Monday – unplanned rest – exhausted

Tuesday – 5 miles and 1/2 hr weight training (TRX)

Wednesday – 3 miles, can’t remember if I did any cross training as well!

Thursday – 5 miles and Body Attack

Friday – 30 mins cross training and 1/2 hr weight training (circuit)

Saturday – 10 mile road run, Nitsdale Road and Pollock Park, 1.31.52  9.11m/m ave pace. 

I know this is still a slower pace than I want but I’m going in the right direction and that’s what matters. I really hadn’t thought I was going to have good run at all as my legs were heavy after lots of leg work in the gym last night and I had spent my morning looking after Evan and Rebecca so Susan and Christopher could run so had kind of lost the love for it and was just enjoying playing with the kids.  However within about 10 mins of going out I was loving it and and pushed much harder than I should have probably after last weekend.  It seemed to be going by so fast too after last wekeend’s long run which was a nice feeling. I’ll do that route again at end of February and aim for under the hour and a half.  Ended up in at their house again watching the athletics and Rebecca was fascinated by the runners and triple jumpers. She had just been out doing her running too!  She’s not even two yet!  Friday night she was looking through Runner’s World and apparently Auntie Caroline was in the magazine!

Sunday – 13 miles – Drovers to Tyndrum

I ran with Susan and Claire who is the fourth member of their Fling relay team. My legs were super tired today particularly from after Crianlarich Forest to after Auchteryre.  I was just trying to keep going thinking I will have to get used to sore legs for race day and pleased I picked it up again a bit after Auchteryre.   We were doing the children changeover again today.  Christopher and Keir took the kids swimming in Callendar while we ran then we got them lunch in the Green Welly and drove up to Bridge of Orchy and gave them their first outing on the WHW on the hill going up to Victoria Bridge while the boys ran back to the Drovers from Tyndrum.  They loved it.  Evan loved thinking he was going a big hill walk and Rebecca was just constantly running…and falling over!

The boys got lost just after they started..they went up behind the railway station at the hostel and ended up doing 15.70 miles.  They’re claiming the route is not nearly as well marked as going north.  They averaged 9.50m/m…I can only dream!

36 miles total for week 4

Summary of January

I noticed JK has done a four week review and I’m going to steal that idea and do the same as it fits with my OCD of following weeks at a time.  That has probably been my most consistent four weeks of training ever!

Week 1 – 40 miles

Week 2 – 40 miles

Week 3 – 50 miles

Week 4 – 36 miles

Total – 166 miles

I’m really pleased with this as it’s the motivation to get out there and get on with it has always been my problem.  It’s helped going back to the club and running with Susan and that I don’t want to let myself down or the people who have been helping me.  I’m totally focused on the race and hope to keep it that way.  This week was a hard week at work too as the HT was off most of the week ill so it was me in charge but I managed to keep running too and I think enjoyed my weekend even more as I really felt I had earned it!!!

I’ve also lost 8 pounds in this four weeks so really pleased with that.  I’ve not been perfect either, I’ve had some really bad days but the increase in exercise has really helped.  I’m also doing it very sensibly so far and not starving myself at all.  Still got a long way to go but hoping to lose another 8 pounds in the next four weeks too.   Also hoping to build up the miles a little more in the next 4 weeks and especially the speed.  I have used December and January just to get out, get back in good habits and run a consistent number of miles, now I want to work a bit harder at the speed of those miles.

I’ve actually cleaned the house too this weekend!  The only thing about the increase in mileage is the increase in clothes washing!

Monday 16th Jan – 7.3 miles, speed session with the club – 4, 5, 6, 6, 5, 4 mins.  Mildly faster than last week and faster on the second set than the first so pleased with that.

Tuesday 17th Jan – 5.4 miles, speed session with Susan at the track – 2 laps, 1 lap, 2 laps, 1 lap, 1 lap.  I just joined in the actual session to pace her and she did really well.  I did better than I thought I would on the second day in a row, which wasn’t what the plan had been!  20 mins cross training and 30 mins weight training

Wednesday 18th Jan – 4 slow miles by myself, partly because of the last two nights and partly to take it easy before the weekend.

Thursday 19th Jan – 20 mins cross training and 30 mins weight training

Saturday 20th Jan – training weekend in Balmaha, 30 mile run

Balmaha to Rowardennan – 1 hr 47mins, 13.55m/m pace

I started at about 9.15am by myself as my breathing has been so difficult lately that I wanted to settle into my own pace and I think it is better if I am not talking either – kind of defeated a lot of the purpose of this nice social weekend but needs must!  Stayed dry for the first 20 mins and then got caught in hail which was not pleasant.  It was while going along the beach and I coudn’t believe the waves – it was like being beside the sea not a loch!

I’m getting to like this section a lot more and enjoyed it this morning.

Rowardennan to Invernsnaid – 1.39, 13.58m/m pace, 3 hrs 26 total

It was that time of the month again and my painkillers had worn off so this section was  a struggle.  The first group of guys passed me just after I had been doubled over at the side of the road clutching my stomach with cramps and even though I tried to say I was fine when he asked Thomas clearly realised I wasn’t feeling myself.  I did perk up after a while once the next lot of painkillers kicked in thank goodness but it certainly spoilt that section for me.  Nine people passed me before Inversnaid, I had been expecting more.

I had not planned on taking breaks at all but the stomach cramps brought on an enforced 5.5 min toilet break at Inversnaid which I was very annoyed about but I should just be grateful there are toilets there!

Inversnaid to Rowardennan - 1.34, 13.07m/m pace

A lot of people were just on the approach to Invernsnaid as I was leaving and it was good to see everyone.  Apart from the nine people who had now passed by twice just another couple of people passed me until John and Ryan caught me up with a couple of miles to go until Rowardennan.  This came at a great time as it was either big up’s or down’s so I was able to keep up with them and enjoyed listening to the chat.  Once we were on flat ground though they left me for dead.  Sandra and then Ian passed me at Rowardennan and at this point I started to get my throat problem so got a bit down.  However I tried to keep Ian in my sights for as long as I could and that kept me going.

Rowardennan to Balmaha – 1.49, 14.03m/m pace

Total – 3hrs 49 mins + 5 mins at Inversnaid unplanned, 13.52m/m pace including stop

As this part was so undulating I managed to keep the throat problem under control although it was still there.  I concentrated on my average pace and trying to make sure not too many other people went past me and I think only another four did.  I enjoyed the way back too, well until about the last 2 miles when the weather got really wild again – I’m glad I started early and finished at that point.  I thought I was going to get blown over on the last hill!

I ran a 3 min negative split which I am really pleased about and reasonably happy with pace considering my stomach and back cramps and the conditions, I will just be working on speeding that up a bit.  I also carried my ipod (music) and my iphone  (audiobook and podcast) with me but didn’t listen to them at all.  I stayed pretty focused and concentrated on what I was doing and had my least lazy long run I think – as in there wasn’t  too much where I should have been running but I didn’t!

It was great to see everyone in the evening and catch.  Thanks to Ian for organising, John and Katrina for bringing me and for JK, Katrina, Thomas and Silke for looking after me!

Sunday 21st January – walk up Conic and 3.2 miles on the treadmill, not as hard as I thought it might be.

I’m pleased with how well my legs seem to have recovered but I’m still under strict orders to take it easy this week.  Roll on the next weekend though!  And Neal I still haven’t cleaned the house!  Suppose I better do it before you come home though – got a while yet though!

Monday 9th January

7.o6 mile speed session with the club. 7.30, 4.15, 3.15 x2 with 2 min recovery between them all.  That was hard but I got slightly better as the session went on.  Times are shocking but I’m posting as my record and in the hope they improve quickly, plus they are already better than last week!  8.40, 8.36, 9.02, 8.36, 8.22, 8.17

Tuesday 10th January

rest day – 15mins cross trainer and 1/2 hr weight training – chest, biceps and legs

Wedneday 11th January

5.16 mile run at club – 48.23, 9.23m/m pace

Thursday 12th January

4 mile run treadmill – a squeeze to fit everything in today and wanted a break from the concrete

1/2 hour weight training – back, triceps and legs

Friday 13th January

4 mile run

1/2 hour cross trainer

Saturday 14th January

5 mile run

Great day today – not in terms of my run but because of my sis-in-law and the kids.  I was looking after my niece and nephew so Susan could run the parkrun (5th time) and not only did I have a great time with them but she took 2 mins, 5 secs off her pb and was just stunned all day!  I wasn’t stunned, I’d been expecting her to have a great run, but was absolutey delighted for her, totally made my day too! I went for my run after her and then spent the rest of the day with them – lovely!  When I was walking the kids up to the Burrell a couple of runners passed us and when they said good morning Evan (4) was saying it back too and they both spent the day wanting to race (Evan) and running, running (Rebecca who is not even 2 yet), they seem to have totally got the bug.

Sunday 15th January

15 miles – 1/2 road, 1/2 trail

Ran from my house to the top of Glennifer Braes, round there for a bit and then back.  Had forgotten how far it would be to get up there – 3.6 miles there on road and a total of  6.3 miles before actually getting to the top of the braes.  Good day for it but my legs were quite tired by 10 miles – this has been quite an increase in mileage for me.

Total = 4.22 miles

Hoping for 50 next week – 7 miles with the club on Monday, five with Susan on Tuesday, 5-7 miles on Wednesday, 30 on Saturday and the remaining 3 or so either Thursday morning or on Sunday.  Going to take it easy on Thursday and Friday to make sure my legs have had a chance to recover from the increased mileage before the long run.

Monday 2nd January - 6.8 miles speed session with the club

Tuesday 3rd  – 4 miles and cross training and weights

Wednesday 4th  – cross training and weights

Thursday 5th – 5 miles hill session and cross training and weights

Friday 6th – 4 miles and cross training and weights

Sat 7th – 7.5 miles and cross training

Sun 8th – 12.7 miles with my sister-in-law from Milngavie to Drymen.  Her first every run on trail, she was fine with that but no so much with the cross-country across the field at Drymen, which must be the muddiest/water logged I’ve every seen it!

40 miles total

Plan for the next 2o weeks is below.  I was mainly focusing on getting the weekend runs put in, I’m also planning on the club and 1 or 2 other runs on Tues/Thurs including a hill session.

• Tried to come back from injury sensibly which really meant low mileage and not much effort
• Cateran Trail race
• DNF in late entry for WHW race
• Injured all summer after WHW race including while in Chamonix to run parts of UTMB
• A few park runs where I got faster for a few and then slower again
• Entered WHW race for 2012
• Yamaa Trust winter ultra
• Completed marcothon, although some days had to be the bare minimum 25 mins as knees were trashed after my fall on the winter ultra
• Disgustingly I’m finishing the year heavier than when it started

What I have only recently been able to admit is that when other areas of my life are stressful or super busy I don’t run well.  Whereas for other people running is their release and break from other things if I am emotionally, mentally and/or physically tired it affects my running too.   I obviously can’t focus too well on more than one or two  things at a time! However when I was thinking about how little I had done in terms of running this year I then turned to thinking about how much I have done/started in my career and that this, by no design really, has obviously been my focus this year and I wouldn’t have changed any of that.  There is a bit more achievement in this list for this year:

• Applied for, interviewed and got new job as principal teacher
• Applied for, interviewed and got accepted onto Scottish Qualification for Headship masters course
• Got through another HMIE inspection
• Completed Unit 1 SQH
• Applied for and organised Malawi HT and DHT coming over to Scotland
• Went back to Malawi again
• Took on Acting Depute Head post in my school

I’ll take that!!!  Looking forward to 2012 being a great challenge in my job as I carry on the acting depute post and keep studying for the SQH (which is really hard work – and loads of it) but just hoping that I can manage my time more to fit in the running too and at least for a while there will be no more things to apply for!  I think Neal would say the word I have used most in the last year is ‘tired’ and hoping I can change that!  He is away until the middle of March so lots of time for me to focus on studying while he is not here as well as running.  Hopefully he’ll see a difference when he gets back!

As usual, running has been a bit up and down this last month but I have had some good runs and my main problem has been having to go out at night in the dark.  I don’t mind the cold once I’m out, I just hate the dark and restricted routes in the winter during the week.  I’m trying to get back to the club, go out with my sis-in-law once a week  and get back out again with Miss Pump to help on those nights.

First week in November I ran 4 times with a total of 24 miles.  As Debs has said we went up on the Kilpatricks with her and Sharon that Saturday and they were very gentle with me!!  Seriously, they were great at going at my, very slow for them, pace, keeping my company and having a stream of chat!

Struggled to get out at night the next week and only did the parkrun (slow time, feeling rubbish) and 19 miles on the WHW which JK has already blogged about.  I felt great for the first half of that run, especially on the downhills through Crianlarich Forest but the wheels came off spectacularly after Tyndrum.  It was no surprise when I came down with a cold a couple of days later.

Only did about 20 miles over the next 2 weeks and then it was the start of the Marcothon.  I am determined to do this this year and on the 1st and 2nd I just did the 3 miles each day as Andrew Murray’s/Yamaa Trust 28 mile ultra was on Saturday.

Thomas and Silke were coming up with us on the Friday night and we were staying in the cabins at the MacDonald hotel in Kinlochleven.  The drive up was almost as bad as it could get in terms of weather and the thought of that climb out of Kinlochleven in the morning was not appealing!  I seem to have blocked it out of my memory but I think when we actually went to register it was just very windy not actually raining/snowing etc.  Met my brother and sister-in-law there, this was his birthday present from me, his first ultra and he had only done one half marathon before but he just was not that interested in a marathon and he put in the training…and bought all the gear, well apart from borrowing Neal’s jacket that is.  I would have been far more gutted for him if it was cancelled than I would have been for me.  It was also Neal’s birthday present from me but that didn’t exactly go to plan and he spent the day supporting Thomas, Silke and I!

Silke and I started together and stayed together for the first four miles.  We made our way up from Kinlochleven with Kenny and Adrian and it was nice to get some chat.  I managed to keep my sights on Adrian, although increasingly further and further in the distance for about 2/3 of the race which I found very comforting for some reason!  At about 4 miles Silke stopped to tie her shoelace and I carried on as it was too cold to stand about and wait and I was sure she was going to catch me on the uphills still to come.  However that was the last I saw of her and I spent the rest of the race by myself and in the same position. 

I enjoyed the run down the Devil’s Staircase, I was able to do it faster than I thought I would be as it wasn’t too slippy.  Neal (and my mum and dad) were at the bottom but I didn’t stop.  It was too cold to stop really and I was kind of in my groove plus the weather had been ok to this point, apart from windy, and I wanted to get as much done in the dry as possible.  There had been some stunning views from the hill and at that point it looked like it was nice over Rannoch Moor so I wanted to get there as soon as possible.  I think the bit from Altnafeadh to Kingshouse is much nicer this way round and I enjoyed that part.  Didn’t stop at Kingshouse either, just walked through having some food from my Dad and did the same at the ski centre.  I don’t think Neal was very impressed with his supporting role today, with his ankle he could not even walk fast enough to keep up with me while I ate.

I kept going well over the first 1/2 or 2/3 of Rannoch Moor but I was having some problems with my breathing, not the throat problem yet just breathing/asthma problems.  Of course it was pointed out to me I should have taken my blue inhaler which I did have with me but for some reason it never even occurred to me.  This meant I was struggling to keep running for any length of time but I was having a bit of a competitive streak today and didn’t want to get overtaken so was fairly disciplined about getting going again after short walks.  About 2/3 way across the moor the weather turned pretty brutal with snow and hail come down heavily.  My top half was warm enough with my Gore jacket on, I just had full length leggings on but decided I would need my waterproof trousers on for going over the hill at Victoria Bridge.  Neal met me at the house/gate at Victoria Bridge and gave me potato which I ate while going round to the bottom of the hill where I stopped only to pull on the trousers (which I was carrying, just waited till then to put them on) and change my gloves. 

Neal told me at this point my brother was not far in front of me because he had suffered really badly from cramp from Kingshouse on which was a real shame as he had been really enjoying it up till then.  I think there were a variety of reasons he might have got it but he’s never had it before and was finding it pretty hard going.  I stomped up the hill trying to keep the pace going as I really didn’t want to lose a place now!  Thomas was with Neal when I got to BoO, having been dropped off by my dad and I barely stopped there again apart from to ask Thomas how he got on but walked up to the road eating my potato again.  This was probably the best I have done for food in a race/long run.  I ate four pancakes between Kinlochleven and Kingshouse, 1/2 a custard pot walking up from there (didn’t like it as too sweet for me) and potato at the ski centre, Victoria Bridge and BoO. 

I never did catch my brother as after Tyndrum I really slowed up myself.  I got my throat problem again, bang on cue at 20 miles, I lost the will to live a bit and the weather turned even more brutal.  I was still warm enough, apart from my hands and feet, but it was so windy in your face and snowy it was hard to keep going at any pace.  I did quite a bit of walking around the farm but after that I was trying to talk tough to myself and get running again.  So I did but on the first step I fell…and I mean really fell, I went flying!  I bashed my knees, elbows, hands and possibly my ankles considering the serious swelling I have had in them since then.  I got up right away and kept going but that was just adreneline, and the fear of being caught!  I had to stop a minute later as I was in serious pain, especially in my hands, I think just because they were so cold.  I was also distraught to find I had ripped my brand new North Face waterproof trousers as well as the leggings underneath.  But the thing I was most upset about was possibly not being able to do the Marcothon if I had seriously hurt my knees!

I cried and staggered my way through the next 1/2 mile I think and then just tried to keep  the running going.  Luckily it’s pretty easy that way from the hill after the railway bridge and I was very aware there was someone not far behind me so that kept me going.  I’m really pleased with most of my run – till BoO anyway and even after that I managed to keep going on a lot of it.  I spent a lot of it trying to bring down (gradually) the average pace after the slow start from KLL and this helps at giving my something to focus on.  It slowed again unfortunately at Victoria Bridge and I didn’t get it back down to it’s best again after that.

Still I finished in 6.26, still slow I know but given all of the hills, the weather conditions and my fall I am pretty pleased, particularly with how focused I was for the first 20 miles and the last 2!

Thanks to Neal and my mum and dad (my dad may moan about how we are all mad etc but he can’t miss it!!!) for supporting and all the fabulous marshalls and organisers.  That was a really hard shift to be marshalling on!

Oh and I’m still in the Marcothon by the bare minimum.  I’ve done 25 mins on the treadmill the last three days, Sunday and Monday were just a shuffle really with my knees and ankles not feeling great but today was much better so I do not think I’ve done anything serious.

Did 4 miles on Wednesday all within Bellahouston Park, doing hill reps.  I didn’t exactly just do reps up and down, I did loops round different hills, going up, around and down and didn’t let myself stop which was good for me and then I went round to the steps and did 5 reps up and down.

Yesterday I did the parkrun in Pollock Park, well known for being a hilly route and took 1 min and 15 secs off my pb with my sis-in-law taking 30 secs off hers too. It’s still nowhere near what I should be running but at least it’s still going in the right direction- and every time so far as well.

Today Neal and I went out and did 20 miles on the WHW- Drymen to 3 miles beyond Balmaha and back, going back over Conic Hill again.  On our way down Conic the first time there was a huge bunch of cub scouts going up and they were a bit stunned to see us – well they were even more stunned when they saw us going up again when they were on their way down.  I also got some really strange looks stomping up eating sweet potato!

It’s always tough going back up that way again especially after 13 miles already and once up already and the average pace for the run overall really doesn’t reflect how hard I worked over the whole run, which is a bit annoying.  I then really wanted under 5 hrs (sounds so long for 20 miles but trying to remember the hills!) and so was at near breaking point over the last 4 miles trying to do it, good practice I suppose!

Drymen – Balmaha – 1hr 40mins, 7 miles, 14.26m/m pace

Balmaha – Balmaha – 6 miles, 1hr 23 mins, 13.57m/m pace

Balmaha – Drymen – 1hr 50mins, 7 miles, 15.55m/m pace

Total – 20 miles, 4.57.50,14.55m/m pace

It was quite good to arrive at the weekend and be able to settle in more leisurely. There were football and netball matches at another school nearby so we, and a cast of about 100 kids, walked the 3.5 miles to the school to watch. We left about 10am and got back at 6.30pm! It is quite usual for so many kids to go and watch their school teams and I love that – a real community and school spirit and they get so into it, although I think with A and B games of both netball and football I think even they were getting a bit fed up by the end! Most wear their school uniform to go too, which adds to the school spirit.

Most bring fried maize kernels although that was a long time for that to keep them going but what they don’t have is a lot to drink through the day. There was a bore hole on the way which some stopped at and one at the school but many had nothing to drink all day. It’s often commented I think how the Kenyan and Ethiopian runners drink nowhere near as much as us and I guess it’s the same here, they just don’t seem to need it. I was pleased to see that this time the girls were wearing ¾ length leggings under their school skirts to play netball. They have never done that before and it used to make them very self-conscious (understandably) while playing. It’s a game with much more physical contact there than here, although it must work as their national team is one of the best in the world.

On the way there and back I was surrounded by children and it was not long until they were asking to go jogging, jogging so since I can’t resist what they ask of me on every downhill and some straights we were running with me in a skirt, goodness knows what shoes, big hat, sunglasses and bag. It probably totalled a couple of miles and they loved it, singing all the way back. Every day after that I ran with the children as they would always come and ask to go out. We only went around the village really as I could not explain anything else to them and I wouldn’t know where I was going! As usual though it was one of my highlights as we had so much fun doing it. After it every day I would play chases with them and that gave me a bit more exercise and some speed work although I felt very unfit compared to them. I would gather them round me and shout 1, 2, 3, GO and then chase them so they would ask for the game by saying that to me! It was good to go round the village with them as then children who stayed further away would come and join in and then come back to the pitches with us afterwards and join us for chases, bubbles, ball games etc.

I felt that things were a lot better in the village since I was there 2 years ago; more children seemed to have shoes and drawstring bags for their books. They also looked healthier – there were no distended stomachs that I saw this time. Plus more people had bikes and one person in the village even owns a pick-up truck now. Hopefully this continues, I know they have had 3 years of good harvests now but it would only take one bad one to set things back again. They have still been being helped by concentrated aid as well; world vision are helping get children, especially girls into secondary school, they are building 2 more teachers houses and provided a wheelchair for this child, whom when I was there before had to drag himself around on the ground which I found very distressing.

There was one emotional moment for me before leaving though. Two years ago I had a baby named after me, born the same day I arrived and I went back to see her, taking some clothes and shoes with me for her. However she wasn’t part of the success story I was seeing elsewhere. When her mum brought her in she was all wrapped up and still looked liked a baby and when she was unwrapped she was long but very thin and just did not look well and I was told later by the HT that she has been consistently ill. He said he suspects HIV. She is also unable to hear so far although the doctor apparently said this may come back. It was a bit of a shock and she was certainly the sickest child I saw while I was there this time.

On the Saturday morning we walked into Mayani trading town, which is almost 5.5 miles away and went round the market etc. We had Patrick there, a kid who was at school the last time I was there, although about 15, but is now married with a baby. Life would appear to not have changed much for him, just like before he came and hung out with me every day but his wife I only saw when I went to visit the baby and she is so young still too. He told me he wanted to go back to school but of course that’s not possible now. Maybe, by the time his little girl goes to school she’ll have the chance to go to secondary. Anyway he decided to come back with us and he was pushing his bike with a big bag of maize on it. I felt so terrible that he was walking back with us (he would have been able to cycle the flats at least if he had not been with us) that I pushed the bike back with most of the way back – just not the last big downhill as I would have been crushed it would have been so hard to control. It was hard, hard work, not because it was so heavy but because it was so hard to keep upright. So anyway that was a good day of exercise – 11miles very hilly walking at a fast pace, half of it pushing a bike and on the hottest day we had! I felt that was a bit of a substitute for a long run at least!

We left the village that evening (later than planned as Billy the taxi driver had been queuing 7 hours in the capital waiting for a tanker to arrive with petrol) and of course again it was very emotional leaving the children. It was made only slightly easier this time as we were so anxious about the taxi actually arriving that that had taken over a bit and the fact it was dark when I left so I could not see the children so well. Still, it was hard and I didn’t really want to leave! Forty ones hours later, after being bumped off the first flight to make room for VIPS’s, which resulted in a long layover in Nairobi and an aborted flight from Amsterdam once in the air due to a funny unknown smell on the plane I got home, showered, dressed and went to work.

I spent the rest of the week going to bed at 8pm to try and recover and finally felt ok by the weekend. On Saturday Neal and I went to Queen Elizabeth Forest Park to run with the Glee Club. It ended up being 15 miles and it was great to get out and do that and has given me a bit of a confidence boost. I really enjoyed running somewhere new too.

A couple more photos:

I have done nothing yet this week in terms of running, that will have to wait till Malawi now, as have felt loaded with the cold and been frantic getting stuff ready.  However last week I ran 28 miles which is my most yet for quite a while.  That was 10 on Monday, 3 on Wednesday (disaster), 3 at park run on Saturday (a measly 13 secs off my time but at least it’s going the right way) and 12 on Sunday which I was really pleased with as I finished strongly.  Although I was not so strong on the midway hills!  Neal came and met me for the 2nd half and that did help but I was also passing near home and had a bit of a psychological dip there but was fine once past the halfway stage of that half!

I have still been wearing no watch or garmin, just planning out those longer routes on google pedometer before I go.  As I like to to know distances I am taking my garmin to Malawi but I know I am always way off the pace there anyway because of the altitude, dust etc so won’t really be paying any attention to that.

I have just applied for the Yamaa trust run in December from Kinlochleven to Tyndrum,  it’s unfortuntate I will be missing 2 weekends while away for longer runs but should still have enough time.  What I am finding very excting is that I have applied for my brother as well (he does know!).  He was looking at marathons but they don’t really appeal and he was thinking of the Fling so this is ideal.  I’m looking forward to seeing how he enjoys it.

I also did the Glasgow Pollock parkrun on Saturday for the first time.  My sis-in-law did it two weeks and I looked after the kids and then she looked after them on Saturday and my brother and I ran.  What a fab event and although my time was quite rubbish it at least gives me something to work on.   It’s certainly a pretty hilly route and I know I really need to work on my hills!  I pretty much kept my place though as I was getting overtaken on the ups and then overtaking them on the downhill…and it finished on a downhill! We’re all going to take it in turns looking after the kids to keep doing it.

As I said in the title I have not worn a watch for any of these runs, including the parkrun which felt very strange and I’m not sure I liked that!  It is helping though as it would be too depressing to see my time if I had it on.  I’ve been doing routes that I know the distance of so that at least I can tally that up.  I am planning to build distance and pace up and get back to the club at the beginning of November.

I mentioned before that I felt my breathing was pretty rough all summer and I finally had my appointment at the respiratory clinic at the RAH after being referred by my doctor.  The doctor was very helpful, I had to do various tests and describe everything that has been happening to me and at least it felt like someone was listening at last!  She bumped me up from a level 2 grade asthmatic to level 3 (goes up to 6) and so has increased and changed my preventative inhaler and told me to keep trying to take the blue one before I start running. 

As for my long standing throat problem she thinks it might be a reflux problem, whereby it affects some people quite severely.  This is because (if I am remembering this rightly) in pre-historic days we/our ancestors had no voice box and so if they were going to be sick the stomach produced acid to prevent them choking.  I rarely feel sick when running, except after speed sessions/hard efforts but this could apparently still be it as in some people the brain thinks this is going to happen and produces the acid.  So I have been given tablets to try and stop the production of acid and have another appointment in 3 months to see if it has helped. 

I’m not totally convinced as I have not noticed any difference yet but it would take a long, long run to know for sure.  I’m still getting some of the same reactions as I previously had though.  The tablet is called Omeprazole and I’m taking 20mg a day in case anyone is interested/knows anything else!

The SQH (Standard for Headship) I’m doing which should lead to a masters is taking up a lot of my spare time so I am finding it difficult to fit everything in but am trying to be well planned and time manage with a work/life balance – it certainly makes me feel better being out running again!  I’m also off to Malawi again a week on Thursday which has totally crept up on me and is slightly, well more than slightly, panicking me as I’m not ready!  I’m going out as part of the partnership with my previous school at my previous head teacher’s request.  I’m hoping to set up a new partnership with a nearby school for my new school though and hoping to run again out there as I did before!

I have written a pretty personal blog post on my other blog which touches on Malawi and some other stuff and shows why I am going to try and not get too hung up on not getting my running back to where it was previously/or better – if anyone is interested you can find it here.