It’s nearly here and I CAN believe it’s going to happen!
After the Fling I wondered if the fatigue would come back to
haunt me, but I was fairly sensible and kept my training easy for a fortnight. Then Pauline and I went up to the Great Glen Way and covered 50 miles over four
days with the longest run being the 19 miles from Drumnadrochit to Inverness. A
cracking bit of quality running. The following weekend we were back up to Skye
for Ally K’s presentation evening and although we didn’t cover mega miles we
had some quality hill work and a bit of a raised heat rate crossing this
bridge!
A last long run of 23miles locally over the bridge to
Crammond and back on the 31st May
then it was time to taper, apart
from a cracker of a run at the Isle of Skye Half Marathon on the 14th June. We’ve been going up for it since 1993 and
it’s very special for me and the only Half I do these days. In 2005 it was my 100th half marathon and also
my first race back after another health problem, it was seven weeks after having
a brain haemorrhage, it was important then to confirm I was recovering and getting
back to normal. Last year’s Skye Half was another tough one confirming I was
alive and fighting (last year's report) it was the hardest race I’ve ran. So I
think remembering how I was twelve months ago really helped make this year
easy. I bounced along feeling
comfortable and strong, just running to feel, never looking at my watch,
holding myself back. The mile markers came in too quickly, it was going to be
over too soon, the sun was out, it was lovely and warm, perfect conditions. The
last long climb is gradual to start with but there’s a steep kick at the end
where after around nine miles you look up and the ground meets the sky with
little silhouettes of runners on the horizon. I smiled when I saw the hill in
front; it was no fight, sheer pleasure. I had to control my descent, I really
wanted to let go and give it some welly but I needed my quads in tip top
condition for the following weekend, so I behaved and scampered down to Portree
at a sensible pace. Great to see wee Fee
McDee standing at the corner at Howdens, she ran a few yards with me and told
me I looked brilliant, I certainly felt it, I could’ve went round again. (In
reality it was never going to happen but I loved the notion) It was an excellent weekend catching up with friends we only see in Skye.
 |
| photo from Sarah Attwood |
Ally K gave me back the bright yellow baseball cap I lent
him during his epic run. I want to wear it during the WHW taking inspiration
from him and what he has achieved. Ally,
I hope you don’t mind me saying this but you are my hero. Around three years
ago Ally gave up the fags and ran the Skye Half for a bet, then last year completed
three ultras, the Lochalsh Dirty 30, the Highland Fling and covered 84 miles at
Glenmore 24 before taking on his challenge of running round Skye and raising over
£32,000 for Cancer Research this April. Afterwards he modestly said it wasn’t him,
just the support he was lucky to have. It only takes a wee pebble to cause the
ripples in a pond, Ally, you are a bonny wee pebble with the weight of a ruddy
big breezeblock with a tsunami of support, be proud of yourself and what you've achieved.
I will be watching this tomorrow, maybe more than once. Ally K Runs Skye Documentry
I’ve had a bit of a wee panic, my lower back has decided to play up,
it niggles away most of the time but on Tuesday, it was really tight and
sore and I struggled to reach my feet, I was relieved when I went for a wee
three miler in the evening, although sore to start with it did loosen off a bit, and
yesterday and today it has improved, so I’m not worrying about it, I won’t have
to reach my feet during the race, that’s what my support team are for! No doubt
something else will hurt more over the weekend anyway.
I have signed up for the princely sum of £3 for Si Entries
to update my facebook when I swipe my chip through the checkpoint doofer and you
can also follow the race here.
 |
| Rampers and Rabbit the Bruce |
This pair of roving reporters will also update my
facebook and pass on messages as long as they can get a signal. I’ve been told
to be nice to my support or they will update my status with bare bottom selfies
and my undying love for Harry Styles! No diva strops for me then!
I have had great support since I first posted about my
devastating diagnosis last March and holding on to my goal of running the WHW
race for tenth time has helped keep my head up. But you guys have really made a
difference to me, and I know you will be with me over the weekend. I couldn’t have gone through what I have without you, the
practical help for me and my family, the wee gifts, the prayers, vibes and
words of love and support. So just to say the words Thank You doesn’t express my gratitude,
but I’m hoping that picking up my Goblet in your honour will do it.
