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