Saturday, 20 March 2010
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Just a wee 54 mile bimble with friends
Last weekend Iain and I were lucky enough to go down the the WHW for a weekend of back to back runs and a night in the luxurious *ahem* Tyndrum Lodge Hotel. It meant another 5am alarm call but it was worth it. Made it to Drovers by 9am and met up with Loon Dod, Lintie, Santababy, Simon, MikeR, Joopsy, M1nty, Ribenaface (RFSQL), and Robbo7777. The weather was mild and thankfully there was no ice
We set off for Rowardennan at 9ish am. The first 7 miles to Inversnaid seemed to pass quicker than last time but we were only 6 minutes quicker. Used the posh toilets again at the hotel (how civilised!) and we were off again. Got to the Rowardennan Hotel in time for lunch although Joopsy and I managed to run right past it! Iain had to shout at us to come back. When we got in the fast lot were already having some lovely soup beside the fire. Iain bought me a cup of tea and I rearranged my food for the journey back.
It's quite hard to leave a pub with an open fire to run back but I managed it and really enjoyed the trip. Lots of good chatting and spotting goats and dead sheep along the way. At least we didn't have to wade through the loch this time. We made it back before nightfall (7.5 ish hours) and collapsed in to the Drovers bar. I was willing to drive and let Iain have a pint but he said it was fine so I had a v nice g 'n' t with the gang. Everyone did so well and Iain and Ribenaface popped their ultra cherries
We all went back to Tyndrum and met up with Llamadance in Paddy's Bar. He couldn't make it for the running but managed the fish 'n' chips and a drink with us. We all ate for Scotland in the Real Food Cafe and enjoyed free cuppas in our mugs from the Fling. Back to Paddy's for more drinking and much hilarity abuout Japanese vending machines and the like but shanksi and I were tiring and left them to it at 10:30pm. Next thing was being woken up at ?? o'clock by Santa and Simon laughing their heads off in the corridor... Found out the next day that most of the folk had stayed up drinking shots until chucking out time. Much respect due for their endurance!!
Met the gang for breakfast and Ribenaface was a wee bit worse for wear and said he wouldn't be running that day (he hadn't planned to but I thought we might persuade him). Sophster was on her way so it was one out and another in for round 2 - Tyndrum to Bein Glas and back. Not long after we set off M1nty was feeling a bit sore in the ankles after he'd gone over them the day before. He turned back, but then caught up with us again. Then after 6 miles Iain decided to turn back. He met M1nty and they hitchhiked back to Tyndrum(!) The rest of us carried on and one of the best bits was the downhill in to Bein Glas. I was thinking - now I'll get to the loo, but alas it was locked . So I just kept it in. I'm useless at doing it outside. M1nty peeped us from his parked car to say bye. On the way back we spotted someone on a hill taking pics; it was Iain! He'd driven over to meet us. I wasn't even tempted to get a lift back, I was feeling so good. The run back to Tyndrum was excellent fun listening to the singing (mainly Santababy) and all the chat . Best bit was running up to where the finish line will be on the 24th. Met Iain in the pub and he'd drank 2 pints of guinness so I had to drive home grrr!
Here are some pics
We set off for Rowardennan at 9ish am. The first 7 miles to Inversnaid seemed to pass quicker than last time but we were only 6 minutes quicker. Used the posh toilets again at the hotel (how civilised!) and we were off again. Got to the Rowardennan Hotel in time for lunch although Joopsy and I managed to run right past it! Iain had to shout at us to come back. When we got in the fast lot were already having some lovely soup beside the fire. Iain bought me a cup of tea and I rearranged my food for the journey back.
It's quite hard to leave a pub with an open fire to run back but I managed it and really enjoyed the trip. Lots of good chatting and spotting goats and dead sheep along the way. At least we didn't have to wade through the loch this time. We made it back before nightfall (7.5 ish hours) and collapsed in to the Drovers bar. I was willing to drive and let Iain have a pint but he said it was fine so I had a v nice g 'n' t with the gang. Everyone did so well and Iain and Ribenaface popped their ultra cherries
We all went back to Tyndrum and met up with Llamadance in Paddy's Bar. He couldn't make it for the running but managed the fish 'n' chips and a drink with us. We all ate for Scotland in the Real Food Cafe and enjoyed free cuppas in our mugs from the Fling. Back to Paddy's for more drinking and much hilarity abuout Japanese vending machines and the like but shanksi and I were tiring and left them to it at 10:30pm. Next thing was being woken up at ?? o'clock by Santa and Simon laughing their heads off in the corridor... Found out the next day that most of the folk had stayed up drinking shots until chucking out time. Much respect due for their endurance!!
Met the gang for breakfast and Ribenaface was a wee bit worse for wear and said he wouldn't be running that day (he hadn't planned to but I thought we might persuade him). Sophster was on her way so it was one out and another in for round 2 - Tyndrum to Bein Glas and back. Not long after we set off M1nty was feeling a bit sore in the ankles after he'd gone over them the day before. He turned back, but then caught up with us again. Then after 6 miles Iain decided to turn back. He met M1nty and they hitchhiked back to Tyndrum(!) The rest of us carried on and one of the best bits was the downhill in to Bein Glas. I was thinking - now I'll get to the loo, but alas it was locked . So I just kept it in. I'm useless at doing it outside. M1nty peeped us from his parked car to say bye. On the way back we spotted someone on a hill taking pics; it was Iain! He'd driven over to meet us. I wasn't even tempted to get a lift back, I was feeling so good. The run back to Tyndrum was excellent fun listening to the singing (mainly Santababy) and all the chat . Best bit was running up to where the finish line will be on the 24th. Met Iain in the pub and he'd drank 2 pints of guinness so I had to drive home grrr!
Here are some pics
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Magnus is Two
Where has the time gone? Magnus turned two yesterday so we celebrated in the usual style with presents and cake. The lucky lad got some new lego, some "In The Night Garden" characters who he has really taken to, some Bob the Builder toys, and a very hard (as I discovered) toy camera.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Sledging
Despite the snow that has been a constant feature of the last few weeks, we hadn't been out with the sledges, so I was happy to take up Lachlan's suggestion and go out with the boys. Vikki was out running, so Lachlan, Calum and I set off for Mineralwell with Magnus in tow (literally, he sat in the sledge and was happy to be pulled along). When we got there it was icy, so fast and bumpy and good fun. The hard ground had taken its toll on others; a few shattered sledges were lying around.
Magnus and I took one sledge and kept to the lower bit for a few runs - I think he enjoyed his first time.
Meanwhile, the elder two had a couple of runs down the big hill. You can see them near the top in this picture, just a few seconds before they hit a big jump that someone else had built and took a fairly spectacular tumble. I wish I'd managed to capture that particular moment on film as it looked fairly impressive. Calum hurt his arm a bit, but nothing too serious and was about to get going again when Magnus got upset, possibly because he was getting cold.
Magnus and I took one sledge and kept to the lower bit for a few runs - I think he enjoyed his first time.
Meanwhile, the elder two had a couple of runs down the big hill. You can see them near the top in this picture, just a few seconds before they hit a big jump that someone else had built and took a fairly spectacular tumble. I wish I'd managed to capture that particular moment on film as it looked fairly impressive. Calum hurt his arm a bit, but nothing too serious and was about to get going again when Magnus got upset, possibly because he was getting cold. Time to go home for Hot Chocolate followed by a lunch of Heinz Tomato Soup and a bit of a session on the Wii. Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
2009 Review (Running)
2009 was another mixed year as far as running goes. Like 2008 it started well with a new PB at the Lumphanan 10K, but then went downhill. A combination of gout and taking a knock at footie was a huge set back but I managed to recover in time to take part in the Highland Fling Relay (just, I think I was about a week away from trying to find a replacement), which was a lot of fun but not a great day for me. The Durris Mast Hill Race and Hairy Haggis Relay in May went well, as did the Ythan challenge, but my run at the Stonehaven Half Marathon was a disappointment on an over-hot day.
After that, the focus was on building stamina for the Loch Ness Marathon. The LNM was great, except for the last 5 miles where my thighs hurt with every step. I also had a good time with the club's Improvers Cup runs, moonlight runs, and the couple of West Highland Way training runs we went on recently, so in general there have been a lot of good times this year.
I set my targets for this year as "a PB or two, some decent times, a 50min 10K, participation in some different events, and keep on smiling" and did OK: a new 10K PB, heaps of new events and distances, and managed to keep a smile most of the time.
Looking forward to next year, the first change is that the Lumphanan 10K will be later in January because of the weather, then I've got The Mighty Deerstalker to look forward to, along with another crack at the Fling relay. There will no doubt be a few other big runs and occasional events in there. It would be nice to get that 50min 10K, but to be honest, I'm not that fussed as long as I get out in the fresh air, do a few new things, see a few different places, meet friends new and old, and generally keep enjoying it.
Hope you all have a great 2010, whatever you get up to.
After that, the focus was on building stamina for the Loch Ness Marathon. The LNM was great, except for the last 5 miles where my thighs hurt with every step. I also had a good time with the club's Improvers Cup runs, moonlight runs, and the couple of West Highland Way training runs we went on recently, so in general there have been a lot of good times this year.
I set my targets for this year as "a PB or two, some decent times, a 50min 10K, participation in some different events, and keep on smiling" and did OK: a new 10K PB, heaps of new events and distances, and managed to keep a smile most of the time.
Looking forward to next year, the first change is that the Lumphanan 10K will be later in January because of the weather, then I've got The Mighty Deerstalker to look forward to, along with another crack at the Fling relay. There will no doubt be a few other big runs and occasional events in there. It would be nice to get that 50min 10K, but to be honest, I'm not that fussed as long as I get out in the fresh air, do a few new things, see a few different places, meet friends new and old, and generally keep enjoying it.
Hope you all have a great 2010, whatever you get up to.
"A grand way to spend a Sunday afternoon"
Just the other week, we were staying at the Crieff Hydro for the in-laws 40th wedding celebrations and had decided to combine our trip with a bit of hill running and Munro bagging, so were going to head up Ben Chonzie (or Ben-y-Hone or whatever you want to call it). Unfortunately, the whole weekend was pretty much a white-out down at the bottom, so venturing up the hill would have been foolhardy, if not actually impossible - we couldn't even get the car out of the car park for much of the weekend. Instead we just had to do a lot of eating, drinking, playing games, and having fun with my in-laws. A very fine way to spend a snowy weekend.
We did run a couple of miles into town and around the estate, and on Sunday afternoon, Vikki and I ventured out into the snow for a quick run up The Knock. It was only a couple of miles but a nice wee gradient, a wander through the woods across the top, and then a speedy descent in the snow which felt great. We passed a woman out walking her dogs who remarked "A grand way to spend a Sunday afternoon". Couldn't agree more, and it was a nice way to build up an appetite for our meal that evening which was lovely, and during which many gifts were exchanged - the girls got lovely new rings, and the boys each got a quaich which were put to good use.
We took a few pictures:
We did run a couple of miles into town and around the estate, and on Sunday afternoon, Vikki and I ventured out into the snow for a quick run up The Knock. It was only a couple of miles but a nice wee gradient, a wander through the woods across the top, and then a speedy descent in the snow which felt great. We passed a woman out walking her dogs who remarked "A grand way to spend a Sunday afternoon". Couldn't agree more, and it was a nice way to build up an appetite for our meal that evening which was lovely, and during which many gifts were exchanged - the girls got lovely new rings, and the boys each got a quaich which were put to good use.
We took a few pictures:
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| Mum and Dad's Ruby Anniversary |
Friday, 4 December 2009
2009 Advent Calendar 03
Well, things are really hotting up now. Yesterday's fantastic gift is a parrot. In the meantime, the pirate is having difficulties with a sword-wielding ghost that Calum has contributed to the scene.
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