G'day
On January 1st 2011, I will join a few hundred other nutters to go in the Firth of Forth to start the year. It's called the Loony Dook.
Couple of reasons - first, it'll give me a way to make use of the additional blubber I've laid down over the past few months while I've been injured and unable to run as usual.
Second, it's the start of a year of fundraising. I plan to do 11 different 'challenges' in 2011. Confirmed so far, injury permitting, are the Loony Dook, 12 munros in 3 days in early May, the 7 Hills of Edinburgh race in June and the Berlin marathon in September. I also plan to climb Ben Nevis at some point and do a long cycle somewhere. Other suggestions I've had so far are to run a race in fancy dress and to skydive, abseil or wing-walk. (These last suggestions from someone who knows how I feel about heights and presumably thinks that's amusing...) Happy to hear any other suggestions anyone has, and I'll update any confirmed events as and when I can.
In the mean time, here's the links if you think any of this is worthy of a contribution to one of the causes I'm supporting:
For Ward 1 of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children:
www.justgiving.com/sandy2011-sickkids
And for Care International:
www.justgiving.com/sandy2011-care
Really appreciate any support you can give. I'll post Loony Dook pictures as soon as I've thawed! Thanks.
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Monday, 27 December 2010
Best reads of 2010
Time for another list.... Like most of you I expect (!) I like to keep a record of all the books I read. I've only averaged about 2 books a month this year, which is a bit below par, but there have been some crackers in there. Here's my top 10:
1. Mercy Among the Children - David Adams Richards
2. Weekend - William McIlvanney
3. The Sopranos - Alan Warner
4. Amsterdam - Ian McEwan
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Steven Chbosky
6. Feet in the Clouds (A Tale of Fell Running and Obsession) - Richard Askwith
7. The Burnt Out Town of Miracles - Roy Jacobsen
8. Romanno Bridge - Andrew Greig
9. Invisible - Paul Auster
10. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Two most disappointing reads of 2010:
1. On the Road - Jack Kerouac
2. Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Reading's a very personal thing, so I expect I've just dissed someone's favourite, and commended something someone else thought was rubbish. Happy to explain myself if required! As well as the book I've given top place, which was a brilliant find, I was most pleased by finally getting round to reading the McEwan, Warner and McIlvanney books, all of which were worth the wait.
I'm also really enjoying Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada just now, but don't think I'll quite have it finished before the end of the year. Otherwise it might well have broken the top 10... Got a huge pile of books ready and waiting for me in 2011 for once I finish it, I'm sure there'll be more highs and lows awaiting me.
If anyone else wants to post a top 10, 5, 3 or even 1 book that they've read in the past year I'd be interested to see it!
1. Mercy Among the Children - David Adams Richards
2. Weekend - William McIlvanney
3. The Sopranos - Alan Warner
4. Amsterdam - Ian McEwan
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Steven Chbosky
6. Feet in the Clouds (A Tale of Fell Running and Obsession) - Richard Askwith
7. The Burnt Out Town of Miracles - Roy Jacobsen
8. Romanno Bridge - Andrew Greig
9. Invisible - Paul Auster
10. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Two most disappointing reads of 2010:
1. On the Road - Jack Kerouac
2. Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Reading's a very personal thing, so I expect I've just dissed someone's favourite, and commended something someone else thought was rubbish. Happy to explain myself if required! As well as the book I've given top place, which was a brilliant find, I was most pleased by finally getting round to reading the McEwan, Warner and McIlvanney books, all of which were worth the wait.
I'm also really enjoying Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada just now, but don't think I'll quite have it finished before the end of the year. Otherwise it might well have broken the top 10... Got a huge pile of books ready and waiting for me in 2011 for once I finish it, I'm sure there'll be more highs and lows awaiting me.
If anyone else wants to post a top 10, 5, 3 or even 1 book that they've read in the past year I'd be interested to see it!
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Looking forward to 2011
G'day. I'm happy to say the recovery from back injury is onwards and upwards. Work's getting in the way a bit so I haven't been able to get out for as many runs as I'd have liked this past couple of weeks, but when I have managed to get out it's all gone pretty well.
Anyway.... what I really wanted to talk about in this post was some of my plans for 2011. I'm still knocking a few ideas around, so any thoughts or input would be very much appreciated.
As most of you will know I've been out of action for a few months, but in past years I've done a few marathons and similar running and cycle-related challenges for charity. I've not done any fundraising in 2010 as I wanted a bit of a break, and to concentrate on other things instead. Often the fundraising takes as much hard work as the training and the running does.
But it's time to get going again and I've been building a plan for next year. In a nutshell, I plan to complete 11 challenges in 2011. I'm starting with the Loony Dook on 1st January (looks like it'll be especially loony this year given long-range weather forecasts!), and I've also already signed up for the Berlin marathon in September, and a hiking trip taking in 12 Munros in 3 days in May. I'm also quite keen to bag Ben Nevis this year, and to do the 7 Hills of Edinburgh race again. Beyond that, nothing is written in stone and I'm all ears for any suggestions.
I do want them to not all be running challenges though - given recent injury problems (and the impact the training time has on work and family) I think it's best to stick with just the one planned marathon in Berlin in September. Other ideas I've had are:
- To also bag Scafell Pike
- One of the long-range cycles (London to Brighton, Edinburgh to St Andrews, etc)
- 11-hour sleepout
- Half-marathon or 10K in fancy dress...
etc.
I'm all ears for your thoughts and any 'reasonable' suggestions....
I'd also love it if anyone who wants to could join me on any of the different events. I've already got company for Berlin marathon, and for the Munro trip, but if anyone else feels like heading up a mountain or on a bike journey, or whatever, with me then let me know!!
Finally - I already know the causes I'd like to raise money for - one 'home' and one 'away'.
Firstly, 2010 has been another year of natural disasters elsewhere in the world - the floods in Pakistan, the earthquake in Haiti, flooding and landslides in Columbia and Venezuela, to name just some of the largest incidents. And all of these disasters have provoked homelessness, sickness and malnutrition after the initial disaster has left our TV news screens. Sadly I don't expect 2011 will be any different. Care International's emergency fund supports their efforts to get quickly on to the scene and provide support to affected people when disaster strikes anywhere in the world. They're my first chosen charity.
Secondly, closer to home, I have an amazing wife who works on Ward 1 at the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh. My wife, and her excellent colleagues on Ward 1, provide outstanding care for children with long-term medical conditions like Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Cerebral palsy and so on. I doubt if there's anyone in Edinburgh who doesn't have friends and family who've received care there - lots of my friends' children have received care there at one time or another, as has my lovely niece, Sophie, who has Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Both these causes deserve support and I'm happy to be able to do whatever I can in 2011 that might be worthy of your sponsorship.
Fundraising links and an update on any interesting challenge suggestions I've received will be shared with you soon!!
Anyway.... what I really wanted to talk about in this post was some of my plans for 2011. I'm still knocking a few ideas around, so any thoughts or input would be very much appreciated.
As most of you will know I've been out of action for a few months, but in past years I've done a few marathons and similar running and cycle-related challenges for charity. I've not done any fundraising in 2010 as I wanted a bit of a break, and to concentrate on other things instead. Often the fundraising takes as much hard work as the training and the running does.
But it's time to get going again and I've been building a plan for next year. In a nutshell, I plan to complete 11 challenges in 2011. I'm starting with the Loony Dook on 1st January (looks like it'll be especially loony this year given long-range weather forecasts!), and I've also already signed up for the Berlin marathon in September, and a hiking trip taking in 12 Munros in 3 days in May. I'm also quite keen to bag Ben Nevis this year, and to do the 7 Hills of Edinburgh race again. Beyond that, nothing is written in stone and I'm all ears for any suggestions.
I do want them to not all be running challenges though - given recent injury problems (and the impact the training time has on work and family) I think it's best to stick with just the one planned marathon in Berlin in September. Other ideas I've had are:
- To also bag Scafell Pike
- One of the long-range cycles (London to Brighton, Edinburgh to St Andrews, etc)
- 11-hour sleepout
- Half-marathon or 10K in fancy dress...
etc.
I'm all ears for your thoughts and any 'reasonable' suggestions....
I'd also love it if anyone who wants to could join me on any of the different events. I've already got company for Berlin marathon, and for the Munro trip, but if anyone else feels like heading up a mountain or on a bike journey, or whatever, with me then let me know!!
Finally - I already know the causes I'd like to raise money for - one 'home' and one 'away'.
Firstly, 2010 has been another year of natural disasters elsewhere in the world - the floods in Pakistan, the earthquake in Haiti, flooding and landslides in Columbia and Venezuela, to name just some of the largest incidents. And all of these disasters have provoked homelessness, sickness and malnutrition after the initial disaster has left our TV news screens. Sadly I don't expect 2011 will be any different. Care International's emergency fund supports their efforts to get quickly on to the scene and provide support to affected people when disaster strikes anywhere in the world. They're my first chosen charity.
Secondly, closer to home, I have an amazing wife who works on Ward 1 at the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh. My wife, and her excellent colleagues on Ward 1, provide outstanding care for children with long-term medical conditions like Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Cerebral palsy and so on. I doubt if there's anyone in Edinburgh who doesn't have friends and family who've received care there - lots of my friends' children have received care there at one time or another, as has my lovely niece, Sophie, who has Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Both these causes deserve support and I'm happy to be able to do whatever I can in 2011 that might be worthy of your sponsorship.
Fundraising links and an update on any interesting challenge suggestions I've received will be shared with you soon!!
Sunday, 28 November 2010
A runner who can't run...
Hello. I'm almost ashamed to be back here blogging again. It's been so long, and I've promised people I'll blog so often and not done it. But hey, here I am.
One of the many reasons I've not been keeping up with my blog lately is that I'm not sure I've got much to say of interest. So much of what I write about is running-related, and I've now been out injured for over 3 months. So it's all been a bit strange.
In many ways, the pain and discomfort of my back injury is almost secondary to the frustration at not being able to do something you love - or the disorientation that comes from not doing something that's so much a part of your identity. I'm the type of person who runs for a bus from 300 yards off - not the type who gives up on it when it's 10 yards away! To many people I know, running is what I do. Just now, I've got a great new job, I've read some phenomenal books over the past few months, been to some great movies and gigs.... and of course there's my wonderful family, but half the people I bump into still ask me about running!
I guess it's a kind of common language for everyone who's ever been involved in running - from people who've been elated by finishing a first slow 5K, through to people who've done everything there is to do from marathons to ultras to 24-hour hill races. On roads, tracks, trails and mountains and from the inner city, to the wilds of Scotland, to every corner of the world.
Plus running is an important balance in my life. All too often my life consists of too much work, then back to managing small children with (very strong) minds of their own! Running is excellent me-time, an important escape from my mundane existence where I chill out, and get my thoughts in order. Never mind the need to balance out the fact I love to eat lots of good food and so have to keep the running up to manage my health and wellbeing effectively!
The running community is a great one to be part of. It's healthy (obvs), principled, caring, generous, adventurous, charitable, fun-loving and welcoming. I've not really seen evidence of elitism or exclusivity, which it's occasionally accused of. Even if you're not running, they're very supportive and I am pleased to still be taking part in facebook chat, marshalling at races, and so on. Important to try and maintain a link to an area of your life you get so much from, even if you can't do the core part of it.
So anyway, as usual I've rambled on for long enough. On a final note, runners are generally an optimistic bunch. I'm hugely grateful for all the people who have shared their sympathy and their own injury experiences with me, and their contagious and enthusiastic belief that I will be back to normal sooner or later (albeit with a fair few pounds to lose). And I'm generally optimistic by default too, so I'm looking forward to building back up to full fitness and getting back in the groove again. Lots of exciting plans in development for 2011!
One of the many reasons I've not been keeping up with my blog lately is that I'm not sure I've got much to say of interest. So much of what I write about is running-related, and I've now been out injured for over 3 months. So it's all been a bit strange.
In many ways, the pain and discomfort of my back injury is almost secondary to the frustration at not being able to do something you love - or the disorientation that comes from not doing something that's so much a part of your identity. I'm the type of person who runs for a bus from 300 yards off - not the type who gives up on it when it's 10 yards away! To many people I know, running is what I do. Just now, I've got a great new job, I've read some phenomenal books over the past few months, been to some great movies and gigs.... and of course there's my wonderful family, but half the people I bump into still ask me about running!
I guess it's a kind of common language for everyone who's ever been involved in running - from people who've been elated by finishing a first slow 5K, through to people who've done everything there is to do from marathons to ultras to 24-hour hill races. On roads, tracks, trails and mountains and from the inner city, to the wilds of Scotland, to every corner of the world.
Plus running is an important balance in my life. All too often my life consists of too much work, then back to managing small children with (very strong) minds of their own! Running is excellent me-time, an important escape from my mundane existence where I chill out, and get my thoughts in order. Never mind the need to balance out the fact I love to eat lots of good food and so have to keep the running up to manage my health and wellbeing effectively!
The running community is a great one to be part of. It's healthy (obvs), principled, caring, generous, adventurous, charitable, fun-loving and welcoming. I've not really seen evidence of elitism or exclusivity, which it's occasionally accused of. Even if you're not running, they're very supportive and I am pleased to still be taking part in facebook chat, marshalling at races, and so on. Important to try and maintain a link to an area of your life you get so much from, even if you can't do the core part of it.
So anyway, as usual I've rambled on for long enough. On a final note, runners are generally an optimistic bunch. I'm hugely grateful for all the people who have shared their sympathy and their own injury experiences with me, and their contagious and enthusiastic belief that I will be back to normal sooner or later (albeit with a fair few pounds to lose). And I'm generally optimistic by default too, so I'm looking forward to building back up to full fitness and getting back in the groove again. Lots of exciting plans in development for 2011!
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
I've been struggling with my running a bit these past few months. The year started brilliantly, with PBs at 5K, 10K, 10-mile and half-marathon.
Then started struggling with annoying wee injuries. Was delighted just to be able to finish the Edinburgh marathon with no major issues, never mind the high hopes I'd had for a PB earlier in the season.
But got round, and then over the next few months I did some of the most enjoyable races I've ever done - 7 Hills of Edinburgh, Black Rock 5, Dumyat. But the niggles kept coming and my times at standard races were nowhere near my best. Finally, I did what I should have done months back and I've been resting a bit. Taking it easy, doing more cross training (cycling, fitness classes, hillwalking). And at last I feel like my injuries are going.
Ran 4 miles pain-free this morning and it felt good. Apart from being noticeably less fit for running!
Finally I feel like I can look ahead to achieving something in 2011, the way I felt at the strt of this year. And Shona seems happy enough with a week up near Fort William in April next year. Guess who'll be signing up for the Lochaber marathon in the next few days?!
Then started struggling with annoying wee injuries. Was delighted just to be able to finish the Edinburgh marathon with no major issues, never mind the high hopes I'd had for a PB earlier in the season.
But got round, and then over the next few months I did some of the most enjoyable races I've ever done - 7 Hills of Edinburgh, Black Rock 5, Dumyat. But the niggles kept coming and my times at standard races were nowhere near my best. Finally, I did what I should have done months back and I've been resting a bit. Taking it easy, doing more cross training (cycling, fitness classes, hillwalking). And at last I feel like my injuries are going.
Ran 4 miles pain-free this morning and it felt good. Apart from being noticeably less fit for running!
Finally I feel like I can look ahead to achieving something in 2011, the way I felt at the strt of this year. And Shona seems happy enough with a week up near Fort William in April next year. Guess who'll be signing up for the Lochaber marathon in the next few days?!
Monday, 23 August 2010
Time waits for no man
"What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."
William Henry Davies (1871-1940), 'Leisure'
or, as Ferris Bueller said, "Life moves pretty fast - you don't stop and look around once in a while, it might just pass you by..."
Work-life balance is a bugger isn't it. The only time I ever seem to get it right is when i"m on holiday. Our holiday in Orkney this summer was just perfect. Suddenly I found time to get what I wanted to out of each day - family time, leisure time, and so on. Unbelievable how much more relaxed you are as a result.
But it can fade pretty quickly as time passes and you get back in to work schedule. All the various things that steal your time; domestic chores, work pressures, exercise and training, reading, writing, leisure time, family time, keeping up with friends, build up and you put pressure on yourself to try and do everything you can perfectly. For some reason I've always been acutely aware of how I have a finite period of time on this earth (I don't believe in an afterlife, I find that a ridiculous notion) and it's vital to make the best use of that time possible. That stretches from being the best person I can be and doing right by others, through to constantly ticking off the things I want to do. It's this drive that's meant I've done several postgrad courses, read a stupid number of books, and run 6 marathons and various other challenges. But it also means that having done these things, I'm still acutely aware of how much more I want to do and all the things I've yet to achieve. Places to visit, books to read, races to run - the list is endless.
What I try to remind myself to avoid this constant state of dissatisfaction and impatience is 1. that you can only do so much, and I should be gentle with myself in how I go about delivering stuff. 2. Sometimes you miss important stuff because you're running so hard to stand still!
You need to build in time to do things in a way that means you appreciate them, and consider people around you too. In the opening chapter of 'The Art of Travel', Alain de Botton talks about how travel is a state of mind. When you're on holiday you look at the world in a particular way. You decide to walk a different route to the one you took the day before so you discover more about a place. Or you decide last minute to ditch one plan in favour of another. You keep in mind the things you want to get out of your holiday and try and fit each thing in - you keep your view of things to tick off in the time you have, and you keep in mind the importance of enjoying yourself and relaxing while you do it too.
So, whilst you're busy and the pace of 21st century life is constantly buzzing around and pressuring you to fill every minute with 60 seconds-worth of distance run, keep an eye on the long term things that are important, but remember to stop and look around once in a while too. Walk a different route to work. Pop in to wander round that graveyard you've been past so many times and always been curious about.
It'll make you happier and more relaxed, you'll be surprised by what you learn, and it'll probably help you get to where you want to go just as quick. But more than anything else, what's the point in ticking off every little thing if you don't take the time to appreciate any one of them?
We have no time to stand and stare."
William Henry Davies (1871-1940), 'Leisure'
or, as Ferris Bueller said, "Life moves pretty fast - you don't stop and look around once in a while, it might just pass you by..."
Work-life balance is a bugger isn't it. The only time I ever seem to get it right is when i"m on holiday. Our holiday in Orkney this summer was just perfect. Suddenly I found time to get what I wanted to out of each day - family time, leisure time, and so on. Unbelievable how much more relaxed you are as a result.
But it can fade pretty quickly as time passes and you get back in to work schedule. All the various things that steal your time; domestic chores, work pressures, exercise and training, reading, writing, leisure time, family time, keeping up with friends, build up and you put pressure on yourself to try and do everything you can perfectly. For some reason I've always been acutely aware of how I have a finite period of time on this earth (I don't believe in an afterlife, I find that a ridiculous notion) and it's vital to make the best use of that time possible. That stretches from being the best person I can be and doing right by others, through to constantly ticking off the things I want to do. It's this drive that's meant I've done several postgrad courses, read a stupid number of books, and run 6 marathons and various other challenges. But it also means that having done these things, I'm still acutely aware of how much more I want to do and all the things I've yet to achieve. Places to visit, books to read, races to run - the list is endless.
What I try to remind myself to avoid this constant state of dissatisfaction and impatience is 1. that you can only do so much, and I should be gentle with myself in how I go about delivering stuff. 2. Sometimes you miss important stuff because you're running so hard to stand still!
You need to build in time to do things in a way that means you appreciate them, and consider people around you too. In the opening chapter of 'The Art of Travel', Alain de Botton talks about how travel is a state of mind. When you're on holiday you look at the world in a particular way. You decide to walk a different route to the one you took the day before so you discover more about a place. Or you decide last minute to ditch one plan in favour of another. You keep in mind the things you want to get out of your holiday and try and fit each thing in - you keep your view of things to tick off in the time you have, and you keep in mind the importance of enjoying yourself and relaxing while you do it too.
So, whilst you're busy and the pace of 21st century life is constantly buzzing around and pressuring you to fill every minute with 60 seconds-worth of distance run, keep an eye on the long term things that are important, but remember to stop and look around once in a while too. Walk a different route to work. Pop in to wander round that graveyard you've been past so many times and always been curious about.
It'll make you happier and more relaxed, you'll be surprised by what you learn, and it'll probably help you get to where you want to go just as quick. But more than anything else, what's the point in ticking off every little thing if you don't take the time to appreciate any one of them?
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Aspirations in 2010
G'day
No long prose update today, just a list of aims for 2010. Deliberately not resolutions because things get in the way and you have to be flexible. But instead these are (hopefully) achievable aspirations that I'll do my best to tick off:
1. Run at least 5 new races, including at least one hill race
2. Higher than 50% attendance at Wednesday night training (at Portobello RC)
3. Sub 3.30 marathon on 23rd May!
4. Read at least 2 books per month
5. At least 3 lots of exercise each week (run/cycle/gym/fitness class/whatever)
6. Do whatever is necessary to make my time at work more enjoyable and rewarding(!)
7. Invest more time in learning (in and out of work)
8. Spend at least 2 hours every week writing
9. Make more effort to have a social life and get out with my friends - have at least one night out each month
10. Cook at least one new recipe every month
11. Have at least one fun outing with family each month
12. Clear out the gutters around the conservatory
13. Clear out inside the conservatory so we can use it more effectively and it's not just the room where we pile our junk...
14. Help the Mrs get more opportunity to get out and do the fitness classes, or whatever, she wants to
15. See my children before bedtime at least 4 nights out of every 7...
16. Don't work past 6.30pm except under exceptional circumstances
17. Visit a gallery at least once every 2 months (including visiting Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery for first time)
18. Go to a play/show/movie or gig at least once every 6 weeks
19. Average at least 7 hours sleep a night (which means bed by midnight at latest, probably...)
20. Visit New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde
21. Weekend away to Belfast
22. Weekend camping trip to Berwick-upon-Tweed (and visit Paxton House)
23. A weekend in the Highlands
24. Several visits to London
25. Sort out stupid and unnecessary credit card debts
26. Bag a munro
27. Go kayaking and/or do an adventure race
28. Do the Saturday cryptic crossword more often
29. Visit a UK city I've not been to before
30. Visit the Venture Scotland bothy at Glen Etive
31. Take Mrs MacD to a London show and away for an overnight trip
32. More team lunches at work
33. Cycle to work more often
34. Play a game of squash, badminton or tennis
35. Take part in an event at Stromness shopping week
36. Get a hot stones massage
37. Visit one of the Edinburgh kirkyards (Canongate or Greyfriars)
38. Visit an Orkney island I've not been to before
39. Read more poetry (especially Norman MacCaig)
40. Blog more...
Happy to expand this list, so any other sensible suggestions and requests welcome! And any assistance in achieving these welcome too(company for munro-bagging, reminding me to sod off from work, etc. all much appreciated). Cheers
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