A Return to Action

After a month off running it was back to training – it is always hard coming back after a long lay off.  Everything seems to require that much more effort. Training is definitely a habit and once the habit has been broken it is difficult to re-establish. However after the last Speed of Light run leader’s day we headed back up Arthur’s seat to learn our routes. Returning so soon afterwards made it hard work particularly on the steep hill sessions, however with Angus words still fresh in the mind we kept to the pace he suggested (thankfully on the slow side).

We were ever mindful of our busy weekend looming so we got our head down and did plenty of Hill work over the remainder of the week. Suddenly it was the weekend and our stint at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF) began.  It’s our chance to see what goes on behind the scenes to stage an event such as this. As a runner you tend to take for granted the work that goes on to deliver an event of this scale. The hard working team at GSI certainly put in a power of work both before the weekend and during the weekend, many of them working back to back 20 hour shifts over the weekend. We have been involved with the marathon for the past five years, starting off as marshals and working our way through various jobs such as the sweeper bus and ending up at the start. We help manage the two starts, London Road and Reagent Road, it’s hard work but we wouldn’t miss it for the world.  We have gained a lot of friends through our stint working on the Edinburgh marathon.

In order to recover from our marathon weekend we took the week off work to give us time to recharge our batteries before launching ourselves into Speed of Light training and the up and coming JogScotland 5k Challenges. Well that was the plan as it turned out we didn’t get much training done, just a 7 mile run before it was the weekend again and a return to parkrun. Moira had opted for the 25 minute pacer vest and I went for the 23 minute vest. Once again the pacing event was a success despite the cold windy conditions – is it really June?

On Sunday we had an early start as we had to be in Helensburgh for 9:00 am for registration for the Three Lochs Way Relay Challenge. Each team had five runners and team JJAAM consisted of five Strathclyde parkrunners: John, Jon Edge, Ally Robb, Anthony Butler and Moira. As we assembled in the Victoria Hall there was a lot of mind games going as another Strathclyde parkrun based team,  The Bumble Bees, tried to physic us out. Team JJAAM were stronger than that and were determined to do a Gandalf ‘Thou shalt not pass!’  As we headed to the start we were still working out the logistics of who was driving where and who was to be in what car. At the start Jon limbered up impressively, although chatting to the First Aiders as a ‘precaution’ had us worried. At 9:55, 5 minutes early the race was started and Jon disappeared over the horizon and we disappeared in the car onwards to stage three. As we passed stage two, Ally was already limbering up; these guys were taking this challenge seriously. Ally had opted for this section as her map reading skills were such that she complained about the lack of red dots on the road – enough said.  Moira and I sat in the car at stage three, aware that on the map this was a designated ‘Danger Area’  We were left to reflect about the situations we find ourselves in as a result of saying ‘yes’ to some of the challenges in life.

Time passed all too quickly and over the horizon came the lead runners, the field was already well spaced out. I left the comfort of the car to take up my position on the changeover point. Before I knew it Ally appeared over the horizon and I was on my way. Stage three was billed as a 6.8 mile leg over tarmac minor road, crushed rock forestry roads and a short rough trod section. The tarmac minor road was, well, not long enough. The crushed rock forestry road were not crushed enough and the short rough trod was not short enough and it was vertical. However, in order to overcome the shortcomings the leg turned out to be 7.3 miles. Aside from all this I thoroughly enjoyed the run even if it was a tad sore on the feet, the scenery was spectacular. After just over an hour’s running I handed over to Moira who hared off at breakneck speed along leg four.

We had reccied my leg about 2 weeks before the race and it appeared to be a bit wet to say the least. The large puddles filled with tadpoles had me a wee bit concerned! However, things had dried up and there was not a frog or tadpole in sight. So I was pleasantly surprised to run the first four miles of my 4.1 mile leg without getting my feet wet. It was a tough four miles, undulating over rough terrain but the scenery was spectacular. That’s when they did the dirty on me and surprise surprise my final 100 metres were through a bog. Not only did I get wet but my trainers are now stinking! I then handed over to young Anthony for the glory leg.

As young Anthony sped off on leg five, his four team mates reflected long and hard about the wisdom of not telling him about the slight uphill start to his leg.  After reflecting for all of ten seconds we jumped in the support cars and headed off to the finish to cheer young Anthony in! Arriving at the Power Station we took the opportunity to shelter from the midgies and grab some coffee and a sandwich. Eventually young Anthony brought the team home in 8^th place – pretty respectable considering we were only beaten by local Athletic clubs. Would we do it again – you bet we would!