Edinburgh Marathon 08 - Hairy Sairlegs

HIYA and thanks for visiting,

I definitely need some help to motivate me through 2008 and SVR definitely needs your financial help. After a quiet year in 2007, I'm going for it in 2008. Half-maras at Lossie & Inverness, Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon in May, with lots of 10k's in between, just to start with. So please dig deep and help out ex-servicemen/women and their spouses.
Here's my training log........

STOP PRESS

               Official Time is 3hr 48m 31s
                 Position 1972!!

Sunday May 25th 2008 - The Big One's Done

That's another run out of the way, 26.2 miles of sweat, wind (not mine) sun and fun, done and dusted, in a PB of 3.48.37 (unoffiical).
Thanks to everyone who's supported me throughout, especially Linda, Loran, Iona and Logan who were with me over the weekend. We had a wee tour of Whiteford House, in Edinburgh, on the Saturday before the run. It's a great facility and believe me the residents really appreciate every penny that's donated. So, thanks again and there's still a month left on this page if you'd like to donate on-line.

May 21 Wednesday Group Around Novar
Last outing before the Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon, just Fiona and I. 4.5 miles with a few wee hills to raise the heart-rate.
May 19 Jog Scotland To Yankee Point
3.25 miles to Yankee Point, where it was blowing a stiff breeze, past the Dalmore Distillery where it was smelling gorgeous!
May 18
Too tired and busy after Iona’s 11th birthday camping sleepover for her and 5 friends, for my final 10km before Sunday’s Marathon. Ach, well, if I’m not ready now……..
May 17 Evanton Beach Loop 3.1m
An evening quicky, relatively quickly.
May 14 Wednesday Group Round The Evanton Beach 4.4m
Nice to be back in Evanton with the Wednesday crowd.
May 11 Big Half Mara Before Edinburgh 13.3m.
A fantastic run with some big climbs.
The route’s here: www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/148237/big-half-mara-before-edinburgh
May 9 Novar Estate 5.5m

May 7 An Evening In The Woods 7.5m
Went exploring and loved this run, lots of hilly bits!! www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/147869/an-evening-in-the-woods
May 5 Monday With Jog Scotland 5.8m
A great run up the side of the river and beyond.
2 May
Tried a 3 miler round the beach and felt sick all the way...... Up all night with a sick baby and I failed the morning toothbrush test. It's Sunday night now and I still feel rotten, should've been on a long run this weekend, hope to get out soon, only 3 weeks to go........
30 April
Another jaunt up Fyrish, this time with a twist! Took the wrong fork and ended up doing an extra mile over rough and very boggy terrain. Managed to get back on track and down to the group waiting at the bottom. Were they worried about me, no, they were concerned about Sam and his dog Milly, who, unknown to me, had followed me. All arrived safe and sound with a little extra legwork thrown in. The route is at http://www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/145963/fyrish-again/
28 April
A wee jog, then 10 wicked hill repititions, under the watchful eye of Sandy, followed by a gentle jog.
27 April
A devastating 1500m run today, for Ross County Athletics. Absolutely nothing in the legs, but still managed to come in last. Loran, Iona and Logan put in some great performances for RCA, well done guys.
26 April
Mmmm, 20 miles tonight, back home for 2230, just as it was turning dark. Not a good run time wise, but it's miles in the bag.
25 April
Had a bad week since Monday, very achy legs, sore knees and generally rundown. Pushed my self to go out tonight and managed a very respectable 5 miles in pouring rain, around Invergordon
21 April
It's been a while since my last run, so this one was special. 4.5m to Alness, 3 miles with the Jog Scotland Group, then 4.5m back. I enjoyed the run, but my new trainers are giving me jip. My right leg was killin' me all the way back and it's still aching today.
16 April
Made it up Cnoc Fyrish at last. Went with the Wednesday group for a corker of 4.5 mile run up a local hill with a 1480ft climb, pure dead brilliant. Fantasticly clear and bright night, great views.
15 April
5 miles of speed work in Dingwall, all on my lonesome, awwww.
14 April
A gentle 3 miles in Alness with the Jog Scotland Group, well duo actually.
13 April Sunday 17-Miler
Did I not feel like doing this? Anyone who thinks running a marathon for charity is no big shakes, try doing some of this training. Knees and buttocks are killing me, but what a buzz afterwards.
5 April
Achleach - Cnoc Mhabairn - Foulis Castle 10 hilly, haily, sunny and gorgeous miles. www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/139717/achleach-cnoc-mhabairn-foulis-castle
2 April
Balnaguisich Loop, 6 miles in Alness www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/139029/balnaguisich
1 April
4 miles up and down to the Novar Windfarm, absolutely brilliant. www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/138623/windmills

26 March
4.6 miles with the Wednesday Group in Alness www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/137595/wednesday-group
24 March
3.2 miles with the Monday Jog Scotland group in Alness www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs/137057/monday-in-alness
22 March
Portmahomak Lighthouse 10km today. Snow and wind as I left Evanton, turning to just a strong Northerly at the Port. I made it up and down the hill in a respectable 44min 59 (my garmin's timing.) Check out www.sanoodi.com/route/sairlegs for the route.
Loran's on her way back from her school skiing trip to Austria. She's due in at 0130 Monday morning. The blog is here: http://invergordonacademy.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/ski-trip-2008/

Thanks to Sandy and Jim & Karen for their sponsorship. Time to up the target again!
19 March
A night in Alness with the Wednesday Group. 3.5 miles at a goodish pace. Kim should do well on Saturday at Portmahomack
17 March
Had a weekend off running, did the shops instead! Back to work tonight, another good 4 miles with the Jog Scotland Group. Kim's working really well.
12 March
Unbelievable, went out again for a wee trot round, but ended up being beasted by Ken over 3.5miles. Ma calves are killin' me!!
11 March
Sands wimped out again, thank goodness, I only managed 2.4m instead of the usual 4! Ma pair wee legs are feeling sorry for themselves.
10 March
An unexpectedly fast run tonight, 4 miles in 34 mins with a new Jog Scotland runner.
9 March Inverness Half-Marathon

An enjoyable 13.1 miles, windy, with sunshine, but the rain held off. A decent time for me, 1hr 42.

8 March

What a run! I went for a wee warm-up before the Inverness Half tomorrow, haven't been out since Tuesday. Horizontal rain and a Force 10 from the North-west. Ma pair wee legs......
4 March
A really good 4 miles with Sandra in Dingwall.
3 March
4 miles with the Jog Scotland group, pechin big style, thanks to Paul who forced me to do some serious catching up, failed miserably, due to my escapades yesterday.
2 March

Another blustery day, with a touch of rain and a reasonable run in the Nairn 10k, 46min 17secs(1minute faster than last year.) Once again, I know I could do better, but weather and training were against me. Next week it's the Inverness Half-Marathon, but for now it's a well-earned bottle of beer. Goodnight and thank-you for listening.
1 Mar
North Scotland Primary Schools Cross-Country today. Logan and 3 of his school friends had a run out at Dornoch on a day that saw, snow, rain, hail, a gale and brilliant sunshine. The race was held on Dornoch Links and they all did really well. Next week, it's the Ross-shire Primary Schools Cross-Country Championship.
Forced myself to go out for a 5 miler late afternoon, a hard slog but I needed the miles under my belt. I should've went out Thursday or Friday, but for one reason or another it didn't happen.
26 Feb 2008
My Tuesday running partner whimped out, claiming she hadn't had any dinner and it was far too wet and windy for running. I have to admit the rain was a wee bitty horizontal, but I still had a fantastic run, doing speed intervals between lamp posts for 2 miles of my 4 miler.
It's the Nairn 10k on Sunday, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
25 Feb 2008
Thanks to Dad & Mum for their donation. At this rate I'll need to adjust my fundraising target. Tonight I had a windy 4m jog with the Jog Scotland group in Alness. After not doing my cool down stretching yesterday, my legs were a bit tight, but they soon loosened up for an enjoyable run.

It's been a quiet week, with the highlight being Iona's win in the Inverness Music Festival. Her violin group, Ross-shire Strings, won in their category on Tuesday. Well-done Iona, brilliant job.
I ran a training session on Saturday morning for half-a-dozen P5-7 pupils in preparation for the North Of Scotland Primary Schools Cross-Country, the wee so and so's were too fast for me, I was fair pechin!!

24 Feb 2008
7 miles in a strong wind, hard work, but glad to get huffin an' puffin at last.
20 Feb 2008
5.1m with the Jog Scotland Group, cunningly disguised as the Wednesday Group.
19 Feb 2009
Went to Eden Court to watch and Listen to Iona's Ross-shire Strings win their category at the Inverness Music Festival, brilliant Iona.

18 Feb 2008
3.5 miles with my Jog Scotland Group, surprisingly easy after yesterday's run.
17 Feb 2008 - Sunday