For John with love

I really am starting to enjoy the long runs with the West Highland Way crowd now.  Will miss them after the race although I am sure that a couple of months recovery before running the Way might be a good idea.  Today I was asked if I run for a club.  Normally the reply would be "I run for Garscube Harriers" but today there was a pause.  I still run for Garscube but now I feel part of the WHW family.  Yes I belong to two clubs.  Garscube and the WHW.

Today's run was from Beinglass to Kingshouse.  A 31 mile run through what Ian B described as an easier section than last month up the bonnie banks of the loch.  My plan for today was not too feel as knackered as last month when I really struggled over the last four or five miles.  I wanted to finish strong but still at a manageable pace.  I think that the problem last month was my energy intake so today I would be running with my bra-pack full to the brim with energy drink and flapjacks.

We arrived at the Drovers early so that Debbie and Sharon could start at 9am with Graeme and Jim, the plan being that the faster group would start at 9:30.  This would mean we would hopefully be arriving at Kingshouse together for beer, soup and more beer.

I decided to leave my bra-pack in the boot of the car until the last possible moment.  Sharon would find something to slag Brad Pitt about so there was no way I was prancing about with my Ann Summers Hydration System with her lurking close by.

The 9:30 group consisted of John K, Ian B, Neal, Ian K, Thomas, Davie, Mike, Stoo and George.  It was good to see Thomas again as I hadn't seen him since the first training run and Neal who had got injured in the last run was back again no worse for wear.  Stoo and George were two newbies that I hadn't run with before.  Stoo knew Davie Aitken who is in my support team so we chatted for a bit before we where all away.

I started to run with Neal at the beginning when we left Beinglass.  It is the first time that I have chatted to him although I have seen him before.  We spoke about his injury on the last training run and how he was running two days after it.  I couldn't believe it as he couldn't even walk when I saw him pull out.  The last time I met him I thought that he was maybe a bit fanatical with mileage etc and that he would have to watch what he was doing, but as we spoke today I started to warm to him and found that he is just as fanatical as the rest of us doing this run. 

At first I was a bit worried that Neal would hurt his knee again especially as we both pushed the pace up towards Crianlarich but by the downhill towards the wigwams he was striding ahead so I thought that he would be fine.

Neal and I reached the wigwams first and I really didn't feel like stopping but these training runs are just as much a social event as they are about running and so we waited for the rest of the team.  Silke (Thomas's wife) was waiting for everyone with a boot full of goodies.  She has supported Thomas on all his long training runs and does a great job.  I am sure Debbie would do a great job on my support team.  Thinking of how I could talk her into giving up running and joining my support team would involve either breaking her legs or getting her pregnant.  Neither would go down too well.

Once into Tyndrum, Thomas started to run with me.  We picked up the pace as I knew that Debbie wasn't far ahead and I wanted to check how her sore hip was.

We caught up with Debbie and Sharon and stayed with them for a bit.  Debbie's hip seemed okay so Thomas and I pushed on and met up with Ellen, Mags and Aileen.  Ellen had had a fall and her hand was swollen quite badly.  Luckily Silke is also a doctor and so fixed her up when we got to Bridge of Orchy. This was when Ian appeared and he had fallen too and looked quite shaken by it.  I didn't really get a chance to speak to him before we were off again.

After the hill out of Bridge of Orchy,Thomas started to push the pace.  I read in his blog later that that this was his secret plan.  I couldn't keep up so let him go but soon got my second wind and caught back up with him.  We kept up the increased pace right into Rannoch Moor.  I love this section of the Way and today the scenery was gorgeous with clear skies, mountains with snow and the sun making it really quite warm.  Only thing was that my neck was starting to hurt a bit and I didn't get to look at the mountains much without shooting pain up to the base of my skull.  Just bad running posture and I really must try to relax a bit more.  This was where I started to feel really good.  In fact the last three miles ended up as 6:30 / mile which I was really pleased at.

I pulled away from Thomas and arrived at Kingshouse feeling very good at my strong finish.  Silke, Jon and his wife were there and cheered me to the end.  I felt like I was in a race.  Everyone more or less arrived within the next hour and so it was in to the pub for some soup and most of all some beer.

This was a really enjoyable run and I think that everyone had a great time.  Although it was only a third of the entire run it gave me a lot of confidence as I felt great at the end.  The skins seemed to do there job too as my quads and hamstring were not sore at all. 

Now taking a two day break from running before reps on Tuesday and an easy week.

I just read John K's blog and he was wondering where my posting was.  So this is for John.  Thank you for organising everything.

He also has a great slideshow on the day.

Weight a minute

 

Debbie had decided that today she wanted to run a long run at a faster pace as part of her marathon training and drive into town so she could have some flatter streets.   I am not so keen in running around the streets of Glasgow so I decided to take advantage and run from my house in Alexandria to town.  I am also not too keen on the A82 either so I decided on a new route.

The start was in Alexandria.  Onto the Balloch Horseshoe and follow the cycle route out towards Drymen. Then onto the West Highland Way to Milngavie and then a wee run into Glasgow City Centre to meet Debbie.  Only thing was that it works out as 27 miles.  Oh well, I'll take my time.

For such a long run I decided it was time to take the bra-pack out.  This pack is really good.  It's comfy, light and doesn't cause your top to ride up.  Pity that the bottle tastes like TCP.  This is the second time I have used it and even after a washing by Debbie and my normal extra strong energy drink it still has a TCP taste.  I am giving it one more chance before swapping the bottle with my trusty Platypus.

My new run was fantastic.  Being the first half decent weekend day of the year there was loads of people out on the cycle track and the WHW.  Lots of second glances at my bra-pack and I am sure that some teenage girls shouted something cheeky at my new fashion accessory which was drowned out by Alice in Chains on my IPod.  I finished the 27 miles in 3 hrs 30 mins but it was in fact only 3hrs 12 mins because I had stopped for 18 mins to talk to people, eat and enjoy the view etc.  I am really pleased with the time as I really didn't push hard although I was knackered by the end of it.

As everyone knows when you are on a long run your mind begins to wonder.  I had read recently that if you loose 150g from your footwear this will make you 5s per mile faster or 2min 11s faster in a marathon.  This is 8 minutes faster on the West Highland Way.  So weight a minute.  Maybe if I lose more weight off my body I could shave even more time.  Maybe not as much as the foot wear but still.  We have all heard of the Naked Rambler so how about the Naked Ultra Runner.  It's summer so not that cold and I'll be running far faster than the midges now that I have lost some weight.  Hair.  That must weigh something.  I will get it all shaved off.  Yes even those dodgy areas.  And it will make an excellent disguise when I appear in the newspapers for running about the hills naked.  What else could I lose weight with?  Skin!! Yes I could borrow Debbies exfoliating shower gel and if I use enough from now until June that must make me lighter.  Perhaps a bit redder but there must be a lot of weight in 4 or 5 layers of skin.  My Garmin weighs tonnes so its a gonner too and then there are the normal weight lose things. Eat less, colonic irragation.  Yeah Debbie makes me watch some pile of cr@p on TV.  Toenails, so overrated.  Part of your intestine.  Not needed.  Hey I could even make money by selling a kidney.  Who says that I am not committed to this race.

So if you happen to be on the West Highland Way on the 21st June then say hi to me.  I am the naked, red, bald, skinny guy being arrested while still high on diet pills and medication.

Thank god I only ran 27 miles.  Any further and I would have been imagining hacking off fingers.

Helensburgh Loop

A new route that I have been playing about with in my head over the last few weeks.  It starts off in Alexandria, heads out past the Duck Bay on Loch Lomond to the roundabout.  Follows the road to Helensburgh then to Cardross before taking the tough hilly Carmen Road back to Alexandria.  After yesterdays race this was tough.  I started early with it still dark and got to see the sunrise while I was on the road to Helensburgh.

Great wee (eek) run with potential to increase at a later stage.

18.01 miles in 2hr 12min 23 secs @ 7:21 /mi

If only I would learn....

After having a wee night at a friends house and staying over because Debbie and I over indulged in the alcoholic fruit juice we were rudely awakened by my phone going off at 7:30am.  A mountain rescue callout.  It took two attempts to awaken Dom our host to say thanks (the first was me sneaking into the wrong room and awakening a girl that I had only met the night before).  Made my excuses and I was away to help rescue two stalkers that had spent a horrendous night on the campsies.  It actually ended up me having a wee ride in a helicopter cause we found them while circling around.

The royal navy helicopter landing on the road before taking us to the campsies

 

Anyway on to the run.

Last weekend I swore blindly that I would never ever run a long run the day after a 10K again.  I had stupidly ran an 18 mile (with 7 miles off road and over the Kilpatrick Hills) the day after the Nigel Barge 10K.  Debbie taking video of me broken and lying on the floor to post on YouTube was the final straw and I promised never to be so stupid again.  Besides the Running Bible says never to run a race and then a long run on two consecutive days.  The Running Bible . (This is a fab book.  In fact Debbie and I have two copies)

Anyway back to today.  After yesterdays PB I decided to do a long run over the Bromley Muir Hill (on my normal Stoneymollan circuit)) but this time instead of running home I would continue the route over to Cardross and run back from here.  Debbie was on the Cardross circuit and I would hopefully catch her up on the way.

The route over the Bromley Muir is fantastic.  I always enjoy it and after the climb up you are always rewarded with excellent views over Loch Lomond.  I made it to the top in 34mins which I think may be my fastest yet.  Back down the hill to the public path that leads to Cardross I was full of the joys of life.  Singing L7's Pretend that we're Dead at the top of my lungs and running knee deep in marsh I must have been a pretty sight.  Onto the path, it was time to catch Debbie.   there was some fallen trees in the wood to manoeuvre over and then the cows that I know Debbie dreads.  That would slow her down.  And if not that the knee high in coo sh*t would have her tip toeing through so not to ruin her shiny shoes.  By the time I reached Cardross I still couldn't see her and was beginning to worry that she might have turned back or decided on a change of route.

The hill out of Cardross finally wiped me out and I started to get the dizzy no energy feeling again.  As I got to the last main hill before a nice downhill back to Renton I spied Debbie.  Not staggering up the hill like I was but looking fully refreshed, waiting on me tapping her foot expectantly.  Not sure if she was waiting to see if I was okay or if it was for help getting past the manic dog that patrols the farm.  We decided to run together to the end. 

A good run that was very tiring but my elation from yesterday pulled me through.

13.66 Miles in 1:52:15

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.

'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

Hard Horseshoe

Distance : 14.12 mi.

Time : 1:48:57 (7:43 / mi.)

Weather : 7.8C Cold

Equipment : Saucony trigon 4

Total for week 49: 37.12 mi.

 

Didn't get that much sleep last night so I was really shattered when I went out to meet Lindsey for a long run today.  Glad that I had organised it though or I so easily could have just skipped it.  Debbie was still in bed and made no secret of how nice and warm it was compared to outside.  I started the run with 2 layers and regretted it by the first uphill as I was sweating buckets.  Started off on the normal Balloch horseshoe today although we did it backwards.  On the way back towards Balloch we took a detour toward Gartocharn and now I was glad of the extra layers.  It was freezing and there was still snow on the ground.  Finished the run by going through Balloch Park.  Did have a laugh at Lindsey's motivational speech though.  He told me that my 10k times were rubbish.  I replied that I was less than a minute behind him at the East Kilbride 10k last week.  :-)  That aside I do like running with Lindsey and I do pick up a lot of wee hints and tips from him.

Felt knackered for most of the run today but so glad I went out.

First Long Run

Training Day : 16

Session : Long Run

Distance : 13.45m

Avg/mile : 7.36/m

Time : 01:42.13

Well here we go.  Back to the long runs.  I like doing long runs but the problem is the time that they take.  Especially later on in training when you are over 20 miles but still doing them fast enough for them to affect you.  The run itself isnt too bad but take into consideration the preperation and recovery after it and half of the day is gone.  Anyway none of this on this run as it is only 14 mile. Only!!  Yes as later on in training I will be running 3 times this amount.

Back to today.  I went out with Lins and ran toward Cameron House Hotel.  The weather was really wet and windy and I felt sorry for the people running the Lomond 10k.  Not many hills today and it was good to just have a relaxing run.  Watched some of the 10k race and met up with some of the finishers.  Matt from Bella came in first with Alex from Springburn in third.

I started to feel tired after about 11 to 12 miles and was pretty happy to finish the run and get my wet clothes off.