recovery

 

Sunday 27th June

I felt pretty bad immediately after the 7 Hills Race. But the sun was out and it was a pleasant afternoon. I was hopped up on caffeine and wondered what to do with myself. A relaxed wander along to Warriston seemed the best bet. Could I be bothered? My legs hadn't seized up yet and after a shower I thought a bit of time in a peaceful place taking photos might just be the antidote to the trauma of the race earlier. It was a great idea, and much better than brooding about the bad run I'd just suffered. 

robin fledgling

I had been going to Holyrood Park far more than Warriston in June (more variety of butterflies) and the changes in the cemetery were considerable. Everything was overgrown although attempts had been made to keep paths clear of nettles and brambles. However other favourite places were becoming difficult to access. Birds were either sitting on eggs or bringing up chicks and their attitudes were also different. And there was an abundance of caterpillars and insects about the place - birds with beaks-full were the evidence of this, and nobody was much interested in the seeds I carried in my back pack.

Although there was a speckled wood or 2 about, there was little in the way of butterflies to chase and so I became aware of the hoverflies buzzing about the place. If you want a challenge try getting an in-flight shot of one. After a lot of dicking about I found if I took them against the sky, the auto-focus did a better job of catching them. I had been experimenting with setting the focus to about the right distance then waiting till they flew into it, but the sky background thing was easier. 

spectacular tree

As I was walking through the upper area, which is more like a formal cemetery, a large butterfly swooped up off the ground and flew strongly away. My mind said "Red Admiral" even though I didn't get a decent look. I think it was the first of the year. They have been in short supply this year. I cursed that it had disappeared off faster than my eye could follow, then recalled one very similar I met in a glade in Gullane woods. I reckoned that one was part of the huge influx from Europe we had a couple of years ago (with thousands of Painted Ladies) and it was both easily spooked and quite friendly. So it would fly up at great speed and then return and circle to land on the best perch available. If I held my hand in the sunlight it would land on that, which gave it a better view. I loitered in the aisle of graves and sure enough the admiral swooped back and I heard the swish of its wings as it considered landing on my shoulder. I held out my hand (always the left, camera in the right) and after a moment of consideration it landed on me. I was thrilled! What a compliment. The physical and mental pains of the race earlier melted away.

graveside

This wee robin was a shadow of his former self, run ragged collecting insects and caterpillars to feed offspring. He wasn't interested in the seeds I had, but hung around briefly as if to say hello, looking to get another few bugs and beasties in his beak before returning to the nest.

The walk did wonders. All the beauties chased away the horrors of the race and I felt like I had had a factory reset. My legs were stiff for days after but my heart was sorted that same afternoon. Particularly the first RA of the year and the rarity of it landing on my hand with little encouragement. It felt like a special moment. The visit to the cemetery had really brought me back from the dead. 

white butterfly wasn't stopping

dunnock

wren

wood pigeon

robin fledgling

the 7 Hells

 

For the first race (in a new Porty vest!) in forever I'd been training really hard.

If only. Truth was more like it snuck up and my only concession had been to get the trophy (1st v50) I'd had for 2 years, (due to covid) engraved, and that was a last minute dash. I'd meant to do loads of hill training but alas a job in Ormiston required a 1 hr cycle there and 1 hr back every day, either side of a demanding physical job, and I hoped that that would fill in for hill training. And that would have been a great plan if I'd done the race on a bike.

Mary had an even better plan. Just not go! This turned out to be a much better idea and she enjoyed the day much more than myself. She came out to watch the finish but otherwise filled her day, not with struggle and sweat, but having a nice time. Indeed if the break from racing due to covid has taught us anything it is how unnecessary the whole racing thing is. I mean it's fun when you're young and keen as mustard but as you age and times slip and the whole thing is an unpleasant torture, why bother? This thought crossed my mind several times during the race. And yet. Why do anything difficult? Why get off the couch? Why not just sit in front of Netflix shovelling junk food down your cakehole and getting diabetes and costing the NHS a fortune before falling into an early fat grave like 60% of the country? Somewhere between those 2 extremes lies a happy medium.

I also felt an obligation to do the 7 Hills Race which I've done so many times I could cover a wall with the finish line coasters. I used to love it! I'm pretty sure this year was my slowest ever but haven't had the heart to check that out as it wouldn't cheer me up in the slightest. Alan Lawson the organiser said there were loads of no-shows. He said people were cancelling due to self-isolating. I have a feeling it was self-preservation. Why thrash yourself round this arduous course for a PW? Insult piled on injury. I was still hoping on the start line, all that cycling (and 5 miles run per week taper over 3 weeks) would see me through unscathed. Nope. Here comes the 7 Hells!

Nicola also reckoned on a personal worst.
Good to have a few pals in the same boat!

As a concession to covid and distancing there were 2 starts for each event. The challengers were set off in 2 groups 30 secs apart (or was it a minute?) based on race numbers arbitrarily selected by alphabetical sign up. I presume someone was monitoring numbers at the end and subtracting the difference. Also one group was sent along Princes St then up the mound, rather than the route everyone takes normally, up North Bridge then right at the High St.

Mary had looked at the Mound option recently and although the distance is similar the drop on Waverley Bridge gives you a harsher gradient up the Mound to the Castle. So is a small disadvantage.

My number meant the latter of the 2 Race starts. And going up the Mound. Because my race was already shagged by lack of training, I thought I'd try the other route for fun. It did occur to cheat and go the normal way and certain folk I spoke to did exactly that. Nobody was monitoring the process. However something that was far worse than the Mound diversion was the log jam before we even got off Calton Hill. The time between starts meant as we got to the steps down to Waterloo Place they were absolutely jammed with the back runners from the earlier start. People who prefer to walk down the steps were totally blocking the single lane the marshals were guiding them down. Because the marshals were looking the other way I dodged down the right hand lane (empty) and steps, running past 60 slow runners that otherwise would have added at least a minute to my already sluggish progress. 

I went down and along Princes St praying that those going up the North Bridge would cause a similar log jam and hold up the race. The adrenaline and annoyance of being forced to go the wrong way boosted me up the Mound and I spent the first half hour chasing folk who had benefitted from the C19 variants. I'd love to blame this on my race being shit but it was more about my general fitness and it didn't make a substantial difference really. But who needs kicked when you are already on the ground? 

photo Michael Philps

photo Michael Philps

photo Michael Philps

As you can see by Craiglockhart I was dying a death. As we came off Corstorphine, Nicola had said something about not being sure of the way and I boldly said follow me. I got the best line to start with then seeing folk just ahead, inadvertently followed them instead of taking the nice trail down and round to the opening just above Kaimes Rd. They led us over a not insubstantial drop down a wall and although it was not a terrible route it was not where I had planned and had the potential to twist an ankle and ruin a race. Just goes to show what an influence the folk ahead can have - even on someone who has done the course so many times I could almost do it blindfold. (Maybe not the road crossings!)

"thanks" to Barry and Karen for this photo
barely walking speed off Blackford Hill

Well things continued to nosedive. I think I got lucky with most of the road crossings and didn't have to throw myself in front of passing traffic. However I did begin to suffer after an hour. (The obvious downside of only cycling hard for a hour - an hour is all I could manage.) The rest was just a suffer-fest and best not dwelling on that. I was just counting off the hills and miles to the finish, wondering just how bad the time would get. (2hrs10mins - 15 mins slower than last 2 times.)

Angus showboating!
photo Mary

Mary kept quiet as I passed her at the Paliament Buildings, so I didn't even get to pretend to look decent. I was suffering from the cramps I usually get about then and trying to hold it together by speedwalking. I had been passed by Roly and Ollie on the climb up Arthur's Seat. Weirdly Ollie always does this, it is something of a tradition. Little did I know that due to bad nav off the summit Roly was now behind me again - I assumed he had already finished as I snailed my way up to Calton Hill. 

a sorry state
This and next photos all taken by Mary, thanks!

non-competitor enjoys post race buffet!
(I was too exhausted to eat anything)

PB and Ollie
Much love, even though he beats me on Arthur's Seat every time.

Gavster: a fine figure of a man!

It's a great event and big thanks to Alan Lawson for getting it all organised. He wouldn't have chosen the C19 rules and probably did so under duress from higher powers and surely the event will revert to normal next year. If I do some training I may be back. I'm really not sure how I feel about racing any more, having had some distance placed between me and it through covid. One thing I do know: racing without proper training is a VERY bad idea and makes for a great deal of pain. And I prefer being fit to fat. If covid has taught us anything it is the dangers of getting flabby. The young and the fit have been relatively safe from the worst it had to offer (although not absolutely safe.) So the likely future might be slightly more training than went on in the last year, but slightly fewer races than before covid. 

Saltoun Big Wood

 

Saturday 26th June and we opted to do something a little different with this un-sunny day. I think Mary wanted to take her new bridge camera out for mooching about and photos and I suspect I encouraged the idea of Saltoun Big Wood a great place even in dull weather. (Mary has just reminded me we collected my pasting table from a job in Ormiston, and also it was the day before the 7 Hills Race.)

We hoped the poor weather would mean the limited parking at the road side would be available, but were prepared to park in West Saltoun and walk up the hill if necessary. It wasn't necessary; we were the only car parked at the new gate. There used to be a car park but the locals got sick of commercial dog walkers leaving mess.

we got a vigorous welcome from this yellowhammer

I saw this blackcap hopping through the branches and quickly got a photo. I was beginning to think that maybe this was the secret to bird photos in this wood, having totally failed on previous runs. Just walk in quietly on a dull day and keep your eyes open. And it may be, but even with my good camera the pics came out dull and grainy. And that was just about the last of the birds we got a decent look at! Very pleasant to be out and looking at everything though, and enjoying the smells and sounds as well. 

newt

Quite unusual to see deer here. I suspect the drop in dogwalking numbers has had an impact. We watched as a couple crossed the path away in the distance. They seemed in no hurry and were quite relaxed. 

Bambi and Thumper

group of bikers

The rain had not long stopped and there was no sign of butterflies. There were a few bedraggled looking bees coming out from hiding under foliage and flowers. 

giraffe and hare in garden at exit/entrance

Mary practising specific focussing

using left hand on flipped open touch screen

that yellowhammer saying goodbye

day for snoozing indoors