Written by Angela Barron - http://thechubbyultrarunner.wordpress.com

It wasn’t a bad day as such, but it wasn’t a great day either. Training hadn’t gone brilliantly since Kintyre and I’d aggravated something in my calf at an interval session with the Wee County Harriers (I had been getting on well until the oo-ya moment) the week before Speyside, a 36.5 mile trail ultra from Ballindalloch to Buckie. I ummed and ahhed a bit about going but we’d entered, we had accommodation and psychologically I needed a long run before Glenmore.

Startline positivity…and a canicross reunion.   Photo: Chen Chee Kong

To sum it up quickly, the route was lovely, the race crew and marshals were fantastic. We timed out, coming in about 24 minutes after the cut-off. We did the distance and we still got a medal, goody bag and a hug from the lovely Sarah, the RD. As a bonus we also spent much of the day with Sean the Sweeper, he apparently was delighted to be sweeping sweaty girls instead of sweaty men for a change – I’m sure we were incredibly glamorous…

If I had stood on the start line of Speyside in the same shape as I started Kintyre, I’d have completed it comfortably within the cut-off (comfortably, not spectacularly). That wasn’t the case but at least it was a long run, it was more practice and I learned some lessons.

Recovery consisted of:

• paddling in the sea at Lossiemouth
• eating amazing ice cream at Lossiemouth
• an agonising sports massage
• a couple of cycles and a short run in the two weeks before G12, and not forgetting a fantastic Daftie night out.

I really want to go back and do this race again and do it justice, because I know that I can do better.

The last checkpoint where I got hugs from the wonderful marshals, who Katherine said distracted her so much with their positivity that she forgot to DNF…                                                                                 Photo: Pink haired mummy marshal (I think)