BERWICK

Down to Berwick today for the sixth and (for me) final leg of the Borders XC (there's one more leg in the series - but I won't be doing it).
A fairly straightforward route - along the beach, up towards a cliff-top path, along the path, round a marked point near an old building ...then the same in reverse.
The start, through dunes. on soft sand was tough. Tough and crowded - as 145 runners jostled for position.
But pretty soon you go round a corner onto the "main" part of the beach and you can spread out a bit and get into a bit of a rhythm.
This year it was strange to see the field split into three distinct lines going along the beach. Some opted to head down to the waters edge and firmer sand. Some opted to stay on the shortest path between two points route (but I imagine the sand would be a bit soft at that point). While some, including me, opted for a middle route that gave firm(ish) sand but a slightly shorter line.
A bit of a sting awaited us this year as we came off the beach. Berwick had altered the route! The old way up the steps towards the path was obviously deemed too easy, and this year we were forced to walk/climb/clamber up a grassy bank. This really knocked the wind out of me and I found it tough getting back into a rhythm on the path...but I did...just.
Got along the path and round the turn fairly incident free and passed about the same amount of runners as overtook me.
The climb/clamber down the grassy bank cost me a few places as I hippity-hopped my big-girly way down. Though even my descent was slightly more dignified than the bloke who joined the descent behind me, tripped, then passed me sliding down the banking head first on his belly!
Back onto the sand and took more or less the same line as the way out and just tried to consolidate my place.
The final couple of hundred metres on soft sand are bloody tough going.

I'm aware that I don't have too long till my Spring mara' and, while I like the XC, I'm aware that it eats into my time that I should be using for long distance runs.
Didn't help that yesterday's run had to get cut short when a part of the route was inaccessible due to a shooting party!

Supposed to be going to Kilmarnock next weekend for another XC race (the masters) - so that's another opportunity for a long un' out the window. Weather permitting, I think I might fore go the "traditional" six miles bombing round the streets of Dunbar on Tuesday, don a head torch and head out for a few miles more.

HAIRY MATHS

Interval training last night. Miles and two miles. Tough going. Especially when you have to do mental arithmetic while running. However, here are the findings:



"Naw, naw. You need to carry your three..."



• 1 mile = 1609 meters (give or take a baw hair).
• So: 1 mile ran on a 400m track should be 4 circuits of the track plus an extra 9 meters.
• However: 1 “normal” running track = 400m BUT 1 “Hallhill” running track = 410m (within a baw hair).
• Or: 1 "Hallhill mile" = 1.019 "normal" mile
• Assuming: 1 “Hallhill mile” (4 complete circuits of the track) = 1640 meters (baw hairs apply).
• So: 1 “Hallhill mile” at 6:00 pace = 1 “normal” mile at 5:53 pace (baws…etc.) (0:6:00 ÷ 1.019 x 1 = 0:5:53)

Or.... just wear your GPS.

 

HE'S BACK

Last night's club run was a little oasis in an otherwise blustery week. Or "month" probably.

Last night there was little or no wind at all. As is our want in the winter months the relatively short run was taken at a fast pace and there was a feeling that it had been a good session.

So. Today? Today, when I'm working from home and get that wee bit extra time to go a bit longer at lunchtime? Yes. My old pal "the wind" is back (has there ever been a windier January?).

Back on a mission it would seem. His mission being to make my run as bloody awful as he can manage.

Very few people, I imagine, look back on last winter's weather fondly and miss it. But I'm one of those few. Give me snow any day. I'll run in cold and won't complain. I'll run in the rain and I won't complain. But wind? Frickin' hate it. And today was one of those days when every time I turned a corner the wind turned too - so it was always in my face.

Eight mile - but it felt like twelve!

I do enjoy my Spring marathons... but the winter training can be a bind at times.

EDINBURGH ..... NO MORE

I was looking at the details of some races recently. Trying to get a handle on what I want to do.

Got one or two in mind.

But it dawned on me that I still haven’t entered the Edinburgh Marathon for this year and I found myself wondering “why”. I’m afraid the best answer I can come up with is, quite honestly, that I’m bored with the Edinburgh Marathon. I’ve done it nine years in a row….and I need to give it a rest.

I’m afraid that being a member of the “Mile AYE” club isn’t really enough incentive for me. Edinburgh is a good marathon and it’s got PB potential – I’d recommend it to anyone (it is a bit dear though). But it’s shaped my [running] year for too long. Its time for change.

I still want to do a Spring marathon – so Lochaber here I come. Entry away and hotel booked.

Hopefully this will give my motivation the kick up the behind that it needs to get me out doing some longer runs.

LSD CYCLISTS AND WITCHES

A bit on the blustery side again yesterday - so yesterday's run was cut short a wee bit to 9 miles.
This morning however the weather was a bit more favourable so I ventured a little further and went via Spott, Burnhead and Pitcox then along by the bridle path by the side of the A1.
Really nice running weather, and I felt a little over heated in my running jacket.
It's been a while since I ventured out that way and I had almost forgotten how bloody awful "Starvation Brae" is to run up, especially if you've already done 11 miles. There's only one thing worse than running up Starvation - cycling up it.
It's cruel of me, I know, but every time we're driving down Starvation and we see cyclists struggling up it I always give them a smile and a cheery wave as we pass. It's psychological, but you can see the disappointment in their faces - once they know they've been spotted you can see they don't want to lose face and get off and push. I like to think I'm helping with their motivation! On the down side it can get a bit hairy when a cyclist is out of the saddle pushing away at the pedals and pulling on the handle bars - and then try to wave back!

I couldn't help but notice today as I ran along, just after Spott, that the "Witches Stone" had quite a collection of loose change on top of it. The Witches Stone is, allegedly, where witches were put to death (by burning) in the 17th and 18th century, so perhaps the coins are there to appease the spirits of the dead.
Some people claim that it's the location of the last witch burning in Scotland, but I think that claim has been taken by others and those responsible for the Spott stone seem to agree and have changed their notice to read "...the last burning in the South of Scotland...".
Given that the stone has been "refurbished" in recent years and a nice metal fence put around it I hope, at the very least, the money goes towards it's upkeep.

Quite a good week last week. Managed 65 miles. Next weekend my opportunities for longer runs will be limited (XC at Berwick on the Sunday). Normally I'd cut back a bit the day before a race but, quite frankly, my XC performance has been a tad on the poor side this year anyway so I might as well just go for a long run on Saturday and treat the XC like a hard training session.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Heres a thing.
Lidl toothpaste and Poundland "dry skin cream" both look pretty similar (if youre an idiot).

Oh how I laughed as I walked through a busy office to wash the liberaly applied toothpaste from my face.

WIND (And a Cat With No Taste)

As per usual last nights run with the club turned out to be an eyeballs out, lung buster.
So todays run was always going to be a more sedate affair anyway. Probably just as well thats what I intended as the wind put paid to any ideas of speed.
The route I do on a Wednesday seems to be particularly expossed to the wind - the slightest breeze seems to hit you, and it seldom seems to be in your favour. I think that the prevailing wind is westerly and our bit just lies at the end of a funnel created by the Lammermuirs...Maybe. Or maybe I'm clutching at straws, looking for an excuse for a crap run.
I'm sure its all good training......just not fun.

FINDINGS: Did Fatso the cat dig the new Red Rodney CD? Did he feck....did a runner about twenty seconds into the first track. No taste.