Yesterday I participated in the first Culloden Run - a 10K run organised by Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. I joined 300 other runners to run 10 km along the minor roads around the edge of Culloden Battlefield.
The Culloden Run also included a 17.46K run (1746 being the date of the Battle of Culloden) with about 200 participants.
The 10K route followed a large triangle of roads with the first 4km being pretty level then downhill slightly. I spent some of the first few kilometres dodging and weaving, passing other runners - and being dodged and passed by others too, as we all jostled for position to cruise along with those running at a similar pace. It was great to see many of the local people from the scattered houses we passed, standing at the roadside cheering and clapping for us. I waved at any children standing out in the cold wind.
When we turned off onto the single-track road with passing places, the run got tougher as we had 70m of ascent over 2 km. Here I was thankful for all the times I've tackled the run up the hill back to my house and I managed to keep going on this section and I passed some who were taking a walking break.
I was regretting wearing the lightweight windproof jacket (it had been raining at the start as well as a cold wind) as I was sweating like the proverbial pig and I couldn't take my jacket off as I had my number pinned on it. I was not going to stop to start faffing about with safety pins. The top of the hill came eventually and what a relief.
So I was onto the last side of the triangle and an easy cruise home? Hmm, no! I Was feeling pretty tired by 7 km, but kept telling myself "It's only 3 km... easy, peasy, nothing more than you ran in the 20 mins block in Week 5!" I imagined Laura telling me to go for it and run tall! I kept running and soon the 9 km marker came up. Brilliant. I think I managed to increase my pace slightly here, but for the final 200m the finishers funnel took us off the road and across the grass. Running on soft grass, with tired legs, felt like running through treacle. I was so happy to cross that line and pleased to see my time according to my Garmin was 62 minutes. I was hoping I'd be able to run it in 65 - 70 mins, so I think 62 minutes is nae bad considering I could only run for 60 seconds when I started C25K 14 weeks ago.
Oh my gosh! Swanscot! I am so very proud of you! What an amazing, wonderful feat you accomplished!! I bet you are floating on cloud 9 today! you are my inspiration! Gayle
Gayle - I would be walking on cloud nine, if I could get up there! I'm still very stiff at the moment. And not just stiff, but the sore thigh that gave me problems last week is still sore, despite icing and heat. Och well, for the moment I'm happy to take more rest.
BettyJane, yes, do try a 10K run. The time required to train for this length is not too much (2 x 30-40 min runs, and 1 x up to 70 weekly) and 10K is just run-able at a fairly good pace. I'm looking forward to increasing my speed at this distance.
Vivwestie - The M-word is not coming into my thoughts. Yet.
Oldgirl - as to what next? As I mentioned above. although I'm not going to get hung up on pacing, racing, times, etc, I would like to try another 10K in a few months.
I'd like to run for further and longer, but to do that I feel I need to do more off-road (my poor-old knees have suffered several decades of pounding up and down hills). I have a large forest just 500m from my doorstep, however, the track in is very wet and muddy. I'm thinking about getting trail shoes, just so I have a second pair as I need to wash and dry them after each run there. More of a concern though, is the forest is uphill from here. The muddy track from the forest entrance rises about 200m in 3 km before it reaches the main track. If/when I become fit enough to run to that main track, it then goes up and down like a roller coaster with another 100m of ascent/descent in both directions.
At the moment I'm looking forward to a couple of week's time when hubby is away (it's not that I don't like him ) so I'll have the car and am planning to do some off-road runs further away from home. I LOVED the run I did last week along part of the Speyside Way. I think I may take some day trips down to Aviemore and run around Loch Morlich, Loch An Eilein or Glen Feshie, or if the weather is bad there, head east to Culbin forest.
wow, I'm am really impressed that you got this far in such a short time, I can't see how I could run so far in only 14 weeks, I am in total awe. Well done you!
Brilliant - keep blogging about your running adventures - so inspirational. Enjoy having a car for a couple of weeks. Trail shoes sound a good idea - your reward for the 10K maybe? it sounds like you might be needing them.
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An hour to go before I leave for my 10k race - very nervous
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