SVN Marathon, 24.08.2020 - running, hedgehogs, and Pocahontas

Well, I've missed having public transport disasters. So here's a new story! In my head last night, whilst planning my morning, it seemed logical, that if my train was to arrive at Gravesend at 6:50 for a 07:30-ish start, then I should get up at 5:00, leave home at 6:00, arrive at King Cross at 6:45 ready for the train at 6:55. It didn't occur to me until 05:30 this morning, all chilled out and relaxed and having tea in bed, that that would mean that the train arrived before it left. Oh. 

Jumped out of bed, spilt my tea. Rushed around and turned the house upside down throwing things on, and off when I realised they were on back-to-front, and on again. Threw everything else in my bag to deal with on the train, and set a new record of 15 minutes from bed to out the door. Then set a 5 km PB for the run to Kings Cross.  And even arrived in time for coffee! Phew.

Another great event with SVN - thank you Traviss and Rachel! And thanks Craig for another great run and putting up with me for another 8 laps! Went by so fast, and felt so much easier than Saturday, and did 4:22. Loving being back at events, and seeing folks. Well done TiTs and TwiTs, keep up the good work! 

My lucky dip medal is a hedgehog (below), who is in a much better mood than the turn-around gnome (above).

Having started so early, it was only 12:00 when we finished. As the only place I've visited in Gravesend so far is the Cyclopark, I thought I should explore a bit more. Pocahontas is buried in Gravesend! Who knew! My education of Pocahontas so far has been through Disney, so that her grave should be here seemed quite random. Alas, the kind-of sad, but not really that sad, story of the film isn't even true. Shouldn't really be surprised that a Disney film isn't completely historically accurate, but there you go. Actually, in the real story, it's all very grim and sad, there's way more people involved and it's all very complicated, and Pocahontas sailed to England, but died either on the ship or at Gravesend, which is why she is buried there in St George's Church. So there it is. Princess Pocahontas in Gravesend. 

On the way home I even got the train time right, and thankfully for my fellow passengers, now we wear face masks, no one could hear as I sang "Colours of the Wind" all the way back.

Marvellous Monday - thanks all! 

Back to races! SVN, marathon, 22.08.2020

How good to be back! I knew I was missing races while I was missing them, but I didn't realise quite how much I was missing them, until I did one, if that makes sense.

Today is the first day of the SVN 20 in 20 events, which I attended to do my 1 in 1 😂 although now it will be 2 in 3, as I'm going back on Monday.

So good to see so many faces who I haven't seen in months! I wasn't sure about going back to events yet, with all the social distancing measures now in place, I wasn't sure if it would have quite the same atmosphere that I love. But it did, of course. Staggered starts, so not seeing everyone together at once felt a bit different, and not having the usual aid station was sad (an SVN aid station is a treat). But other than that, it was the same as normal, still got to see everyone out on the laps (8 for a marathon), and there was just the same old cheer and love I remember! All very well set up - marathons can be run safely in Covid!

Thanks Craig for a great race (and for the San Pellegrino)! So much to catch up on - hardly noticed we ran a marathon at the same time 😆 Well, maybe a bit, I think I've lost a bit of speed with only focusing on mileage and not speed work, but 4:17's not bad for the first one back. Thanks Richard for the photo bomb.....the good old days are back! 

Thanks SVN for an excellent day! Good luck to all the TiTs and TWiTs 🍀 See you Monday....

Scottish Adventures: a photo blog

Excuse the briefness of my words! A week of burning the candle at both ends has depleted my energy stores. Alas, nothing exciting has been burning my candle, merely a week of a heavy workload and a coursework deadline = little sleep. I don't ever want to forget the beauty of my Scottish trip last week though! So I will communicate instead through pictures (which is probably better anyway - and if a picture speaks a thousand words - this just saved a lot of reading time).

Sunday, 9th August: climb Cairn Gorm, run around Loch Morlich, eat cake. The perfect day! And perfect weather (in Scotland and all!!)

Monday, 10th August: get up run 16 miles to Loch Eanaich, get eaten by midges.....

Enjoy the views....

Admire mushrooms...

And heather...

Realise there's still a long way to go, and it looks suspiciously uphill...

Laugh at Andrew (I mean, arrive at Loch)...

Turn around and run back along a river...

Await arrival of Alan, ready for big running adventures. Fuel (the Scottish way) for adventures....

Wednesday, 12th August: 26 miles, 5000 ft, Lairig Ghru & Ben Macdui circle

What a day! Wake up early. Set off through the Caledonian pines towards the Lairig Ghru

Quick navigation check (all OK)

The Ghru in the distance 

The Ghru! Quick stop to fill water bottles in a stream. Baking hot!

A short (actually, not that short), sharp climb (involving some heather bashing, and falling through holes) up Lerchers Crag. I felt a migraine coming on as the sun beat down on my head, and reflected off the stones and the temperature rose and my heart rate reached 96% of it's apparent maximum. Got to top and tried to look like I didn't feel sick. Found some tablets. Drank some water. Went in search of some "tops" and "deleted tops", which was a new discovery on this trip (who knew, that each mountain might not have just one top, and some might even have tops that people decided shouldn't be a top after all, and got deleted!!) 

View down to the Lairig Ghru

Along the ridge to Ben Macdui, keeping an eye out for Fear Liath Mor (the Great Grey Man). No sign today. But then, ghost stories never are set on bright sunny days. 

What goes up, comes down (eventually). A long descent (via another top) and more views of the Ghru

A "technical" descent (i.e. straight down). Found a comfy seat in the heather whilst filling water bottles again. 

Made it back down again. Chat with a man who is walking the exact same route in the opposite direction. This is the first time I have been here and actually fully seen the Lairig Ghru! The last two times it has been covered in cloud!

Have a break at the Pools of Dee, and Andrew goes swimming (AGAIN)

And almost gets eaten by a tiny brown trout

Back down out of the Lairig Ghru, it looks like it was worth getting up early and missing the thunder!

Extra incentive to run fast on the downhill home

For gourmet recovery!

Thursday, 13th August: 8 miles run to Loch an Eilein, with a picnic in the middle, and blaeberry picking.....

And on to Loch Gamhna (with waterlillies!)

Friday, 14th August: the Big One, 22 miles, 5700 ft from Loch Morlich, up Strath Nethy, to Loch A'an, around and up Beinn Mheadhoin, down to the shelter stone, up Cairn Gorm and down to Loch Morlich.

A gloomy start at Loch Morlich

And gloomy for the first few miles up to the Strath Nethy

There was a brief brightening at An Lochan Uaine (the Turquoise Loch)

Then it went back to being gloomy. And boggy. A 5 mile bog stomp ensued up the Strath Nethy. 

Until, near the top, it started to brighten 

In time for great views at the top!

Dropped down to Loch A'An

And then up the other side to the top of Beinn Mheahhoin and a bit of rock climbing right to the top 

Collected three more tops, and saw reindeer on the summit! I think this is the highlight of my year so far!!

Then it was down to the famous Shelter Stone (turned out not actually to be the one we thought it was, but the one to the left in the distance)

Back towards the Loch 

and then UP the most scariest climb of my life (sticking to running, not climbing)

And up Cairn Gorm (one of it's tops, first!)

Then it's real top

Before heading back down the mountain

Towards Loch Morlich

Along magical forest trails

And back for fish and chips (using the Andrew two-seater shuttle service) which didn't last long enough to get a picture. Best holiday ever! Thanks Andrew and Alan for the adventures! And the mountain legends story telling of an evening.....here's to more!