The Tin Man, The Scarecrow & Dorothy

A diary tracking the progress of The Tin Man, The Scarecrow and Dorothy as they train for the Highland Cross 2013... and the notorious yellow brick road

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The rough, the tumbles and the help of good friends..

This week has been a tough week. It's always difficult to judge how much training to do in the last fortnight. You know that you're not going to get fitter but you want to keep flexible and keep the legs working so you try to keep running and cycling, but you also want to avoid injury so seem to spend an inordinate time debating what is really a sensible distance.

So last week I decided that I would stick to a spin session at the gym, whilst Colin went for a hill race on the Wednesday night. He likes the short sharp steep races and I'm still trying to convince my legs they like going fast on a bike - so it seemed the perfect way to ease us into Taper: stick to what we enjoy. Thus Colin went off on to do Ben Sheann with our friend Jo, and I ended up taking him to casualty because he slipped and split his knee open. I could rant for quite a long time about the 4.5 hours it took us to get seen on a quiet Wednesday evening at Forth Valley A&E but the more important point is that Colin's Cross is over. The cut is very deep and the stitches won't be out for 10 days, and he can barely walk let alone run. All in all it is gutting for him. I have no doubt he is the fittest he's been in a long time and stood a good chance of beating me this year.

Even more frustrating is that I met Martin for a run on the Thursday and ok I was suffering from only having 1 hours sleep following the visit to casualty the previous evening, but Martin successfully proved he is fit enough to join us at the start line in the runners group - he ran me off my feet. It would have been a cracking race between Martin & Colin but I guess that will have to wait for another year now.

More bad news hit this weekend as despite making a decision to cut back on the running and cycling because I was still tired from last week's adventures - I then promptly stepped off a stile at a funny angle and went over my ankle this morning. I came straight home and have had ice on it since so I'm hoping it will be fine by Saturday. It's hard enough to find one substitute - let alone two! 

So who is our substitute? Well Thursday & Friday entailed a mad scramble of contacting folk we know to see who might want to take Colin's place in the team. Taking on a 50 mile event at a week's notice isn't everybody's idea of fun! Never the less we are lucky enough to know a number of very fit people, far fitter than us, and our friend Lucy McNee has recently ran two marathons and is a regular cyclist so was the perfect person to try and persuade. Our efforts paid off and though Colin is gutted to not be running, he's pleased the place has been taken & we're glad to welcome Lucy to the team. Of course that does leave us in a slight dilemma... how does she fit with The Tin Man, The Scarecrow and Dorothy. I believe we may have found our Toto. 

Hopefully we'll all make it to the Yellow Brick Road. Wish us luck!

We owe a lot of people a very big thanks this week. THANKYOU to the marshall who got Colin off Ben Sheann - I hope the blood stains come off the car. THANKYOU to Jo & to Karen who got Colin & his car back home after his injury on Wednesday and who helped bandage him up for our trip to A&E. THANKYOU to Lucy for taking Colin's place, and thanks to all the people who've made suggestions and who said they would have done it if it wasn't for another big event. It's great to know we've so many fit and able friends... if slightly awe inspiring! You're all fabulous.

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The Tin Man, The Scarecrow & Dorothy

Help Sara raise money for this great cause.

In the words of a famous rock band… It’s the final countdown!

In 10 days time we’ll be heading North to Beauly hoping for good weather & trying to convince ourselves we’ll enjoy it anyway. Despite all his fears the pain in Colin’s foot didn’t reappear over the weekend when we ran Conic hill. It was a tough training run & I struggled particularly badly - I’m telling myself it was the heat & not hydrating properly, but the truth is my legs were like lead. I think I need to book in a sports massage quickly. Or at least I hope it’s that and not a sign I’m not fit enough yet! On Sunday we covered 50 miles on the bike, joining Adrian & Jo who are training for the Cairngorm challenge. We took in Crow Road & the TakMaDoon, the latter of which finished me off!!! It is seriously steeper than Duke’s Pass, & one for me to aspire to I think. It was great for us to be out with folks faster than me, who could push Colin a bit harder; & with the sun shining we had a great day.

So now it’s final preparation time: checking stocks of energy drinks to take with us, bike maintenance, shorter faster runs to keep the legs fresh, trial changeover session, & of course fundraising… So have you sponsored us yet? If not don’t forget - time is creeping up on us…. http://www.justgiving.com/TheTinMan-TheScarecrow-and-Dorothy

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When it all feels uphill...

We're reaching that point in the training schedule where it all feels a bit uphill. That could be because we spent the last weekend cycling and running up and down hills, or it could just be the result of us reaching the penultimate week of training and therefore feeling a little bit tired!

Following our weekend on Arran it was tough to get back into the swing of our usual weekly work and training activities but not to be deterred we fitted in a mid-week run up Dumyat.

On the Saturday we headed out on the bikes to do the Duke's Pass circuit and managed the 35 miles in about 3 hours. At an average of 12 mph that's not the fastest of speeds, and probably a little slow for Colin (!), but the hilly route was good training and at least gave some confidence that we might be able to finish the cross cycle section. 

Our initial thought on the Sunday had been to go for a run around Conic hill but we got a call from Jo, our team mate from 2010, who suggested we went to Blair Atholl for a hill run instead. The idea of heading out into the hills to explore somewhere new was too tempting to turn down so we headed North. 

The aim had been to run up the corbett Beinn Mheadhonach from Glen Tilt, but due to a certain amount of chatting resulting in us missing the path we ran up Carn a'Chlamain instead! Unfortunately it became clear quite quickly on the ascent that Colin was suffering badly from a pain his foot arch. He decided that rather than do potential damage that he'd head back, as we'd already run 6 miles and it would still be a 12 mile run for him. 

One man down Jo and I carried on up to the top with Jo's dog Buffy. The last wee bit was really tough, largely down to the loose gravel path making running impossible even if the steepness of the ascent hadn't been difficult. Never the less the view at the top was worth it as we looked out over the Cairngorms.

We had a brief refuelling stop for Jo & Buffy, I declined as I still find I can't eat on a run, no matter how far I've done; and then headed over West to make a decision as to whether or not to carry on to Beinn Mheadhonach. I already had a strong suspicion that another top would be too much for me as I'd seen how steep it was on the map, but when I saw it there was no more doubt in my mind and I opted to head down. So I parted ways with Jo & Buffy, who proved they were too fit for me!, and arranged to meet them at the bottom.

Heading down from Braigh nan Creagan Bhreac I disturbed a herd of deer, and unsuccessfully tried to chase down a mountain hare. There wasn't much path but the heather was still quite short and it was a lovely run back down to the main path down to Glen Tilt and Bridge of Tilt. Where I found Colin in the pub! 

It was a great day out, and we owe Jo a big thankyou for talking us into joining her.  

This week we've kept up the pace: out biking on Monday, I ran along the Clyde to Glasgow Green yesterday, and went to spin class today, and Colin's tried out his race wheels on the bike.His foot hasn't hurt again since the weekend but then he hasn't tried to run up a hill again so we shall have to hope that the two aren't linked. If his foot is recovered enough then we've one more long run to do this weekend and then it's taper taper taper until the big day.

Did I mention it's just over 2 weeks to go.  Gulp.

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A small world, full of beautiful places to run to

Colin and I ran away to Arran for a long weekend. We thought we'd hide away on a small island and get in some much needed rest, recuperation and re-energise our training with time out in the hills. We arrived on Friday night, found the campsite, pitched our tents and fell fast asleep with fresh sea air in our lungs and surrounded by hills. Bliss.

The first thing we discovered the next morning was that it's a very small world as I bumped into family friends who I'd actually camped with at that very same spot XX years ago when I was probably still at primary school!

After some catching up on old times and then filling up on camp cooked bacon rolls (which are compulsory on camping holidays) Colin and I set up the bikes and headed off to explore the island.

We were ever so lucky with the weather. The sun was blistering hot, and with the sea breeze it was the sort of weather you'd burn easily - especially if you'd misplaced the sun cream .. thankfully I found a small spare set which prevented total disaster! I found the morning tough, bacon butties might taste nice but they are not the best for training on, and I didn't really hit my stride until after lunch. Thankfully the big hills were in the afternoon when we headed across The String road to Brodick from Blackwaterfoot. We stopped at Brodick heritage museum for tea & cakes before attempting the last hilly stretch home to the campsite at Lochranza. A slow but fun 45 miles and a great day out. 

We were warned that the weather might turn after Sunday so we decided to do Goatfell on the Sunday in the hope we'd get a view. We set off with low clouds lingering, and walked up Glen Sannox gaining height and getting closer to the gloomy weather. By the time we hit the saddle we'd been watching the cloud over the tops for a few hours and they had rarely parted. We debated stopping for lunch whilst we still had a view but decided to keep going over the scramble section and started to head over the ridge towards Goatfell. As we did so, the clouds finally parted and we had the joy of completing the whole ridge scramble with a cracking view. We had some interesting 'moments' of 'route finding' but enjoyed every second of it. We were most upset when we joined the main tourist track again to discover our quiet day out was being joined by half of Glasgow on a day out and our lunch spot on the top was shared with at least half a dozen other groups. Never the less it couldn't spoil a great day out and we headed back down via Corrie and back to Sannox to finish the loop. Another top day out and we were so pleased the weather had held for us.

That evening there was a sign outside the reception at the campsite warning of high winds, strong gusts and heavy rain. The rain started as we finished cooking dinner so we ate in the tent, double checked the pegs & guy ropes, made sure we had food & drink stocks for the morning and went to bed. Sure enough at 4am we were woken with the storm gaining strength and when we woke back up several hours later it was still raining. We brewed up and had some breakfast before deciding that a day's touristing (& resting our muscles!) was the best plan - so we headed to the farm shops, Brodick Castle, the Brewery, and finally the Distillery where Colin sampled the local drams.. throughout the day the weather improved and we actually got to go around the gardens at Brodick without being rained on but there's so much of them we will have to go back another day to see them when they are in their full glory. We finished the day with a fantastic meal at the Stags Pavillion next to the campsite. I can thoroughly recommend them for quality food, quality service and being a really lovely place to be for the evening.

This left us on the final day with the weather set to improve and a run to fit in so we headed off on a 10 mile loop from the campsite heading up to Loch na Davie which supplies the water for the Distillery. The views were worth the climb, and the weather was very kind to us, but the previous day's bad weather had resulted in the underfoot conditions leaving something to be desired!

Colin slipped and took a huge tumble on the way down and I rushed over worried he might have damaged his shoulder again but he was just cut & bruised and apart from aching he was able to carry on.. scaring the other people we passed as he leaked blood over the path as he ran on!! Despite all of that I really enjoyed the run, just because of the setting, and we got back to the campsite where we cooked up lunch and enjoyed sitting in the sun before we had to head home. Arran - the setting for a fantastic long weekend of rest and training and a place we will definitely be back to.

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If it's all going wrong then ask for support!

In just one months time we will be travelling to Beauly to join the other entrants for the Highland Cross 2013. It is usual at this stage in the training to feel nerves, under-prepared, and slightly panicky... but I'm slightly distressed to report that Martin hasn't been heard of since he bought his trainers, I've just had 2 days in bed with a stinking cold, and Colin has now hurt his foot (though he has finally managed to cycle for nearly an hour with only a wee bit of pain, so there is some good news!!). With such poor results in the training news it seems fitting to beg for support in the form of sponsorship this week to try and to launch the Sweepstake in an attempt to motivate us to get back to it!!

The reason we put ourselves through this strange torture every year is to raise money for the Highland charities that are supported by Highland Cross - many of them have helped our friends and family over the years - and this year's benefiting charities are:

Puffin Hydrotherapy Pool

Seaforth House

Calman Trust 

Cantraybridge College

CCAST Highland

Lucky2BHere

You can sponsor us in the following ways:

Sponsor us online

The Tin man, The Scarecrow & Dorothy on Just Giving

Sponsor us by Text

You can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 by text

To Donate £5 simply text:

TMSD99

£5

To 70070

You’ll also be able to add Gift Aid at no extra cost.

The Sweepstake 

As blog readers will know Colin and I have been doing a lot of work on our new garden this year (the digging has been an extra bit of training!) - so we thought that we would give a sample of whichever of our veg grows best to the winner(s) of this year's sweepstake... but don't fear if it all goes wrong and there's no home produce we will still give out a pack of smarties to the smarties who get the closest guess :O)

If you'd like to enter the sweepstake then contact us after you've donated naming the person you're guessing the time of, and the time you'll think they'll finish in. If you'd like some clues try checking our previous blogs but remember the event is very weather (and fitness) dependent & times can vary by a large margin every year so any guess is worth a punt.

We'd like to thank you in advance for you support and for those that enter the sweepstake - Good Luck! 

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So this time last week we completed the Dumyat Hill Race. It was our first attempt at this local event and it's fair to say I struggled alot. I'm not great at uphill runs, relying on my strength on the flat and downhill to make up ground - so a race with up from the start was always going to be difficult for me - but to make matters worse I slipped on the way up and bruised my hand and arm quite badly which resulted in a loss of confidence and my slipping further back in the field. However Colin did really well finishing in the main field in under 55 minutes. 

The other big event for us in the past week was our wedding anniversary, so a year on from our big day we headed to the bonny banks of Loch Lomond... and went for a 12 mile run in the rain! Possibly not as romantic a day as some folk would have on their anniversary but we enjoyed it never the less. The run was decidedly undulating with very little flat, which was a bit of a surprise considering we were running along the side of a loch, however it was great training - and gave us a great excuse for relaxing for the rest of the day.

With a hill race and a long run under our belt it was time to focus back on the bike so I've done 2 spin classes this week, and Colin has done extra time on the Turbo trainer. Colin is still really struggling with using the handlebars on the bike so has been back at the hospital to see if there's something stopping his shoulder improving and is now awaiting yet more follow up appointments, in the meantime we are keeping on hoping it recovers in time for the big event or his cycling ability will be seriously in question.

In the meantime Colin has decided that we should enter the Kinnoull Hill race on Thursday evening so I'm now summing up the energy for another attempt at keeping up with these crazy hill runners! Wish me luck!!

Photo from Dumyat Hill Race official photos 

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This past week has been a bit up & down with regards to training. After last weekend's effort I had a nagging pain in my knee that worried me, so I rested up whilst Colin carried on his mid week runs followed by turbo training. I worried about my increasing lack of fitness & Col worried that he might not be able to cycle outside by June. I eased my mind by booking a sports massage session with the magical Angela Mudge, Colin now has another appointment booked with the hospital consultant... & so we entered the weekend. This is the first bank holiday weekend in ages that we've not gone away anywhere. Instead we did some more hard labour in the garden & on Sunday did a fantastic 11.5 mile loop on the trails on the side of Ben Ledi. My legs felt much looser, I enjoyed the terrain & the magical views, and the weather held out for us. The result was we finished in 2hours 5 mins & had a smile on our faces. In fact, considering the forecast for the weekend & how much time we spent outdoors, we were very lucky. Over Saturday & Sunday, as well as the 'official' training, we finished making the vegetable garden, made huge steps into moving the soil for the new rockery & felt like we'd had another full work out - so we took Monday off and went to Scone palace for tea & scones. Well, we reckoned we deserved it :-) However, this week it's the Dumyat hill race so we get to find out if all this hard work has paid off or not.. wish us luck!

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It's fair to say we're shattered this evening. In fact falling asleep on the sofa before 9pm was looking very likely at one stage! It might sound like we're slacking but we've lots to show for our efforts this weekend so it's all worth it. The forecast was for yesterday to be the better day and, with a garden to be rebuilt, we decided on hard graft & digging as a suitable form of Saturday training. We spent the day finishing off the cement filler for the relaying of the path; moving & remodelling 6 large railway sleepers into a raised vegetable plot; & making a start on turning a large pile of grass & roots into something that might be useful as a rockery one day. With so much shovelling, mixing, lifting & digging going on, it was a full work out!!!! This morning I ached in many places but we managed to motivate ourselves to go out to Balqhuidder & run along Cycle Route 7 above Lochearnhead. We did the 10 mile there & back again in 1hr 47, & only encountered 1 light shower & a bit of wind, so though it wasn't fast we were also pretty pleased with ourselves too. Cycle training is still spin classes for me & turbo sessions for Colin whilst his shoulder continues to heal. With less than 2 months to go we're getting those 'are we doing enough' nerves. Let's hope we are.

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Last Saturdays run was our first hill run. We were heading to Stonehaven for a friends party so Sara found a couple of runs around the Stonehaven area, we decided to run up a wee hill near Brechin. Arriving at the start the wind was blowing hard so it was difficult to motivate ourselves to get out of the car! We started running up hill right from the car and soon it became a steep gravel track, I seemed to be going well, whilst Sara seemed to be suffering slightly, from the top the decent was also quite steep which was not easy on the thighs and knees, getting back to the car we were short on distance so another mile was added before collapsing in the car and calling in at Islas cafe in Stonehaven for cake :) Total distance - 7.3 miles (Slightly behind our target but the hill made up for the lack of distance). This weekend we are going for a longer 9 miler a flatter course with only a short sharp hill in the middle. That's if our legs have recovered by then!

[trainingforyellowbrickroad]

Last Saturdays run was our first hill run. We were heading to Stonehaven for a friends party so Sara found a couple of runs around the Stonehaven area, we decided to run up a wee hill near Brechin. Arriving at the start the wind was blowing hard so it was difficult to motivate ourselves to get out of the car! We started running up hill right from the car and soon it became a steep gravel track, I seemed to be going well, whilst Sara seemed to be suffering slightly, from the top the decent was also quite steep which was not easy on the thighs and knees, getting back to the car we were short on distance so another mile was added before collapsing in the car and calling in at Islas cafe in Stonehaven for cake :) Total distance - 7.3 miles (Slightly behind our target but the hill made up for the lack of distance). This weekend we are going for a longer 9 miler a flatter course with only a short sharp hill in the middle. That's if our legs have recovered by then!

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Indoors or Outdoors - it can still be tough

This week I've run outdoors in the evening, seemingly running into the wind whichever direction I went! I've been to a lunchtime spin class at the gym which left me more puffed than I've ever been on a long training cycle; and I've fitted in a sprint session on the treadmill where 25 minutes felt just as tough as if I'd been running for over an hour. This leads me to believe that I'm either very unfit compared to last year or that these short hard intensity training sessions are working me just as hard (indoors or out) as long steady ones would. I'm hoping it's the latter & a case of quality over quantity. I guess I'll find out when the weekend distances increase... which with just 9 weeks to go will be very soon!!

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Our training is slightly behind but we managed a nice 6 miler from Callander to the Ben Ledi car. As the rain poured down, we finally got out of the car inspired with the thought that we were going to dry off in the sauna at the local Leisure centre. Although our pace is slow it's about getting out and getting in the miles in, hopefully the speed will come later. During the week Sara has started spinning classes in Glasgow during her lunch breaks, whilst I train in our spare room on the turbo trainer, as I'm still unable ride outside yet. Hopefully as my shoulder is getting stronger I hope to start riding outside within a few weeks, I hope!?

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Our training is slightly behind but we managed a nice 6 miler from Callander to the Ben Ledi car park. As the rain poured down, we finally got out of the car inspired with the thought that we were going to dry out in the sauna at the local Leisure centre. Although our pace is slow it’s about getting out and getting the miles in, hopefully the speed will come later. During the week Sara has started spinning classes in Glasgow during her lunch breaks, whilst I train in our spare room on the turbo trainer, as I’m still unable ride outside yet. Hopefully as my shoulder is getting stronger I hope to start riding outside within a few weeks, I hope!?

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On Saturday Colin & I went out for our first joint Highland Cross training run this year. We ran up a wee gentle hill behind the house & back again, it wasn’t a huge distance (just over 4.5 miles in total) but it was very cross country (!) & it was great training on a lovely morning. We then spent the afternoon in the garden which I’ve decided is equally good training! The morning run went well in that Colin’s shoulder didn’t hurt too much; but a loose wire in a fence jumped out at him, tripping him up & leaving him hanging on the fence, which did scare us a little - so I think we’ll stick to well defined tracks for the next few weeks, just in case. I’ve booked into Spin classes on Wednesday to try & improve my pedal power for this weeks race. Those who’ve followed our training before will realise that Spin training is a scary prospect for me… I’ll let you know how it goes.

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Easter training this year involved a lot of skiing for me, and a lot of driving and a little bit of walking for Col. Our good friends the BKs came to visit and I discovered that teaching people to ski & spending all day snow ploughing is very very tough on the leg muscles. So,though I may not have got in the planned training runs or a bike ride, I definitely feel like I’ve had a work out!! The weather was positively alpine with clear blue skies, gorgeous sunshine & fresh snow on the ground. It was a great weekend to be on the slopes. However, this week I need to get back to the gym & am hoping the lighter evenings will make an evening run possible. I know Colin would have loved to be skiing too, but hopefully a restful weekend will have aided his shoulder recovery and he can come and join me. 11 weeks to go, not that I’m worried of course!?!

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Any start is a start ... Right?

It seems only yesterday that I was feeling fit & competing in last years Highland Cross; so it is most distressing to find myself 6+ months later in a not so fit state.

Apart from the usual runners excuses of injury & illness (which Colin is already using & I too can cite if required!!) I have two further excuses lined up: 1. The weather - if you look outside you might spot it’s still snowing, despite it being March. This is not encouraging me to run very far! 2. I’ve started work in a digital agency in Glasgow; & though I could be convinced that running over those city hills is good endurance training.. my work colleagues might not appreciate it due to the lack of on premises shower!!

The result is I’ve had to come up with a plan B for lunch time training & I have joined a gym. Now, I confess, I do get bored at gyms & I can’t see myself doing an hour on the treadmill; but on snowy days like today 20 minutes sprint training was a perfect excuse for not being outside… & I can use their showers any time.

So, I’ve started & we’ll see how successful mid-week training at a gym is as time goes on. In the meantime if you’ve any bright ideas on how to make 60 minutes cycling/running whilst not going anywhere more interesting please let me know! Wish me luck.

[colinedwards]

Armless training.

Now that our team has a place in the Highland cross again, alarm bells started ringing for me, not because I haven’t started training, But because i was unable to start training, this is due to an unfortunate accident on a ski slope 4 weeks ago. a dislocated shoulder was was the result of a fall whilst skiing at Glenshee, so a night in dundee hospital was required as i was put under general anaesthetic to put me back together, After the nice doctor managed to put my shoulder Back into place which took 10 minutes of hanging himself off my arm( I had the bruises to prove it!) I have spent the last weeks wondering how I am possibly going to get the training in for the event. Well I have, thanks to Sara and Norna who have set up my bike and turbo trainer in the spare bedroom, I have finally managed to ride single handed and get a short session in, now I have no excuse to keep it up. As long as I keep up the Physio I should be able to start running in a couple of weeks, I hope?