Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Back On The Trails

by Russell Turner - 21:13 on 13 February 2023

Week 5 is done: only four weeks until the Inverness Half Marathon. Today’s eight-mile run didn’t go completely to plan, partly because the route I’d planned on Google Maps was closer to nine miles. A wrong turn which added another half mile didn’t help either, but I finished in reasonable shape.

Like last week, there was almost 200 metres of climb, although this time I was better organised with a 5:1 run/walk until I reached the high point at 3.6 miles, followed by two miles of running and the rest at 5:1. Most was on trails, and apart from a couple of forestry workers and farmers I saw only one runner and one dog-walker, which was a huge contrast with the previous run in Glasgow, before Strictly, where there were runners galore. Very few of them acknowledged me, it has to be said.

The weather was good enough for shorts, the wind was light and the sun shone. I was slightly footsore by the end but all should be fine tomorrow.

The day’s bonus was returning to The Rural Retreat to find an email advising me that I’d secured a ballot place in the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October. Like my first London Marathon (and the Great North Run) I’d been lucky in my first attempt at entry, unlike many other would-be competitors who’d failed for years and weren’t shy about complaining. I’ve not entered a race ballot that I’ve not won, which bodes well for a place in next year’s Paris Olympics mass marathon.

The price, it has to be said, is outrageous – £59 plus £4.95 admin fee, whatever that’s for – but it will become much less significant once flights, trains from Gatwick, and accommodation is totted up. Chances are I’ll only do it once, and it’s said to be a great route, through the city and four London parks, so I’ll make the most of my good fortune.

Now Matchgirl has to decide if she’ll accompany me to London, or to York the following week for the 10 Mile race, or to both. Staying home with Pandora and Willow is another option. Decisions, decisions.

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