Reward Yourself

Somewhere around the mid point of the WHW Race, my dad called my wife to check on my progress. I don’t think she gave the full ‘projectile vomit’ version of events, but I think she got across that it was not going to plan and that I was finding it tough. At that point, dad offered me some incentive – £100 for a finish, for trainers or whatever bit of kit I needed. This only added to my determination to finish. However, I decided not to spend the money on trainers (despite my love of all things new and trainer-ish!). I opted for something that would remind me of my success on a daily basis rather than something I would likely dispose of after 500 miles.

Having sampled the coffees at Sandra and John’s house on numerous occasions (part of my support team on the WHW Race), I had long fancied a NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto coffee machine. The £100 was put to good use – the machine itself, some coffee glasses and, of course, the necessary supplies!

I have not run all that much since the WHW Race, thanks in part to recovery and in part to busy weeks at work. Today was only my third run since the race and my first since the Cairngorms last week. Initial surprise at the growth in the forest soon gave way to niggles and, most worryingly, a recurrence of the hip problems experienced in the latter stages of the race.

However, arriving back in the house after just under 10 miles, the niggles had been run off, I was actually sweating for a change, as opposed to wet from rain, and I found myself once again looking forward to next weekends 40 mile Clyde Stride Ultramarathon.

I fired up the machine for a coffee.

Good running, good memories, and good coffee – happy days!