Red Moon Rising

My busy weekend has been postponed till next week so quite a leisurely Saturday and Sunday for me. Saturdays long run, if you can call it that, was just 10 miles.  Lynne and Skye decided to go swimming so I parked the car in Ellon, agreed to meet back at the car at four thirty and followed the circular footpath. It was three o'clock so 10 miles in 1 1/2 hours was going to be a tall order, particularly with the ice under foot. The footpath was well trodden which made it very slippery so I headed down to the river and made my way to the disused railway. The path here improved slightly, still well used but not enough to turn to ice. A flat disused railway line isn't exactly hill work training required for the whw race but it was quite hard work running through the snow. I ran South until near enough Undy Station, turned and made my way back to Ellon as the light faded. On the way back I was treated to a spectacular moon rise, I took a few pictures but the smart phone just didn't do it justice. I'm going to have to invest in a new camera by the looks of it.

 It was dark by the time I got back to Ellon, half an hour late, much to the annoyance of Coach and daughter - oops!

Next weekend is the busy one and with 32 miles to run in two days I'm going to have to adjust the training program. 18 miles midweek will be split over Tuesday and Wednesday. The 20 mile long run will have to be done Friday morning before work. Usually I do this around Aberdeen but I'm toying with the idea of running from my house to work, something I haven't done before.

Wed 4 miles Thurs 3 miles Fri 3 miles Sat 10 miles Sun 8 miles  Weekly total 28 miles.

Buchan and Formartine Way

Twenty miles, that was my long run on Saturday and it was quite a shock to the system. Like most of the country it was snowing so full winter kit was required. For convenience it was back to the local roads around Deershire, dodging the traffic until a few precious miles on the Buchan and Formartine disused railway line.
This was the highlight of Saturdays run where I had the countryside all to myself apart from Highland cattle between Maud and Auchnagatt.

Once again I ran out of energy on the long run and was forced into a run / walk strategy for the last few miles. Crikey, surely this has to improve. I'm switching between running too fast and walking, unable to run at a steady ultra pace. The fuel on this outing was two Aberdeen rolls topped with cheese so maybe the diet has something to do with it.

Sunday was 10 miles, again on local roads but podcast 30 helped pass the time. After this weekend I thought I was doing too much too soon (42 miles weekly total) but checking back this time last year I did 38   miles so not much difference there. The week ahead is a low mileage week which is welcome as I have a very busy weekend ahead.

Tues 4 miles Wed 4 miles Thurs 4 miles Sat 20 miles Sun 10 miles  Weekly total 42 miles.

Brimmond Hill

A later than usual post from me on last weekends training due to an incident that cut short my run on Sunday so I'll concentrate on Saturdays run.

I decided to do the weekend long run straight from work which would allow me to train in the forests and small hills around Dyce and Bucksburn. The rain was lashing down so I didn't mind working into the afternoon, waiting for the conditions to improve. I fueled up with a pot noodle, half a banana and a yorkie bar. Yep, I've still to sort out the diet! I set off through the industrial estate and made my way to Kirkhill Forest. The rain had abated allowing me to take a few pictures, this helped to keep me interested during the run which would take around three and a half hours.

Forest machinery had turned the track into a quagmire, there was no escape from the mud and wet so two miles in and my feet were soaked. I don't usually worry about this but my toe nails have nearly returned to normal after last years WHW race. I remind myself to take more care of my feet in future and not lose nails and suffer with blisters this year.

I had a good steady run through the forest, very picturesque in the wet and cloudy conditions. Kirkhill forest is split by the A96, locally known as the Tyrebagger. It's a fast dual carriageway so I took care crossing over    and made my way through the forest and onto the hills.

Going up Elrick hill I could see some winter sun in the distance but there was none to be had here, in fact the weather was closing in with rain turning to snow. It was a steep and muddy descent off Elrick so I took no chances and carefully walked down and made my way to Brimmond.

Brimmond is a small hill which overlooks Dyce and Aberdeen, a tarred road is in place for utility vehicles servicing communication towers. It's one mile long and a good little hill work to the top where the saltire flies.
On a good day you overlook Aberdeen to the North Sea but not today. After descending Brimmond I crossed the road and joined forest trails skirting Craibstone Golf Course. It was getting dark and I regretted not taking my head torch. The trails were carved up by mountain bikes which made running treacherous.
I slid in the mud at one section and landed heavily on my wrist face down. I'm not usually prone to slipping or tripping but I seem to be making a habit of it lately.

Right, first thing first. Get up and check if anyone is around to witness the fall. Nope, I'm all alone so pride intact.

Next, make sure the wrist is okay - I can move it without any pain.

Next, check I still have my keys - still in my pocket.

Next, check the phone - still in my pocket and intact.

Off I went, slipping and sliding again, thankful I hadn't been injured. I made my way through Craibstone Agricultural College and on to Forret Brae. I reminisced here as this was my paper round when I was young. I ran familiar routes through Bucksburn and made my way to the Howes Road. It's pitch black now but I'm perfectly comfortable running without a torch as I know the area like the back of my hand. The burn is in spate with the recent rain, noisy and fast flowing by the side of the road. I can just make out something, or things in the dark. There's a mad panic as I disturb three of four deer which splash through the burn and climb the bank on the other side. They scarper from the rude intrusion and disappear over the fields.

I rejoined Bucksburn and made my way back to Dyce, feeling a bit tired and doing a run / walk strategy. I was out of energy and had to pass a Tandoori restaurant on my way. That was torture, I pictured myself walking in and placing an order but I still had three miles to go. The rain came back on heavy, giving me a good soaking before I returned to work and finished the run, thanks a lot!

So first long training run of the year squeezed in during a busy weekend, I'm happy with that but I have a feeling there will be a few more tough runs during January and February.

Saturday 18 miles, Sunday 06 miles. Weekly total 38 miles.




 

Focus

I'm a wee bit apprehensive, I don't feel as focused on the big race as I was this time last year. Looking back, it took a while to get onto the running programme due to injury so it felt such a relief to start getting the miles in and work towards my first WHW. Touch wood, I've got no injury niggles this time but I am just not enjoying the outings as short as they are at this time of year. I'm struggling to get into any sort of rhythm and don't feel relaxed enough to up the miles.

I need the structure of a training programme, this makes sure I get out and put the miles in so I did a quick search for a replacement of my usual plan. Unfortunately I couldn't find one that recommended short training runs and a loose reign to eat junk food, consume alcohol and lounge on the sofa watching TV. So I found one that is remarkably similar to the last one but with a wee bit more miles. I looked for an "Intermediate" training plan but couldn't find such thing during my 5 minute search, all were geared towards a first ultra.

I entered the schedule into my calender, 22nd June back to this Saturday and took a double take at the miles asked - 18 Saturday and 10 Sunday. A weekend on call with snow and ice forecast means I'm going to struggle with this. I need to start getting prepared, mentally more than physically, to take on my second West Highland Way Race.

Tues 6 miles, Wed 4 miles, Thurs 4 miles.    

2013 training begins.

It was time to start training yesterday, time to burn off the good food and alcohol of the festive season. Rain and cloud soon cleared to leave a beautiful sunny day, perfect for the first run of the year. Back to the Braes for me and I was surprised to find the car park empty. Off I went, iTunes on, soaking up the scenery and happy to be trail running on my own. I tried to run down the steep muddy descent leading to the river but came close to crashing down, the Hokas had no grip at all on the treacherous surface. I ended up taking it easy, doing a sort of sideways shuffle, clinging onto the gorse and bushes by the side of the track. It wasn't elegant and not the image you would expect from someone training to run a 95 mile ultra. It's just as well no-one was to be seen as things didn't improve once I reached the river bank.

I just couldn't find grip and struggling to keep upright I couldn't work out why a track I've run plenty of times in the past was proving so difficult. It was after another couple of slippery incidents that I came upon the flattened reed beds in the valley. The Ythan had burst it's banks recently after the torrential rain. Where I was running would have been under water and the track had not drained properly.

Squirrel Bridge

Once I reached the forest track I could finally get a decent run going. The late afternoon sun appeared, showing the beauty of the Braes at its best.

   
As I continued the run it dawned on me I wasn't as fit as I should be. On this familiar route I found myself walking hills that would normally be run with ease, an indicator on how my winter training,or rather lack of it, has affected my fitness. There's a bit of work to do so I'll have to roll up my sleeves and get going. While on the subject of fitness, I've always followed the Hal Higdon plan for Ultras, based upon training for the Comrades Marathon which has served me well. It has to be said this is a perfectly good plan which has seen me through every Ultra race I have started but now I feel the need for a change. At this stage I'm not sure what kind of training programme I will follow or if the existing one needs tweaked but I suppose it will come down to the time available for training.

On the way back I encountered a few dog walkers enjoying the winter sunshine. I rounded the corner and startled a German Shepherd with it's owners. The petrified canine took off in the opposite direction and needed to be consoled by it's walkers before I could continue, a lighthearted encounter and end to the run.

Races for 2013 will be used for training leading to the WHW, just as I did last year.

D33
Highland Fling
Cateran
WHW

Thursday 10 miles. MP3 of the week - "I'm not giving in" by Rudimental.

Guest Blog

Well I never thought I'd see the day, Coach following me around the house, running kit on, chomping at the bit to go out for a run! Yes, it was day 31 of Marcothon and I'm so proud of her achievement I've given her a guest posting on my blog -

Well what an honour being guest blogger ~  I feel like a celeb!  My name is Lynne - wife of the Deer Runner who has been running for the past 7 years 'just because he enjoys it'.  What?  How could anyone enjoy running?  You have to have that natural ability to run.  That kind of skinny runners body.  You have to be sporty.  You have to have no boobs.  You have to have some stamina to last more than one minute.  You have to be fast.  You have to be non-asthmatic.  You have to be mad!

I have seen George progress from running for a hobby, to his first marathon in 2007, to the crazy 95 miles of the West Highland Way this year.   Our 12 yr old daughter Skye, myself and other kind family and friends were his support and I look back with fond memories even though at one point I was extremely worried about him.

Supporting him over the years has only re-enforced my beliefs despite George's several attempts at coaxing me into running, all ending in me giving up as it was too hard.  Anyhow, it was boring.  As I love music so much I've always preferred dancy kinda exercise especially Zumba of which my friend and motivator Claire is an instructor.  In January this year I got the Zumba bug and some weeks attended up to 4 classes per week.  Not every week though and some weeks not at all.  Even so, I believe these Zumba classes were the basis of how I managed to take part in Marcothon this month.  

George didn't give up.  If he couldn't convince me, he would convince Skye to run instead.  So this year the two of them have been out running together and when she went to academy this year she even joined a jogging club.  In the run up to December George started encouraging her to take part in Marcothon 2012 which involved running every single day of the month for 3 miles or 25 minutes - whichever came first.  The rules are every day and if you miss a day then you're out.  He kept asking me if I was going to join them.  "Yeah" I would reply.  ("Yeah right" in my head).  The 1st of December was a Saturday.  George was on call and working all day so I was left with instructions to accompany Skye on her first run otherwise she would be 'out' on day one of Marcothon.  Off we set on a run/walk up the road to the trees and back.  We had fun as she was doing constant impressions of her dad and his little running techniques and sayings he'd use to keep her going.  Well that was day one done.  Thank God he'd be back to run with her tomorrow.  No offence Skye but I'll leave the running malarkey to the two of you thanks very much.  Too much like hard work if you ask me.

Now I do like the internet and later in the day I discovered Marcothon had a facebook page.  I had a wee nosey and found myself pressing the button to join.  OMG what did I just do?  Who am I to take part in this crazy challenge and even dare to post about my first run in front of all these expert runners who must all be laughing their heads off at me and be much too far advanced in their sport to even give my effort a second glance.  Ach well, who cares, there are over one thousand people taking part, I'll just not post again when I fail and no-one will notice.

I can't actually remember days 2,3,4, etc.  It is all a blur of pain, utter breathlessness, cold, windy, dark nights, head torches, scarves, gloves, buffs, wingeing, whining, swearing, body niggles, twinges, back pain, ankle pain and hangovers.  Re-enforcing yet again why on earth would anyone want to do this???  Poor Skye was really struggling one night and a visit to the docs next day confirmed she had come down with a horrible chest infection and was put on steroids and antibiotics.  She was unfortunately 'out'.

On day 11 due to George working late and Skye unable to run, I ventured out on my own.  In daylight.  How embarrassing.  No one to hide behind, the thought of people sniggering in their cars driving by thinking they could walk faster than that.  Seeing my massive backside swinging from side to side almost knocking them off the road.  Funnily enough, not many cars passed and the thought of sending a message to George when I got back to tell him I'd ran all on my own and not stopped once made me do just that.  I mistakenly posted on my own page rather than his but this prompted some questions from friends about what I was up to.  Mmm well, I can still drop out I suppose.  Meanwhile.... daily posts on the Marcothon page were surprisingly and very heart warmingly encouraging.  These people who I am so in awe of are talking to me and saying how well I am doing.  Wow!

On day 12 I took the more difficult route up a very steep hill and managed not to stop and ran further than ever before.  In my whole life.  Excuse my language, but WTF?? ha ha ha!

Day 13 - a downer, felt like I was back to Day one.  Why bother?  If it wasn't for posting on Marcothon and all the support it would have ended here.  Day 18 saw my lower back giving way and my ankle playing up from all the previous torn ligaments.  I even ran with a heat pack on the next night which ended up a falling into my punts by the time I finished!

Days 14 to 25 were quite utterly horrendous.  The most severe weather conditions.  But having the support of coach throughout these nights were what kept me going.  George is either sadistic or a saint, I haven't quite decided on that one!

Day 25 Christmas Day, I got the best presents ever!  An Ipod shuffle from coach and the Paloma Faith album from Skye.  Well this definitely was the turning point.  Why oh why knowing my love of music didn't I realise this before?  When volume at correct level, I could no longer hear myself struggling to breathe (could still see the spit flying from my mouth from time to time lol) or hear my footsteps trying to keep in time with George.   Things just seemed to progress from there.  Boxing Day I had the pleasure of company from my special nephew and overcame running with 'someone else'...  The day after... day 27 I completed a 5k.  The biggest ever feeling of achievement throughout this whole process.  Something I never ever thought I'd do in a million years and not realising at this point I'd do it again two days later on day 29.

Day 31.  Quite an anti-climax day.  I ran the whole 'loop' which was so refreshing to run out and not double back.  A total of 8k in one hour, 11 minutes and 54 seconds.  I had to do it even though I was seriously risking injury of sorts.  I couldn't turn back, I just couldn't.  Funnily enough, it wasn't hugely difficult which just proves to me now that no matter how big, overweight, unfit you are, it's the mind that controls your body and tells it what it can do.  No disrespect meant to runners who had to pull out due to injury.  I was one of the lucky ones, but the biggest challenge for me has been the mental one.

Wow, it's been emotional and I am going to miss my new friends on Marcothon very much.  Biggest disappointment is that I have lost no weight at all, in fact put on 2 lbs.  Highlight of the month has been the constant support from everyone, getting my Ipod (no brainer) and seeing friends being inspired!  Me?  Really?  No way, not in a million years!!!!!

I signed up to my first race last night - The Garioch 10K on 24th March 2013!!!   Another OMG moment!

Happy New Year everyone and biggest thanks to coach.  The Deer Runner.  Love you xxx

Happy Birthday to Me

Its my birthday, blogging birthday that is so I thought I'd better update it today.
My running went out like a damp squib lately. Juggling between work, home, DIY, family time and doing a course meant something was going to get dropped and yes, it was running. I didn't make it to the Fraserburgh half marathon despite what looked like perfect weather conditions.

On a positive note, I have secured a place in the Fling, Cateran and hopefully (fingers crossed) the WHW next year. The places in these races fill fast and it's thanks to another blogger posting the amount of space left in the Fling that I was able to step in and gain an entry. I kept a close watch on the Cateran and entered as soon as it opened, this being one of my favourite races.

With virtually no training done during the last month I needed something to buck things up and that's where Marcothon comes in. It's my first year of participation and what better way to get out and build up some training foundations. Not only am I benefiting from Marcothon, my wife and daughter have decided to give it a go as well, despite being beginner runners. Day four completed and all going well, hopefully we can all keep it going through December.