Looking Towards Late Summer

January 7, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 24 Comments

So, it may still be January, and freezing outside for many of you. But I’m already looking towards late summer!

Already, I have my summer holidays all authorised at work, so I can now look forward to a few trips. 🙂

I’ve also been mooching around various running sites, lining up potential races.

So far, I’ve entered the ballot for places in the Great North Run:

I watched last year’s race, wishing I was there! I know it’s always over subscribed, so I’ll just have to wait and see if I’m lucky 😉

I’m also still considering the Loch Ness Marathon, and I am definitely leaning towards entering it…. I just haven’t actually committed to it….. yet!

Back in the present, this evening I’ve done my plank-a-day, my squat challenge and some rowing. Gosh, it feels great to be back to it!

Have you signed up for any late summer races yet?

Bad food safety statistics from the Scottish Conservative Party

January 6, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

For anyone who read the ‘scare’ story publicised by the Scottish media yesterday about food hygiene standards in school kitchens, please read this post.

Patrick Mackie

Improvement Required

The Scottish Conservatives have published a report (well, a media release) on food hygiene standards in Scottish schools. This was picked up by the BBC, STV, The Herald and The Sunday Post, amongst others.

The summary of the story is, that over the period from 2009 to 2013, 83 schools, nurseries and after-school clubs received “Improvement Required” food hygiene ratings. This means that the establishments failed to meet the “broadly compliant” rating scores for the rating elements of food hygiene, premises condition or confidence in management. Obviously, this is a matter of concern, but it does not indicate that any of these sites were serving unsafe food – a site could fail to meet the requisite standard simply by failing to maintain adequate records of temperature checks, or having some structural problems, which are not themselves directly hazardous to the safety of food being prepared. More serious…

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Routine Run!

January 6, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 14 Comments

Happy Monday, gang! For those who returned to work today, I hope it went OK.

I’m back into my routine, for the first time in weeks. My work clothes were all a little more snug than I’d have liked, so I’ll do something about that 😉

Tonight, I kitted up, and headed out for a lil’ run in the dark, just to get the legs going. I looked, erm, interesting with my fluoro gear and arm lights:

And I also used the Nike+ phone app, as I hadn’t charged my GPS watch. Doh!

But it did allow me to play about with the wee photo app- it’s pretty cool!

I came back home to start my plank-a-day challenge and squat challenge. So far, so good on day one!

I’m off now to check out some new half marathon training programmes: has anyone tried the Hal Higdon iPhone app? Is it worth using?

How has your Monday been?

The Return of the Routine

January 5, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 15 Comments

Well, the house has been de-Christmassed, we’ve unpacked from all of our recent adventures, and for us, the New Year routine starts tomorrow.

Back to running more routinely, back to eating better, back to planning for all of our 2014 adventures!

Thank you to everyone for your encouragement with my metres to miles idea….. I’ll keep you posted!

Are you back to your normal routine? 😉

Metres to Miles in 2014

January 3, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 45 Comments

Evening all: I’m just dropping by with a quick question to all of my super-knowledgeable friends, during my short visit home from Portavadie and before yet another busy weekend. We have our family Secret Santa day tomorrow!

I need a holiday!

Those of you who are fans will have seen that, for Mo Farah, 2014 is about moving from metres to miles.

In 2014, Mo will run a marathon.

Now, the question I have is: can I do the same?

I’ve been eyeing up The Loch Ness Marathon for some time, following some twitter encouragement from @pt_steveb . I must admit, I am seriously tempted. But, can this serial short-distance jogger of 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons step up and do the big one?

Festive Food

January 1, 2014 by TartanJogger ♥ 10 Comments

Ok, so I’ve eaten well over the past couple of weeks. Very well, actually.

Wanna see?

Happy Hogmanay!

December 31, 2013 by TartanJogger ♥ 8 Comments

Happy Hogmanay!

And a Happy New Year too!

Portavadie Marina

December 30, 2013 by TartanJogger ♥ 10 Comments

Portavadie Marina is a fantastic hidden gem nestled on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll. Conveniently for us, it is also a very short ferry ride away from Tarbert!

It features a wide range of accommodation: bed and lockers: bunk rooms for cyclists and walkers, lodge rooms (which are like good hotel rooms) , secluded cottage for honeymooners and couples and luxury apartments for friends and families who want a little more space and luxe while away.

The marina has excellent facilities, and there is a top notch restaurant, while the lodge has a more relaxed restaurant and family area. There’s a spa, and a shop which sells everything from milk and newspapers to high end clothing and chandlery supplies.

I love it!

We’ve visited many times, often for lunch and a few drinks; sometimes ourselves, other times with friends and family. We celebrated @TheWelshWookie’s 40th Birthday here, too.

And now we’re back; gatecrashing the honeymoon, and welcoming in the New Year at the Hogmanay Gala Dinner.

Lucky us! 🙂

WiFi and mobile signal is patchy, so I’ll check in when I can!

TartanJogger’s 2013 Review

December 30, 2013December 31, 2013 by TartanJogger ♥ 12 Comments

If you had told me this time last year that I would have run a much as I did in 2013, AND become an amateur running blogger, I would not have believed you. What a difference a year makes, eh?

On 31st December 2012, I set one goal. To run a half marathon in 2013.

How far I have come since then!

I’m sure your blog feed will have been overflowing with the 2013 reviews frm your favourite bloggers. So, let me add mine, though I promise, I’ll keep it short!

Favourite Race of 2013

This is a difficult one, and it changes every five minutes. I’d have to go for the Mull of Kintyre 10K. Not only did I PB, but it was great fun, with fantastic support and a brilliant goodie bag!

Most enjoyable race of 2013

The inaugural TT10K. Not only was it on my doorstep, but it was a great balance of easy running, hills and trail. The organisation for this event was fantastic.

Most fun running trip of 2013

Hands down, this has to be our trip to Dublin for the inaugural RnR Half Marathon. The run was great, and the craic as mighty! Second place was the Color Run UK in London, back in July.

Best Family Event of 2013

That’ll be the Perth Kilt Run back in August, which we ran with Joe, Stacey and RJ. Great Fun!

Favourite non-road running Event of 2013

The inaugural CowalFest 5K in October. As my first proper trail/hill run, it was great. And I placed! 🙂

Now, bring on 2014!

A Winter Wedding

December 29, 2013 by TartanJogger ♥ 20 Comments

Well, we have had a FAB-U-LOUS weekend at Joe and Stacey’s wedding. The bride was stunning, the groom was dapper; the best man impressed with his organisation and speech, and the bridesmaids were gorgeous.

I didn’t run, but I danced the night away!

Would you like to see a couple of pics?

This morning, @TheWelshWookie and I were up early, and spent a couple of hours in the pool, which was great! 🙂

Next, we’re off to gatecrash the honeymoon at Portavadie this week. We are going for the Hogmanay dinner dance, and for a few days to celebrate the new year: trainers are packed for this trip!

Do you have any Hogmanay and New Year festivities planned?

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