Running in 2011
Posted on 10 Jan, 2011 by Lynne Walker | Filed under Blog • Orienteering • General
2011 – yet again I would like to become a little fitter. This means doing more exercise and maybe reducing the vast volume of food intake so that the running becomes easier if I lose some weight.
The year has started quite well, despite the weather giving a few problems. My SportTracks log shows
1st: short interval session on tracks
3rd: a run around the trails at Benmore, including some hill work
5th: a run around the local streets, just avoiding the sleet showers
6th: attempted to go towards the Loch Loskin tracks but after doing a ‘Bambi-on-ice’ impression at the Caravan Park Leisure Centre I returned to the track and did some intervals
9th: the EckO deflab fun run.
This gives a total so far for January of about 20km with 230m climb.
The deflab fun run had twenty eight people signed up – and then it snowed for most of the Saturday evening. Roads in the Oban area were not very good so people called off. I totally support this as there is no point driving on dodgy roads if you do not have to. Paul & I collected Carol at her road end; she had thoughtfully walked out to there as the estate road had a good 10cm of snow.
Once we were on the main A83 conditions were good and this continued all the way to Lochgilphead. The road over to Tayvallich was quite white in places. There was a big crowd at the Barnluasgan car park. It turns out that the Lochgilphead triathlon club had an event there. They actually wimped out of the swim in the loch, mentioning the fact that the surface was frozen as an excuse. John Anderson had taken part in this run & cycle event. I reckon the cycling on the tracks and paths was quite interesting.
As the three of us had had an earlish start we went to the Tayvallich café before the run for some sustenance. The B.L.A.T. and paninis went down well and did not come back while running. After talking too much (guilty as charged!) we made our way up to the Taynish Car Park. On the way we met the MacMillan family coming back as they did not think anyone was coming. They turned and we then sorted out who would run with who. Paul went on his own, Susannah took Jura & Louis up the hill, Carol & Lynne headed for the trail through the wood while Gordon (recovering from his ankle break in November) took Iris for a dam building adventure. Despite the fact that there were four groups, the running directions meant that we all met up at times, keeping an eye on Paul to make sure he did not get lost.
3pm: time to head for the Tayvallich café and the goodies Rosie had prepared. Lovely soup warmed us up, sandwiches and nibbles filled us up and then there was scone or cake as well. Lots of chat, catching up and finding out more about other club members.
4pm: time to head for home, a short drive for the MacMillans and a coupe of hours for the rest of us. No deer on the road but the temperature dropped so the roads began to get the ‘ice sheen’. We looked at our drive and decided to leave the Caddy in Paul’s Dad’s driveway as it is not so steep.
Exercise today (Monday 10th January) has been walking to the dentist, using the ‘grippers’ on our boots as the Crescent is sheet ice. It is now raining on top of the ice!
I am a level 4 orienteering coach and a qualified Assessor & Coach Educator. I have been orienteering for xx years and have coached on many foreign tours.
14th Jan 11 at 03:00 PM
I thought you put ‘grippers’ on your boots not your bots. Although, on steep roads it might also be useful there as well. :-)