Despite a rather disjointed time in the poly tunnel  this year(Lets not mention the mayhem a stormy couple of days wreaked on the outside patch...only the potatoes survive...) we have managed get our best ever harvest of strawberries...they enjoy the new system introduced last year of being suspended above the main beds in drainage pipes allowing the growing fruit to dangle free of the soil and damp. In a different kind of hothouse last night (the amazingly stuffy school hall) we watched Toby receive his deputy head boy badge and Freya certificates in Geography and History. Rosie, frolicking in the land of the Nordic people missed out on collecting her Chemistry prize but we applauded her dutifully anyway. She returns tomorrow, the incidence of texts revealing the level of home sickness...i.e. lots to start off with, then a lull and then an increase today when she remembered about us again. I have mucked out her's and Freya's room (Freya sleeping over in the wilds of Tayviallich tonight) so there is every chance that they both keel over in shock and horror tomorrow at being able to see the floor. Running continues at my new steadier pace with the beginners group keeping me going again this week, we had a great run out on Tuesday too....but soooooo wet!

A very proud moment indeed

What an amazingly bunch of people I met yesterday...volunteers from all over Argyll and Bute were recognised yesterday by the council from youngsters to the more mature in all realms of support and giving.The lunch was pretty good too!! I was lucky enough to be nominated by my lovely jogscotland girls for the Sports Volunteer of the Year and was so very proud and not a little emotional to receive it despite the disgusting picture cribbed from Facebook and then some how squashed by the computer to portray a very pained looking squat fee at the end of the Dun na Quaiche run. Mind you I felt like I lost inches on that particular challenge!....Here's the pics!

 

Back down to earth in the evening with Toby off to help at the high school formal and Freya to karate. Rosie was all done with her packing for Norway and plugged into Harry Potter 7 by mid evening. She was up and about at 5.45 ready for a 6.30 pick up. I also was awake as the cockerel that I obviously failed to lock up last night was proclaiming his delight in the new day by 5.30. Will do better next time!

A small hiatus...

..caused by a visit to hospital but I am back now and ready to resume blogging duties. These are some pictures from the Bute Tri...Garret in the sprint, Rosie in her second Novice and Freya in her first. Rosie did really well especially in the swim and Freya pulled off a blinding performance coming 5th overall in 42.30 only 15s behind the first senior woman. My own sporting challenges have been on hold but I am planning to compete my tri of events by completing the Mid Argyll triathlon on its tenth anniversary in September....legs willing!

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!!!