Petite Feet Runaway

Apologies that this has taken so long to post. Rumour has it that I have been stuck in a port-a-loo the entire time. In reality, I have been a bit ill, sat exams, worked too many hours and then spent a month jetting around the world. Nothing too exciting there. I love Glenmore. The race itself is great, the location is nice and everyone is there to have a good time. This year was my fourth year in attendance and third as a runner. I knew I wasn't up for it but I just couldn't resist the Glenmore pull. There's a pirate party on the night before which has produced some epic photos. Unfortunately, I was working until Friday evening and couldn't make the last train so spent the night feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the camping and race kit I needed to pack. I also managed to eat two chocolate bars, one bag of crisps and a packet of sweets; all of which I had bought as my race food. There's definitely I reason why I leave everything to the last minute; if I ...

I've been in hibernation. Unlike a bear though, I have continued eating. Cue the following conversation with one of my wee ones:   Child: I want my mum to have twenty babies Me: Oh, that's a lot of babies Child: Are you having a baby? Me: No Child: I think that you are Me: Oh, why do you think that? Child: Because you have a big tummy Me: Do you think so? Child comes over to me and touches my tummy Child: Yes, it's a big tummy. Are you going to have ten boys and ten girls? There's a high chance that this kid will be a doctor when he grows up and I would then like to remind him of his incorrect diagnosis.   I was (and still am) in serious need of a kick up my well fed Beyonce. With a Sunday off work, a birthday to celebrate and the Meadows Marathon at my doorstep, the kicking was calling.  Students like a good sleep in so the marathon didn't start until 11am. My motivation for watching lectures* was low so I didn't fancy doing that ...

Glenmore throws a good party. Or at least Mike Adams and Bill Heirs throw a good party at the Hayfield in Glenmore. And I've had this bad boy of a party locked in for a while. I thought about packing party poppers, glittery hats and some dancing shoes. Instead a packed my wellies, some beer and every fleece I own. Everyone's party style is different and that's ok folks. People like to dress in lycra at running parties and I have an incredible amount of respect for people that wear lycra. Glenmore party racing is in it's third year now. Each year it gets a little bit bigger and there are a few more rules as the serious runners start taking part. I ran the 12-hour two years ago in it's first year and it was brilliant. My pals Nicole and Hilary came up to support, drink and get intimate with the Highland midgies while Scott learnt that camping wasn't a strong skill of mine. Last year I was meant to go back for the 24-hour. Unfortunately, I got a bit whingey ove...

Last year’s race at Glenmore was such a blast that I knew I would enter the 24-hour for this year. Unfortunately my alternative training methods meant that there was no chance of even doing justice to the 12-hour. I was still keen to head to Glenmore for the party though! Erm, I mean help-out / assist / be-of-use... After a wee stop at the Tiso sale on the way up we arrive to a flustered John Duncan about ten minutes before the starting horn. We’re given instructions to make purple drinks and egg mayo sandwiches.  Crewing is harder than I thought; Is that too much egg mayo? Which way does he want the rolls cut? What is the best way to wrap them in foil so that they are accessible? Did he say two bottles and two scoops? The powder is clumping in the bottle. It’s overflowing. Should I have poured some water out beforehand? This doesn’t bode well for my crewing position at the World 24-hour Championships next weekend. I should stick to running.   ...

I have had many people asking about other race reports, so here are a few I wrote before I had this blog... Pre-race jitters The aim was to run the furthest I had ever run. Given that my distance record was 53 miles I wanted 54 miles. The trail laps were four miles each so some basic mathematics means that the aim will be 56 miles. Quite a challenge (for me) to complete 56 miles within 12 hours as my Fling race (53 miles) had taken me over 11 hours to complete. Even worse was that my father had run 100km in the Naseby Water Race in Dunedin the week before in under 12 hours and as proud as I was, I really didn’t want the old man to be a better runner than me. So I quietly fancied 64 miles, which would bring me in with 102km and hold the family distance record. But I’d see how I was feeling. We drove to Aviemore the night before with the crew; Scott, Nicole and Hilary. The Ravenscraig Guest House was plush and breakfast superb. I've since upped my porridge-making race in...