Over the sea to Skye

Another week has went by and another race completed, this time on the stunning island of Skye for their famous and sold out Half Marathon.  The race itself was hilly, well organised, beautiful but for me - really sore!  I think the 6 hour drive irritated my injury and it was a very slow slog to the finish line at Portree High School.  I recorded my slowest half since (I think) my very first about 8 years ago!  Even though I went out on the day to just take it easy and enjoy the race, I found it a struggle.  Lovely scenery but I was bored - I had noone to chat to.  I wanted to make conversation with those around me but all I could think about was my injury and getting the race over!  I didn't look at my garmin until near the end and realised how slow I was actually going - gasp, I could maybe be over the 2 hours?!  So I tried to lift the pace for the final few miles which thankfully were downhill.  As I neared the finish it was great to see Stuart and Kenny R cheering me on.  Although there was another friendly chap cheering me on too, he was being very kind but he said something along the lines of "you're under the 2 hours!" as if to motivate me.  Well, if looks could kill!  Haha, I know he was being nice but I felt horrible and the thought of being nearly 20 mins off my best time made me feel embarrassed.  I know I shouldn't have been but I did.  Boy, I was so glad the race was done!  Oh well, another medal and another tshirt at least!

What to do after a half marathon?  Climb of course!

A bit cloudy at the top

Dunvegan Castle

Nevertheless, post race soup and cakes were excellent and it was nice to catch up with Kenny R and Margaret.  Both of them did very well in the race and my husband Stuart (who had done a 10k and 5k already that week) managed to come in 8th position!  Even with such a great achievement he was still disappointed in his time, 4 minutes off his half time from earlier in the year but I thought it was a tremendous performance from him!   Despite my pain, we had amazing time on Skye and treated it like a mini-holiday.  Tourists for the weekend we climbed the Old Man of Storr, pottered about Portree, walked (and swam) in the fairy pools, visited Dunvegan Castle and dined at The Three Chimneys.  I'd thoroughly recommend both Skye and their half marathon.  Yes, the route is hilly so maybe not a PB course but it's a challenge and worth doing if you can combine the 2.  But my bad experience I think has put me off, I may return to Skye but definitely not for the half!

Stuart dips his feet into the fairy pools

Taking a dip!

Still IM training, but now tapering (yay!), I cycled 60 miles on our way home on Sunday and whilst I was doing that one of my training buddies Alix was taking part in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco!  She smashed it!  She has been training hard for months for this event and did fantastic - jumping off the boat to swim in shark infested waters to the shore line 1.5 miles later, followed by an 18 mile hilly run and an 8 mile trail run.  Wow, that couldn't fail to impress or motivate!  And the best thing is she enjoyed it every step of the way - just look at her photos, she didn't stop smiling!  Well done Alix!

Smiles from Alix on the bike section.  Photo from a screen shot, sorry but you can see the smile!

Crossing the line all smiles!

After the race I've decided I'm going to limit my running for the next week as I taper, maybe a few easy runs but that is all!  The less the better probably just to ease off the pain.  As much as I don't want to I also know I'll need to take some 'proper' time off after Arran.  At least one full week of nothing - no running, no cycling, no swimming, no PT sessions, no classes - argh!  But it's necessary. 

MOKRUN Outshines the Rest!

Jennifer M in 2nd place and Jennifer R in 3rd

The 11th MOKRUN half marathon and 10k is complete. What a cracker of a weekend, filled with sunshine and happy faces. It was a glorious weekend in Kintyre and the event outshone every other race... well I'm just a tad biased!!!  It felt very strange not organising it and I was disappointed to be injured so not be able to go out and race it properly but I took part in the half for the first time at MOK, and although sore from the beginning - I loved it! The atmosphere at the start, from Fiona's high energy warm up where hundreds joined in the fun on Kinloch Green (another 1st for me getting to join in), to cheering crowds down Main Street towards the finish.  

Not to mention that danish pastry at the end :-)  

My new friend Carol - superstar

Susan, winner of super vet in 10k

Star of the show, 1/2 marathon winner Kenny Campbell!

Tina and Emma enjoying the Daninsh pastries!

So I was 13 minutes off my Personal Best half marathon time but I knew I was going to be way off mark and I actually finished a little quicker than I'd expected so I was pretty pleased.  Running PB's isn't always the target, sometimes just getting to run, to feel the sand between your toes or to chat to someone you've never met before can make it ever so enjoyable.  And that's what I did.  For about 10 miles of the race, I met up with an inspirational woman, Carol Golsby.  Celebrating her 60th birthday by taking part in MOKRUN she talked away as if we had known each other throughout our lives.  I was ecstatic to see Carol on the podium at the prizegiving winning 1st in her category - very well deserved, what a wonderful woman.  Good to see some other familiar and local faces on the podium too including my best training buddy Jen on full form gaining a PB and 2nd place!!  Kenny Campbell pipping Jack Arnold to 1st too.  My husband also did well in the 10k, coming in 5th.  Although he was disappointed, particularly in his time of 36 minutes, I can't see why as it was only a few weeks ago he was crippled with a bad back!  

Rab enjoying a cup of tea before a pint... ;-0

Tommy taking a well deserved rest after a strong performance in 10k

Jen and Drew enjoying the sun and atmosphere

The 2 Ralphies - always smiling

The McGeachy's sporting their mokrun medals

Some of the CRC crew smiling at the post race celebrations

After the race I didn't need to rush about as usual so I managed to even get a few miles on my bike before getting ready for the Ceilidh - what a night!  The atmosphere was fantastic and we ended up waiting until the bitter end... it was  along walk home!  

Well done MOKRUN committee, SK Sports Council, marshals, helpers, volunteers, runners and the Campbeltown community - you have done yourself proud once again.

Cheers - Moscow Mule time!

Smile if you ran great today :-)

Loch fyne  salmon bagels mid 107 mile cycle!

There was no time for being sore or hungover (although my injury really flared up after MOKRUN) as I had to continue my IM training.  Open water swimming, brick sessions and my longest cycle to date had to be completed so I could start to taper although it feels as if I've been tapering for ages.  

Maybe some rest in the tapering phase will ease off the pain.  Here's hoping!

Jennifer at our final destination of Garelochead - stunning

Stuart and I dined in La Barca, Helensburgh after a hard day's cycling and running - thoroughly recommend this tapas bar, yum!

All smiles on Sunday after the Vale of Leven 10k despite my worst 10k time in years - I still got a medal and a free pair of Polaroid sunglasses - RESULT!

A wee prosecco al fresco at the family bbq on Sunday to finish off another sunny week