Glorious Gigha

The annual Gigha Challenge took place on Saturday where you can run, walk or cycle 5k or 11.3 miles - the full length of the lovely Scottish island.  I love Gigha - it's a beautiful part of Argyll, so remote and simply stunning.  The Gigha Challenge is always a fantastic day out and I always enjoy the run even if it's roasting hot or pouring with rain.  This year it was WINDY.  But it didn't stop the CRC runners and others from all over Argyll coming over the sea to take part.... it had nothing to do with the lure of a few pints in the Gigha Hotel afterwards! 

My husband gets glory on Gigha with a fab time of 1.07, soon followed by James and Tommy - well done boys!

I wouldn't have normally got a place and be on same podium as Jen and Emma aka the fasties as there was a noticable lack of some of the normal 'faster' women runners inc some of my CRC team mates but I was delighted all the same to get a wee trophy ;-)

The Gigha Challenge a small community run event and it always has a lovely friendly atmosphere, encouraging the whole family to take part in an activity and putting on a spread of delicious homemade sandwiches and cakes.  Not one to turn down a challenge, and knowing I probably wouldn't get a chance to cycle on Sunday as I was taking spin in the morning, I thought I would try the run AND the cycle!  It would be good tri training if nothing else!  I felt the run went well, I had a good breakfast of porridge and banana (and beetroot juice!) and went out just to enjoy it.  I was treating it like a long easy run but once I got started I couldn't help pick up the pace.  Nothing too painful, I just enjoyed it but enough to get me out of my comfort zone - especially in that wind!  I was happy with my time of 1.27 (and 3rd lady!) for the 11 miles and I immediately hopped on my strategically placed bike at the finish line in time to start the cycle.  

Me on the podium for the 2nd time - ha ha!!  Hey, I'm taking any silverware I can get, it'll not happen again!!

Thanks to all the cheerleaders at the side for their motivating screams of "you are bloody crazy" and "we won't keep you any cakes" but it was all a bit of fun!  When I got on the bike I realised how thirsty I was but I just pushed on, sat behind 5 or 6 people that went out in front until about mile 3 until I managed to overtake on the slow hill climbs by getting out the saddle.  I thoroughly loved the cycle, it felt good to go fast (for me!) and once in 3rd position I tried to maintain my speed until the finish line in a time of 42 minutes.  My 'cheerleaders' had retired to the pub so I joined them for a pint of water before the prizegiving where CRC swept the board with prizes in all the events. It was then time for the post-race celebrations on the lovely Isle and to continue when back on the 'mainland'!

Relaxing in the Gigha Hotel pub after the race(s)  Smile!

Dining out at the Ugadale post-race - delicious food (and wine!)

OK so I've just realised that this week my mileage has almost HALVED since marathon training but my food intake remains the same, if not more?!  My challenge next week is to up the miles and lower the calories.  Hmmm... a hen weekend in Glasgow?  Might start that on Monday then.

03/05/2014	Breakfast	Snack	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Sat	Porridge, 1/2 banana	Beetroot juice.  Soreen.  Coffee.	Small egg mayo roll.  Some wee cakes	Banana, yoghurt, 2 crackers	Meatballs, chicken capellini pasta, tiramasu.  Few alcoholic beverages….
Exercise	12 mile run (1 m warmup 11 mile race 1.27 Gigha Challenge) 11 mile cycle 42 mins		Great day at Gigha Challenge!  5k, 11 mile run and cycle on offer for everyone and lots of CRC competitors and prizewinners.  Stuart was 1st!!  I was pleased to get on the podium too - 3rd lady in the run and 3rd overall in the cycle.  Not a huge amount of competition like the MOKRUN or other races but it's a trophy nonetheless :-)  Great banter with the crew as always and lovely meal at Ugadale.
Sun		Vit water	Scrambled eggs on toast.  Scone and jam.	Biscuits and 'real' tea.	Red thai chicken curry & rice. LF bread & butter pudding with ice cream.  Chocolate & tea!!!
Exercise	Spin		Feeling a little tender today, not sure if was alcohol or not but spin sweated it out me!  Felt tired rest of day and  just wanted to eat eat eat!  Organising MOKRUN race packs etc!
Mon	Slice toast, yoghurt with berries		1/2 roast veg & mozzarella toasty with cup of cauliflour soup. Slice soda bread.	Banana loaf slice.  Green tea with jasmine.	Beef teyaki stir fry with noodles.  Bread butter pudding with ice cream.  Tea & special k biscuit.
Exercise	5 mile easy trail run and spin.  Walk up Bengullion.		Very windy and dreich May day. Enjoyed run and spin.  Sun came out so Mairi and I walked up Bengullion before dinner.  Mokrun planning going well and race packs sent out to entrants.
Tue	Slice toast, yoghurt with berries	Alpen bar & green tea	Falafel wraps, apple & tangerine.	Breakfast biscuits.  Oatybake.	Grilled salmon with basil.  Roast veg.  Couscous.  LF yoghurt.  Go ahead bar & tea.
Exercise	7 miles inc 5k race		Just felt hungry ALL day!  Met wee baby Robbie Ramsay - cute as a button.  Miserable wet and windy day but enjoyed race despite it being hard and getting a slow time.  Need to get faster!!
Wed	Breakfast biscuits, green tea.	Alpen bar & green tea	LF houmous & oatcakes.  Apple & tangerine.	Rice cakes, pbutter & banana	Haggis pie with sauce & carrots.  LF yoghurt.  Go ahead bar & chai tea.
Exercise	1 mile swim.  3 miles easy.  Combat.  Circuits.		Hip still a little sore.  Horrible day - got COMPLETELY drenched 3 times on way to/from work on bike.  I had my cervical screening today - something I feel strongly that we should talk about more often and encourage women to attend as it can prevent cervical cancer.  The thought of it is worse than it actually is.
Thu	Slice toast, yoghurt with berries	Alpen bar & green tea	Homemade chicken pate (chicken liver, teaspoon marg, splash of port, red onion, garlic & mustard) with ryvita.	Tangerine, apple & 2 rice cakes with LS jam.	1/2 chicken breast red thai curry with sliced potatoes, garlic, coriander & ginger (only used 1/3 of LF coconut milk) with jasmine rice.  LF yoghurt.  Go ahead bar. Chai tea.
Exercise	7 miles inc 10 x 1 min intervals.  5 mins core.		Felt a bit sore after circuits!  Enjoyed training, decided to do intervals to try and help increase my pace for MOKRUN.
Fri	Porridge, banana & berries.	Alpen bar & green tea	LF houmous & ryvita.  Apple & tangerine.	Green tea	Chicken & pesto rigatoni.  Garlic & basil pittas.  Chocolate! Chai tea.
Exercise	Spin.  50 lengths swim.		Loved spin and swim this morning although a ittle tired.  Higher Admin exam today so more worried than the kids - argh!!
Mileage	34

My new New Balance 1080x3 beasts were delivered this week - first run, so far so good!