Tuesday 31st December

Fast walk exactly 3 miles completed in 54.26 minutes, almost 5 mins slower than yesterday! Pat completed her run as well. Feels like a bit of anti-climax now and so annoyed at not being able to run the last couple of days.Very windy but dry. Interesting to see all the preparations being made for the fireballs and the open air in the Square concert.

Monday 30th December

Fast walk in the pouring rain with Pete along the beach route. Exactly 3 miles in exactly 50 minutes so not too bad. Just realised though that my injury is the very first time i have got an injury while running, i have fallen before and received grazes but nothing that has actually stopped me running and I have been running for about 30 years. 

Weather atrocious got very wet but was well proofed against the cold and wet. Missed my running buddy Pat who got her mileage in earlier today. Only one more day to go.

Sunday 29th December

3.55 miles in 45.25 minutes at 8am in -0.9 degrees centigrade. No wind but cold and frosty and just crisp under foot rather than slippy so why did i manage to trip on a millimetre rise on the edge of a grid and go flying in my best superwoman impression! After a while managed to finish the run but arm was still sore. Managed to shower and get undressed/dressed with Pete's help then he helped me get everything to the green hut for the running club fun run where i was on entrants/results duty. Still sore when we got back so went to A&E where after only 1 hour and 10 minutes was diagnosed with hairline fracture of the shoulder - gutted - no running and no skiing!

Saturday 28th December

Surprisingly pleasant day although not fully light till near the end of the run. The sky had some beautiful colours and the sunrise seemed to track round the town and not just over to the east. The sunrise reflected in the brown stubble of the fields to the west of the town and it seemed to make them shine like gold. 3.44 miles completed with Pat in 42.31 minutes at 4 degrees centigrade at around 8.30am. Only 3 days to go - YAY!

The 3 days over Christmas; 25th, 26th and 27th December

My PC refused to connect to the internet on Christmas Day (I have changed provider but I had everything working fine for at least 5 days), it's still not connecting but at least we've set up the laptop now and it has connected fine so now able to post to the blog.

Christmas day was sunny dry and 4 degrees, Boxing Day was much the same but just a wee bit cooler at 2 degrees and today (Friday) is wet and windy but comparatively warm at 7 degrees C. Today didn't even feel as wet as the wet Tuesday we had earlier in the month and today has been forecast as the worst weather wise for the rest of the month so hopefully it can only get better for the next 4 days - can't believe that's all that remains!

Statistics wise we did 3.78 miles on Wednesday in 45.23 minutes, Boxing Day we did 3.68 miles in 47.32 minutes and today we did 3.5 miles in 41.55 minutes. All basically the same route but Christmas day we did a detour to the beach then up at the Market Square to meet with the Xmas day runners from the running club - there were only 3 of them and only 2 went running!

We were very slow yesterday (Boxing Day) - took much indulgence on Christmas Day or took much conversing about the day? Today was relatively fast but I think that was because there was this need to get it over and dome with!

Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th December

Same as, same as... 3.46 miles in 42.18 minutes at 8.30 am 4 degrees centigrade. Didn't feel too cold but a strong wind providing resistance going up the hill for the first mile. Same again tomorrow.

Monday 23rd December

Out normal time and normal route with Pat -round the town at 8.30 in the morning. Glad we managed early as the weather really turned worse from late morning onwards. The pavements were frosty but there was no wind so quite crisp. 3.46 miles in 43.09 minutes. Three quarters of the way through so not too long to go now!

Day 22 Sunday 22nd December

It was nice today not to have the wind buffeting us for a change although it was only 2 degrees centigrade. Pavements were fine apart from a short section at Spurryhillock where there was black ice on the pavement and the road. A cyclist came past me here and I said 'It's a bit slippy' then a few seconds later I heard a slithering noise followed by a thud! He had tried to stop at the junction but slipped on the ice instead - there was a grunt as if to say to himself - she just told me it was slippy - anyway he said he was fine although it must have given him a bit of a jolt.

3.45 miles 41.54 minutes about par for the course; 8.30 in the morning again and some great coloured skies.

Day 20 & 21 Friday 20th and Saturday 21st December

Completely forgot to write up the blog yesterday. Ran with Pat both days and we agree now that it's getting a bit onerous but as we've got so far it doesn't seem worth giving up but it doesn't bode too well with the training for the Arbroath Smokies 10 mile run in early March as we haven't done a long run for a while and we think at the moment doing 3 miles every day is enough for our old legs.

Did 3.48 miles yesterday and 3.33 today, took 43.33 minutes yesterday and 43.18 today so much the same pace really although there was quite a bit of resistance today with the wind. Yesterday was frosty under foot especially up the top of the town but that had spread to round here by the time I got back then it proceeded to get warmer throughout the day. There had obviously been quite a bit of rain over night but it was 7 degrees centigrade today and dry for the run. Winter solstice today so we'll start getting longer days from tomorrow. Two thirds completed.

Day 19 Thursday 19th December

Pat's back so had a run with her first thing. Thursday is normally running club but I'm setting the session tonight and it's a treasure hunt so I get to stay at base. Going to bed last night there were strong winds and rain battering the house and 9 degrees. Woke up this morning and the road was almost dry but the wind was still strong and it had dropped to 2.4 degrees. The cold made the nose run better than me today. 3.44 miles in 42.27 minutes, feels better for having 24 hours in between runs.

Day 17 and 18 (Tuesday 17th & Wednesday 18th December)

Got back from run on 17th at 9pm and went out for run on 18th at 8am so not much time in between to write a blog so decided to put these 2 days together. Lovely run last night with the club - moonlight run in Durris forest. 4.4 miles 55.35 minutes and 6 degrees C. Struggled up the hills a bit and got a bit of cramp in my right calf but its done! Moon wasn't out full but it certainly created a dim light although head torches were needed.

The weather forecast for Wednesday looks bad so I'll try and get out as soon as possible, woke up a few times in the night listening to the strong gusts of wind. Went out first thing although it took a while for my watch to find the satellites. Did 3.01 miles in 35.43 minutes and it had gone a degree warmer than last night although it didn't feel it as the wind was very strong. Did the beach run although to try and get some shelter from the wind I ran back through the town. I'm begining to feel the tiredness in my legs from the consecutive days running. Hopefully Pat will be back tomorrow so we can get a buddy run done in the morning.

Day 16 Monday 16th December

Phew - thank goodness we're over half way now. Went mid afternoon and kept wanting to say 'Morning' to everyone! Very cold wind but still managed the beach run exactly 3 miles in 35.52 minutes.Supposed to be 4.6 degrees C but the wind chill factor is there making it feel more like 0. Quite a bit of wind resistance as well on the way back along the beach.

Day 15 Sunday 15th December

We've been so lucky with the weather so far. Today is no exception, dry 4.5 degrees with a slightly stronger and colder wind. We did well to get out and back yesterday before the wind really got strong! 3.47 miles in 41.58 minutes (quite consistent really). 

One of the main problems with doing this challenge is having enough clean running gear to go out in on a daily basis, I have lets of gear for the summer but only a couple of sets for the winter so the washing machine is getting lots more use, at least the 'technical' nature of the gear means it drys quickly.

Day 14 Saturday 14th December

Almost half way! Felt as if I was sleep running today - legs were quite heavy but we managed and in the dry again. Running buddies were both Pat and Ann. 3.33 miles in 41.15 minutes. Beautiful skies as just getting light there were a lot of rosy tinted clouds.4 degrees centigrade and light wind.

Day 13 Friday 13th December

Did the same route as yesterday 3.45 miles in 42.57 minutes, at 10 degrees C. Extremely mild for the time of year but it was dry and only a light wind - it would be good if it could stay like this for the rest of the month. 

Quite hard work today as Pat had been in Aberdeen Christmas shopping and I had been out for a walk with Audrey, Ann and Laraine, did 6.5 miles then as well but an excellent walk by the side of the Esk near Edzell.

Day 12 Thursday 12th December

Went with Pat at 8.30 in the morning round the town, 3.43 miles done in 42.10 mins. Weather was dry and mild and windyish and 8 degrees C - quite surprising for the time of year. Managed to get snarled up with the pupils going to Mackie. Good to think we're almost half way through, the running hasn't been as bad as we thought it would but despite us both being retired finding the time on certain days and the inconvenience is more noticeable. Can't complain about the weather at all so far, we've had one wet day, a couple of very cold days (one of them a bit icy underfoot) but the rest of the time it's been very mild for December.

Yesterday was the 345th day of the year and was 11/12/13 imagine what it would have been like on the right digital clock at 9:10 in the morning!

Day 11 Wednesday 11th December

Great to have a buddy again - welcome home Pat - it's going to be great running with you over the next few days. We also bumped into Ann who ran with as well so great to get a bit of a catchup. Did 3.47 miles in 40 mins, at 5 in the evening, weather very mild and dry but fairly windy. With the chat going on it wasn't too bad at all. Topics included hip operations, Xmas celebrations, motor homes, childish neighbours and very helpful neighbours. I also kept a look out for christmas lights on the route - some pre-planning for the treasure hunt I'll be doing for the running club on 19th.

Day 10 Tuesday 10th December

Feels like a repeat of yesterday and the day before - really getting into this now! Same route and same weather conditions although a bit more wind resistance once I turned towards the south. 3 miles in 36.16 minutes at 8 degrees C.

Took a little longer today as stopped to talk to one of the residents down the High Street - he only has one arm and a dog and a parrot and today he was delighted to tell me he had a new kitten as well. He has been one of the victims of the flooding and said he coped with the flooding the first time but this last time he became more stressed and lost a lot of weight. I hope there's no more flooding for his sake! They seem to be doing quite a bit of work around the Carron river to help prevent the flooding - in the last week they have cleared away debris and growth from the overflow just under the green bridge and also built a gate (for access I presume) into the fence by the river just below the red bridge.

Day 9 Monday 9th December

At least writing this blog I have some idea of the date and day of the week - I'm normally quite fuzzy when it comes to days now. Straight forward run again in brilliant weather for the time of year. I opted to go out before breakfast which is fine only real problem I had was trying to cross the main road, both times I had to stop and wait for traffic - presumably people on their way into work. What a beautiful place we live in though it's always uplifting to see the sea. 

3 miles in 33.59 minutes (I'm getting quicker) on the harbour/beach/round Cowie route, temperature 9 degrees centigradee.

Day 8 Sunday 8th December

That felt a bit more comfortable and I only used one tissue the whole way round (maybe that because it was a bit warmer?). 3.01 miles in 34.16 minutes. The standard route to the harbour, beach around Cowie then back. It was 8 degrees with very slight rain but fairly strong south westerly which meant I got a helping hand until I turned back along the beach then there was some wind resistence.

Without a running buddy I listen to audiobooks and the current one just happened to finish exactly as I finished the run - couldn't have been better timed. Now time for breakfast.

Day 7 Saturday 7th December

Just 3 miles along the Harbour and beach promenade, round Cowie then home. Cold early in the day but set to get warmer so left the run till later, and not only did it get warmer but the strong wind also dropped. Took 35.25 minutes (slower by a minute than a couple of days ago). Legs felt very heavy. Missing my running buddy but she may be back by the middle of next week anyway so that would be good.

Day 6 Friday 6th December

What a struggle! Legs very heavy and the icy conditions underfoot didn't help but completed 3.04 miles in 43.48 minutes. Negative temperatures but the wind was only slight and a beautiful crisp sunny day. The pavements and roads round Stonehaven are treacherous so decided to go into the woods and did a few loops of the paths round there it did mean there were a few hills to tackle though. 

Day 5 Thursday 5th December

The advantages of being retired means that you have a little more choice in the time of day that you go for a run and today that was certainly an advantage. The media in Englandshire are reporting doom and gloom in respect of the gale happening today - it just seems fairly ordinary weather here. Wind and rain (the main eye of the storm) went through early in the morning when it was 6 degrees centigrade, by 9 the temperature had dropped to 4 (so cold air being sucked in behind the storm). The rain had also ceased to a bit intermittent and the wind dropped a bit. Snow showers even at low levels are predicted for later in the day. So 9.30 saw me setting out on a run along to the harbour, along the beach promenade, round Cowie then back along the beach and home. Almost exactly 3 miles from door to door, and as the wind was westerly the only time it was really against me was when I turned into it when leaving the beach to get back home.

II'm not a good lone runner - I always enjoy the distraction of company so I'm going to struggle over the next few days with pat not around. Still day 5 complete only 26 to go! 3 miles completed in 34.42 minutes. An hour after getting in the snow came down - definitely picked the right time to go!

Day 4 Wednesday 4th December

Pat's mum gets out of hospital today so he has to go down to Hamilton to look after her for the next few days/weeks so we won't be able to run together for most of the month. We had scheduled a run for 10 but this had to be brought forward to 7.30am. Thank goodness the rain had stopped but my trainers weren't dry enough to wear. I used my trail shoes and glad I did as the surface underfoot was quite treacherous at times. We just did the normal 3 mile route which for me meant from the red bridge to the red bridge, it seemed odd to only have 11 hours between running. 

Surprised at how well the water had drained away though and the pavements were partially dry but frosty with the occasional frozen puddle. The slipiest parts were going across the side roads - so much for the gritting as the water must have washed away most of the salt. Needless to say it was a slow time as the running was very cautious. 3.38 miles in 44.3 minutes in 1.5 degrees centigrade. One knee and one hip feeling a bit creaky butt not too bad, although cold it was clear and crisp and just getting dark. Passed lots of people who were out scrapping ice off their car windscreens (great big globules of ice as well) it would have been easy to steal a car from a driveway today. 

Nice feeling though to get one of your days' activities off the list before breakfast. Our topics of conversation today were mainly travelling and the helicopter crash in Glasgow I think we concentrated more on the conditions underfoot. I'll miss Pat on the runs for the foreseeable future though.

Day 3 Tuesday 3rd December

A very dull day with a forecast for rain from early afternoon through to early evening as it was the rain didn't arrive till late afternoon and still hadn't properly stopped by the time I went to bed. Opted to do our run as part of the club training session. Rain seemed to be the heaviest all the time we were out running - it was bouncing off the road! By the time we returned to the leisure centre car park it was flooded. 

 It was a very long session with 4 decreasing reps (the shortest and last was 1 mile). Pat and myself opted just to do 2 of then must admit it wasn't much fun just getting wetter and colder but we did it! 5.3 miles completed in 72 minutes at 3 degrees. The gritters were out and about. Hope my trainers are dry by the morning due to meet Pat for Wednesday's run at 10.

We didn't really do much talking today as the weather was so bad but we did find out that Ann was also trying to run each day.

Day 2 Monday 2nd December

Later run today as went to Edinburgh and Perth so went up to meet Pat at the back of 5. Did 3.46 miles in 41.32 minutes (slightly longer as set Garmin as left the house rather than from the red bridge).

Weather was mild and dry but slightly windier than yesterday. Had to stop at the cul-de-sac near Pat to ogle at the OTT Christmas decorations they certainly brought a smile to my face and particularly like the VW campervan disguised as Rudolph!

Topics of conversation today included new motor homes, Christmas shopping, hip replacement operations, Ikea, website maintenance and wine making.

Day 1 Sunday 1st December

Pat and I have started on our running challenge for our sixty list. We've decided to embark on the marcothon challenge; where we have to run a minimum of 3 miles or 25 minutes every day during the month of December including Christmas Day.

We were at Stonehaven Running Club annual ceilidh on Friday and my legs were a bit stiff after dancing in heeled shoes (still can't deny enjoying a good strip the willow!). We set off at 9 pm and did a 3.35 mile run taking about 40 minutes starting and ending at the red bridge across the Carron which is close to my house and goes right past Pat's house. I think we'll be doing this route a few times over the next month. 

The weather was fine 8 degrees centigrade, slight wind, dry and overcast. Only mishap was a fly that flew into my eye (a fly in December!) but that came out easy enough.