Mugdock Madness

I met Athole, Ali Winship and Ian Mennie for some post Christmas madness along the trails of Mugdock.  Cool.  After yesterday my trail shoes had more water than the whole of southern England in them so I could use my road shoes.  Although if I knew that Ian was coming I may have just went with the trail shoes.  Ian is an off road specialist and loves to run off the trail and today was his route.  The pace was faster than the boxing day run which suited me fine and I was glad that I felt no ill effects from the day before.  It wasn't long before Ian had us off the trail and I was jumping puddles and mud like a deranged ballerina.   All good fun.  I spoke to Ian about the Scottish Islands Peaks Race and also a route that he is trying to arrange that involves trains.  The plan is to take the train to Tulloch station and then run over 2 munros to Corrour station before the train comes back.  The plan sounds great and I signed up for it immediately.  Athole then asked him how the timings for the return train would be and Ian replied that we should have about 10 minutes to spare.  This in his view made it more fun.  Back to today's run.  It was a good run and I was pretty pleased to do 10 miles although nowhere near Debbie (and Lesley's) planned 16 miles for today.  Oh well, it's Christmas.  :-) .  Got back to the car with another set of soaking trainers.  Will send to southern England if anyone needs them.

Soaking Stoneymollan

I was really looking forward to getting out on this run with Paul today and we had arranged it weeks in advance.  The idea was for a tough hill session.  Something that would really test us, would separate the men from the boys.  A real blood sweat and tears run.  Paul arrived a little bit later and by that time the lure of the XBox had called.  With Debbie at work I had the house to myself and took full advantage of it.  Well after my chores. ;-)

Anyway in the end our 9am run ended up an early afternoon one, thumbs sore from XBox footy.  (which I won).  I had had a cold so wasn't full of beans for this and the weather was pretty miserable as well.  So I decided to pick the old faithful Stoneymolan route.  Something not too hard but also a good intro to Paul for what the Scottish Islands race may be like.

It's a great wee 7.5 mi run behind Alexandria with fantastic views over Loch Lomond when it is actually clear.  For Paul and I it wasn't with wind and rain and very wet under foot.  I think that Paul recognised the fact that he might need to spend some money on a nice shiny pair of trail shoes.  The route down takes in the Stoneymolan Road which is a good downhill section as the photo shows.

Time taken 1:07:51

 

Boxing Day Blues

 

Distance : 12.00 mi.

Time :  1:45:00 (8:45/mi.)

Weather : 8.9C

Equipment : Asics trubuco 10

Total for week 52:  17.40 mi.

 

After yesterdays food and drink extravaganza it was back to normal training today and an attempt to try to burn off yesterdays turkey.

As usual with the Garscube Boxing day runs we meet at 12 noon in an attempt to get over the drink from yesterday or in Robert MacFarlane's case for him to digest the 5 selection boxes he normally eats on Christmas Days.

Not as many people turned up this year, just the usual suspects and Paul who is up visiting for the Christmas period.  Debbie took some photos of the start with her new camera and for a moment I thought that she would take it on the run with her.

We all started at the Kirkhouse Inn in Strathblane and immediately headed up a steep hill towards the Carbeth Huts.  Nothing like a hill to blow away yesterday's cobwebs.  Paul and I decided to head towards Milngavie for a bit and use the tap at the huts for a little hangover re-hydration and then caught back up with the group.

The pace is nice and easy on these runs and is a great social event giving everyone time to talk.  Slow runners and fast runners showing off their shiney new Christmas presents.  By the time we where at the Beach Tree Inn the shiney new Christmas gear wasn't so shiney anymore.

At Killearn there is a big hill where we leave the West Highland Way and join the track along the Campsies and back to Strathblane.  The hill is a long incline and the group always separates here but we all stop for a breather at the top.

It was the first time that I have run with Paul on a longer run and it was good to see that he coped well with it.  We are running the Scottish Islands race next May and will have to get used to running together.

Knightswood Mile Reps

 

Distance : 5.40 mi.

Time :  42:01 (7:47/mi.)

Weather : 7.8C

Equipment : Saucony trigon 4

Total for week 52:  5.40 mi.

 

Back to Knightswood for the mile reps session.  This time Paul joined Debbie and me.

Between reps I had a bigger rest than last time so was able to go around faster.  I was wondering whether the rest time that I was doing before was perhaps too short.  Anyway I got a new record lap of 5:04.  Paul did well for his first time on this session and even managed 4 of them.

rep times : 5:08, 5:07, 5:04, 5:06

'ice to meet you all

Distance : 24.60 mi.

Time :  unknown (messed up the watch)

Weather : ICey cold

Equipment : Asics trubuco 10

Total for week 51:  44.97 mi.

At last it was time to run another section of the West Highland Way with the guys.  And get a chance to run with Ian Beattie and John Kynaston.  I know Ian from working with him years ago, but I had never met John.  It was weird meeting him and felt like I was meeting a film star, as I had only seen (and heard) him on the internet.

Debbie and I were a bit on the late side for the run, so didn't get there in time for the photo opportunity.  Nevermind, as soon as we got there it was straight into the run. Just as well, as it was freezing.  The weather all week had been cold and now a front had come in bringing rain, which froze on contact with the cold ground.

I started the run with the front group, but after stopping for a toilet break restarted at the back again.  Debbie was in-between the fast and slow group by herself, so I decided to run with her for a bit.  The route was treacherous and I was wondering how long it would be before someone got hurt.  A few of the group decided to call it a day but not Debbie and I.  Part of these runs is to increase endurance, but also part of it is mental toughness.  Not sure whether this run was increasing that or my stupidity levels.  By Drymen Debbie opted to  head straight back towards Milngavie, but I decided to run into the village and meet up with the fast group - who were having something to eat in the Pottery cafe.  When I got there they were just leaving so I got a flapjack and almond slice to take away.  It came in a fish and chip box, which must  have looked weird as I ran through Drymen

I managed to get some time speaking to Ian and John and we spoke about whether it was a good idea to still do speed work while training for the WHW.  They are the experts on it and really did suggest that the speed training should take a back seat if you should do it at all.  I didn't really agree as the last time I cut back on speed sessions to concentrate on long runs I felt all my running suffered.  Not just short stuff.  I do agree that the long runs becomes more important though.  It is great being on these runs, because you get to see other peoples view points and although there are not any rights or wrongs there is better ways of doing training.  It's just a case of finding what they are because everyone is different and responds to the training differently.

We passed Debbie at Dumgoyach where I started to feel that Gavin was picking up the pace.  (yeah Gavin, I am blaming you.  I am sure it was just as much my fault). 

It felt great to finish off strong and I had the ultimate compliment from John at the end.  He said that I should aim for under 20 hours for the WHW race.  I couldn't believe it and was slightly embarrassed.  Now the pressure is on, I just hope I don't blow up.

Some links to blogs of people on the run below.

Debbies blog on the run

Ian Beatties Blog on the run

John Kynastons Blog on the run

Tims blog on the run

Who's the new girl??

Distance : 6.71 mi.

Time :  43:46 (6:31 / mi.)

Weather : 3.9C

Equipment : Saucony trigon 4

Total for week 51:  20.37 mi.

 

Another freezing day, so it was definitely time to try my new running tights.  Even in cold weather I get far too warm so I bought a pair of  3/4 length ones.  Yes you know the ones that woman all wear.  These ones are definitely made for men and I had even seen another guy with a pair on so I thought what the hell.  Anyway on a serious side the main reason I got them was my quads get stiff in the cold and my hamstrings can get tight as well.

After some strange looks and presenting Lesley with a basket of goodies from everyone at the club it was onto the run.  Went out with Alex and Mark.  The pace seemed a bit slow at first, not because I was getting fitter but because I had a sense that Mark and Alex had had one to many sherbets over the festive period.  After about 2 - 3 miles I picked up the pace and pushed away a bit but they caught me again with a couple of miles to go, so I pushed again and managed to hold them off.  I caught up with wee Robert and he raced me to the finish so I was pleased to push the last bit.  Met Athole at the end who said to me "I saw you going past earlier and wondered who the new girl was" in reference to my new tights.

Fffreezin' ma bits aff

Distance : 5.00 mi.

Time :  32:48 (6:34 / mi.)

Weather : 5C (Felt much colder)

Equipment : Saucony trigon 4

Total for week 51:  13.66 mi.

 

It was bitterly cold this morning and Debbie had made the right move and gone to the gym.  I was wanting to run an 8 mile route with the last 15 minutes hard but I had a training course today and didn't want to be late.  I only ran 5 miles but did it at a good pace.  Left quad still stiff.  It is definitely the cold that is affecting it.