Farewell sunny Portugal...hello soggy Scotland!

[Banana12]

I didn’t think we were ever going to get home. I felt certain that Ryanair would cancel again. But they didn’t and we are home. Five months it took to get back. So...Yay!

My last run in Portugal was pretty sad. The weather was terrific and the scenery epic. Getting home meant we have to quarantine for 14 days. I’ve always worried about losing momentum post Portugal, so I was thrilled when my brilliant neighbour offered me his cross trainer which he dropped off last night. It felt really rude allowing him to cart it into the garage whilst I remained socially distant. Anyway, no excuses now. I’m still getting to grips with the technology and used it alongside a Nike running machine coached run. It’s early days, but I think outside running is more me. Also the distance on the cross trainer was very different to the Nike app. No matter, I’m home, I’m moving, and I’m loving reading everyone’s posts. Happy running peeps.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Welcome home to a very damp Scotland- at least it is here. I hope your 14 days quarantine pass quickly for you and you get to grips with the cross trainer. 🤗

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you Grannyhugs. Strange times indeed. X

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

Welcome home Banana12! That was an epic return journey wasn’t it?! I hope you have many happy hours on your cross trainer but I’m sure you’ll be outside again before too long!

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Five months in Portugal wasn’t a tough gig was it? 🙃. But it was like having an itch you didn’t want to scratch...because you couldn’t get home...you wanted to. Folks are queer are they? Or us that just me😊

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Banana12]

No, not just you!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Welcome home Banana12, after all that time in Portugal, I’m sure 14 days will fly by. You won’t be needing a summer holiday then 😂😂

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you Dexy 5. I suspect we won’t be looking for another holiday any time soon🤣

[SlowLoris]

I can't say welcome home because I don't live in the land of Krankies, midges and Andy Stewart. But welcome back.

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

Ah, the best of Scotland you know! Yoda I seem to have become😅

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Hello Banana12 nice to see you back. I hope your 2 weeks fly by and before you know it you'll be back pounding the streets . Its been pouring of rain all day where I am in Scotland and I love running in it. But to be honest the last 16 weeks or so we've had a lot of beautiful weather 😊😊

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you Buddy. I missed the great weather here although we had fabby weather too. It’s great being home, but a pain being in quarantine. But doubt I’d venture out in the rain. I know I’ve read people like running in the rain. I found myself in that position just the once. I didn’t like being soaked through to my nikinakinoos though. Feel I’m a fair weather girl (well old trout to be closer to the age mark 🤣)

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Welcome back, if it's a hotel somewhere in Scotland that you are in quarantine I hope there is a treadmill that you can run on.

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks AlMorr. We’ve arrived home. And my fab neighbour has lent me his cross trainer. So I’ve used it twice. I know it’s static, but I find I’m disappointed with steps achieved. I know I can do 5k in around 33 mins. So this morning I did 40 mins on the trainer but my Apple Watch only gave me slightly over two miles☹️. Quite why I’m bothered by numbers surprises me. Who knew I’d turn into a geek - not me!🤓🤓

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Banana12]

I am also turning into a bit of a geek as well, I ran a 5K this morning in 34.40, I would have been happier if it had been 32,40, o well what's 120 seconds between friends. 😊 🏃🏾

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Welcome home! If you were going to be stuck somewhere then you made a good choice 😉. No great loss being stuck indoors at the moment. Hopefully the sun will shine for your first outdoor run.

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

Thanks so much Fionamags. It would be brilliant if the sun shines for my first outdoor Scottish run...in fact my first Scottish run full stop. 🙃

[Run46 Graduate10]

Yay, welcome home...what a bizarre situation you found yourself in, an experience that you'll never forget!

I hope you're quarantine period goes quickly and the weather improves in time for running in the great outdoors 🤞😊

[Banana12 Graduate10]

Thank you so much Run46🙃. We’d planned to be there Feb and March but got more than we bargained for with five full months. It wasn’t the worst thing to happen, but our good friend was left with our garden to care for alongside his own and his small holding. It was a big ask. If it hadn’t been for that I think we might have stayed longer😂.

[Speedy60 Graduate10]

Welcome home. You could have run home quicker! 😉

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to Speedy60]

Ah I like your confidence Speedy60. But suspect I’d have found that distance more than a challenge...it’s a smidgeon over my pb of a teeny tiny fraction over 10k. Get me! PB...didn’t even know what that meant when I started let alone having one😂

[sTrongFuse Graduate10]

Welcome back. I seem to recall us briefly discussing East Lothian routes at the start of all this (unless someone was also stuck in Portugal). Seems like a long time ago.

[Banana12 Graduate10 in reply to sTrongFuse]

That’s me sTrongFuse. I’m home in East Saltoun but having to quarantine. My great neighbour has lent me his cross trainer so I’m using that. But I’m itching to get outside and run. As you’ll know it’s pretty hilly here so I’m not so confident I’ll find a suitable route from the door but will give it a go as soon as our quarantine is over. It’s pretty silly really only 16 people have died in the whole of the Algarve I don’t feel high risk. But rules are rules I guess.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Banana12]

There's a lovely (not too hilly) route through the woods and around the Saltoun Hall dovecot that you might want to check out. A lot of not too bad routes around Pencaitland/Ormiston/Lempockwells. You're just in the "wrong" Saltoun for easy access to most of those

[Banana12 Graduate10]

Thanks. I know. It’s the hills that worry me. And the fact that, fir the first time, I may be seen by people who know me. That wasn’t a worry at first in Portugal, and after a while I was just comfortable in the environment. I thought Saltoun Hall grounds were private grounds?