Saturday was a fun day doing something I’ve never done before. I ventured west to Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, (awfy brave for a native of deep dark Fife!)
At the end of last summer Pete asked me if I would be a happy to be part of a film he had an idea for, I said yes, thinking it would be just Pete with a wee video camera. Well, several months later with many hours/days spent with film crew and “Once more up that hill, with feeling Dah-ling!” Pete pulling his hair out (metaphorically speaking) over Christmas working on hours and hours of stuff for editing. It came to fruition at the Glasgow Film Festival.
I am biased of course but I think he’s done a brilliant job and it got many complimentary comments afterwards. Here are some details of where it is going to be shown, also there is another showing at the King Malcolm Hotel in Dunfermline at 7.30pm Sunday 6th March courtesy of Carnegie Harriers
I am hoping to be allowed to post a link to my 16 mins of fame once all the showings are finished.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
My Mum is my inspiration
I’m kinda struggling how to start this, this is meant to be a blog about running, I have BIG goals for this year, especially September, but I’ve had a bit of a wee problem with my left Achilles but it will recover and normal service will be resumed shortly.
Family stuff has had my full attention this past week, Crawford, my Mum’s partner, after suffering a couple of weeks of pains in his legs has been taken into hospital, at the end of 2009 he was diagnosed and treated for leukaemia and has been in remission until now, it is back and has been told it maybe weeks rather than months. (He is a strong dude with a sense a humour, he will pass that.)
Mum was into her second day of a three day and her sixth cycle of chemo when we heard this news. I’ve taken her up to the Queen Margaret Hospital at every opportunity. Mum made me smile, she is coping effin brilliantly. Walking back to the car in the rain after hearing this, (I had managed to park fairly close), Mum said “Let’s walk fast, I shouldn’t get my wig wet. I should carry a wee brolly” On her 70th birthday she vowed never to wear a white polyester cardi or a rain-mate. So with a cheeky glint in my eye I said “You should keep a rain-mate in your bag.” Her sharp reply “I’ll buy a new wig first!”
She will never give in, I am proud to be my mother’s daughter.
Family stuff has had my full attention this past week, Crawford, my Mum’s partner, after suffering a couple of weeks of pains in his legs has been taken into hospital, at the end of 2009 he was diagnosed and treated for leukaemia and has been in remission until now, it is back and has been told it maybe weeks rather than months. (He is a strong dude with a sense a humour, he will pass that.)
Mum was into her second day of a three day and her sixth cycle of chemo when we heard this news. I’ve taken her up to the Queen Margaret Hospital at every opportunity. Mum made me smile, she is coping effin brilliantly. Walking back to the car in the rain after hearing this, (I had managed to park fairly close), Mum said “Let’s walk fast, I shouldn’t get my wig wet. I should carry a wee brolly” On her 70th birthday she vowed never to wear a white polyester cardi or a rain-mate. So with a cheeky glint in my eye I said “You should keep a rain-mate in your bag.” Her sharp reply “I’ll buy a new wig first!”
She will never give in, I am proud to be my mother’s daughter.
A post about running, but not mine.
Still haven’t done any running for a week, but I’m not worried, there has been more important stuff taking precedence. (Mum is fine but her partner Crawford is in hospital)
So here’s a post from Allan.
I liked it, hope you do too.
So here’s a post from Allan.
I liked it, hope you do too.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
100km? 50km? Whatever… it’s still running!
I wasn’t too worried about not having a long run in December with all that weather, I was pleased to keep things ticking over with the Marcothon, feeling ready to spring board straight into big miles. January was still a lot of pussyfootin’ around lingering ice but on Monday 24th I took myself out for a scamper on the WHW. I felt a wee bit guilty heading out on my own since I’ve promised some folk that the next time I headed out on the WHW I’d let them know, but I can’t resist having all that scenery to myself even if I have to face Aunty Val and her words of caution about all the “what ifs” when running solo in a remote area. I might be selfish but I love having the scenery just belonging to me, it feels so much more special that way, and being free to stop when I want to, and wandering off to take a photie without time constraints (I took a head torch but didn’t need it) or feeling like I’m holding someone else back. Besides I didn’t feel alone, I had the company of a kindred spirit. I went down the way from Derrydarroch to the wee flat grassy bit just before the hands on stuff at the top of the loch, just around 13 miles, but still around 3½ hours of “time on feet”.
It was the start of a good weeks training, Tuesday, a quality tempo, Wednesday, an easy 5 miles, Thursday, the club’s 5km time trial. I don’t usually do them since it doesn’t make any difference to me what time I do for that distance but I wanted some speed work and I thought that that would do. I worked pretty hard, legs feeling strong, breathing like an old horse, I was sucking and puffing air so hard I got spit up my nose! I was quite pleased with my run finishing a couple of minutes faster than I predicted. So after everyone’s time was read out and applauded it was time for a gentle run back up to the club. Ouchy, ouchy, my left Achilles tendon felt awfy tight and sore, it had been whinging a little lately which I put down to running in the snow, now it was screaming like a toddler who’s just dropped all their Smarties in a puddle.
That was just over a fortnight ago, I gave it ice and ibuprofen as soon as I got home, did all the usual stuff for it, rest, stretch, rest, massage, rest, more dangling it off the end of one of stairs. But I’m not stressing, nobody I know has ever died from Tendonitis, a bit of patience and it will be fine. I have been vey lucky that it’s been many years since I’ve had a running injury, my lower back gives me grief when I’m lazy and I had a wee chest infection “nicely” timed for last years WHW but apart from that I’ve been very healthy so you won’t hear me complain. I might have to have a wee change in my plan for March. I was hoping to run the open 100km at Perth, but now I’m thinking I might just do the 50km. It will be loads more sensible to run a 50km with no training than a 100km with no training.
I like running round in circles, it is so different to an awe inspiring scenic run and a test of self motivation. The lap at Perth is a good one, it flows round nicely, I do know it quite well having already ran 172 laps (just short of 79 laps in 2008, 116 miles, 22 during a training run last February 32½ miles and just over 71 laps, 105 miles last year)
Thinking back to when I first ran laps… goes and checks old training diaries. It was 1999, Pauline’s first selection for Scotland in the Anglo Celtic in Dublin, she thought it a good idea to run laps having never done so before. I joined her for a few of them.
Except from diary dated Sunday 15th May 1999
20 laps of the mile in the Glen - 3hrs 25mins
It was a warm sunny day, the first ten laps were ok, then I had to start working to keep the pace. The last five were horrible but I kept it together most of the time, I did slow down on the hills, but I worked really hard. So much so I was not well afterward, threw up and went to bed when I got home.
If you’re not native to Dunfermline the official name for the Glen is Pittencreiff Park and the Mile in the Glen race will never be a PB, it’s far too hilly. Pauline that day did Marathon distance and didn’t throw up when she got home. 1999 was my first year of running ultras and I’ve just had a big smile to myself looking back.
From little acorns…
I might be sitting here with a wee injury and my Oak tree now has a few sturdy branches but it’s still growing, there are a few more big strong branches to come.
That was just over a fortnight ago, I gave it ice and ibuprofen as soon as I got home, did all the usual stuff for it, rest, stretch, rest, massage, rest, more dangling it off the end of one of stairs. But I’m not stressing, nobody I know has ever died from Tendonitis, a bit of patience and it will be fine. I have been vey lucky that it’s been many years since I’ve had a running injury, my lower back gives me grief when I’m lazy and I had a wee chest infection “nicely” timed for last years WHW but apart from that I’ve been very healthy so you won’t hear me complain. I might have to have a wee change in my plan for March. I was hoping to run the open 100km at Perth, but now I’m thinking I might just do the 50km. It will be loads more sensible to run a 50km with no training than a 100km with no training.
I like running round in circles, it is so different to an awe inspiring scenic run and a test of self motivation. The lap at Perth is a good one, it flows round nicely, I do know it quite well having already ran 172 laps (just short of 79 laps in 2008, 116 miles, 22 during a training run last February 32½ miles and just over 71 laps, 105 miles last year)
Thinking back to when I first ran laps… goes and checks old training diaries. It was 1999, Pauline’s first selection for Scotland in the Anglo Celtic in Dublin, she thought it a good idea to run laps having never done so before. I joined her for a few of them.
Except from diary dated Sunday 15th May 1999
20 laps of the mile in the Glen - 3hrs 25mins
It was a warm sunny day, the first ten laps were ok, then I had to start working to keep the pace. The last five were horrible but I kept it together most of the time, I did slow down on the hills, but I worked really hard. So much so I was not well afterward, threw up and went to bed when I got home.
If you’re not native to Dunfermline the official name for the Glen is Pittencreiff Park and the Mile in the Glen race will never be a PB, it’s far too hilly. Pauline that day did Marathon distance and didn’t throw up when she got home. 1999 was my first year of running ultras and I’ve just had a big smile to myself looking back.
From little acorns…
I might be sitting here with a wee injury and my Oak tree now has a few sturdy branches but it’s still growing, there are a few more big strong branches to come.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Still plodding on
I haven’t written anything for a while only ‘cause I haven’t done much that warrants writing about really. In November I did the Keithothon aka the original Marcothon just because I was running anyway, I only had a couple of days that I had to make an effort to go out the door, I wasn’t doing big miles so I didn’t find it too hard to complete. The hardest day was the Sunday after Glen Clova Half Marathon, I had quite a wee struggle during the race and just after half way I just felt empty, no reserves at all, and even a wee bit light headed at the end although I had eaten plenty before hand. After finishing I stopped to talk to a couple of guys I was running with but I thought I was going to faint so took a wee jog up the car park to keep my blood circulating, I got shouted at! “Don’t you know when to stop!” I just laughed, I didn’t want to explain I wasn’t showing off just trying not to faint!” I did feel a bit better after a big slab of Gordon’s Rocky Road. Then the Marcothon started, again I wasn’t planning big miles and with the snow it just added to the challenge, at first I was like a wee kid, loving it, kicking along in a wee half inch, then a couple of inches then this is getting seriously deep, every day I went out along my 5 mile Torryburn route, I took my camera, photos this is my routine run of the mill, at least once a week, all seasons, all weathers tootle but I never get fed up with it. The harder the conditions got the more I revelled in it, I couldn’t get to work for the first time ever. My car was off the road, purely my fault, I didn’t clear the snow from the roof, it was frozen on and I couldn’t reach but after a short trip it melted enough to send an avalanche down my windscreen and my bonnet take my wipers with it. The whole thingy under the bonnet needed replace. £174, I’ll get a step ladder and a pick axe next time!
Yesterday I started Christmas shopping, I’m not worried about being behind, I’ll get there in the end. Still managing the Marcothon, I’m not superstitious but the only day I’ve fallen was the 13th, it was quite a sair yin, I hit the ice hard and had to walk a few minutes waiting for the light-headedness and queasiness to pass, but I didn’t cheat, I stopped my watch while I walked.
In October I had a bit of a wobble with the thought of a hard winter but do you know what, the thought of something is worse than it actually happening. I didn’t feel the need to fill the freezer with bread, I’m still running. Winter – nae bother, there is more to come, that‘s ok, do your worst. The more challenging things become the more I’m thinking “BRING IT ON!”
Yesterday I started Christmas shopping, I’m not worried about being behind, I’ll get there in the end. Still managing the Marcothon, I’m not superstitious but the only day I’ve fallen was the 13th, it was quite a sair yin, I hit the ice hard and had to walk a few minutes waiting for the light-headedness and queasiness to pass, but I didn’t cheat, I stopped my watch while I walked.
In October I had a bit of a wobble with the thought of a hard winter but do you know what, the thought of something is worse than it actually happening. I didn’t feel the need to fill the freezer with bread, I’m still running. Winter – nae bother, there is more to come, that‘s ok, do your worst. The more challenging things become the more I’m thinking “BRING IT ON!”
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Just a four and half hour run in my comfort zone… well, it was raining!
I had Friday off work and I wasn’t going to waste it doing mundane stuff, Pete and Erin had made their own plans for the day so I made some myself. On Thursday I thought about going off for a run on the WHW but the forecast wasn’t good but that didn’t bother me. I’ve done the Devil’s Staircase in the dark with torrential rain and accompanying thunder and lightning and that didn’t worry me, well, Pauline is a wee half inch taller so if anybody was gonna get zapped it wiznae me! So some heavy drizzle in daylight wouldn’t put me off.
So when I got up on Friday and looked out the window, ok, it was raining but it wasn’t a howling gale, I’ll go. It took a bit of time for me to get ready, make some pieces and a flask and to decide what rainjacket to wear, (went for the Montane with the hood) I didn’t get to Rowardennan until just before noon. I had no goals, it wasn’t a training run just an afternoon on the WHW for its therapeutic qualities. If the NHS could bottle the WHW into tablet form it would half its waiting list!
As soon as I opened the car door and got a whiff of wet forest I knew I made the right choice for the day, the makers of air fresheners haven’t a clue!
I started very gently, my back’s been bad and still a bit tight, I did do an easy nine miles on Monday but felt like a big fat lumbering heifer. I headed towards Balmaha, the trees had laid a comfy carpet of gold for me, and branches still clung on to some of their treasure. I revelled in this autumnal beauty. I took loads of photos but they didn’t do justice to what I saw, it was a driech day but still the colours were rich.
I ran past an empty Police mini bus, wondering what they were up to, a mile or so later I met four big burly officers walking a wee cute Spaniel??? I thought that didn’t fit the usual profile of a big fierce polis pooch! It must have other qualities, if it was a sniffer dog I hoped that they didn’t put it to work, it would’ve drowned!
I had hoped to get up Conic hill, the view is worth the climb but today it wasn’t going to be such a reward and I had to keep my eye on the time, I wanted to back to Rowardennan by 5.00pm, it won’t be dark but on a dull wet day like this it won’t be very bright either. So I decided to make the marker post half way on the hill my turn around point. On the way back I shouldn’t have been surprised by the size that the puddles had grown going by the amount of rain that was bouncing off my bonce, I had a fair bit of wading but at least it wasn’t knickers deep, yes, I’ve been there and at Salochy! Ok, it doesn’t have to be a tsunami for a short arse like me to be knicker deep but shoosh! don’t tell Auntie Val I was out on my own, I got such a talking to for going out at the beginning of the year on my tod, I can just hear Val’s concerned tones “Those wet leaves covering the boulder steps! You could slip and do yourself an injury!” Well, I did do the Eeek! face once, but being a short arse with a low centre of gravity and some arm waving I was fine. I wasn't the only nutsy out, there was someone water skiing! Check my blurry photo!
I did do a bit of thinking while I was there, and plans are over-rated, what’s for me won’t go by me and winter, bring it on, I can do layers!
So when I got up on Friday and looked out the window, ok, it was raining but it wasn’t a howling gale, I’ll go. It took a bit of time for me to get ready, make some pieces and a flask and to decide what rainjacket to wear, (went for the Montane with the hood) I didn’t get to Rowardennan until just before noon. I had no goals, it wasn’t a training run just an afternoon on the WHW for its therapeutic qualities. If the NHS could bottle the WHW into tablet form it would half its waiting list!
As soon as I opened the car door and got a whiff of wet forest I knew I made the right choice for the day, the makers of air fresheners haven’t a clue!
I started very gently, my back’s been bad and still a bit tight, I did do an easy nine miles on Monday but felt like a big fat lumbering heifer. I headed towards Balmaha, the trees had laid a comfy carpet of gold for me, and branches still clung on to some of their treasure. I revelled in this autumnal beauty. I took loads of photos but they didn’t do justice to what I saw, it was a driech day but still the colours were rich.
I ran past an empty Police mini bus, wondering what they were up to, a mile or so later I met four big burly officers walking a wee cute Spaniel??? I thought that didn’t fit the usual profile of a big fierce polis pooch! It must have other qualities, if it was a sniffer dog I hoped that they didn’t put it to work, it would’ve drowned!
I had hoped to get up Conic hill, the view is worth the climb but today it wasn’t going to be such a reward and I had to keep my eye on the time, I wanted to back to Rowardennan by 5.00pm, it won’t be dark but on a dull wet day like this it won’t be very bright either. So I decided to make the marker post half way on the hill my turn around point. On the way back I shouldn’t have been surprised by the size that the puddles had grown going by the amount of rain that was bouncing off my bonce, I had a fair bit of wading but at least it wasn’t knickers deep, yes, I’ve been there and at Salochy! Ok, it doesn’t have to be a tsunami for a short arse like me to be knicker deep but shoosh! don’t tell Auntie Val I was out on my own, I got such a talking to for going out at the beginning of the year on my tod, I can just hear Val’s concerned tones “Those wet leaves covering the boulder steps! You could slip and do yourself an injury!” Well, I did do the Eeek! face once, but being a short arse with a low centre of gravity and some arm waving I was fine. I wasn't the only nutsy out, there was someone water skiing! Check my blurry photo!
I did do a bit of thinking while I was there, and plans are over-rated, what’s for me won’t go by me and winter, bring it on, I can do layers!
Sunday, 24 October 2010
I'm ok
Well, it’s Sunday, I’m on the wine but tonight is no rant from a miserable moo! Although I’ve done naff all running this week, my back has been bad, muscle spasm and the tingly pain down my left leg but I managed a sair sack o’ tatties five miler yesterday round my Crombie Point, Torryburn route. Looking across to the Ochils, the sky was clear blue and the hills had a dusting of snow, beautiful, which reminded me of a solo run I had at the beginning of the year on the WHW from Bridge of Orchy down to the Crianlarich fence and back. The Monarch and his Kingdom
Along the shore I looked back towards the Pentlands but they were dark and brooding, Grangemouth had it’s Lowrysque qualities, I was listening to an old Runrig, BBC Session Live, Glasgow ’96 and The Times They Are A Changin’ stuck a chord and I don’t just mean the seasons, although I think that the thought of a hard winter has been getting me down, I’ve worn at least one layer of long sleeves all summer as it is and the memory of last year brittle cold hasn’t faded. I embrace 80’s chic and have a selection of legwarmers at the ready!
A lot of folks are planning next years races and apart from entering the WHW race which along with Pauline I have no doubt of getting in although it is a ballot, I am a perennial optimist, Pauline will get in being a previous winner and me because I done over five. Apart from that I haven’t a Scooby what I’ll be doing and that makes me feel uneasy, I like to know what’s ahead and next year won’t give me that luxury.
Yesteday Erin and I had a lazy afternoon with Mum. Demi, my nine year old niece didn’t come, neither did Pauline, both of them having a cold and with Mum having just had her first cycle of chemo, her immune system was at zero so they did the sensible but not happy thing and stayed away. Saturday has always been Grandma day, Erin and Demi dropped off, Pauline and I going off for a long run, Mum always made a big pot of soup for when we got back.
A Grandma sandwich
Yesterday when I was running I remembered something I wrote to Mum when she was still in Australia and wasn’t sure if I’d ever see her again but I would had sold my soul, pawned Pete and Erin if necessary, although we were in constant contact by phone, it was still hard to say some stuff. I sent a card “Remember you are your daughter’s mother, and when the going get tough, the tough hold their head up so they can spit the bastard in the eye!” That was the first time I’ve ever used sweary words in front of my Mum but I think it warranted it. I had looked the Grim Reaper in the face in 2005 and spat in his eye and that was what I was referring to.
Last night I trawled through my blog reading my ramblings on the run I had at the end of January and some others, I am bloody privileged and I won’t forget it. I have had a good year and it’s time I went back out on my comfort zone. A six hour dander on the West Highland Way is what I need and as soon as I can fit it in I’ll be there.
Along the shore I looked back towards the Pentlands but they were dark and brooding, Grangemouth had it’s Lowrysque qualities, I was listening to an old Runrig, BBC Session Live, Glasgow ’96 and The Times They Are A Changin’ stuck a chord and I don’t just mean the seasons, although I think that the thought of a hard winter has been getting me down, I’ve worn at least one layer of long sleeves all summer as it is and the memory of last year brittle cold hasn’t faded. I embrace 80’s chic and have a selection of legwarmers at the ready!
A lot of folks are planning next years races and apart from entering the WHW race which along with Pauline I have no doubt of getting in although it is a ballot, I am a perennial optimist, Pauline will get in being a previous winner and me because I done over five. Apart from that I haven’t a Scooby what I’ll be doing and that makes me feel uneasy, I like to know what’s ahead and next year won’t give me that luxury.
Yesteday Erin and I had a lazy afternoon with Mum. Demi, my nine year old niece didn’t come, neither did Pauline, both of them having a cold and with Mum having just had her first cycle of chemo, her immune system was at zero so they did the sensible but not happy thing and stayed away. Saturday has always been Grandma day, Erin and Demi dropped off, Pauline and I going off for a long run, Mum always made a big pot of soup for when we got back.
A Grandma sandwich
Yesterday when I was running I remembered something I wrote to Mum when she was still in Australia and wasn’t sure if I’d ever see her again but I would had sold my soul, pawned Pete and Erin if necessary, although we were in constant contact by phone, it was still hard to say some stuff. I sent a card “Remember you are your daughter’s mother, and when the going get tough, the tough hold their head up so they can spit the bastard in the eye!” That was the first time I’ve ever used sweary words in front of my Mum but I think it warranted it. I had looked the Grim Reaper in the face in 2005 and spat in his eye and that was what I was referring to.
Last night I trawled through my blog reading my ramblings on the run I had at the end of January and some others, I am bloody privileged and I won’t forget it. I have had a good year and it’s time I went back out on my comfort zone. A six hour dander on the West Highland Way is what I need and as soon as I can fit it in I’ll be there.
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