Beasts do live in Scotland

Wanted to share some photos from a trip to Scotland. My training friends and I stayed in Inverness at my Mothers home. Granny Madge makes the best home Scottish food, matching the calories we all burned up the great smooth roads. What a session we had and it challenged France for its beauty and challenging climbs. Ask any proper "roady" and they will all have heard of Bealach na Ba. A 2000ft climb on the West coast, supplying stunning views across to the Isle of Skye and beyond to the Outer Hebrides. We will be arranging another session in 2010 if you fancy it? Difficulty is variable and along with the running, mountain biking, hiking, swimming and big food, there's always an alternative.


Lessons learned on this trip as follows;








It is obvious when someone "bonks" on the bike - sense of humour goes walkies, pace picks up as the individual starts to make a beeline for the nearest "carb" selling garage before it's too late and last but not least, the rest of the group drop back for fear of getting their heads chewed off.






If you have not been sleeping well then take yourself for a 60 min swim, 4 hour bike and a half marathon. You will not only sleep like a log, you will believe you are the log.











Always stop at the top of a heavy climb before departing down the other side. That way you can make an informed decision whether or not it is wise to crack on or return from whence you came. Gladly we chose the latter after the effort of getting up Bealach. If it hadn't started to rain ferociously 30 minutes later I would have argued we were just being soft -Thank goodness I just nodded in agreement and returned to the sanctuary of the cafe!

A memorable week for Gareth "Chicken Legs" Pickard, Greg "the Chisel" White and Richard "Titch" O'Connor. Roll on the next session!

Motivation comes in all different shapes and sizes

"Can I have a double tall motive, with a slice of rocky motivation and a motivating deli sandwich to go, please?"
If only it were that easy. Motivation. Motivating. Motives.
I have been questioning mine of late. Why am I running the marathon?
For me, it was instinctive. After running last year it gave me great satisfaction for the following reasons.

Raising money for the teenage cancer trust - speaks for itself and you can go to my justgiving page to keep the fund building.

Helping a client achieve her goal and break 3:45. "8:30 per mile - check" "8:30 per mile - check" " check, check, check" the miles flew by and we came in at 3:41.

Experience of the rolling wave of people - in front, behind, to the side, everywhere! Thusands of heads bobbing up and down, at times I felt like I was being hypnotised.

Titch is my nickname in recent years and was on my running vest. To hear it being called out by so many 'strangers' was a surreal boost to morale.
Crossing the line - doesn't matter what the race or the pace, getting over the finish is a great feeling. Although sometimes it takes a few more minutes to actually start enjoying it.

To say "I ran London". After many years supporting clients and friends from the outside it's now satisfying to say I was on the inside.

The banter before, during and after. Then the slump of tiredness hits you. The second wind at dinner reminiscing assisted by a celebratory sherbert. The second slump of tiredness! The slumber. The sleep after a marathon is memorable for its depth.

What I experienced before.
What I experienced during.
What I experienced after.

Satisfying throughout, so there is motivation in itself to go again.

The motivating factors deliver satisfaction.

My motive then, is to feel satisfied.