Training Log Archive: BrandNewMe

I could have squeezed a run in somewhere, but it would have added stress to an already busy day, so nah. I start full time next week. I have been getting Monday and Friday afternoons off, giving me a precious 3 hours 15 mins to myself every week to do what I and with (cycling home from work, shopping, doing jobs, drs appointements, etc). No more guaranteed down time. Boo.

C • Are you getting an Au Pair? 2

Detchmont 10k trail race.

Last night I was trying to find something to watch on the telly. I'd seen all of the available episodes of midsomer murders and antiques roadshow, so was at a bit of a loss. I eventually hit on a most excellent episode of Storyville, which was a film-documentary called 'The Queen of Versaille'. Totally compelling viewing. A normal American girl does an engineering degree to get a job at her only local employer IBM, then decides having a career is dull so gives it all up to become a beauty queen and marry a billionaire 30 years her senior. The film starts 20 years later when she is living in a mansion with 8 kids and 19 domestic staff, spending a ridiculous amount on tanning, and hair and Botox, then as the documentary continues the credit crunch happens, they lose a whole load of money and she is forced to budget to survive, and look after her own kids when the domestic staff are cut etc. Anyway, this was the reason why I was whacked today - stayed up too late watching it.

Got to she start of this race, on a drizzly scottish summer day, and there was someone on the start line looking every inch the beauty queen. Perfect nails, deep tan, long bleach blonde hair, crop top and running pants. This was running barbie. Totally out of place in the mid Scotland running fraternity. She was looking v serious, and caned it off at the start. I started less energetically - my first race of the year maybe - and it was all horribly painful. I didn't look at the route map properly beforehand. There was 3k, 5k, 7k and 9k markers. I got to the 5, which said '5 miles' underneath, and thought that that sounded about right. I must have done 5 miles by then surely. It had felt like ages. But sadly not, as I hit the 7k a bit further. Surely some mistake. I was dying. Then we came up the hill out of the woods towards the fields and the finish. Phew! Tfft. Must have been a mistake, but no. No such luck. We head off into the woods for a second time. If I am going backwards barbie is too, and I can see her in the distance, uncatchable but not that far off. I gratefully stagger over the line in 44:38. The gloriously unbarbie-like Edel Mooney first in 40:08. My aim was not to be more than 5 mins behind her.

That was painful. It is horrible running when not in the shape you have been in the past. It didn't help that I had vertigo from 3k onwards. I usually like running races in retrospect, if not at the time, but I am still waiting for the 'like' to arrive today. I'm not sure I can be bothered to get fit again and stress about training all the time, but does this mean I can no longer enjoy races? I don't think the vertigo is helping my enjoyment. My calf was fine though, and it was v much a trail race, so I have that to be pleased with.

Token effort. Not feeling brilliant.

Home with Lucy all weekend. Frandy are away, as are mum and dad. No childcare = no running for me. We went into town and spent loads of money instead.

Ok today. Still whacked.

Ran home from work. Along the cycle path that is along the team tracks to haymarket, then back the normal way. Nicer than Corstorphine road.

I have been suffering from vertigo recently (like when you have been on a ferry, and you come off, and you feel like you are still at sea), and was concerned that this run would be another one feeling crap so I am pleased that it was ok.

With Ray (we were both working from home). His first jaunt since pre-Easter as he has been ill. Through pollock then a bit on the grass. He survived, as did I. I felt ok so might head to Haddington later.

Wipedout