Tag: Harbour

Heroes

Heroes

by TartanJogger ♥ 10 Comments

Today marks the 70th Anniversary of the D Day landings.

Today, I’ve been thinking about how different life could be, if those heroes hadn’t given their lives for the liberation of Europe, and secured our freedom. To see the images of the 2,000 or so veterans paying their respects to their fallen comrades on the beaches of Normandy has been poignant. Thinking of coming off those boats, onto a beach into heavy gunfire, and then through land mines must have been truly terrifying.

Even watching ‘Great British Menu’ has been an eye opener, with the veterans’ inspiring stories. Who knew that ladies were flying airplanes? Until recently, I didn’t. It sure puts my issues into perspective.

The simple things I take for granted: a run along the harbour, copious food, a glass of wine, a dip in the hot tub. My typical Friday night.

For these simple pleasures, I am thankful.

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True heroes.

 

A New Arrival

A New Arrival

by TartanJogger ♥ 19 Comments

On Saturday, @TheWelshWookie and I went for a little run around Tarbert Harbour. It was a damp day, with blustery showers, but we were lucky and managed to time our run between them: more by luck than design, I hasten to add 😉

And, the village has had a new arrival: our brand new ferry is here, and almost ready for action!

Our current ferry, MV Isle of Cumbrae, is a lovely little lady. But she’s a bit tired and ever so slightly old fashioned. But we’ll miss her.

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Her replacement is a hybrid ferry, both diesel and electric, and she is much bigger than her predecessor.

She’s MV Lochinvar, and can carry 150 passengers and 23 vehicles. She’s brand, spanking new, and only the second of her hybrid-kind in the CalMac fleet.

I can’t wait until our next visit to Portavadie, so we can see what she’s like inside and on the water 🙂

When was the last time you were on a ferry? Where did you go?

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Indoors and Outdoors

Indoors and Outdoors

by TartanJogger ♥ 36 Comments

The training is under way again, and after a couple of months of just running when I felt like it, and for as long or as short as I wanted, I’m surprised at how easily I’ve fallen back into the schedule!

I’ve always liked routine, so I suppose I shouldn’t really be surprised. Structure works for me 😉

Last night, I mixed it up a little, and did my three miler on the treadmill.

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I watched the latest episode of The Following while I ran, and that helped the minutes to fly by. Turns out my teenage crush on Kevin Bacon is still there…. 😉

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I also did some weights, as the show hadn’t finished by the time my run was done. I’m sticking to my plan like glue!

Tonight, it was great to get outside and run. I really, really enjoyed it. It felt great after yesterday’s cooped up run. Unusually, it was both dry AND still daylight when we headed out, but the light faded fast at the end of the run.

Here’s the view over the harbour at the end of my three miler, which is a little blurry: sorry about that! 🙂

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Tomorrow’s a rest day, and I suspect that I’ll be itching to get out again come Saturday!

Are you training right now? How’s it going for you?

Countdown to Madrid

Countdown to Madrid

by TartanJogger ♥ 16 Comments

Tonight, the training started. The Countdown to Madrid has begun!

OK, so between now and then there’s the small matter of a wedding, but for this evening, my mind is firmly on Madrid! 🙂

Following yesterday’s rest day, my training plan called for a nice, easy 3 miler, which @TheWelshWookie and I did around the harbour as usual. It felt great! I forgot to set my Hal Higdon app, but I was able to enter my info manually.

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Tonight, I’m going to settle down with my Madrid guidebook, and begin planning our post-race festivities!

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Have you ever been to Madrid? Any ‘must do’s’ I should know about?

A Sunday Run for #MegsMiles

A Sunday Run for #MegsMiles

by TartanJogger ♥ 6 Comments

Like many of you, I’ve been touched by the story of Meg Menzies, who was tragically killed by an alleged drunk driver while out doing a training run last week.

I’m sure we’ve all had the same thoughts: sympathy for her family, comparisons, and the inevitable ‘it could have been me’.

And so, in honour of Meg, @TheWelshWookie and I ran 5K today. We chose to run our favourite training distance, following our favourite route around the harbour. I think that’s the most fitting way to honour this runner I didn’t know: getting out there, doing what we love, in the way that we love it.

Rest peacefully, Meg.

#MegsMiles

Routine Run!

Routine Run!

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:

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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!

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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?

A Christmas Day Run

A Christmas Day Run

by TartanJogger ♥ 14 Comments

Merry Christmas!

This morning, @TheWelshWookie and I have been for a run around the harbour. Santa brought me a new Ron Hill Vizion top and my brother in law and sister in law gave us new Ron Hill gloves and beanies, so I had lots of new gear to try out!

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We had a good run: it was cold, and very quiet. There were hailstones as we walked home, too!

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We’re now home, opening presents and feeling very lucky and spoiled while tucking into our scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and champagne.

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For dinner, we’re having rib eye and proper chips instead of turkey. Yum!

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My plan for the rest of the day is to watch Doctor Who, Downton Abbey and other festive treats, wearing my onesie, my new jammies and my new slippers 🙂

I hope you all have a lovely day planned: was Santa good to you? Did you run today?

The Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Christmas

by TartanJogger ♥ 12 Comments

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the house…..

…..the excitement is building!

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I’ve been munching on sprouts: my fave! 🙂

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I wish you all a peaceful, fun and relaxing Christmas: unless you are running, then I wish you good weather and loads of good food!

I hope Santa brings you what you need this year 😀

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The Christmas Scarf

The Christmas Scarf

by TartanJogger ♥ 19 Comments

Happy Monday, everyone!
And Happy Christmas Eve’s Eve!

My new Christmas scarf arrived, just in time for returning to work today:

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No running for us tonight: it’s wild out there again! But @TheWelshWookie and I do need to agree the distance we are going to run on Christmas Day.
Any suggestions? Are you planning a run for tomorrow or Wednesday?

Running in a Hoolie

Running in a Hoolie

by TartanJogger ♥ 22 Comments

Afternoon, all, I hope your weekend is off to a brilliant start!

We have more gale force winds forecast for today, and so I’m blogging while I still have power: pray it stays on, please!

@TheWelshWookie and I have braved the wind and the rain, and we have been for a run down the harbour.

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It was blowing a hoolie!

I fair enjoyed it, though it was only a short run. The village still looks strangely welcoming in the midst of a storm:

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Now, we’re drying off, thawing out and hunkering down for an afternoon of movies, kicking off with Santa Claus: The Movie I think!

Anyone else running through the gales or other poor weather today?