Glass Slippers

So at last it is now the last part of my training before the race. The dreaded taper. Well actually I have been looking forward to the taper. There are many theories about why we should and shouldn't taper but really who cares.
I am just looking forward to all the spare time I now have as I don't have to run 30 miles and instead can have long lies in my bed. So Debbie would have me doing DIY but I decided to put the spare time to even better use.
I decided to take a page out of Billy the Shoes book and make my own shoes.
Billy the Shoes Blog

And so I started with the soles.

...But then I got really bored. Making shoes is not my thing. Sorry Billy. I can't make Pimped-up Primark Plimsoles.

So it was back onto the world wide web thing and the Nike Web site.

Nike have a service where you can design your own shoes. It is called NikeID

NikeID

And so 3 weeks later and UPS delivered a box from China. My carbon footprint though is massive.... Check where the box went on its way here..

So excitedly I rushed home today to find a pretty cool box waiting for me to open.

Check these things out....

They are based on Nike Pegasus Trail. You can customise just about anything on them. The colours, whether you have Gore-Tex or not, what type of grip, what level of cushioning and of course the writing on the front.

So I will have a couple of test runs in them although being based on my normal training road shoe I shouldn't have too many problems with them.

Flinging out my Ultra Ghosts

I remembered it well. It was a cold February morning and Thomas the Crazy German and I had met at 6am to run on the Kilpatrick Hills. The idea was to get a 20 miler in before Silke's Birthday party at 11am that day. It was cold and dark and Thomas was telling me he didn't do morning runs. To cheer us up I started to imagine winning a WHW race and so I said to the Crazy German. " Just imagine us on the podium. I am first and you are second." As we climbed the hills we laughed. I am sure we both were thinking to ourselves "Yeah right. As if that ever could happen"

Highland Fling Race 24th April 2010

Results
Garmin Connect Running Log

I wasn't too serious about running the Fling. The plan has all been about the WHW race in June and so I didn't schedule in a proper taper. The weekend before the race I ran 26 miles on the hills and then 12 steady on the Sunday. Then 2 speed sessions before my body started to complain and I took the Thursday off. On Friday I felt fine so did an easy 5 miler and some strides. My plan was just to get through the Fling and be able to walk the next day. Unlike the year before when I couldn't straighten my legs on the Sunday.

I felt a bit bad when I was telling my support team, John and Rob that I wasn't too serious and this was all about testing things for the WHW. I hope that they didn't mind giving up their Saturday to test things and not properly race.

We arrived in Milngavie with plenty of time to register. I was annoyed because I was getting nervous. It's just a training run. Stop worrying, I told myself. I walked up to registration, got my chip and walked back to the car and sat down. I wasn't even that bothered if I missed the start. "I'll just start at the back anyway" I thought.

John was on the phone to John McLaughlin's support team. I could hear him saying "I bet you a pint of beer that my Garscube runner beats your Springburn runner"
"Oh God John, no" I thought. I will never beat John McL today.

Off to the start and I had to forget the starting at the back. There was pacing signs up so I just went into the middle and stood there. I spoke to Drama Queen for a bit and then we were off.

So off I jogged on. I could see the leaders tearing off into the distance and this year it wasn't me. I didn't even feel the need to. I had a pace set out for the first leg to Drymen. 1:38 was the time I wanted. Last year I did 1:27.

There are people this year that I owe a lot of time and effort to. Mark Johnston has been a major help getting a schedule and training plan together. Teaching me how to relax and pace myself. Graeme from Hampden has helped get training HR zones sorted. I knew that if I screw up this and the WHW again that I wouldn't only be letting myself down but also these guys and the others that have helped and put up with my constant ramblings about the WHW and training. Yes, my poor wife being the one that has to put up with it the most.

And so on I jogged. I walked up the first hill. I talked to Dave Waterman. I ran with Gavin who kept saying that he was slowing me down. Not true Gavin you were going too quick for me at that point. I said hello to Brian who asked why I was so far back. You see if you don't know me then you won't know that I am well known for going away too quickly and blowing up. Only to limp broken to the end.

Beech Trees already. I just kept to my 8 minute mile pace and walked the hills. I felt a bit of a fraud. Here I was in a race yet I was just taking my time and dare I say enjoying it. Never had that feeling before. My stomach was sore though. Maybe I was eating too much.

I met my support. No rush getting changed and fuelling up. I get overtaken by someone. I don't care. I am relaxed.

Onto Drymen now. Walk the hills, enjoy the view, talk to people. The field is more spread out and so I do something I have never done before. I listen to music. Why not. Scott Bradley does it and I remember the WHW briefing in January when Scott said "If you don't enjoy it, you are going too fast" That will be my mantra today.

Drymen. Bang on time. I feel a bit lethargic but also I don't feel like I have ran at all. I see Caroline and Murdo. They cheer me through and I feel a bit embarrassed. My support team tell me I am the 17th senior through the checkpoint and it is then I start to have doubts. Perhaps I took this relaxing a bit too far. What happens if I still get slower later and end up hours over my PB. "No Marco, stick to your plan."

As if by magic I start to pass people as we head towards Conic. I am not running any faster. I continue to walk the hills. But something funny is happening. I am walking at the same pace up the hills as people are running. I think that all the training that I do where I walk hills is paying off. I am still not racing just keeping one foot going in front of the other.

I overtake another couple of guys at the top of Conic. They get competitive and tear past me on the way down. I let them go. No use racing at this point. One of them falls but he is okay and continues on.

I start to pass 7 am starters. One of them has pulled something and I ask if he is okay. He has pulled a muscle but is nearly at Balmaha where he can get help. So off I go.

I end up in Balmaha in 1hour 2 mins from Drymen. This isn't actually a bad time. But still I felt good.

Off I head towards Rowardennan. Although I am running slower I seem to be getting to places faster. Not faster time wise but faster in my head. I must be enjoying this. I overtake more people. Its as if people are running in slow motion. I am used to people passing me by now but nobody does and I continue on. Salochy bay already?? My support team are there and it is getting warm now. "Just give me some water" I ask.
They tell me that I am in 5th or 6th position. I start to think that there must be a mistake. I haven't started to race yet.
I catch up with Ian Beattie and I shout something about poo to him. But I see that he is not having a good time at the moment. I go past and hope that he feels better soon.

At Rowardennan I meet loads of people. I have been in my own bubble with my music for miles now and the noise confused me. People shouting "Well done" and "Come on Marco". I didn't know where to look and just wanted away. Everyone was wanting my number for some reason but I couldn't remember it.
It dawned on me that they wanted to find my drop bag. "I have a support team" I murmured.
John and Rob handed me my rucksack. It would be a long time before I met them again. My race head surfaced. I wanted a quick turnaround here as I knew most runners would be refuelling and getting ready for the long way ahead. I tried to be as quick as possible.
I was still bang on my splits.

Rowardennan
27 miles
3 hrs 53 minutes

I left Rowardennan with Keith. I love his accent and he kept saying "Your doing well mate". I was shaking my head. I am just having a training run.

I went on and turned a corner. There was a runner in a red top. It was Kenny Valentine. A very good runner and someone I didn't expect to see today. Within moments I was right behind him and I actually think that I gave him a fright. I went past but expected to see him later again. The first thoughts came to me that maybe I was doing well.

There are big long hills after Rowardennan and again I walked them. I fully expected Kenny to appear and run past me but he didn't. I walked every hill again keeping up with people running the hills. Then overtaking them on the flat or downhills. Richie once said that when it is easy push when it isn't take it easy. I was flying downhills without trying. My legs were strong. I couldn't believe that I had done 30 miles already.

I passed Graeme Reid and he said I was in the top 4. Really? It still wasn't registering.

I wonder where everyone else is? Was Debbie doing well? Where was Sharon and the Crazy German? John K? Andy Birnie? John McL? What about Silke on her first ultra? I was sure we had worked out that I would meet her at Rowardennan. She must be having a brilliant run as I hadn't seen her yet.

I looked up and saw the powerstation across the Loch. It is one of the landmarks I look out for to let me know when I am nearly at Inversnaid. "Wow. Nearly there already"

I just ran straight through Inversnaid. Runners seemed to be sitting about stretching or pouring water over themselves. "Bah, you are wasting time" I thought. Then I remembered the state I was in when I did the WHW last year at this point.

Between Inversnaid and Beinglas a large section of the way is hard to run on. For the first time I started to struggle with the extra effort required to go over all the boulders. It is expected though. Whether you are training or racing this distance you will have low points and high points. A packet of Jelly Babies later and I was away again.
Every 30 minutes I was eating something. An alarm on my watch would keep reminding me but as it got warmer it got harder to eat. I also wasn't drinking enough and this would affect me later on.

I passed Rachel and Karen from Garscube. Both doing their first ultras and looking like they were just going out for a wee jog.

Still I was amazed at the speed I was now going between checkpoints. Before I knew it I was at Beinglas in 6hrs 16min 14 seconds. Last year I had got here in 6 hours 16min 44 seconds. My whole aim for today was to get to Beinglas in the exact same time as last year but still be able to run. How was that for pacing? I had run 40 odd miles and was only 30 seconds out from my plan.

In my head I calculated that the remaining 12 miles would take 2 hours. If I could run it. This year I could run it. A PB was on.

Everyone was getting very excited. My support team especially. I tried to keep focused. "Marco, you are having a blinder" "Your only 2 minutes from Thomas" "Your in 3rd position" and then the bombshell.... "Richie has dropped out". I sank. We are all meant to be competitive but the difference with ultra running is that we are all members of a close community. We text each other, we train together, we go to each others houses for dinner. In short we look after each other and we don't want to see anyone get injured or drop out.
I hoped that he was okay and wasn't injured. Maybe he is just fatigued and it isn't his day.

Where the heck is Silke?

I ran up most of the hill out of Beinglas. Last year I was nearly sick on this hill. I stopped listening to music and started talking to people again. The sun was shining I was RUNNING!!! What a beautiful day.

Then I saw a Bella top in the distance. It was Andy Birnie and he was going through a bad patch. Still he was on a good time for his first ultra. I asked if he needed anything but he had some guys running beside him. He looked sore and uncomfortable but I knew he would finish. I just hoped that he would give it another go in the future.

I passed more people. Everyone of them telling me that I was in for a podium finish. Still I didn't believe them. To be honest I didn't much care. I had my plan and I was sticking to it.

Past the Beinglas farm and hundreds of cows and my support met me at the Crianlarich junction. I felt great. They were calling my name and I was still RUNNING. I needed water though and food was getting hard to swallow. I was a getting dehydrated and too warm.

Through the woods, up and down the hills. I hate this bit and although it felt faster today I could feel it sapping my strength. The lack of food in the last 12 miles was taking it's affect and I could feel my body slowing. But still I was catching people. I saw John Kennedy in the distance and caught up with him.
If John Kennedy was about I didn't think that John McLaughlin from Springburn would be far in front. Maybe I will win that pint for John after all.

Passing John Kennedy must have spurred him on as he stayed with me until the end. In fact he pushed me on as I now felt like walking more and more due to running low on energy and not being able to eat anymore.

My support were at the A82 cross over. "Debbie finished in 9:40" they shouted. I was so pleased. That was a fantastic time and must be high up in the female finishers.

At the wigwams I dumped my bumbag. It's no use to me if I can't eat anymore. I pushed on. John was shouting me, giving me encouragement and I tried to run faster.
Still I wasn't racing. I didn't care that Thomas was in front. If anyone beat me then I would always be chuffed that it was the Crazy German.
I ran, walked along this last section. Annoyed that this was my worst section just at the finish. Wishing that I had eaten just a bit more and been able to run that last 3 miles stronger.

Into the woods at Tyndrum I decided to walk a small section. Regain my energy for a running finish. But Rob was out and shouting "Come on Marco!"

I started to run and it was easy. I ran through the river and past the piper.
Running staring at the ground through the finish. The fabulous finish with flags. I looked up. There was loads of people looking at me. Debbie was there too. We hugged each other and Murdo shouted she was top 3 female. Fantastic I thought. That was great news. What about me? Murdo was away before I could ask.

Thomas was there. He was 2nd. What was your time? Was I close? No way, the Crazy German got 8:09, a fabulous time. My time was 8:22. A 30 minute PB and I felt brilliant.
Later on I found out I was 3rd fastest too.

So Thomas in 2nd, me in 3rd, Lucy 1st female, Sharon 2nd and Debbie 3rd there was a lot of people I knew on the podium. Jez Bragg was there to present the prizes too which was great.

Garscube even won the Female team prize.

Where the heck is Silke though? Well transpires I did pass Silke at Rowardennan but she was having a comfort break. During the race I had gone from Where is Silke? to Silke is doing very well to Silke is having a fantastic run to Silke must be winning to Silke went off to fast to Silke must have dropped out. In the end she finished just before the awards to see Thomas pick up his trophy.

Lessons Learnt

While in the pub my support team told me a story that while waiting for me at Beinglas someone asked who they were supporting. They said Marco and the person replied "Bah he will blow up"
Anyone that knows me will know that was how I raced. But it was different this time and the D33 earlier this month and both times I ran better than ever before. It is good to hear people say that I paced it well etc and I hope I have banished those ghosts for good. But the West Highland Way is a race not a training run. Will I be able to hold back or will the person at Beinglas be correct in the long run. A good debate to have while John sipped his free pint.

There was also a lot of debate before this race about pacing. On one side we had people saying go fast at the start and on the other people saying go slow.
Both ways work for certain people but I think that the slow start works for a lot more people than the fast start.
To me personally the fast start is too risky. I have now ran in seven ultras 4 of them fast starts and 3 of them slow starts. 2 out of the 3 slow starts I have placed high up but more importantly recovered quickly from it. Out of the 4 fast starts I placed high in one of them but in the long run I failed to recover well and so took far too long to train for the next one.
I am sure this debate will continue on for a long time

Something though that isn't so clear cut is should we taper for an ultra. I the Thursday before the Fling off running. It was my first day off since the day after the D33. On Friday I was out running and doing Strides. I have tried the long taper and I find that I feel like I am de-training. Certainly for the WHW I will have a bit more rest and won't be doing 38 miles the week before but for races of 50 miles and less I am not sure. Would I have been faster if I tapered for this or would I have been slower. I will never know.

I need to have emergency food that I can eat when I can't eat anymore. Maybe bananas might be better. Something to try in training.

Anyway this blog is too long. Sorry about that. I just want to say thank you to Rob and John. Fantastic support. To Murdo, Ellen and all the Fling marshals for making this one of the best races ever and of course all the guys that have congratulated me.
Now time to come down from cloud 9 and back to WHW training. :-)

Jack Shirley Memorial Handicap and 2009

The Jack Shirley Handicap race is held every year at around about Hogmany. It is in memorial of Jack who was killed in 1995 in a cycling accident and remembered fondly by Jon and Jude Austin who organise the race.
I had won the fastest time last year but I wasn't the fastest as Stephen Mulrine was but also happened to be first and so couldn't win both prizes. Not expecting the race to be ran today I did a 10 mile run yesterday and so when I arrived at just after 11 I was surprised to see a crowd had gathered already.

I was second last to start this year with Mulrine being the scratch runner. This year the race would be run backwards (not the runners but the course). This meant that the race would have a tough steep hill in the first mile. With no warm up and the freezing conditions I decided to take the first mile very easy and hopefully push the last section. A gradual descent past the Rangers Training ground and back to the start.

The first mile went well and the icy underfoot wasn't too bad. I had to run most of it on the road though so there was a lot of traffic dodging. As I came down from the first hill there is a stream to cross. This was very icy so I had to walk over it. At this point I could hear Stephen catching up with me. Damn, I had taken it to easy at the beginning. Back up another hill and again I took it easy. No point killing myself up these hills. The flat is coming and I want to be fresh for that. More sections of snow and ice and I nearly fell. Onto a flatter section and I could see that Stephen was at least 20 seconds behind me. Good he hasn't caught me up anymore and I still feel fresh.
Now onto the last big hill. It was completely iced up and I slid and flapped. But there was a narrow band of grit along the side that I managed to get purchase on. I started to pass some runners now. Down the hill it was still slidey and I had to take care on the bends. Slowing to a walking pace. Then I hit the gritted last road.
Wham... I started to feel as if I was flying. I passed more runners and looked at my watch. I was 5 minute mileing. It may have only been for a few moments but I was under that too. For a full mile there was no stopping me and then came the last corner, full of snow. Slowing back to a crawl (a painfully slow crawl) as I slid about in my DS Trainers.
Then the final push to the end.
I felt good but it would all count for nothing if Stephen was right behind me still.
He wasn't and I won the fastest time. 24:42. 10 seconds slower than last year and a minute slower than my best but still with the conditions I was pleased. I do have to admit that I liked running it the opposite way.

One thing I was very pleased with though was that I actually stuck to my tactics. The same ones I used during the Cross Countries late last year. Start conservatively and finish strong. It's working so far and feels a heck of a lot better than struggling at the end.

The pace is the green bar. Starting slow and finishing strong. (Mark you would be so pleased)

2009 Totals

Last year I had a few struggles but still managed to clock up 2178 miles. That is my highest yearly mileage yet. I am pretty pleased with that but my training during the year was rotten. I started off strong and fell apart. But I feel that I have learnt a lot and so I am planning ahead. I already have a plan that I am putting my finishing touches too. Last year I didn't have a plan. So that is a step in the right direction. I will post it soon.

Monthly mileage for 2009

One thing that I found interesting is the last two months, November and December. I haven't done a lot of long runs just consistent training and the mileage is some of the highest of the whole year. Compared to the months earlier in the year when most high mileage months consisted of long runs and inconsistent training. My new training plan is based more on consistency. Well only time will tell if it works or not.

West Districts Cross Country Championships

My Race according to Garmin

Results

Today was my 35th day in a row of continuous running. Time for a race to see how I am doing.

I ran the West Districts XC Championships and my new found vet status although hasn't helped make me win anything has made me wiser. Instead of running like a bat out of hell for the first half of a race and then wishing I was dead for the second half I am now trying to finish the first third fresh and then start to push from there. The last third is still sore but nowhere near what it used to be.
Last year I did this race the old way and was well up at the beginning but then slowly people overtook me including Thomas the crazy German as I puffed and panted to the end. Coming in placed 74th.
So this year I started at the back of the pack and worked my way up. After the first lap (2 miles) I honestly didn't feel that bad at all. What gave me even more of a boost was Debbie and Cairn had sneaked over to cheer me on so that was a very pleasant surprise. I had left her in the house after her long run and didn't expect them to come down to cheer me on. It was great and pushed me on for a bit.
Most of the race I had a battle with the same group of people. Another new situation for me as I am used to them all overtaking me. One moment I was in front then behind the group. Then in the middle. Back and forward we all battled.

Picture from Chris Upson's Flickr Website
Mens Photos Womans Photos Chris Upsons Blog

I finished feeling pretty pleased in 55th positions in a time of 36:56. Well 20 places better than last year must mean progress and hopefully is setting me up for next year. Running everyday is certainly helping and is pushing up my mileage without really tiring me out.

So so far so good. Next week I am doing my first West Highland Way training run for the 2010 race. So here we are full circle again.

...and on the 7th day the Lord said run

Well if He was a runner that is what he would have said. And for November that is what I did. Ran all seven days of the week.
Running had not been going to well and I was finding that I wasn't improving as fast as I was hoping. So it was time for a new challenge.
I decided to try and run every day in November. At first I didn't tell anyone but as I came closer to the end I did.
I had some rules for my challenge.

• You must run every day
  
• To count as a run it must be over 25 minutes or 3 miles. Whichever is first

I found it much easier than I thought it would be and the closer I got to the end the more I enjoyed my running. I was actually looking forward to running every day.
My legs no longer felt heavy at the beginning of each session but light and fast.

So what did I learn from my challenge. For one you can run every day of the month but you must listen to your body. When I was tired I did a recovery session. Forget the watch and just ran how I felt.
I always had an eye on my main sessions of the week. My Monday and Wednesday speed sessions and a race on the Saturday. Once I knew that I had to be 100% fit for these sessions the rest took care of themselves.
I also changed how I did my long runs at the weekend. I tended to run off road and give my legs a rest. Forget how quick I could do the run and just go out enjoy myself and get time on feet.

So a typical week was:

Monday : 20 min tempo + 6 * 200m strides (about 7 miles incl. Warmup)
Tuesday : 8.32 miles easy
Wednesday : 6 * 4 min reps (75s recovery) (7.6 miles incl warmup)
Thursday : 8.42 miles easy
Friday : 4 miles recovery including strides
Saturday : 6 miles XC Race
Sunday : 18 miles hill run (3hrs 15mins)

This was last weeks training and totalled just under 60 miles.

It has gone so well that I am now going to continue and run as many days as I can. I wont be fanatical though. If my body needs it I will have time off.

Now Debbie is wanting to try the same thing in December. Much harder month with all the festivities.

Management Course

No running so far today as I have been on a course all day. Here is what I have learnt so far.

Lesson 1:

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbour... Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel’. After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves. The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs. When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'who was that’?
‘It was Bob the next door neighbour,' she replies. ‘Great,’ the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?'

Moral of the story:

If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.


Lesson 2:

A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg. The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?' The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?' The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.' Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.
On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.'

Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great
opportunity.


Lesson 3:

A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.'
'Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk 'I want to be in the Bahamas driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.'
Puff! She's gone.

'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.'
Puff! He's gone.

'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch'

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.


Lesson 4

A turkey was chatting with a bull.

'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.' 'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients..'

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at t he top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story:
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.


Lesson 5

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out!

He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.

(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.

(3 ) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

Birthday : Hills, TV, Food, Beer, Bed. Perfect.

Yesterday I became a vet. Not the animal kind with their hands up cows but the one that has grey hair and is rapidly losing his teeth. Yes the running one. To be honest the vet category is a bit of a grey area (get it). I think that in road running I am classed as a vet but to be honest they are all big softies. No offence I am part of the road runners fraternity too but compared to other off shoots of the sport we are.
The real men (and woman) do hill running and cross countries and in their eyes I am still a youngster. 40 is the magic age of a vet when racing these nutters.
In case you hadn't guessed I am now 35. Inbetween two of lives milestones, well past it if you play football but as one of my pals pointed out. I can still run further than my age.

Anyway I was up early and decided to do a run that was two years in the planning. I have always wondered at the possibility of running up the Kilpatrick hills and then over to the Whangie and back. What better day than my birthday to give it a go.

After waking up and receiving some wonderful pressies from Debbie and Cairn which included a new pair of X-Talon Hill running shoes (I am trying to get into hill running), a magic mouse (you need to be a geek for this one), some running gear (t-shirt, arm warmers and gloves) I was off to meet Joe for our run.

(Miss this bit if you don't want the techy details of our run)..
The run started at Hardgate. We would take the Cochno road up to Greenside Reservoir. Over the dam and then up the Slacks. Down to Loch Humphrey and then over to Duncolm. Down from Duncolm and then over the bog to Burncrooks Reservoir. Then up to the Whangie. Now down past the Queens View to the Stockimuir Road. We then took some tracks to avoid having to run the main road before joining the tracks at the Carbeth Huts and then over to the West Highland Way. Taking the WHW as far as Mugdock wood and then taking the road back to the Stockie. Then on to the right of way over Douglas Muir to Faifley and then back to Hardgate.

Altogether it was 19 miles and 2,500 feet of ascent/descent. Three hours three minutes of running but with all our stops to enjoy the view the total time was closer to 3:45.

Joe is a road runner and did very well on the run. We took our time and walked when we had to. It was a great laugh and we were absolutely mankie when we got back to the car. A really good route and one that I am sure I will do again and again.

Our route. Forgot to start the watch at the beginning so it isn't a full loop

When I got home from the run I ate a full pizza. (hey it was my birthday) and I still felt hungry afterward. But I was saving myself for later.

I spent the afternoon watching Battlestar Galactica and Debbie let me?? Yeah I had a great birthday.

Then it was off for something to eat. Debbie was taking me to Yen in the Rotunda for Teppanyaki. It was absolutely fantastic. I really would recommend it to everyone. Eight courses, all brilliant and all cooked in front of you by a fab chef and showman. He kept us entertained and fed the whole time.

I had a great birthday. Thank you to everyone that wished me all the best and thank you to Debbie for making it fantastic.