How far would you go for a fish supper?

The start

Some people will go a long way to buy a fish supper – but it could be that myself and fellow members of the Glasgow Triathlon Club went the furthest ever this weekend. I blogged previously about the Big Long Chippie Run triathlon but I had no idea, until taking part, what a hugely fantabulous event this would be. Every single person who participated or supported the event arrived at Sunday evening exhausted but utterly uplifted. Some people said it was one of the best weekends of their lives.

The event saw members cycling from Helensburgh to the southern end of Loch Lomond. An 11.5 nour relay swim took our triathletes some 22 miles north to the top of the stunning loch. After a fairly nightmarish night (for those eaten alive by midges at Beinglas Campsite. PS It won't help now but you could read my summer guide to nasty Scottish beasties for future reference!) the following day comprised a mass 95-mile cycle to Kinross. While some went the whole distance others did whatever mileage they fancied, while being supported by a Mitchells Hire drive van and mini bus. (Thanks Mitchells for your generous sponsorship.)

Sunday was another fabulous cycle (should have been 27 miles, ended up 40 miles due to terrible navigation!) and then a 11-mile run. The final mile of the run involved all participants as we ran together into Anstruther.

While utterly knackered I have to say it was one of the most amazing weekends I've ever enjoyed. Fab company, an amazing route and all for charity. Plus I don't think a fish supper has ever tasted so good as it did yesterday after cycling and running some 52 miles!

Let's do it this again next year. . .

The End at the Anstruther Fish Bar

...And you can still donate money to the three charities in recognition our epic effort.

Hilly wake-up run

I sometimes join the 3 Ms (Moira, Maureen and Mairi) for an early morning run on Wednesdays and Fridays. They have been doing early runs for years ever since Maureen's now grown-up children were young. For them, these morning outings are the ideal opportunity  to squeeze in a run before their children get up and/or their husbands head off for work.

While I could run at other times in the day because I work from home, I find that getting up early and getting  out the door for a run gets it over with before I have time to think.

Admittedly I'm not as dedicated as the 3 Ms. I don't always find it easy to rise at 6.30am for a 6.45am start (especially after tri club hill reps the night before!) but today I managed it. 

The usual run  is a well-worn three-mile route around Bearsden and we tend to run on autopilot, while also catching up on chat and gossip. 

But today, we took a different route and one I had never run before. It's always nice to find new routes, especially if you've been living in an area for a few years, and even if the going was quite tough. At 7 in the morning I am not at all at my best and the hills on this run, that headed from Bearsden via Westerton, where short and steep-ish. Still, the chat was non-stop (my husband would say we weren't running fats enough if we could talk!) and the 3Ms are great company so the run felt like it was over quite quickly.

I was back home and showered by 7.40am in time to wake my daughter up and to say bye to my husband as he headed to work. 

How good it feels to do the walk to school knowing you've already done your daily exercise. The only thing is that by 2 in the afternoon I'll be falling asleep at my desk!