Going Krackers!

I had been looking forward to my 'cut back' week for ages (cut back on running not specifically chocolate) but when it finally came around I was nervous!  I always feel guilty taking any time off.  I'm not sure why, I know rest and recovery are a huge part of training but I always think that if I take a day or two off it's going to affect me or lose my fitness or something!  Therefore, I thought planning a city break to Krakow and entering the Strathaven half marathon for the day of our return would be an ideal opportunity for me to enjoy a little rest and some time with my husband without  a race.  Which I did!  Kind of.

7am and I venture out to do some jog/sightseeing whilst Stuart sleeps.  Whos' the idiot?

Of course, I couldn't help myself completely and despite Stuart telling me to lie in I still ran every day but slow enjoyable jogs - no hard efforts which was nice but did leave me a bit edgy and I started to feel a niggle in my left leg.  Before we left on our mini-holiday I also managed to get an outdoor cycle without rain or hail - result.  And I did my first 2 mile swim and felt so proud of myself I thought I would cook a multitude of cakes to celebrate.  Probably not the best idea as although they were all 'healthy' they were still calorific (all natural, no refined sugar but include cacao, coconut oil and nuts)  The millionaire shortbread, raw snickers slab and date brownies were my faves - thanks to Livias Kitchen and Deliciously Ella, yum!

Snapping a selfie after persuading Stuart to jog with me on Sat am

On 'lovers' bridge!  We didn't put a padlock on though!

Stew for stu

Beetroot soup!

Krakow was lovely - a small but beautiful city with a large main square and lots of beautiful architecture.  We enjoyed some fantastic food - hearty stew with dumplings to warm us up on a winters day, beetroot soup (for nitrates of course) and salty poppy-seed bagels.  My favourite though was Wawel's, a chocolate restaurant where we HAD to taste a variety of their speciality caramel desserts and pralines - delicious!  It was freezing weather and we spent the first day on a full day excursion to Auschwitz - a very sobering day but the snow and rain was very fitting for the miserable surroundings.  The next day after another jog along the riverbank we walked around the city centre taking in the various sights including Mary's Chapel, the cloth hall, Jewish Quarter and revisited St Peter and Paul's Church where we went the evening before for a classical musical concert.  We finished off the day with some swimming in the hotel pool and spa (not easy to do freestyle in a 15m pool!!)  I tried to do a few stretches too as my left leg was getting even stiffer again, even after rest!

Eating all the desserts at Wawel's

Finally out of my running gear for our sightseeing walk

Post race smiles

We only arrived back in Scotland just before midnight so it was less than 8 hours in our hotel room before we set off for Strathaven half marathon the next rainy morning to meet the rest of the CRC crew who were there fighting fit.  We registered in a small primary school where we huddled together to get some respite from the Scottish weather before the 1km jog to the start line ushered by the tune of a lone piper.  The course was fairly hilly but nothing us Kintyre folk aren't used too!  Although I had said I wasn't racing it, I did want to push it a bit harder than a normal LSR so I tried to stick with Kerry for the first few undulating miles (she is training for the London marathon and doing fantastic) but by mile 4 she was creeping into the distance so I let her go and settled into a comfortable yet fast pace (for me!)  I could feel my hip/hamstring on the left side getting more sore, in fact I could feel my gait 'off' but I couldn't find a way of correcting it so I continued on.  Energy-wise I felt good and I was very happy to finish in just over the 1.47 mark, 6 minutes slower than my PB but hugely faster than I would've been on a long plod at home!  Stuart had finished in 1.19 and hadn't even given it his all, he had already changed by the time I had got back and was eating some homemade lentil soup.  Kerry had finished in 1.44 which was a PB for her and very well deserved.  We then saw Eilidh and Alix striding over the finish line for their first half marathon race in very respectable times just over the 2 hours with big, big, BIG smiles on their faces.  That's what it's all about.  Well, that and the creme eggs and cakes at the finish :-)  Next year I might even go back to Strathaven and really go for it, the rest of the CRC team really motivated me to get some speed training in and improve.  Let's hope this leg niggle improves pronto or I'll go completely 'Krackers'!!

I'll cut back on chocolate next week....