Travels

In case anyone has been living in a cave and totally cut off from civilisation, there's a referendum on independence taking place in Scotland next week.
To be honest I'll be glad when it's all over, and to that end, once I've voted (YES in case you're wondering), I'll be heading off to explore Crete for a week.

Taking the walking boots with me, and a timetable for the local buses, and just getting out and exploring.
Of course, there will be plenty of sampling of the local vino.  It would be rude not to.

First 10k in five years.

On Sunday, I took part in the Paisley 10k.  The first 10k race I've done in 5 years (and only the 2nd race since I started running again).  To say I was nervous was an understatement.

Previously, before a race, I was a bag of nerves, and probably a real pain in the arse to be round.  This time was no different.  Prior to lining up, I was in the square with Karen, stomach a knot of nerves, asking her to remind me why I was doing this.  Her reply - "Because you love it once you get started."
She's right.  Once the race actually starts and I'm under way, the nerves give way, and I really enjoy myself.

For part of the race, I had caught up with a friend Rhona, who runs for Westies, and it was good to run along with someone I knew, until I dropped back a bit, going along the cycle path, back towards the town.  She warned me about a 1/2 mile incline prior to getting back onto the main street, and the finish in the square, so I wanted to make sure I didn't burn out and end up walking part of the route.  I had to prove to myself that I could race 10k again after my long lay-off.
I was happy to find that I did manage to run the whole way, and had enough left in the tank for a pretty decent sprint finish, that brought me in with a time of 52:52.  almost 13 minutes slower than my pb, but there has been a 5 year gap, so I've totally cuffed with my time, and it gives me a benchmark to work from and improve on.

If everything goes right, I'm planning to re-join my old club Bellahouston Road Runners, once I get some more regular longer runs under my belt.