The Tentsmuir Cure

I have been cured, thankfully not like an Italian meat. It was the beautiful Tentsmuir Forrest.

Finally, a week which has included running. Since last Friday I ran 3 times. I know that  isn't very often, but for me it has been fun, and most importantly stress free.

It started with a regular 4 mile run I do, with easy to remember mile markers (no I don't use a GPS, a story for another blog). The only thing to say about this is that it's important to remember to eat after night shift, and before a run. In future I must remember this point.

The second run was 6 miles and an attempt to get a base line on where I am in this thing called 'fitness'. In the end I completed it in 53 minutes feeling fairly fresh and comfortable throughout. So not really any further forward but happy I can improve on it fairly easily. Under 50 minutes? We'll have to wait and see, though that is a big chunk of time to take out.

Then we get onto the fun stuff. I had planned on doing some 'hill training' but knowing that this was going to be a session on a day off  hill reps didn't fill me with joy. Instead, I wanted to try some of the trail runs I had read about in Suzie Allison's book "Scottish Trail Running: 70 Great Runs". After an hour or so looking at the various runs on offer and linking them with trains and the weather I opted for a local run through Tentsmuir Forrest. Suzie Allison's book recommends a figure of 8 starting from the main car park that is about 9km long. Having run/cycled through Tentsmuir a few times I'm familiar with the area and so changed it a bit.

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyRun

If you're reading this living in Dundee or anywhere north of Tentsmuir Forrest, don't bother going all the way to the main car park. It's a pain in bahookie and an extra 15 minutes drive, more if your on public transport. You can get to the other end of the Forrest very quickly (2 minutes) from the car parks by the caravan site in Tayport. 

Anyway, that top tip aside, I got dropped off in Tayport on the main road by my lovely wife on her way to work. From there I ran down to the water's edge and simply followed the tay until you get to the entrance of the forrest. Rather than go straight in and run along the main forestry tracks I followed the path that runs between the forrest and the beach. It's a really easy area to run in because despite there being too many paths to remember you can't really go wrong. Too far one way and you're on the beach and then in the drink. Too far the other way and you're on the main forestry road. The whole route is flat but there are the ups and downs you would expect when playing near dunes and the like. I turned off that section when I came to the beach as I didn't think my calfs were up to that sort of sustained assault.

 

the view from the point I turned into the forrest

Instead I turned right and ended up on the main path until I got to the ice house and then followed Suzie's route. This is probably the most fun section as it is so varied. One minute you are on open moorland and the next you are dodging trees and hoping the path keeps unfolding in front of you.

Having to 'jump' the fence made it more fun

a beautiful straight section

This sort of running reminds me of being a kid and just running for fun, so you can't help but speed up as you twist and turn, up, down and around trees, roots and puddles. It was very quiet, the whole run I only saw one cyclist and one forestry worker van. It was this section where I wish I'd worn contact lenses. I kept steaming up and gambling when I could take  off my glasses and wipe them without falling. Thankfully I am becoming less accident prone and returned injury free. Eventually the path takes you to the main car park at the Leuchers end of the Forrest. This area has toilets etc and a great beach.

the empty car park. If this was the west coast or the south it'd be mobbed. East coasters don't know how lucky they are

The sea and a huge beach, when the legs are stronger I'll be back to run along it.

I had a drink here and decided to return by the main path. The beauty of Tentsmuir is that there are so many paths all pretty much in a grid you can just do what you like and not have to run the same route twice. The main path is much flatter and well maintained. Because of this the return journey was quicker with only the odd stop to take a photo or check the signs. 

I do love Scotland. Miles from anywhere and for no other apparent reason than they could, someone has left this painting next to one of the many public notice signs. Brilliant.     

By the time I got back out of the forrest and past the Tay I had ran for 1hr 54 minutes including lots of photo stops and a drinks break. The rough route I did shows about 11-12 miles of running but with all the twists and turns it might me more. I doesn't really matter though. Hopefully, that's not what these sorts of runs are supposed to be about. I didn't have any time pressure or anything to particularly train for. All that was left to do is go out and have fun, take some photos, and not fall over.

Did I mention it was raining? No. It was. The only down side was getting the bus back to Fundee. Getting colder and colder. Must learn to drive.

A great run, though I might be sore the 'morn. I'll definitely do some more trail routes, maybe even some hills. 


A wee note, please feel free to leave comments etc. As I continue this blog it might get a bit dull if I just recount my runs. So hopefully I will do more trail routes and maybe some stuff on running books, that sort of thing. I will also try to enter some races, I do need to train for something. So if you want  to know anything or just want a blether go ahead.


I'll be sore the 'morn -does that work? Maybe not.

The week that was not

Comfortable. The week that wasn't comfortable. I'm not sure this week justifies an update. However, in the hope it provides some consistency I thought I'd talk about the post marathon week. To avoid sounding like a bad Craig David parody I'll summarise rather than take it day by day. Go on, you know the song.

I had realised that I would be 'a bit sore' in the days immediately after the race. This, was an understatement. I spent the next day unable to stand without first making sure it was absolutely needed.

Need to eat? Na, not yet.
Need to pee? I can hold it, I am a nurse after all.
Need to... Yep. Better get up, I'll get some food after.

This does however teach you to be economical with tasks. As for walking, I initially thought I'd cracked it by getting some momentum together and simply trying not to fall over at corners. However memories of the last few miles of Loch Ness were soon brought back as I was past by an old man with a cap and a stick. To the elderly man with a cap and a stick. I salute you. I should have worn my medal, that would have shown him.

Unsure of the best way to resolve these pains I had booked in for a sports massage. Now to qualify this I must first tell you that I don't believe in any complimentary or alternative medicines and I have a severe dislike for pseudo science. I am a rationalist. I was however, desperate.

 Atheists and lifeboats spring to mind.

I also become awkward when ordering a coffee, for fear of being misrepresented. So I was very nervous going into the massage. Half worried I'd be expected to do some chanting, be touched inappropriately or be swooped upon by Dundee SWAT in an unfortunate yet embarrassing misunderstanding. This meant that when my masseuse (even writing it seems dirty) failed to show on Monday I wasn't too upset. Still very sore. Eventually it was rearranged for Tuesday before work, and I was forced to face my fear. It turns out it was all very professional and above board. A strange process of enforced pain, and interesting chit chat, but I was a little surprised when I jumped/ 'fell with grace' off the table expecting to be healed completely. I was still sore. I said I was a Rational, not devoid of hope.

The next two days were spend with lots of discomfort and even more smirks and laughs from friends and colleagues. One person even told me "it gets better". When I asked him what gets better, he explained when he had his hips done "it only hurt for a week or so". 

I also ended up with a cold, something I can't really complain about considering how under prepared I was and how hard I pushed. Apparently this is fairly common for most first time runners, and I'd guess more common in those that didn't prepared as well as they should have.

You've probably gathered that I still haven't mentioned that first post marathon run. That's because I still haven't been. This is upsetting me greatly, but when I was sore it would have been stupid, when I had a cold it would have been naive. Now all I need to do is wait until I feel fit again. Then, get going. The benefit of this wait is that I still want to go running. I know a lot of people who completed a marathon and then didn't run for another year. I at least want to go out. This is made more encouraging by reading Susie Allisons book 'Scottish Trail Running'. A great read and hopefully I'll get out to try a few of these routes in the near future.

The mention of Lochaber in my last post still hasn't fully disappeared but I think I'll decide in November after a few weeks of relaxing running and after trying some of the local running clubs.

 That's all I've got for this post. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and gentle mocking. Hopefully my next post will have actual, real life running at it's heart. 

(must think of a cool and ironic sign off)