Stan the man

thank you so much for getting me to the finish line of my first 10K in 1 hour 7 minutes!!

Run with the wind in Strathaven was a top notch running event but it was not all downhill and a piece of piss as quoted to me by pirate boy http://subversive-running.blogspot.com/

The route did have a few inclines which unfortunately I did walk some of but it was a very cold and wet day.

Soup and a sandwich afterwards plus a catch up with Ian Beattie, Sharon Law, Tim Downie ( who was a brilliant support - thanks Tim) , the lovely Lee and pirate boy. A good day.

Mark was roped into marshalling and it did seem strange for me to be wearing the runner number and him in a bright yellow marshall top but hey sometimes it is refreshing to do something different.

Anyway I am away to eat a lovely big dinner as I have been running today - oh I quite like the sound of that!!!

WTF.......

I have just entered the Dingle Marathon

I have yet to even complete a 10k race

A marathon is 26.2 miles

It is on a tough course along the Irish coast with hills

Mind you I can already taste the pint of glorious Guinness at the finish

It will be grand

DQ jumping in

The Runner has been living up to her name, AND has been doing a lot of WHW Race stuff so I am going to keep you up to date.

The Runner has been making all the right noises recently. She has become fixated with time. No matter how often you say time does not matter at this stage still she is checking her watch. On the few occasions that she has allowed herself to just run she seems to have enjoyed the experience.

The girl that was walking "a bit" in 5k races is now running 5 miles and seems to be getting a bit of buzz out of the fact that she can. I think that some of the credit for this should go to her Coach S(a)tan Bland. He has the touch and sensitivity that I obviously don't. Well done mate. The prep for "Run with the Wind" 10k is going very well and think she is going to shock herself at just how well she does. I now don't think that I will have to bring my sleeping bag to wait for her at the finish.

The Runner will be taking her first run on the West Highland Way on Saturday. She is spending a night in a poncy Hotel on Saturday but before I drop her off we shall wiggle our bottoms from Tyndrum down to St. Fillians and back. This will be The Runner's longest run to date, so major achievement on both fronts. She will be treated to a slap up feed in the Real Food Cafe to celebrate. Hope the day is as nice as the one that the Glee Club had on Saturday past. I would love her to see the route in those conditions.

The other big thing on the horizon is the West Highland Way Walk at Easter. The WHW Race Forum had quite a run on debate regarding whether to carry racksacs or not. I am afraid that I am totally and utterly in the "you must make it as hard as possible" camp. The Runner is of course very pleased about this. Accommodation is booked. Stops will be Balmaha, Bein Glas, Bridge of Orchy, Kinlochleven and Fort Bill. Long days for someone who hasn't done this kind of thing before so can I urge you to give the little Lady whatever you can afford as she is going to earn it.

Waterproofs have been bought, but she has to get footwear and rucksac. On the Footwear front, does anyone have any advice, opinion or suggestions?

Hopefully next report will be from herself.

DQ (personal secretary to Runner in the City)

I actually have been running....

yes, I actually have been running!!!!

Not very far or very fast but I have been out and about the streets of Edinburgh and Prestwick clad in shorts and trainers putting one foot in front of the other in a running type motion.

Yesterday, I managed to run 4 miles in one go. It took me 46 minutes but I am surprised and pleased I did not walk at any point. There is hope that I might finish the Run with the Wind without keeping Stan in his shorts for over two hours!

The plan for this week is to keep up the 4 mile distance by running to work tomorrow and running home from work on Thursday. On Saturday I might try 5 miles but that needs to be agreed by my coach.

On happy running news - Ally B did brilliantly in Loch Ness 5K - those shoes are a coming.....

On long distance news - I am going to be walking the West Highland Way over Easter 2010. This is the extract from the WHWR forum message that I posted:

The Royal Couple on Tour

The WHWR Princess and WHWR Drama Queen are going to walk the West Highland Way in 5 days over Easter 2010.

There will be many royal tantrums and hissy fits but I am sure DQ will get there in the end!

The walk is in memory of Dario. Dario always wanted to show me the route but we never seemed to have the time to fit it in. In his honour I am making the time and although I am nervous as I have only 6 months toprepare from scratch, I am really looking forward to finally seeing first hand what all the fuss is about!!

To celebrate Dario's encouragement of running I am hoping to raise some money for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. My first ever race was a CHSS sponsored 5k and I will never forget how chuffed Dario was when I phoned him to tell I made it over the finish line.

As a tribute to how Dario and I became friends all donations will be thanked with a Twix bar.

Please go to www.justgiving.com/whwr-princess or contact me on email address.

Thank youGeraldineWHWR Princess

Anyway, enough from me as it is getting late and I have my running gear to get ready for the morning, me being a runner and all that........

the dangers of chocolate treats....

What can I say but I hope my race organising transpires to be a little better than my blogging....

I can't believe it has been a month since my last confession!

Since my holiday report in August quite a lot has happened in my world of ultra distance running.

WHWR
When Dario passed away my initial reaction was that the race goes on and it will go on but the huge reality of the undertaking has been hitting me in bursts. Sean and I only managed to meet up a few weeks ago and just before I was having a major wobble. The race means so much to so many I was terrified that I would not get it right and risk people achieving their goal that they worked so hard for. I do worry that I am not the correct person for the race committee but then Jim Drummond, a race legend, tells me the race is in good hands and I feel that maybe just maybe we can pull it off, although it will not be an easy task by any stretch of the imagination.

There has been endless offers of support and that is what makes the race so special. Knowing that the race committee can lean on so many people gives me a sense of comfort and this was demonstrated by the words of encouragement at the Adventure show preview.

The show was fantastic and Triple Echo the production company have made a great film that shows the race in its full glory.

River Ayr Way Race
Back again for the race that brought together two of my favourite people( Subversive Runner and Mrs Mac). The race was good although I have been officially sacked as Mark's back up.

Apparently, I should stick to marshalling as that is all I care about. Last year I did give away his last mars bar and this year I ate his bounty. In my defence I did not have time to stop for lunch due to a major road accident blocking to road to the next checkpoint but still it was his lovely coconut chocolate delight.

Being back up is pants though. It really is hanging about for a glimpse at your loved one looking like a pile of crap, moaning their head off and then looking indignant when you suggest they call it a day. Although saying that I did get to share tunnocks teacakes with Lee and Stan and catch up with the Downies and George so maybe I should book up a lesson with Ally B on how back up should be done!!

Commonwealth Championships, Keswick
For my 30th birthday my Mum arranged a girlie weekend in Keswick with my aunt and cousin. It transpired to be the same weekend of the championship. Unfortunately, I did not manage to catch any of the action as we didn't arrive in Keswick until late in the afternoon, and it would have been a tad rude to my travel companions if I deserted them to watch so instead we toddled off to the pub to celebrate my entry into the third decade of my existence.

While I was in the ladies I noticed two ladies wearing Team Bragg tee shirts. I enquired if they were connected to Jez Bragg and it transpired to be none other than his Mum and aunt. Both were in top form and beaming with pride about Jez's victory. Jez was in bar and his usual lovely down to earth way. So, I managed to combine being a ultra distance runner groupie while in a drinking establishment - multi tasking at its best!

Run with the Wind

High on sugar from the tunnocks teacakes mentioned above Stan, the nicest man in the world, has agreed to run with me at the Run with the Wind 10k at Strathaven on 1st November. Stan has also agreed to coach me as the furthest I have ran is 5k. So far, I have only managed a couple of runs due to the drinking and running celebrity spotting weekend described above. This does not bode well for Stan or the marshalls, who will be getting cold at the finish waiting for me to stumble across the finish line swearing off tunnocks teacakes for life! Still, I do have 5 weeks to prepare........

Running in France.....

....did not happen and the piccie sums up why - hot tub, sunshine, wine and gorgeous food.

During our first week in France we stayed in a gite with our own private pool and tomato vines. It was in the middle of nowhere so was peaceful and very relaxing.

On a trip touring the local area we went to the local vineyard. Transpired to be a small family place that sold a 5L box of rose for 10 euros and a very nice rose at that - I love France!!

Mornings were spent visiting local historic sites and local markets.

Afternoons spent relaxing by the pool and the evening enjoying dinner on the terrace chatting away. It was a great week.

The next week we moved to a converted wine tower with it's own hot tub. Again this place provided everything you needed for a comfortable stay and exclusion from everyone. During the second week it was my 30th birthday. I confess I stayed up to midnight to open my pressies. Mark got me a rally experience at Knockhill race course. I am a bit of a speed demon and petrol head so I am going to enjoy my laps in a single seater round the course going as fast as I can. My parents arranged for Mark to take over their present and I was overjoyed with their diamond necklace.

Birthday morning was champers and croissants then a trip to Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a beautiful city and we enjoyed a fantastic lunch during which was washed down with several glasses of the finest red the region had to offer. The day was finished with hot tub and more champers. Overall, a rather lovely way to spend a special birthday. Thanks Mark.

France is calling

..and Mark and I are coming. Tomorrow morning Mark and I are heading to the south of France for a fortnight of rest and relaxtion. I am so looking forward to it.

I have packed my running gear but our gite is surrounded by vineyards and I feel it would be rude not to sample all their produce....

It is my birthday when we are away so it will be birthday cake and vin for moi!

Au revoir
Gx