Where did our summer go?

The week started with three planned days off training.  It was delicious.  I loved every moment of it and ate like a king while I rested my body.  The sad thing is the weather was good but as soon as I was due back to train, it turned! The rest was in preparation for a tough weekend.
My trusted guide Michael Martin and I headed out early on Saturday to tackle 9 Munro’s in the  Glenshee area.  We’d chosen to head further east as the weather forecast was shocking!  The first two hours were fab. Windy but dry and the first climb was steep - ideal.  It was shaping up for a special day when after 2 hours the rain started.  It came tipping down and unfortunately it led to a map reading error - difficult reading a map off your phone when it’s pissing down.  This led to us spending the next hour and 45 minutes tramping round a bog and ultimately meant we only managed 6 Munro’s.  Bog walking is like a non stop leg session in the gym!  At one stage it was so cold I had to put my poles away as I couldn’t feel my hands.  But Michael got us back on track and back to the car. A tough 5 hours 30 minutes.
Today I was out on my own.  The weather was meant to be better but it was atrocious.  I felt for my team mates who were taking part in the Aberfeldy 70.3 triathlon and whilst I was getting soaked they were swimming in Loch Tay and cycling 90k before the run - I thought about them and felt I had the better, shorter suffering!
I was given a low level route by another great guide, Graham Kelly.  Once I’d found the beginning, easier said that done when the visitors centre actually doesn’t have a sign saying that, I headed off through forest trails. There was some good ascending and I got to test my full waterproof gear as it never stopped raining.  I ventured off the main trail but was then back to walking in a bog. The tops of the hills were in cloud base so they were out especially as I was on my own.  Being forest trails I was able to get a decent run downhill and my legs felt great despite yesterday.  I stopped at 2.5 hours which was under half what I was scheduled for but the conditions were shocking. Every path was a river.
Tomorrow I have a 5.30am start tomorrow and am running 33km. I’ll be meeting my coach around 15km so it will be a great run, no matter what the weather is doing.
On Friday I got a check up from my amazing chiropractor Gill and I’m glad to report after she’d adjusted my spine, neck and shoulder she was happy.  She’s given me an exercise to help stretch out my lats which I’ll build in with my other exercises.
This adventure started 2 years ago after Grand 2 Grand finished and I can’t believe we’re almost here.  I head off on the 9th with my crew, Fiona, and before I know it I’ll be toeing the start line wondering what lies ahead.  Despite training in sub optimal conditions, I don’t think my coach could have delivered me in better condition.  There’s still a few weeks of training left and she’s still cracking the whip as she wants me even fitter than I already am.  You can’t set a high bar and then slack off as the start draws near.  She, like me, is expecting 100% before, during and even after when the active recovery starts. Nothing is being left to chance.