Spike (aka “Running for Beer”)
Kathy has very kindly asked me to participate in the Thames Meander Blog by writing short diary excerpts covering my training and also other aspects of my life.
I feel a bit of a fraud as I am not much of a runner. I do enjoy running, and I have now got to the end of a fair few organised runs, from 2 miles to ultra distance. But I in no way compete with the breathtaking times of the winners of these events. My real target is to enjoy each race, with a secondary target of finishing in twice the time of the winner.
I am happy to do this blog in the hope that it will give me some inspiration to get my bum off that seat and battle against the elements in the months ahead. I have recently moved to the Outer Hebrides and as winter approaches the nights really draw in. By mid December there will only be a few hours of daylight a day. The wind has already started to pick up and can really cause difficulties – not just because it is hard to run against but because it blows you off alignment and can really strain some lesser used muscles. And then theres the hailstones. Soon they too will be a daily occurrence.
But its still a fantastic place to live and I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be. The scenic views and fantastic sunsets keep me going.
I am lucky enough to have two absolutely wonderful girls, aged 3 and 5. They love it here and are really thriving. They are learning in Gaelic, so I have taken myself back to school one evening a week in a bid to keep up with them. Just now my Gaelic is like my running of 3 and a half years ago – I have none.
My partner is on a taper before the Loch Ness marathon, this will be her second. I did some of the training programme with her but stopped a few weeks ago and am now looking for the inspiration to start up again.
My first organised run was the Exeter half marathon in May 2004. It took me 3 hours & I hurt like hell. A year later I ran my first marathon at Lochaber. The year after, Lochaber also became my 18th marathon. By then I realised I had a bit of a running problem, but as my converted couch potato partner had also started to run, there was just no way off the slippery slope.
I also found a link to some photos of the village.