Why does always rain on me?

Following on from the June Super Sunday we headed back up the hill the following day – although the hill was still wet the overhead conditions were not too bad. Our training session consisted of us both going our separate ways and running our legs from start to finish. We did, however bump into each other a couple of times most notably at Hub 3 – definitely the centre of the universe, well in August it will be! We both managed to run both our colours so it was ‘happy campers’ that left the hill that night.

The following evening it was ‘the road and miles to Dundee’ to take on the 5^th JogScotland 5K challenge.  We left Edinburgh with a hint of rain in the air and arrived in Dundee in the middle of a downpour. It was miserable, it got to the stage that you just wanted to get started and finished as quickly as possible. JogScotland obviously sensed the mood and the challenge begun a couple of minutes early. Camperdown Park is a nice course or least it would be in better conditions, the rain was incessant. It was a rather bedraggled bunch that hung around for the prize giving but it was worth the wait, we scooped 1^st and 3^rd female (yes Mo got another 3^rd place), 3^rd male (no not Jo, although he was 5^th) and The Jammys took a team prize for the 4th challenge in a row! There was to be no hanging about, it was straight in the car and home.

The Challenges come thick and fast at this time of year, the Wednesday night saw us complete the tour with the Edinburgh double-header, back-to-back 5K challenges. The biggest challenge was getting the kit dried in time for Edinburgh, that and getting there on time – we travel the length and breadth of Scotland, yet it is the transport to Edinburgh that is the most stressful.

The first 5K of the evening was a wet one albeit nowhere near as wet as Dundee. Right from the off it was evident that once again we had a course change but too our surprise the course was on the short side this time! Our entry back into park was accompanied by the Drifters performing – yes The Drifters! Almost immediately after finishing it was time to swap numbers and congregate for our second 5 K of the evening. Thankfully the overhead conditions were improving. The second 5K is more of a procession than a run – all The Jammys run together on this one – it’s a tradition. And all too quickly that was the challenges over for another year.

On the Saturday it was back to parkrun and a chance for Neil and Ross to bag their 49^th parkrun and set themselves up for the big five O the following weekend. We completed the weekend with a nice wee 10 hilly Harburn mile run on the Sunday morning as we attempted to get out stamina up for the Speed of light which was now a mere month away.

Another wet Monday evening saw us return to Arthur’s seat, although we were unable to park in our usual location, some sort of garden party going – even in those conditions. We were joined on the hill by two girls that had got our name from Run 4 it, and they wanted to get a flavour of Speed of the Light and get an idea what they had let themselves in for! The conditions underfoot were once again treacherous, and clearly demonstrated the need for trail shoes for anyone contemplating doing The Speed of Light. Instead of doing our two colours we chose to run one colour. As time wore on the mist descended on the hill and we were unable to see each other on the hill - Justified our decision just to do the one colour.

The remainder of the week was spent getting some regular training in as most of midweek June was spent running the JogScotland challenges. We even managed a toning session at Harburn Village Hall. However, all too soon our focus switched to someone’s 50^th parkrun, the countdown had begun – 3 sleeps to go. Honestly, it was worse than Christmas! A cake had to be baked, no ordinary cake but a cake in the shape of a 50 parkrun T-shirt!

Saturday morning arrived after the protracted countdown and even the torrential rain failed to dampen spirits en route to Strathclyde Park. I was once again Race Director, so I opted for a freedom run ahead of the main event – gets me out of erecting the tent! As I addressed the runners the ‘all new 50 club were in position – Moira, Ross, Neil, Pat, Eddie and Eamon.  The field got underway and the 50 club all managed to complete their run with young Eamon recording a PB. So to the cake, well there wasn’t much left by the time the last marshals arrived but thankfully enough to go round.

It was back to business on Sunday morning with the infamous Harburn ‘12’, a hilly 14 mile route – don’t ask! After the run we both felt that at last the training was back on course.