Meall Fuar-mhonaidh Walk - 8km - untimed

Although this isn't really a training run or cycle it was hard work and took around 2.5 hours so I'm including it in the Blog.

The walk started near Drumnadrochit and wound up the boggy hills up to the the summit over looking Loch Ness. Most of it was quite steep and slippy but we made it too the top without issues. Thankfully there was no rain and we soon found ourselves at the viewpoint or 602m just shy of a Corbet (610m/2000ft). As with most climbs, the way down was tougher on the knees than the way up which is a shame as I don't think I'll be running tomorrow.

No sign of Nessie today!

Inverness Isles - 5km - 28:38

Told you I could run this faster. I wasn't expecting a PB but bloody hell I'm chuffed. Also glad as I've not done much exercise since the 20th April.

Inverness Isles - 5km - 30:33

I came up to visit Matt and KP in Inverness and there is this convenient loop round the River Ness which, fortunately, they live on the banks off. I decided to run this yesterday and it was incredibly beautiful. Unfortunately, I wasn't really paying any attention to the run as I was too busy looking at the scenery. It was a completely flat route so I'm sure I could have run it faster.

I'll give it a shot later...

Arran (Anti-Clockwise) - 94km - 4 hours 51 mins

This was overall quite horrible yesterday.

It started off with a great tail wind that blew us over Lochranza and then down most of the coast to Blackwaterfoot. However, it was in our face for the entire rest of the cycle. The going was tough and Stuart made the ferry by the skin of his teeth while Natasha and I arrived in time to watch it cast off it's ropes and head to the mainland... without us!

So we went to the pub. Watched the Rangers vs St Johnstone semi-final (which was actually very exciting as it went to penalties - and normally I hate football). Drank about 4 pints of coke. Then got the 1920 ferry back home.

I now have an aching right knee which has got me worried slightly for future training. I think I'll take the next couple of days off!

Short Southside Loop - 4km - 26:17

This was just a short run tonight as Adam had other stuff to do. None-the-less it was a full run at an ok pace with no stops. If my calculations are right then we would have done a 5km run in 32:51 at this pace which is great but more importantly I know that we are now well on our way to running the 10k with no stops in Sept.

Here's hoping we keep it up!!!

Skelmorlie Loop - 5km - 28:49

Whoo Haa!

Look at that! I actually beat my time and by a very significant 40 seconds! There is hope afterall for the next 6 weeks. One thing that was different today was that I didn't run with the iPod which I read actually slows you down as you tune out and start listening to the music and not your feet. Hence you don't "talk to yourself" on the way round and encourage yourself to run faster/longer etc.

Today I was definitely urging myself on and so it made a difference - but man, it's boring without the music!

West End Loop - 5km - 33:11

Spectacular effort today on Adam's behalf.

I was pushing for us to make it all the way to Byres Rd before our first walk but when we got there Adam said he had a bit more in him so we carried on down the street. We were aiming for Uni Ave which then became Church St which then became Dumbarton Rd and before I knew it Adam was saying, "Shall we just run the whole thing?"

So we did. He says he's not being doing any extra running but I'm not so sure!!!