Sunshine and Sore Bits!

It's been a beautiful sunny week and it's made getting out for a training run alot easier to motivate myself for. Which is a relief as time has been short, what with all the last minute planning required for the wedding, so the slightest hint of rain could have put all training on hold! As it is I've been out running with views like this around me - it almost makes you want to stay out for longer.
Last weekend there was snow on the tops and Cairngorm ski resort was reporting deep powder. We were tempted but we had alot to get through so Colin and I refused to succumb to temptation and we stuck to plan - going for a run on the Saturday morning with Colin heading off to buy some essential items for the day (shirt, & shoes etc!). As time was at a premium we decided that rather than heading off to somewhere else for our run we would lengthen my previous weeks exploration into the Gargunnocks and headed out for a 12 mile 'there and back' to the tops behind the house. We could see a sprinkling of white on the tops but it was still a surprise quite how deep the snow was at 450 metres, and it made the wind very chilly as we ran against it. However the clear skies gave amazing views and we counted our blessings that we are able to get into such remote places so easily without even getting into the car. The 12 miles was completed well in just under 2 hours 20, which considering the climb up to 470 metres from our village wasn't bad atall.

Despite all this sunshine and sticking to our distance targets I've been encountering a bit of a pain. It's rather an annoying pain as it doesn't affect me running but it does affect me walking slowly, standing still, and sometimes sitting down. It's one that historically appears every now and then but has been steadily getting worse - and I suppose I would ignore it only.... I don't fancy standing & saying my wedding vows in pain!!!! So this week I headed off to Knead to Relax to see Angela Mudge and ask her to see if she can work some magic. The result was my leaving the place feeling like I'd been beaten up but very hopeful it would have positive results. I've alot of stretches to do over the next few days, I'm trying to keep the mid week runs gentle, and I've a repeat visit next week just before we head West for the wedding. Fingers crossed it works.

So tomorrow we hope to get in one last long run before we drop our mileage for a couple of weeks and head off to tie the knot. Exciting times! .... and don't ask about the bike training, I'm hoping that by taking the bikes on 'minimoon' with us we will get out and put some miles in then. :o)