More Baggin'

I am so looking forward to Christmas. Over the past weeks we have been rushing about desperately getting all our visits in to friends and relations before Emily sprogs in the New Year. Fortunately the conditions for climbing or ski-ing haven't been THAT good. By that I mean perfect, and I have been able to enjoy trips down to London and the Peaks without an over-riding sense of missing out.

It hasn't been all travelling though and I have still managed my aim of a Marilyn a week. The forested Bin of Cullen was made slightly more interesting as darkness set in just after I reached the trig point during my torchless ascent. My other hill runs have taken me over Beinn Mhor near Grantown which is a great viewpoint for the 'Gorms...

... and Dungavel Hill convienently within striking distance of the M74 near Abington. At last I am getting to run in a place I have always wanted to and it certainly helps break up the long trog to and from Englandshire.

On the same day I was running in the sun in the Borders, we stopped earlier at Slochd to play in the snow.

Training has been difficult. With everything concentrating on speed I have been doing intervals and short, but hard, runs up to about an hour. I thought I had cracked the XC thing when I reduced by time from 125% at Dornoch to 116% of the winners time at Elgin. Unfortunately a slight runny nose, exacerbated by very frosty temperatures, made todays course at Forres (despite being very hilly which should suit me) very tough. It was really demoralising to feel so bad and not be able to hold a decent pace. Ah well, I have a month until the next race so I will be resting a wee bit to get some enthusiasim back.