extremes

Lovely 5.8 mile hilly trail run today.  Drove the 2 miles to the forest with M and took the dog.  We tried to get a lot of hills in and our total elevation was 252 metres.  It was around 9 degrees and lovely to run, in fact, quite warm.  The sun was quite strong when it shone through the trees.  When we arrived at the loch there was ice on the surface which provided a real contrast to the ideal running conditions.  By the time we had finished the run the temperature had dropped quite a lot and by this evening it was freezing again.  Hopefully the nice daytime weather will continue.

Went on a lovely 5.2 mile run this afternoon on one of my favourite routes.  The weather was absolutely ideal for a run - about 9 degrees, blue skies and it was good to be alive.  I loved the photo above of the cows in the stream which they have been avoiding for the last few months because it has been so cold.  14yos ran the same route, although as usual a little faster than me, and that was a real achievement as it is the longest he has run.

The run took me down by the estuary and there was a lovely sun reflection on the water.  Can't see it well in the photo above but it was so nice.  It really is a lovely run.  You could hear the birds chirping in the reeds and the lambs in the field alongside the lane were just finding their feet - only a day or so old.  Wonderful run and a great part of the training plan - all part of the bigger picture.  Rick dropped a suggestion this morning of us being able to go up  and do a long run on the West Highland Way in June while the children are at camp.  That would be sooooooo wonderful, one of my "things to achieve".  Would love to be up to around 20 miles by then!

14yos has just celebrated his birthday.  His birthday present choice was more fish and equipment to restock his fish tank.  We had a home education get together yesterday about 30 miles away and after that drove to our nearest large town 20 miles further away and picked up his fish.  He has started with 6 danios and will move on in a few weeks to more.  We enjoyed a takeaway and a banana cake topped with chocolate icing for his birthday tea.

The children really enjoy going to the home education group and getting to see their friends.  Here is a couple of photos of them with their friends.  They have made some good friends through home education and I hope that Barnaby can still meet up with them once he is attending school.

exams!!

I sat my exam today.  It was tough but I hope I have just made it.  Will get the results in a few days time.  The pass rate is 70% so quite high really.
It has been a lovely sunny day here so I went for a run while the children were at orchestra.  It was good to get out and shake away the revision cobwebs.  Did 3 miles down by the river with the dog and was quite warm in a techie T-shirt.  It must have been about 8 degrees. Tonight we were busy practicing for the family class at the music festival.  We sound a bit messy at the moment but we'll pull it together.  14yos has to write his own cornet music!!  Two weeks today it starts and in three weeks it will be all over.

missing runs and revision

I have been so busy revising over the last few days, as well as juggling life, and two committee meetings, that I haven't managed a run since Tuesday.  I walked Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings though so haven't been completely inactive.  14yos was away and so I got up and did his paper round.  My training plan started in earnest today with a rest day for which I was very grateful as I had the swim club AGM this afternoon where I was standing down as chair.
So tomorrow is not only the day when I have my exam but also the first run of my new training programme.  Unfortunately with the stress of revision, I think I may have over eaten and added on a couple of pounds!
Anway - onwards and upwards.

14.5 miles - can you believe it!!

It was a glorious day here.  About 6 degrees and blue skies.  Perfect running conditions.  M and I had planned to try and top our 12 miles this afternoon and we couldn't ask for better weather.  My wonderful 18yos was willing to make the tea, Rick was in with the children and there was no time pressure so we knew we could just plod on.  We planned an out and back route so that there would not be any short cuts and off we went.  Stunning run - the Scottish countryside at its best.  We pushed to 7.25 miles and then ran back.  There was, as usual, some walk breaks and after 12 miles M's hip was hurting a little so we took a few more walk breaks then.  But we did it and we feel fine and we had a really lovely afternoon.  I get so much benefit from being out in the lovely lanes and being able to run.  So now we know we can do the half marathon..........................what next!!
On Saturday 14yos hurt is leg doing land training with the swimming club and it was really very painful so I took him to A and E on Sunday morning.  They said probably bad bruising but to keep an eye on it. It is getting a little better and hasn't stopped him from going to stay with a friend for a few days this morning.  It was a planned visit as some more friends have come up from London to join the gang so I am sure they will have a good time.
Busy, busy this morning with both revising and practicing for the music festival in three weeks.  Working on our entry to the family class now!!

Yesterday was a lovely spring day with just a few showers.  13yos and I went on a lovely 2.5 mile forest run and really enjoyed it.  Played badminton in the evening too.  

On Thursday I went for an interview for a job.  The interview seemed to go really well.  Got a phone call on Friday morning to say I was unsuccessful but interviewed really well and had so much to offer.  Very unhelpful.

However, this morning I got a letter from the hospital nursing manager asking me to reapply for a job I had applied for a few months ago.  So I will do that, and with the hope of community work coming up as well things are looking good.  I just HAVE to pass the exam on 25th February!!

This morning some of the ladies from the running club ran up a local hill called Bennan.  495m of ascent altogether and 9.3 miles.  Tough run but good to have done it.  Cold at the top so only time to take a quite snapshot!!  There was a mist hanging around for the whole run so there was no view but the trees were lovely to run through where the track went through the forest.  Above the tree line there was quite a lot of lying snow and the streams were full of water so there was plenty to see.  When I was running up alone (I am slower than the others and don't want them to wait for me) there was silence apart from the noise of the water running.  I got almost to the top when the others were starting their desent and one of them ran back up to the top with me and then the lovely 4.5 miles down.  It was nice to have the company on the way down but I was glad to be left alone for the run up.

multiple workouts!!!!

Not having posted for 7 days there is quite a lot to say!! The day after my last run 13yos and I went on a 3 miler just to keep the plan going.  That is the last run I have managed but have done multiple other things since.
Thursday morning 12yod and I went for our weekly walk and did about 2.25 miles.  We had to call and pick up some funds which had been collected for Mountain Rescue at a local funeral parlour which was quite interesting.
On Friday I had to take my dad to a hospital appointment in the town 25 miles away so we took the opportunity to get some shopping and had a nice coffee together.  I think he enjoys these trips out we have.  Friday evening is a really busy time now as the children are all over the place doing various activities.  I have to be about half an hour late for badminton at the moment but I still get an hour there and on Friday it was a really good session with some tough games.  The shoulder keeps up a bit better now.

These pictures were taken on Saturday morning in our garage/games room while 18yos was doing his weightlifting using human weights!!

On Saturday I had a really nice lie in - Rick got up early and went for an 18 mile run with the dog and 12yod and 13yos were at their swimming club.  Then I spent the afternoon revising for the exam I have coming up.
In the evening we had the Candlemass Ball which is a fantastic evening we attend each year.  It is a great ceilidh with a lovely buffet.  A few of us go from the running club.  In all I spent 3.30 hours on my feet doing some hard dancing and have been feeling stiff ever since.  It is brilliant fun and great exercise.  Roll on the next one!!!

On Sunday I was too tired to get up early, having got to bed so late and in the afternoon my hips were really sore after all the dancing so I went swimming with 7yos.  I managed to do quite a bit of swimming and some of the aquafit exercises that we do on a Tuesday evening so it was good.  We were out for supper on Sunday evening too so another late night!!!
Yesterday the children worked hard on their music practise and work - 13yos is working hard to make sure he is ahead for going to school.  In the afternoon Rick had some work he needed to do at my parents' house so I walked briskly the 1.25 miles there and 1.25 miles back.  Spent last night doing more revision.
This afternoon I hope to run at least 11 miles again.  It's cold but not raining so we shall see how it goes.

more snow

We had another fall of snow overnight, although only a couple of inches.  The children enjoyed playing out in the garden when it was snowing fast.
This afternoon my running pal and I went out for a run.  We are trying to fit some hills in during February and March both for our own benefit but also because there is a club challenge on for the whole of the club to run the elevation of Everest during those two months.  We did 5.1 miles and the hills really did pull on my legs.  It was beautiful out, snow on the ground apart from in the deep forest.

The dog really enjoyed the run - she really loves the snow.  The photos below are of my favourite place in the forest.  It is a large pond which you come across quite suddenly and it looks different every time I go past it.  There is something really amazing about it - it is just one of those places.

forest walk

On Saturday, Rick and I and 7yos went for a walk in the forest in the afternoon.  13yos was playing tennis with a friend and 12yod was at a friend's house for the afternoon and evening.  It was a walk I haven't done before and I really enjoyed it.  7yos took a ball and a toy car and enjoyed playing with them as we went around.
I have a stinking head cold so had a lie in on both Saturday and Sunday.  I didn't go out to any of the meetings on Sunday but do feel quite a lot better today.  18yos came home on Sunday evening so he is busy making tea for us now - spinach risotto - I am really looking forward to it.
Today we got work done this morning. 7yos is really coming on well with his reading.  12yod spent some time finalizing her composition for the music festival. Then all three of them were at orchestra later on in the afternoon.  We also made an appointment with the high school of our choice to see the depute rector of higher school about 13yos starting there for S4 this coming autumn.  We spent some time looking at his possible subject choices and where he was likely to end up.  He definitely is veering towards sciences so has to think about that.  We have an appointment on Wednesday so will see how that goes.  This school is about 26 miles away so not as easy to get to as the one up to road but for various reasons it is definitely the right one for him to go to.
Things are looking good on the job front for me.  As well as having an interview on Thursday 14th for a one day a week job, and pracitce nurse cover, I have an exam coming up with a view to an interview for community nursing which I would really like.  Things are coming together nicely.
Plan on a 6/7 mile forest run tomorrow with some good hard hills in and then a 4 miler on Wednesday with 13yos.  Then hopefully a couple of other short runs later in the week.