Pond Life

I got a message on Facebook asking me if I wanted a pond. Seemingly someone was chucking theirs out (minus the water and carp) and was going to become landfill the next day if it wasn't claimed. The photo made it look quite small so I took the car around and realised it was approximately 6ft long, 4ft wide and 1.5ft deep. Fortunately I managed to squeeze it into the boot so it was wedged in place. Then after a careful journey up the high street over the cobbles I got it into the back garden. So the with pick axe in hand the bank holiday was taken up digging a big hole in the garden, assisted by Andrew. It needs a bit of landscaping still but before I do that I have got to sift through all the spoil looking for gold! Yes my wedding ring came off and somewhere in the hole is my ring. Not happy at all and I feel naked without it. People will be talking thinking I've done a Giggsy or something. I had some great holidays there and i do miss Wales, but not in a Giggsy sort of way.

Back to the pond, Despite coming with an expensive filter and other pond gadgetry, this one is going to be a wild one and I will let mother nature manage it. Failing that I am sticking a heater in it and we're having a hot tub. Bets are on as to which child is going to be the first one to fall in.

Penicuik 10km

The multi choice Saturday came to be and I opted for the 10km race. STV was not showing the FA Cup Final. Instead they were showing the Alan Titchmarsh Show and Midsommer Murders. The race was not in Pencaitland as I carelessly put on the previous post, but in the town of Penicuik. A lovely backdrop to this race is the Pentland Hills and the course itself is rather hilly too. So much so that the talk in the post race feed & chit chat was it adds around 60-90 seconds to most people's runs.

188 runners set off, narrowly avoiding the huge archery tournament that was going on next to us. I felt sorry for any Mods passing through Penicuik today! Anyway the course takes you immediately up a hill. The well wishing marshall lied and said it leveled out...but not for a long way was the bit they forgot to add. It's been about 3-4 years since I ran a 10km so I couldn't decide how to pace it. I decided on trying to keep up or even pass those in front. It worked mostly but after 5km I realised that the more experienced racers of this distance use their first 5km to warm up and then step up a gear or two for the last 5. This meant a number of runners passed me but I was confident I would be in the top 20. I could hear the snort of a runner behind me for ages. As supporters kept saying 'keep going Adele' I realised a woman was on my tail. I held her back for most of it which was a nice downhill stretch, but in the last 800 meters my lungs were making some strange noises, my spirit was dim and then I got a fly in my eye and I lost the edge. Still happy enough with 17th place and 5th in my age, but I was not happy with my 39:12....but if I take 60-90 seconds off it gives me an idea of how I'd do on a flat course. I am after anything near 36. I'll try and find some more to do and see what I can get. I have also spotted a couple of 10km in Barcelona that are on when we head there for our holidays. I would like to give them a go.

Decisions Decisions

What a day we have coming up on Saturday. So much to choose from.
- Pipe Band Day: Not very nice on the old earole's but a good old community gathering. from 8am onwards we will be able to enjoy the drone of the devils instrument.
- The Dunbar Regatta. The first in decades and a few friends taking part down at the harbour. Hats off to those who have built their own boat and are now ready to race it. I am tempted to join them but like football, it is in conflict with my running which is far more enjoyable.
- The FA Cup Final. Okay, not until 3pm which for me is late in the day, but worth a watch. I have grown to dislike City more and more, although I do like the loyalty of their fans. I can't put my finger on why but I will be pleased to see the cup head to Stoke rather than Manchester. I had a nasty boss who was a city fan, along with his miserable wife, and the thought of any kind of suffering being inflicted on them is to be relished.
- Pencaitland 10km. Looking like the favourite simply because it is a race not on a Sunday and I have not done a 10km for years now. I did a 3km on the track the other day and sort of enjoyed it. This ones got a hill so it should split the pack up a bit. I like hills!
- Loch Leven Half Marathon. Less likely because a) I hate the last 4 miles of running into the wind and b) a touch of the old cantbearseditis kicking in.
- Douglas's full immersion baptism in the swimming pool. This could be interesting and we are all hoping they will make use of the big slide before turning on the wave machine. I've reminded the minister no mooning is allowed, or peeing off the diving board.

Alternatively the garden/bed/beach beckon my attention. have a nice weekend.