Trial by running

Well....determined today to try to do the distance required by the next sponsored run so struggled out with faithful companions Ginny, Molly and Liz. Poor Lucy is off the running lists for present with a horrid bladder infection requiring surgery and strong antibiotics on Thursday . Heavy, close drizzly weather did not help and the legs felt underpowered and tired. Out for a three plus mile run and then back to find it was longer on the way out than on the way back...cannot quite figure that one so a painful run on past the house and on for a seemingly unending .4 of a mile! Got to get these things right! Ginny and Molly happy to be out and about. My legs are not too bad right now but we shall see come morning. I cannot think that they will ache too much as I could not get them to go fast enough to constitute any residual stiffness. Still, I covered the required distance and that is what matters...I think! On the plus side lovely lemon sole for tea which I have never cooked before. Into the oven (hot) with lemon juice for 6 minutes and served with roasted veggies...Lovely! Three guests in tonight, a French couple (she is treating him to a few days away) and Nora from the stables's Dad who has now been here for 6 days and is quite part of the family!

New jogging group!

The start of a new beginners group in Inveraray so a fresh walk-jog programme developed/copied from the jogscotland site and three new joggers turned up eager to learn and jog! Very happy to take them out and they did good! Hopefully they will do their homework and will all be happy runners in a few week.

A little tootle out with friends

Just two guests last night so a quick clear up and then off to coffee in Inveraray with Janice and Mary. Mary has been VSO-ing in Delhi for the last 2 and a bit years so we sat over two coffees for two hours until the staff became rather stiff and sniffy!! Great to see her and to apologise for coercing her into Sundays run....Inveraray group tonight with a few aching legs between us but we managed a comfortable 4.4 miles with a few sprinty things thrown into the middle.... The downpours that plagued the day held off until the last 10 minutes when we got just a little bit wet but that is what running in Scotland is all about!

Inveraray Jail Break 2011

After a week of anxious trouble shooting and panicking the day of the race did not dawn fair and clear as it jolly well should have done but rainy and warm after a torrential downpour and thunderstorm on Saturday. A trip up the hill on Saturday in the aforementioned storm revealed a couple of very loose stony patches and considerable mud at the start of the hill. Huge piles of logs dominate the once lush field at the lead into the hill with sticks ready to flip up and catch the unwary runner (which is why it only seemed to happen to me). Having not been able to run or assess the hill much due to the felling operations left Freya in a quandary...to have a go the day before and have stiff legs or wonder if would as hard as last year...well...go she did both up and down and yes it was as hard as last year. Back to race day...up earlier than anticipated due to husband's doubt on his own ability to drive into Inveraray to put the last minute signs in place (there is a story there which I am willing to share!!). Rosie  volunteered to go keep her father company in case he got lost at all. Back home to get breakfast and to collect the other Corners for registration and to lock the two dogs, now in a high state of excitement at all the running trainers being put on in the lobby. Registration inside this year due to the now drizzle so hasty sellotaping of direction signs to be done. Registration started prompt with our first runner arriving five minutes early but went smoothly from there on in with Freya,Toby and Jacquie doing sterling work. Marshals starting to arrive bless them and donning bibs...a sea of yellow in the registration room led me to fear that we may have more officials/marshals than runners but no the final tally is a respectable 36. Briefing of marshals and away they go to be transported into position. On to the photos and runners briefing...Bill is ready with his clock, the jailer is ready with his starter horn, John is ready with his camera and David and Toby prime their iPods....11am. The horn sounds, the camera click and everyone is off...and then I remember.Ah, got to run up the hill now! As race organiser obviously the most responsible place to be is at the back to sweep up and encourage others......
Across the front Green we go in a steady stream and onto the Castle Estate. A few runners have a wee chat as they flow effortlessly past me. Rebecca runs a few paces with me  then enters into her and David's own private competition to beat each other.Liz is comfortably running along and pulling away from me. I catch glimpses of her until the 3k and then no more. Into the field and the heat is getting to me so I have to remove the buff from my head and go for it.The marshals are fabulous doing exactly as asked and cheering me on! First Rhia and then David, I am counting them off. I can still see runners in front taking a walk on the steep bits. I know my run is slower than a walk but fear if I begin to walk I shall never start again. Matt ahead of me walks all the way up the hill and I never catch him. I am not sure if I am last but suspect I am. Up to the 3k mark and down come the first finishers. I hear the higher marshals shout as I pass Simone in her marshal position (she is such an expert now I am going to make her chief marshal next year with a special hat!!). No need for warnings as they both jump the scree and continue down the hill. Still trolling up and past Sharon and first Aider Bill at the steepest corner..Bill checks I am okay and I feebly ask for a leg transplant. Runners coming down thick and fast now. Toby chasing David but David is not to be caught. All the local faces passing me now and giving great encouragement including " Garret is not far ahead of you!" Hmmmm. The ground underfoot is now soft and easier going and up I go to the top. Yay! there is Rosie taking pictures and Marcus. Round the tower and down....to discover I am not quite last after all. No, the 69 year old Ian and Mary used to running in flat Delhi and conned into entering by Liz are still making the ascent. Down I go still desperately trying to catch Matt. At about 1km to go I see my boy running back to meet me and to encourage me over the last wee bit. I don't know who thought it was a good idea to put the finish line over the bridge but it was cruel....But hey..the cheer as I went over the line..it was THE BEST THING!!!

Race Day Gitters (again!)

 Gentle start to the day with breakfasts for two nice folk who managed to enjoy Inveraray despite car problems and then an outrageous blow when their airline moved their flight...by a whole day!! Normal day stuff with a mishmash of rooms and ironing sprinkled with a small sweet slice of gardening. With the rain yesterday the small seedlings are poking through both in and out of the poly tunnel and the beans are surviving despite a late frost thisweek. I managed a leisurely run tonight along the three mile route to test the leg and well...it stayed attached so that is a good sign and means one less worry for Sunday's race. I have trouble shot (?) all the nightmare events that visited me in my dreams last night from starting in the wrong place, starting late and no one listening to my briefing....Tonight...methinks a glass of wine to ward off the night time gremlins. Bill, the fabulous time keeper rang tonight and soothed my troubled mind bless him.

Bank Holiday Monday

After the exercise laden weekend Toby decided that what we really should do on Bank Holiday Monday to wind down was to go for a nice steep competitive cycle up the back of the house to the hidden village. The day was hot....hence the sun bathing pigs, and therefore perfect for flinging oneself at a large hill on a bike. Very sensibly Rosie had a sore ankle and Garret decided to devote himself to the new barn so just three musketeers and their dogs got to pit themselves against the hill and up to the hidden village...and despite expectaions very pleasant it was too! One sore leg later and some ice I decided to take it easy for the rest of the week in fear of not being able to compete in my own race on Sunday...the Inveraray Jail Break. The organisation has been scaring me witless for the last few days but i have decided to chill now...honest...really I have!!

Easter Rabbit run etc

The weekend seems to have vanished away in a flurry of activity getting ready for guests and The Easter rabbit run on Sunday.All Claonirighans worked very hard to achieve a great race on Sunday with all our good friends from jogscotland all over Mid Argyll. Toby and Freya set a fine standard winning the 4 and 3 miles respectively and everyone else seemed happy with the sunny, riverside and loch side route. Lovely guests over the weekend perked things up nicely so a good time all in all. Results and more photos here. Rosie missed the big race despite helping to cook for the aftermath as she was doing her long march for the Duke of Edinburgh Award....unfortunately a fall meant that she cricked her ankle and had to suffer the indignity of being carried to the track on three rucksacks bound together...no lasting damage apart from a slightly swollen ankle this morning!