Jingle Bells

December is here. That means one thing, No not the birth of Jesus Christ or gorging on chocolate and mince pies........It's MARCOTHON!!

I gave it a good crack last year, spurred on by the thought of my friend Martin Hooper the Paratrooper who was completing a tour in Afghanistan. Whenever I thought about jacking it I was reminded that he couldn't give up so neither could I. I have to say I'm extremely disappointed in myself that the wheels spectacularly fell off on Boxing Day....right after the Pirate proposed. I'll blame him, it'll take the heat off of me;)

So, 2011 should be my year for Marcothon success.

It's been a pretty shit year, punctuated with some really happy times, so I'm gonna give it my all.

If I can manage to complete three job applications in the one night while my 86 year old granny nips my ear about being too hot, too cold, nothing on the telly, how her sky package is much better coz shes got movies then I should manage this challenge.

It wont be easy, and neither it should be. The time or distance may a piece of piss for the majority of the ultra nutters I kick about with but the real challenge of Marcothon, for me, is fitting it in. Christmas parties, Pirate birthdays and boxing shows all get in the way. Trying to remember it should be fun.

Right, clobber is on, wee dug is champing at the bit, I'm off out to the icy north wind.

Wish me luck.

All the best to fellow Marcothoners!!

Out The Door

When the most motivational comment your other half/coach comes up with amounts to
 ‘get a move on woman!!’ it’s never gonna happen now is it? Really?
Not in my lifetime.
Today I gleaned what might be thought of as some very obvious advice. Well it might be obvious to those who have endless mojo or get up and go, but this girl’s mojo got up and went a long long time ago. The advice? Do something you enjoy. So I did!!

Today I went for a run. A run on a route I know very well. A route full of great memories, the best.

I had been toying with the idea of some sort sharp stair reps at the local war memorial, and highest point of the town. A sort of wake up call for my body. It has gone pretty much unused as I sit at home endlessly filling in online job applications and generally getting more and more miserable. That however would not be enjoyable in the slightest, so it was off to the Specks I trotted.

Within minutes I was up to my ankles in muck and sheep shit, and I was giggling and laughing away to myself. It fair took my mind off how much it might hurt. Down the hill, over the river and back up the other side. It took all my skills as a figure skater to stay up right. The recent storms had turned the yard into a quagmire, up to my knees this time. Negotiated the hill, the one my o/h beasted me up last year, just before proposing!! I enjoyed trying to keep my feet dryish on the top of the loop and eventually gave up all hope on the descent to the waterfall. Ah, the waterfall. It looked magnificent today, full of power and at the same time had me mesmerised with its beauty. I ditched any plans to recover the geocache hidden down there. I have two failed attempts already; today I may have been washed down river. A slip sliding effort to reach the road and it was just a short jog back home.

It wasn’t big, or clever and I will really have to stop comparing my piddly little efforts to those of the crazy arsed friends I choose to hangout with.
I had fun today. Took bit of bullying from you know who to get me out the door, but I’m glad it worked….this time.

Geez a joab

I’m glad this isn’t a running blog, coz I’m not a runner. I’m not even the president of a running club anymore. But I am still a marshall, support crew dude and race organiser.
I’m also fatter than the Christmas goose coz……..I’ve been doing no bloody running.

It’s a vicious circle. I’m down and have no enthusiasm, so don’t run. Feeling crap coz I’m getting no exercise…..blah blah I know it’s old and boring, but life’s pretty hectic right now.

In 16 days time I’m out of a job. I am one of the 1000’s of people affected by the massive cuts in public sector funding. I work for an organisation that support people living in poverty to tackle issues in their life which make them unhealthy. It’s an organisation which won the Scottish Health Award at the end of 2010, and still our vital service has been lost. Sounds like a great plan eh?

Not to worry. I’ve got a degree, shed loads of experience and a guid Scots tongue in my heid. I’ll walk straight into something new and exciting, right? Wrong. After untold applications and speculative cv’s sent I’ve had one interview for a job eight grand less than I’m on now with zero responsibility and after making me travel 400 miles on an expensive journey for a second interview they still didn’t give me the job.

Stressed? You betcha.
My car died, they want a grand to patch it back up.
My auntie is ill in hospital after having had a brain tumour removed.
My other half thought it would be a great idea to rescue a mutt from the pound.

But do you know what? I’ve got all that off my chest now.
We’re having a party in a few weeks, I’ll have my dream job when the time is right and I have a great fella, family and friends encouraging me at every turn. I’ve got a pal who offered me a job being chief cake tester at her firm.
Sounds like my kinda job :)

Change isn’t scary. Is it?

Back in the Game

Well, it looks like I’ll need to stock up on ProPlus and super strength coffee as the Subversive Runner has had his Patella Reflex Reactionitis repaired and is back in the race. I’m glad to hear Stan the man has confirmed that there is a place still available as I might have found my self at a very loose end one weekend in June.

So, I’ve been around the race for a few years now and learned lots and met some great characters along the way. I’m honored to be doing support with a couple of great guys again this year. We will however be without the fabulous Chris Jenner who is off to fish or some other poofy activity. Me and my name sake Lee Byatt bonded last year, so much so he quickly realised that his roll was to wash pots in the river while I got my head down :)

A new team member for 2011 is the magnificent David Ross, a fellow Strathaven Strider and all round good guy. I have the feeling that a WHWR attempt will be on the cards for him in the very near future. When the Subversive Runners engagement with the race was confirmed this week he informed him by text that ‘he’ll be there to beast him over the Devils’ Fantastic, as this means I neither need to do dishes nor run as I’ve got two strapping blokes for that. So my job will be to mop brows and apply Vaseline to places that don’t normally see the light of day, tell him how brilliantly he’s doing and generally swan around chatting to friends.

His job?……..start at Milngavie and don’t stop 'til Dino gives him a kiss in fort William.
Sounds easy right? I better make sure I fuel the car this year as it takes more than a ¼ tank for the WHWR……oops.

See ya’ll in June
Hasta luego

Wheels Fell Off

I tried, honestly I tried really hard. Some night’s at 11.55pm I got out the door. In all that horrible icy, snowy mayhem we had, I still managed my 25 minutes or three miles. I was proud of ditching lunch to run on the Clyde Walk Way, much to the amusement of my colleagues. I was a proper smug runner type.

Then it happened the bloody wheels came off good and proper. It was Christmas Day…..oh I ran on Christmas Day but the Pirate surprised the living daylights outta me by proposing as we stood taking pictures of a rather pretty waterfall. To say I’m chuffed to bits is a huge understatement. I’m thrilled, delighted, cock a hoop, the list goes on. I still sit and look at the rather beautiful sparkly ring on my finger (which he picked all by himself btw) as smile contentedly. Folk are getting a bit bored of me asking if “they’ve seen what I got for my Christmas?”

The upshot being Marcothon was an epic FAIL. ¾’s isn’t too bad but I really wanted to do it. We had to drive back to London on Boxing Day, then himself and the wean were ill with the lurgy so it was nursmaid 1 Marcothon nil. I’ll just need to get my finger out and sign up for some other crazy challenge.

Any suggestions?


I’m busy sorting out this years Clyde Stride, which has recently achieved Qualifying Event status for the UTMB. Entries are coming in, daily emails and phone calls keeping me on my toes. Looks like I’ve lost my co-pilot as a certain hide and seek champ has been promised a place and I returned the favour by appointing a sweeper :)

Well done to everyone who completed Marcothon and all those who have set their goals and targets for 2011.
Me? I’ve a goal to get back to Skye this summer. Spend some time on the WHW and try and run a bit more.

Did you see what I got for my Christmas?

Mrs Mac xx

I must I must.......

I’m nothing if not consistent.
Most of my posts start with ‘not done much running’ and this one is no different.
Last proper run I had, and I don’t even know if it warrant’s the label run; was on the WHW a couple weeks ago with the Pirate. You’ll have heard about it already….it’s the one where I lost my key. I know don’t laugh.

Well, last night was my last duty as the Striders President. I handed over the reins to Tom Wilson, a stalwart of the club for more years than nearly everyone but his wife.
It was a nice night and great to hear some inspiring stories, in particular our Strider of the Year who at almost twice my age decided to take up running and has cracked out a couple of 10ks a half and cross country. She puts me to shame.

I‘ve also been inspired by a fellow blogger who has transformed herself by hard work and determination and I have to say a hefty dose of dedication to be confident enough to enter shows such as UKBFF. I don’t aspire to do anything similar but talk of shifting weight and smashing yourself in the gym has some sort of masochistic draw for me.

I decided that over the winter I need to do something more than just plod round the streets of Strathaven and after a comical session in a plush David Lloyd with the Pirate I bit the bullet and joined my local gym. When David the lovely instructor was putting me through my paces he assured me that light weight and high reps would not bulk me up. The poor lad nearly fell over when I said I had no problem with it. Apparently women are scared of a bit of muscle, well not this burd. My good buddy Karen has some crackin guns :)

The comical session was such as the Pirate used to be into all that lark in a big way in a past life and almost pissed himself at the weedy effort I put in.

Undeterred I try my hardest. I really enjoy it. I stay away from all those big clunky machines, as I’d just hurt my self, break a nail or get my hair stuck.
I find it really helps with clearing my head, which needs a good clear at the moment.

It’s been a rough few weeks. Strikes affect all those connected with them. Trying to support from so far away is heartbreaking and very stressful. I’ve been watching BBC London and listening to LBC podcasts to keep up to date. Not bad for a burd from a wee farming town in a Scottish back water. I’ve become a WAGOFF, a kind of underground facebook AA meeting. Magic bunch of girls talking rubbish, great medicine. I've learned that the Toad and his Biatch are vermin and that James O'Brien should be King.

So, tonight I have a date with some piddly free weights. Saturday I have a date with a bit of a trail race and Sunday if it’s not too snowy I’m going to visit a friend in the Playground of Angels, just to say thanks.

Hasta luego xx

Points of view

I'm sure most folk that read the drivel I scrawl on here are aware that me n him are how would you put it....dating, courting, the gither call it what you will he's my fella.
You will also know if you read his blog that he errs strongly on the side of artistic licence on many occasions and the truth is often stretched to the point of ssssssss in snap!!

His most recent post has caused me some concern and like 'angry from Manchester' I feel compelled to reply.
Oh I'm not getting on my high horse about the eyelash comment. I was there, he was there and so was John Kynason, (although he doesn't know that) we both know the score :)

No, I'm a bit concerned that as a self proclaimed state trained killer he could make such a school boy error.
When babies are lying in a crib current research shows that moving stimulation is good for their development. You know, those mobile thingumyjigs. Black and white are the colours of choice, they can even distinguish between them.

Tell my why then, that a 43 year old adult who is often to be found in charge of a fire engine cannot tell the difference between black and white?!?

Grant Jeans was most definitely dressed head to toe in undertakers BLACK on RAW race day, no sign of any Ku Klux Klan garb on show.
It was back in July Speedy himself decided that Casper the friendly Ghost was a good look for racing;) Who cares? the boy can go like shit off a shovel he can wear what ever he damn well wants.
And hanging round at the arse end of a race shows good character in the boy.

So, the next point. The lack of artistic licence in this post. See the bit where he mentions ' I should have done some training' at every checkpoint.......check it out......hee haw artistic licence


Coming into Sorn checkpoint. The one with the blistered foot!!


Eyelash Bridge.


The finish, and a PB. You can just about make out Casper blethering in the background.

And I do it all for free :)