across the bridge.  It was a decent 5km route to keep Marcothon going.  Running in London was notable for the following highlights (lowlights?);

·         It was utterly freezing!  I mean seriously.  For some reason I assumed it’d be warmer in London than in Edinburgh. I was wrong to assume this.  There were a lot of runners, I was the only one in shorts.  Fortunately I’d packed my windproof top so tat afforded some top half warmth, but my legs and fingers were frozen.  

·         London is busy.  The first day I ran in the evening and it was just chaos.  I couldn’t get running at all really for all the people.  The next two days I ran in the morning and that was a bit better.  The route along the river was up and down stairs too which wasn’t ideal.  I didn’t break any speed records I suppose is what I’m saying.  The best part was when a woman (a grown woman) was roller-skating on the pavement at rush hour while texting.  I am not making this up.  She nearly ran (skated) into me and I had to stop dead in front of her because I basically didn’t want to be moving towards her when the collision happened.  I was and still am stunned by this.  When she saw me 2ft in front of her she looked surprised.  She was a good roller-skater though because she weaved around me in a very tight space t very short notice. 

·         There are a lot of roads in London.  There is a lot of traffic on these roads.  Crossing roads takes time.  Jogging in London is very stop, start.  

The Tower of London

Tower Bridge

The Square Mile

The Tower of London Again

It wasn’t particularly enjoyable due to the business, the rubbish route, the freezing cold, and my sore ankle.  

London.  Nice place to visit, wouldn’t want to live there.  Next time I am picking my hotel based not on it’s proximity to my office, but it’s proximity to a big park.  

Wooooaaahh, we're half way there, woooaaaahh, my ankle's in disrepair...

….but we’ll make it I swear, wooaahh, despite the wear and tear.  

That’s quite enough of that.  I can’t stand Bon Jovi, the ridiculous, hair-rock, no talent, ass clown.  

I haven’t been updating the blog recently mostly on account of the fact that Kata and I moved home this week and it is utter chaos.  We are living out of boxes and I only got internet connected yesterday.  So that means there is a lot to update on.  Firstly, as per the title of this blog entry, I am now halfway through The Most Runningist Year Ever.    That milestone (day 183) was reached on Friday.  It passed without ceremony unfortunately.  The plan was to run to the pub at lunch time and celebrate with a pint, but through some people being too sick to run, others saving tem self for a big race on Saturday, and some forgotten P.E. kit, it was abandoned.  Instead I  went for a 5km run around Inverleith Park after work and  in the dark.  Ah well, never mind, no matter.  I feel a bit sad actually that I am now closer to the end than I am to the beginning.  I know that the entire point of a challenge is to complete it, but I don’t want it to be over.  It feels like no time at all since I started and I’ve loved it.  Sure, there have been bad runs, but there have been great runs too.  There are now no more significant milestones until the end.      

Also as per the title of this blog entry, I have a sore ankle that I can’t run through.  I am now into week 3 of sore ankle.  I’ve just been manning up and running through it, but it’s not going away.  I need to ice it and elevate it and I will try to do that.  I bought a new pair of shoes at the weekend because my Mizuno shoes are in a really bad way.  The heel in particular is worn away to nothing.  It’s possible that the worn shoes are either causing or at least not helping the sore ankle so fingers crossed my new shoes help.  I went for a gait analysis at Run4It and they suggested a neutral shoe like the Mizuno, but not the Mizuno, so I now have a pair of bright orange Saucony Ride 7.  I’ve been out for one run in them so far and they seemed good.  Bouncy.  But maybe anything will seem bouncy after the worn out pair I’ve been wearing for so long.  I am sorry to see those shoes go, I achieved all my PBs in them, but they have to go.  Hopefully I’ll break a few PBs in my new, orange shoes.  

"Orange Citrus" apparently

http://www.runningshoesguru.com/2014/08/saucony-ride-7-review/

Finally, I didn’t get through to the next stage of the Asics Target 26.2 Challenge.  Apparently as a first timer, I was too similar to the runners in the sub 3:30 group.  Essentially my story wasn’t interesting enough.  As a magazine, the story of “Decent Runner Gets a Bit Better” wasn’t good copy so I’m out.  That’s fine, but it’s amazing how quickly I turned!  From just being happy to be through to the boot camp (top 47 out of nearly 3000) and grateful from the experience, I now feel a bit bitter.  All logic is against this, there is no reason to feel bitter, but I do.  I do feel inspired now to be the best runner I can be not just for myself, but to prove something to others.  Again, illogical, (Runners World and Asics don’t care about me) but that’s how I feel.  

Marcothon is going well.  On day 7 now and I’ve ran 5km every day.  Mention for Abby who in order to keep up with Marcothon, went out for a run at quarter to midnight one day!  That’s dedication. 

Moorfoot XC and Marcothon

Yesterday (Sunday) a bunch of us ran the Moorfoot XC.  the Moorfoot XC is in Peebles, confusingly. Running buddy and recent pub quiz buddy Brian gave us a lift to Peebles, and as we drove in Kata and I remembered that a couple of years ago Kata ran this race while I held the bags!  Well here we are two years later and we are both running it.  It was more trail than Gala XC but a lot harder than Lauder XC.  In fact I think this goes down as one of the hardest races ever.

I got off to a really slow start and was wheezing badly.  The race started with a lap of the sports field which included a scramble up a slippy mud slope.  Running downhill out of the field, the pack was still very tight.  I knuckled down, pushed on, and once we got on to flat I managed to pull away, catch my breath, and get into my stride.  The first section was on a beautiful river path and when I managed to lift my head up away from checking where my feet were going, the view of the crisp autumnal morning by the river was stunning.  I have to admit it beats the view of most city road races - I can see how people could get into this.  The trail snaked back on itself, crossed a bridge and it was heartening to see so many runners behind me given my bad start.  There were two HBT runners ahead of me and I made it my aim to pass them.  First up was Andrew who is a great runner but just returning from injury.  Showing no compassion I passed him uphill through a wood.  There's no way I'd catch him under normal circumstances but he is just getting back into it and I think taking it easy.  Once I was passed him I didn't think there was much prospect of him catching me so I made Mairead my next target.  She was easy to spot as apparently she is something called a "Golden Trotter" for the year and so is wearing the mankiest, most ridiculous vest held together with pins and tape that's possible to imagine.  I honestly never though I'd catch Mairead but fortunately (for me) I managed to catch her on a really long steep uphill that required some walking.  I made a big effort and managed to get by her.  I say "managed to get by her" but I waved and said, "Hi Mairead" as I passed and she said "Hello".  It was all very civil and I am not sure she knew we were racing!

Kata's jump is many orders of magnitude better than mine

The big hill was murder and to make matters worse, after a short downhill, we had to do a lap of an awful field then run part the way back up the hill again!  I'll be seeing that cursed field in my nightmares for weeks.  As I left the field though, I saw Kata about half way down the first side, so not too far behind me.

The final section was a woodland trail and as we ran back into the area where spectators were, I heard some Trotters shout, "Come on Steve" followed almost immediately by "Well done Mairead"which made me think, "JINGS!  Must run faster".  So I summoned whatever I had and pushed on to the end.  I am happy with how the race went and I really enjoy it.  I lost a lot of places (maybe 10 or 12) on the uphill field section because the path most worn was narrow and I had no energy to take a wide path and boost, so I had to stay in line behind the runner in front of me.  Results are in and I finished 94th out of 198 in 34:29.  

Even her standing is better than mine

Well done to Moorfoot Running Club for a well organised and beautiful race.

Oh yeah, and apparently some dude called Marco invented a Marcothon which is running 5km every day for a month.  Ha!  Only 5km?!  Pfft!  Weakling.  I accept his challenge.  Kata and I and a few thousand other people will be running 5km every day in December.

End of November

November has been the Least Runningist Month Ever of the Most Runningist Year Ever.  I logged only 173km this month.  I'll put it down to a hangover from 10ktober and there being no long races this month.  Here are the totally mediocre stats....

Count:	34 Activities
Distance:	173.13 km
Time:	13:51:15 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:	1,633 m
Calories:	14,671 C
Avg Time:	24:27 h:m:s
Avg Distance:	5.09 km

Asics Target 26.2 Bootcamp

On Friday I had the very good fortune to attend the Runner's World Asics Target 26.2 Boot Camp.  Of over 2,600 applicants, 53 were chosen to attend the first stage of the selection process, the boot camp held At Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.  It was a fantastic experience and a real privilege to attend.  Whether or not I make it to the next stage of the selection process or even through to the final 5 who will run the Paris Marathon, I am really glad that I entered and was able to experience this.  This blog update is a diary of the day.

Thursday 27th November - 18:15
I left the flat and walked to Waverley Station to get my train to Birmingham.  I left myself plenty of time to arrive at the station, collect my tickets, and get my very important pre-bootcamp meal from Marks & Spencer.  The train left on time at 18:52 and off I went to Birmingham New St.  The journey was uneventful which is the best you can hope for and I arrived in Birmingham on time.  Thank you Virgin Trains!

This is not just fuel for boot camp.  This is M&S fuel for boot camp.  

On time

Once I arrived in Birmingham I walked to my hotel which was actually a hostel.  Shouldn't complain, it cost £16, but I learned that a hostel in Birmingham city centre is quite different from a hostel in the Scottish Highlands - not sure I'd stay in one again to save some pennies.  I slept fine though and even though I was up and away too early for breakfast (included in the £16!) I arrived at New St again in time to get breakfast at the train station - coffee and bircher muesli, the breakfast of champions.  

Fuel

Friday 28th November

From New Street I caught the train to Perry Barr which was a short 12 minute journey, I then walked from Perry Barr to the Alexander Stadium which was a 20 minute walk along a dual carriage way.  Not an enjoyable walk but i found the stadium easily enough and arrived in plenty of time for registration and to have my head shot.  Yes, my head shot.  Shortly after arriving and collecting my boot camp t-shirt (awesome) I had my photo taken so as presumably the good readers of Runner's World will be able to see who they are voting for should I get that far in the process.  I hope it doesn't put them off!  It might also have been for the benefit of the Target 26.2 team from Asics and Runner's World as an aid to remember who Number 45 was - I hope it doesn't put them off!  

You're welcome.  Glad to be here. 

First order of the day was a welcome meeting and a presentation and video showing last year's winners and their day at the Paris marathon.  It was at this point that I decided I really wanted to win. It looked like a fabulous day and each of the runners obviously had a brilliant time and achieved an awful lot.  The prize at stake is incredible and this video served to remind us of that.  All of a sudden I felt competitive.  

Exciting!

10am - Physio

I was signed to Group 2, the sub 3:30 marathon runners.  The first main part of the day for our group was a physio session with Sarah Connors.  Sarah talked us through a presentation which focussed on injury prevention and strength.  It was interesting and I will take away from this the importance that posture plays in running.  I also learned that your trainers should last about 200 miles which of me is about 6 weeks!  I will be keeping this advice in mind but perhaps not applying it rigidly!  Rules are for the guidance of the wise and are blindly followed by fools.  :-D  My trainers did cause some amusement within the group though due the wear on their soles, and someone did suggest that wouldn't need to run for the fair analysis later in the day, I could just show them my trainers.  Fair point.  I think I need new trainers - more on that at the gait analysis section. 

11:15 - Track Session

Next up was probably the highlight of the day for me.  We were lucky enough that Group 2 had bene allocated the before lunch slot for the track session with coaches Sam Murphy and Steve Smythe.  Too much to go not in great detail but essentially it was all about pacing.  As the 3:30 group we had to pace ourselves to run an 8 minute mile which is how fast we'd be expected to run the marathon.  We ran a mile 3 times, once with updates on our pace given at the end of each lap, once with an update half way through, and a final time with no guidance whatsoever.  I finished the no guidance whatsoever mile bang on time so that's encouraging.  We also had to run 5km at a good pace and keep consistent.  Although speed was part of it, the main thing was to complete every 1km in about the same time, so no setting off fast and finishing slowly.  I think I did OK.  My first 1km was too fast but the other 4 were pretty consistent and I finished in 21:07 which is not too bad.  Despite everyone in the team being in direct competition, there was a lot of help and encouragement shared.  If someone was going too fast, others would let them know.  It was really nice.  We had an opportunity to speak with Sam and Steve afterwards and ask advice about training which was really helpful.  

Most Runningist Track Ever

Trackside selfie

The 5km run also gave me the opportunity to keep my running streak going and it was certainly one of the more notable runs so far.  

13:15 - Q& A with Holly Rush

Holly Rush is an elite runner with a marathon PB of an amazing 2:37.  She now concentrates mostly on ultra running and has excelled at that too.  Next up was an incredible opportunity to ask her whatever we liked.  I learned a lot about psychological techniques, nutrition, training regimes, tactics, and the need or no need to stretch (advised but can be done anytime and doesn't have to be after a run).  Holly was really nice, really helpful, and it was a privilege to get such access to an elite like her.  It was also really useful to hear the experiences of some of the other runners in the group.  We all share the same problems and challenges, even Holly, the only difference is that she runs faster than us.  Brilliant - thanks, Holly.  

14:30 - Gait Analysis with Asics

Final part of the day was the gait analysis.  This was an ideal end of the day as because only one person could have their gait analysed at one time, it allowed me time to catch up with the other members of my group and to share our experiences of the day.  I held court for a bit when my running every day for a year was mentioned.  A lot of people were really interested and asked questions and encouraged me which was really nice.  Oh yeah, and the results of my gait analysis are in and I need more support - my right foot collapses under me.  If I win the competition I will sort myself out with a supportive pair of Asics trainers.  Might do it anyway even if I don't.  Sorry Mizuno, but brand loyalty is being severely challenged by the awesomeness and kindness of the good people at Asics.

Analysing my gait like a boss

So all that was left was to say our goodbyes, collect our amazing goody bags full of cool stuff in a cool holdall (thank you Asics), and to take the train home to Edinburgh.  A very short visit to Birmingham but a very full day and one that I'll remember for a long time.  

Now, back to Earth, and the running streak runs on.  

Team 2.  Splendid bunch of people.  

#asics262

xciting news.  I have been selected to take part in the Runners World TargetAsics262 boot camp this Friday!  This is Runner’s World competition sponsored by Asics where a team of 5 runners will run the Paris Marathon in April and have their progress during training etc followed and reported by Runner’s World.  The first step to selecting the 5 runners is a boot camp attended by 50 hopefuls. 

The boot camp is in Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium and will be a fantastic opportunity to be trained and coached by elite coaches and physios.  I obviously really want to make the final 5, but even getting as far as this boot camp is fantastic and really exciting.  

To get this far I just had to enter online and explain why I run and what I think I could bring to the team.  Here’s why I said I run…

I have set myself the challenge of running every day for 365 days (minimum 3km per day).  When it got boring I set myself the sub-challenge of running 10km every day in October.  I called it 10ktober.  I have a blog to record my challenge http://mostrunningist.blogspot.co.uk/

I have been told by a few people that my challenge is inspiring.  I run now because I told people that I was going to do this and I don't want to make myself a liar or let myself down.  I want to finish this challenge, continue to be inspirational, and be proud of myself.  I want to join this team to add something new to my story.  I want to share my experience and share in the experience of others.  I can bring enthusiasm and motivation to the team and hope to be pushed on to better things by better runners.  

I’m in Group 2 and here’s how the day will go….

This Most Runningist Year Ever has opened up very exciting opportunities for me and so far this is the highlight.  Deciding to undertake this challenge has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.   If selected I will be given a training plan to follow and I’ll need to make that work with the running streak.  I don’t want to sacrifice what I have achieved so far.  If selected I will be heavily involved in social media and I will be doing #asiscs262 all over the place.  Here’s my first…

#asics262

    

Chase The Bride

On Saturday Rachel got married to Hector.  Not only is Rachel a great runner, a Trotter, and all round good girl, she is also a founding Most Runningist Year Ever committee member!  So on the morning that Edinburgh's most runningist couple got married, they arranged a race up and around Arthur's Seat.  The principle was fun, Rachel dressed in a "wedding dress", got a head start, and her friends ran after her.  The practice was very serious - it was a very tough route and a tough run up the Radical Road then straight up Arthur's Seat.  It was a good route for hill training though and I'll probably try it myself at a later date.  

Chase The Bride was Day 170 of consecutive running.  Here's the latest log.

Miss Smirthwaite and friends

The wedding ceremony was great.  Very personal (Rachel and Hector were married by Rachel's mum) in a beautiful church.  After the ceremony a few of us headed over to Summerhall for food and drink before joining the wedding reception later.  The reception was a great laugh but unfortunately I had to retire early and not because I had drank too much!  Annoyingly I hadn't been feeling well all day (felt flu-like, sore bones, and weak like a kitten) and I should have gone to be a lot sooner but I wanted to be there.  I remember giving in when I was standing in a circle talking with a group and I felt like I just couldn't support my weight anymore and had to sit down. 

Mrs Haines and friends

So an early finish for me but a great and full day none the less.  Big congratulations to Mr and Mrs Haines and best of luck for a long and happy future together.

Gala XC

On Sunday I ran the Gala XC race.  When I imagined cross country running in the past, this is what I imagined it would be like!  If I was to sum up the race in one word, that word would be “muddy”.  

We started on a narrow forest trail that climbed slightly uphill.  There are few things in running worse than starting with an uphill.  It shocks your body into almost immediate capitulation.  At this time you really need to use the mental strength exercises to beat your legs and lungs into submission and to force them on.  We ran on into some fields on a hillside and wound our way gradually upwards.  In places the field was a quagmire, especially near walls where the rain had been halted on it’s way down the hill.  And of course the course ran alongside all the walls as they were good route markers! 

I passed quite a lot of people on this section of the race.  At some point during the last six months I seem to have become accidentally decent at running uphill!  Just think if I actually trained for it.  I had seen Sinead from HBT pretty much the whole race up until  this point, she was always about 5 runners ahead of me.  I used her  (sorry Sinead) as a target and tried to keep her in sight and eventually to catch up with her.  I passed her on this hill/field section.  She caught me again shorty afterwards as I crossed the first style, and when I got to the bottom of the hill I looked over my shoulder and she was right behind me.  I have trained in a group with Sinead before and I know that she is in the same kind of ball park  as me so I made it my target for the race to keep her behind me.  Worth noting at this point that on one steep(ish) section of the uphill field, I felt sick.  I was pushing hard and I really felt like I might lose my breakfast.  I didn’t.  I just manned up and got on with it knowing that the downhill was coming soon.    

The race had two styles.  The second one caused a big bottle neck and some runners decided that instead of waiting, to risk the barbed wire fence instead.  I conducted a quick risk analysis and concluded that as ripped shorts was only the SECOND worst thing that could happen to me on the barbed wire fence, that I would wait my turn on the style.  

 Apparently you were supposed to keep your number for the whole series.  Didn't.  Made my own.  

There were also two streams.   In the pre-race briefing we were told that the water feature was quite deep.  We weren’t told that there were two water features so when I forded the first stream I thought, “that wasn’t too bad”.  It was ankle deep and despite my now soaking wet and cold feet, I thought I had got off lightly.  I was mistaken.  The actual water feature was indeed quite deep and we had to climb down into it due to the steepness of the bank.  It was just below my knees and I couldn’t see the bottom.  Leaving the stream there was no rest for the wicked and it was straight uphill again.

The steepest hill was in a wooded section.  It was short but really steep.  I think most people walked it but I ran it.  I passed two runners in front of me who stopped.  I almost ran into the back of one of them and I think I might have tutted.  Sorry that guy – didn’t mean it.  When I passed them going uphill, it was at this point that I believed I was going to finish ahead of Sinead.  It was the first time since I passed her ages ago that I had someone between me and her.  

There were two points I nearly lost my footing, once I stood on top of a tree root and the slippy, moss covered surface didn’t go well with my studs.  The other time was a sharp ninety degree bend on a boardwalk where again my studs were like ice skates.  I saw this one coming though and slowed to a near walk for that turn – I learned my lesson at the Dunbar 10 mile race!  

This photo doesn't do justice to just how muddy my legs were.  They were REALLY muddy.  

It was a really tough race and I left nothing out there.  One of the marshals told me that I had only 200m to go, but I had nothing left to push on.  I think I increased the pace very slightly or maybe even just didn’t slow down any further, but I had no energy left for a sprint – and I tried.  As it would turn out, about 100m later the next marshal would tell me that I had only 200m to go!!!

It's a strange thing for grownups to do, run cross country.  Seems a bit childish really :-D

Jogging to the Moon, Let Me Run Amongst the Stars

The Running Bug have challenged  their members to collectively run to the moon in 7 weeks.  That’s a distance of 238,855 miles or 384,400 kilometers.  

Well I’m running anyway so why not join in?  They don’t say how long we’ve been given to run back from the moon, or indeed if we ARE running back.  It’s like the saying, “Before you judge a man, first walk a mile in his shoes, because then you’ll be a mile away and you’ll have his shoes”.   Actually I’m not sure it’s like that at all, but the point is that it appears The Running Bug may be sending their entire community on a one way trip to the moon!  And what if we fail and fall short?  Will we be left drifting in space before eventually falling back to earth and burning up on re-entry?  And most importantly, will my Garmin still work from the other side of the satellites?!

Maybe I’m taking this whole moon thing too literally?  At least it’s an opportunity to start making Apollo-ing puns.  

I’m quite late to the party, I think they started in October, but seeing as I may have joined a running/space suicide cult, maybe that’s for the best.    Anyway, it’s something else to keep the interest up in The Most Runningist Year Ever, and if I’ve learned anything from this challenge it’s that anything that might help my enthusiasm must be grabbed with both hands.  

Perhaps reinvigorated by The Moon Challenge, I ran 10km yesterday.  I had the time and the inclination so why not?  I averaged 4:38 per kilometre which is about 1 minute per kilometre faster than I was averaging at the end of 10ktober.

So here we go….to infinity, and beyond! 

One Race, Two PBs

Yesterday I ran Parkrun for the first time since I started 10ktober.  I avoided Parkrun during this time because I was terrified of what my time would be.  10ktober was really tiring and my pace was slow.  The last month has been about distance rather than speed.  I felt a bit more flight of foot recently so I decided it was time to climb back on the Parkrun horse.

It was probably the best Parkrun ever.

There I am, top left, at the back of the line of men in light blue shirts (and in the middle you can see Kata's pink shoes!).

Kata raced as well, the weather was perfect, and we both ran personal best times.  Kata has been working hard to achieve her own personal target time, and yesterday she blitzed it!  She ran a PB by 42 seconds which is incredible.  I ran an 11 second PB and finished in 20:07.  I am very happy with that and obviously the next target is to run a sub 20 minute 5km.  It was a bit annoying actually because my Garmin was totally out of synch with the distance markers, and although I finished in 20:07, my average pace according to my Garmin was 3:58 per km.  Never mind, I suppose it just proves that I have a sub 20 minute 5km in me.

I'll accept please

Neither of us took our phones to Silverknowes, but we made sure we got some celebratory, PB photos to record the day when we got home.

It was cold so I raced in my gloves, or as I am calling them now, my Gauntlets of Power. 

Jumping for joy :-)

Cross Country, Very Cross Runners

Apparently it's the cross country season now.  Apparently when it starts to get really cold, wet, and windy, that's when the running community agrees that it's time to get off the tarmac and to run through muddy fields and freezing streams instead.  Go figure.  Apparently the running community refers to 'Cross Country' as 'XC' when it's written down.  Go figure!

Kata kindly signed me up for the Borders Cross Country XC series which was very nice of her.  I can't run in any of The National races because I'm an independent free spirit and not shackled to a club and paying my dues to The Man (or to Scottish Athletics - whatever).  That lot that are allowed to run in The Nationals are afraid of go-it-alone mavericks like me.

Anyway, someone who was running as part of a club at The Nationals was Kata.  And she was running in Cumbernauld!  Amazing.  I couldn't figure out  from her description what route the race was taking.  It sounded from her description as if they were just going to run around Cumbernauld Fields.  And what do you know, that's exactly what they did!  Growing up in Cumbernauld I have very fond memories of Cumbernauld Fields, from playing rounders there in the summer, having snowball fights in the winter, and generally hanging around there as a grumpy teenager.  Well I rocked up there as a grumpy man in his mid-thirties and was frankly appalled at what they were doing to the grass!  It was a mud bath!

Let the mud bath commence....

That's it commenced now.  Oi!  Get off my lawn!!!

It was great to see all the clubs there with their flags and tents and it was a much bigger event than I thought it was going to be.  It was my first experience of XC, even as a spectator, and I was interested to see runners trying really hard, their little legs going twenty to the dozen, and not moving very far.  It looked like hard work.  It was only 4km but everyone was exhausted at the end so well done, good effort all round.  Next time it would be me taking part in my first XC.

Both feet off the ground and flying on the home stretch.  

HBT in Cumbernauld Fields.  When world's collide.  Mind-blowing.  

Next time it was me taking part in my first XC.  And Lauder got the privilege.  I really enjoyed the race even though I had no idea what to expect at the start.  What I had gathered from Cumbernauld was that it was gong to be really tough so I started slow even though the distance was only about 7km.  This was a mistake.  Turns out Cross Country is like Hill Racing, it pays off to make a fast start and beat the rush to the hills.  It's very frustrating getting stuck behind runners (or walkers) on hills so in future I am going to really go for it at the start and see what happens.  Results are in and I finished in 35mins 30secs which I was quite pleased with at the time, but in hindsight I could have done so much better if I'd started faster.  I sprinted the end and I wasn't even that tired.  Bad strategic race but it was my first ever XC so that's allowed I suppose.  

Look!  No club vest!

I gave Hannah from HBT a lift to Lauder and out on the course at about 4km or 5km in, I saw her  about 4 runners ahead of me in her sparkling white compression socks and I decided I could catch her.  I did!  Breifly.  I caught her going downhill just before a gate, we vaulted (sort of) the gate together then she left me for dust on the home stretch.  I didn't mind at all, I was well beaten, but I did mind getting pushed by a fellow runner.  This was a new experience for me.  Again, the last trail path before the field where we finished, a runner from Chirnside Chasers grabbed the side of my shirt and pushed past me.  How rude!  It wasn't a narrow path, I wasn't going slowly, I think he was using me for momentum!  Whatever.  

One of us is possibly still drunk from the night before, and this time it's not the one that looks it.  

Brilliant choice of shoes this time and my Solomon Fell Raisers did me proud again.  I passed people going downhill quite a lot just because I had the grip.  It makes such a difference.  

Well done to the girls of HBT who finished in a very good time, especially considering some of them were still drunk from Rache's hen do the night before!

End of 10ktober

It's done!  For October I ran 10km ever day, and in a bookend of perfect symmetry, it ended where it started and where the unpronounceable idea was conceived - Arthur's Seat (although instead of the beautify Autumnal morning of the start, it finished in the dark with a head torch).

Here are the cold hard facts.  It's 32 activities because one day after doing my 10km I joined Kata on her 5km (for 5ktober) because she wanted the company and because I love running with her.

Count:	32 Activities
Distance:	334.86 km
Time:	28:30:24 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:	3,623 m
Calories:	29,081 C
Avg Time:	53:27 h:m:s

And here are the feelings....

I am writing this blog entry on 1st November after having been out for a minimum required 3km run and I feel a bit sad.  I started 10ktober because I was wondering what the point of running 3km was, and today I am immediately back in the same mindset.  I am running my first ever x-country race tomorrow and I am exhausted from 10ktober, so that's why I decided to have a rest today and just do the 3km.  Running 10km every day was a great mental challenge, knowing that no matter what else I had to do that day or how lazy I was feeling, I had to make time to do 10km.  And if I started the run and I felt tired or just not into it?  Tough luck.  Keep going.  I saw this motivational picture one day in October and it sums up much more succinctly than I could exactly how 10ktober felt. 

Yup.  That's about it.  

I am not sure if anyone that started 5ktober in sympathy kept up with it.  No matter - I appreciated very much the gesture, and I think most people didn't manage it because they didn't have the time one day.  Well that's it isn't it?  If you decide you are doing this, it has to be your top priority.  It's like anything, if you want to stop smoking, it has to be your decision and you have to really want it (I imagine). 

At the Cumbernauld X-Country race which I attended but didn't run (I will blog on that later), a few of the Trotters were asking about how I was getting on with my challenges and it was really nice to hear that people were genuinely interested.  Eilis said that I was the subject of long conversation at Trotettes that week, and that what I was doing was inspiring.  Eilis is a fantastic runner, much faster than I'll ever be, and I was flattered.  I think I mumbled a rubbish reply to her out of embarrassment but next time I see her I'll try to remember to mention how I appreciated her encouragement.   

Props to Kata for putting up with my moaning and for pushing me out the door on the occasions when I was really grumpy.  She was always willing to give suggestions on where I could run and came along a few times either for the full thing or for part of it.  Real big thanks to Kata for coming along on the full 10km run on Ferry Road Path when she really couldn't be bothered but came along for me - it really helped.  

There's a 5km every day for December thing.  Not my idea.  I am going to give that a go after November's rest period.  In fact I am not going to "give that a go", I'm going to do it!

Finally, just out of interest, I did check my weight after my first 10ktober run and it was exactly 79kg (12st 6lbs).  After my last run I was 78.3kg (12st 4lbs) so basically I maintained the same weight.  It'd be interesting to know about body fat though and if I am less fat and more muscle - my calves are definitely bigger.  I wonder how you check body fat?  

Finally, finally, 10ktober finished on Day 148 or The Most Runningist Year, and here's the latest log.