Marathon #150 - The Phoenix Party Train, 13.09.2020

Today was my 150th marathon/ultra-marathon event. So at least I've achieved some kind of milestone during this Covid year 😆

Back at Phoenix, on the Party Train. Great to be back on my most run part of the towpath. Thanks Phoenix, Rik, Kat and Mandy for looking after us! Speaking of Mandy (Memories Sewn With Love).....thank you SEW MUCH for my wonderful cushion! 

I love it! And have already taken a nap on it, and it is super comfortable. I never really wear race t-shirts, but I hate them being squirrelled away in a drawer. This is so nice to be able to see them (or, nap on them) all the time! Thanks Mandy! 

Today I ran exactly the same time, 4:18, as yesterday, which is consistent, if nothing else. I just felt like I was running faster than that, but there you go. My four marathons back have been 4:17, 4:22, 4:18 and 4:18, which I just feel isn't showing much progress. But hey.

It was great to do another old favourite run, which I have been missing. And the routine, that I used to do often....the journey to Waterloo, although the bus didn't come, so I got an extra 3.5 of fairly speedy/anxious bonus miles in there (but it was pretty nice, with the sunrise, and it felt a bit like the start of Lockdown again, when London was empty)....

.....Pret for coffee (thanks Pret lady for my free coffee!!), the train, walk from the station and back along the river. Due to Covid restrictions, there were no race numbers today, so I spent the journey tattooing it on my arm... inked, innit!

I fell over, again, but I seem to be alternating the side I land on, giving each side time to heal properly. Last time I ripped my favourite running leggings, and this time I ripped my second favourite pair.  (Mandy, do you make cushions out of bits of leggings?? 😆) Thanks Vicky (and the two cyclists) who stopped to make sure I was alright!

Lovely to see so many familiar faces again! Things are feeling more like old times again. Thanks everyone for a great day 💙💚💛💜💗🚂 

Practically Perfect In Every Run Marathon, 12.09.2020

 

Some days are supercalifragilisticexpialidocius. Today was one! 

Good to be back at Saturn, and thanks to George, Charlotte and Saturn running marshals for a great event, as always, I really missed them in lockdown. Even with the "new normal" (whatever that is) they are still relaxed, fun, and a great aid station!

The route was the long lap at Runnymede, about three miles east then about a mile west, x 6 for a marathon. Ran 4:18 which isn't too bad, and I felt quite good. So many faces out today (well, sometimes under masks), was very very lovely to see everyone and catch up, and the laps went by so quickly! Thanks Olga for the last lap! And to everyone for the company and laughs. I am still smiling now 😊

I love the medal so much. Easily one of my favourites!

Afterwards, a trip to the pub (thanks Julia for the drink!), as all the best marathons should end. 

Chim chiminey,

Chim chiminey,

Chim chim cher-ee!

A sweep is as lucky 

As lucky can be!

A wee Scottish adventure (part 2)

Meant to go to France, but Covid happened, so France got replaced with Scotland (part 2) which isn't a bad substitution (especially with only two weeks since the last holiday - this is the kind of ratio of work to holiday that I think I could deal with, particularly with two marathons in the work section). This holiday even included a bonus (flying) trip right at the start, in the middle of the Royal Dornoch Golf Course....

....a new waterproof jacket, purchased at great expense, with the reasoning that spending more money would mean it would last longer, was suddenly no longer waterproof in the left arm and had lasted approximately two weeks. My phone was no longer in one piece. My favourite leggings neither, nor my skin. What a trip!

Dornoch is a nice town. Apart from the Golf Course which, although very old (1877), world famous, and "many golfers from all over the world make the pilgrimage to this natural links at some point in their lives" , I didn't take a shine to (other than the bruise on my knee).  Dornoch is a seaside town in the Highlands, and comes from the Gaelic "pebbly place" suggesting that it had pebbles the size of fists "dorns" which could be used as weapons. It is also the last place in Scotland that a "witch" was burned to death, and there is a stone in someone's back garden to commemorate the place it happened, which must just be such a lovely thing to be reminded of each time you go out to do the mowing. 

Anyhow, running highlights.....

Saturday: 5 miles on Dornoch beach joined by tiny birds (I think Sandlings) running along:

Sunday: the Golf Course incident, run aborted after 2 miles.

Monday: Trip to West Coast - 5 miles, up Stac Polliadh and run on beach, see salmon jumping up waterfall.

Tuesday: happiest of birthdays, Andrew! Beach walk, new game (Croc racing), cake, 10 km run along golf course (no injuries), log fire.

Wednesday: 18 miles, up Ben Braghie, along John O Groats Trail from Golspie to Brora and back for fish and chips and Iron Bru (made from girders).

Thursday: up at 04:20 for 5 mile run/walk to watch sunrise on Dornoch Beach.

Friday: 10 mile run along the links from Dornoch to Embo, through gorse, and it rained. 

Saturday: break from running for a food tour of the Black Isle, including visit to Cromarty (which is a pretty town, and off the coast the oil rig decommissioning that surrounds the town makes for an interesting, if slightly less pretty, view), and finding a cave (with cave paintings) in Rosemarkie.

Sunday: marathon along the Great Glen Way from Inverness to Drumandrochit (on Loch Ness) including Nessie sighting.