We did it!

Well its all over and the team have finally achieved what we set out to do. The official results are on the Highland Cross website but suffice to say we are all well chuffed to have conquered the hill at Allt Grannda, braved the yellow brick road, and battled the horrendous biking weather (torrential rain and a head wind as reported by the winning lady on "Radio Scotland" this morning!). I made my target of getting across the finish line before Mum but it was a close call, my lack of cycling expertise was nearly my downfall as she was half an hour faster than me on the bike! Thankfully the running conditions were nearly perfect and I managed a cracking time on the run that I am very proud of and managed to get me far enough ahead that she couldnt catch me :O)
The whole day was an amazing experience from beginning until end. The camaradarie along the route was brilliant with runners and walkers all supporting each other. I started slowly - knowing that it takes me a while to warm up, this left me a little further back than I maybe would have liked for the hill climb and as it was single track there was no option but to walk along with the others walking in front. However in retrospect this was probably a good thing as I kept my energy and was able to speed up over the flatter bits later on and start making my way through the field. It was lovely to see my Dad at the bridge at Athnamulloch where he captured this shot.. and I finally passed Mum about another couple of miles after that. Much to our surprise the weather held nice dry and cloudy for the whole foot section, so it was in a bouyant mood I reached the bike change over. I opted like many others not to put on a waterproof when changing into the bike gear and set off only to discover soaking wet roads and heavy rainfall one mile further down the road. After 6 miles I had determined that the best way to warm up was to finish quicker, after 12 miles I didnt dare stop as my hands had seized up to the extent I couldnt move my fingers to control the brakes or gears and was resorting to using my fists and sucking my fingers to get the feeling back, after that it was just sheer stubborness that got me to the finish line. We were all in the same boat though (no pun intended!) so support as other more experienced bikers passed the slower ones was always forthcoming, and the steadfast support from the frozen folk on the side of the road was much appreciated. Never before has a finish line been such a welcome sight as we crossed over like drowning rats in search of dry land. A truly memorable moment. Well done to everyone who finished, and a huge thanks to the support teams. I cant even describe how honoured I feel to have been a participant of such a wonderful event. So would I do it again - well... never say never!

Easy last few days

Nice easy 14 mile walk with Jan and Poppy yesterday. We'd taken the van across to the West coast for a long weekend so our stroll was hill and track from Reraig on Loch Alsh to Plockton on Loch Carron and return. Pleasant pause for fresh seafood and real ale at lunchtime (will they have that on the Cross?). This Wednesday I'm organising SNH's Bike2Work rides. For me that'll involve about 22 miles across the Aird and back. Buck's fizz & stirrup cups as we meet colleagues en-route. That'll do me for my final week of training. Still nervous about the foot section - but it can't hurt that much can it????

Dont mean to panic anyone in the team but it was 10 days to go today, so that means tomorrow we are down to single figures on the countdown. HELP!
Had a serious panic that Id overdone it over the weekend when I was still hurting even up to last night, but I finally seem to have got the feeling back in my muscles today and managed a gentle jog at lunchtime. Lets hope some careful tapering will leave me strong enough for the big day.
On a cheerful note, theres good news - we've hit a fundraising milestone. Well done team, and a big THANKS to those of you who have sponsored us already.
If you've not got round to it, its not too late. Please click on the 'make a donation' button or get in touch with one of us directly to get your name on the list. Your support is really helping - with last minute nerves.. its good to know there are so many people rooting for us (or is that you just feel sorry for our mental state?!)
Also good to hear Mums foot is on the mend.. I do hope she is being provided with plenty of grapes! I would post some North but suspect they wont travel well :O)

Met this wee fellow recently on Handa....should we make Mr Puffin' our mascot (sorry)
Foot healing slowly, so fingers crossed. Took the dog out for a gentle walk today with no real ill effects......will keep taking the ibuprofen ...and the grapes!!

Isn't it always the way. There I was feeling quite chuffed that I had comfortably done the 18 mile walk and had even gone back with the mountain bike a couple of days later to confirm the distance on the bike computer....Then yesterday the inflamed nerve in my foot kicked off again big time.
Am limping around muttering "Mr Dillon" at the moment.
Theory is that if I totally rest it for the next 2 weeks it should heal in time. At least I wont lose any fitness (such as it was) at this stage, and it does mean that having to keep my weight off it (maybe if I had lost a bit more of that in the first place!!) I can lounge around the house issuing orders for a few days.
Oh well, I have done the Cross once already with a torn achilles so here we go again.
Peel me a grape someone.

Its the final countdown...

Two weeks yesterday. Gulp. Two weeks... yesterday.. that's less than a fortnight now.
I did the last 'long run' on Saturday. I did a circuit round Ladybower and Derwent reservoirs taking in a ridge, 'running' about 17.5miles and then walking the last half mile to the car to cool down. Literally. Boy was it warm! Needless to say it was a very slow time and I just couldnt run up the steep hills - it was like someone had taken away all the oxygen from the air. However my legs may have felt like jelly, and my lungs might have been exploding, but it was great to know its easy runs from now until the big day. Did I mention its less than a fortnight away?! Gulp..
:0O

Who put that there hill there in the lake district... ?!

What a cracking weekend it has been. Some friends of mine are emigrating to Canada so I headed to Glasgow for their leaving party with my very good friend Beth. With the Trossachs on their doorstep I was really looking forward to my weekly long run. Apart from the fact that it was incredibly humid, Saturday was beautifully still and I went exploring Loch Ard forest paths, following a mountain bike trail. Another 16 mile run but this time with much less stopping time as the route was easier to find, and I ended up with a total movement time of 2 hrs 57 of which, Im proud to say, I didnt walk any. After a lovely Saturday evening reminiscing with friends Ive not seen since yesteryear, Beth did me the huge favour of abandoning me in Penrith on the Sunday so that I could do a bike ride to Kendal where she would pick me up. The distance looked perfect and on the road map it looked a little hilly but I was totally unprepared for the mammoth ascent that awaited me. It was what I would describe as 'upwardly flat' on the 10 miles from Penrith to Shap, and from there it seemed like there was a never ending up for about the next 10 miles. In true hidden top style I would round a corner to see the road continue upwards for what seemed to stretch on for miles. I swear that if i hadnt reached the top at the 20 mile mark on the odometer then I would probably have got off and called for back up! However the downhill did arrive and I managed to coast into Kendal practically falling off the bike as I found the car.. I guess Im not a likely candidate for Tour de France then. With moaning murmurs of 'who put that there hill in the lake district?' I was gently chauffured to a lovely Kendal pub where the landlady fed us Sunday dinner and got me back into a state I could drive home. A great weekend, much thanks to Beth for her patience, and to Andrew & Dunja who I will be visiting in Calgary as soon as they have themselves settled into their new home!

Well it wasn't training as we know it, but I can assure you that a week spent sailing and rowing a small boat through the Great Glen on the Sail Caledonia Raid (check out Great Glen Raid ) was seriously hard work. We sailed the lochs and rowed the canal stretches of the Caledonian Canal, from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east, in rain and hail and, finally, glorious sunshine, just in time to get the tents home dry.
Funny how quickly the brain filters out all the grim bits like the cold, and the wet, and the hail, and the bruises and blisters and you just remember a brilliant week. Suppose thats why I am back doing the Cross.......I keep forgetting the bad bits of that too....no honestly team, its a great day out....believe me!!
Right, back to serious business of walks and the bike for the next three weeks.