Getting high on Super Saturday

Last week I was writing about ignoring the negative press and news.  Little was anyone to know we'd lose our Queen and, much as I respect and admire her, I am definitely not watching 10 days of preparation for her funeral.  She was a shining example to us all and she'll be missed.  RIP your majesty, you've served your country - thank you.
Despite the low and all the emotions that flowed though the Queen's passing, life and training goes on.  
On Tuesday I had 21km to run and mentally and physically I didn't feel up to it.  But I haven't been getting big runs in so forced myself out of bed and left my bad attitude at the door.  It was a slog and I couldn't find a gel before I went out so was digging into my reserves, physically and mentally.  It was a tough run around Strathclyde Park (that's the easy part) before heading up to Chatelherault.  I was told to "run the big hill" but I didn't have it in me so I wasn't surprised when my time was a few minutes slower than the week before.  But based on how I felt I was pleased with that average performance.  Later that day I had a massage and Rhondda kept telling me how tight my quads and calves were.  My right foot, a permanent injury, was starting to grumble so when I saw Pamela (sports therapist) on Friday she was concerned how tight my calf was - which causes the foot problem.  An hour of pain with her and my leg was taped up and good to go with a promise of seeing her again next week - can't wait!
The weather forecast for the weekend was brilliant so I changed my planned runs.  Beth and I were going to Kinlochleven and had hired a pod to stay in so we could get two good days in the mountains.  Saturday was probably the best or second best day I have had in the mountains this year.  Michael Martin had given me a route up the Carn Mor Dearg 1,220m (with light scrambling - come back to that later) then up Ben Nevis - the highest mountain in the UK 1,345m.  It's a very popular mountain but most people go up the tourist route, and for good reason as it turns out.
The CMD is a good climb but gets interesting when you traverse the ridge linking it to Ben Nevis.  This ridge took over 1.5 hours, in places is 4 feet wide with sheer drops on either side (light scrambling my arse!) And seen as I am scared of heights and edges, it made for an interesting time.  Then you have a very steep boulder climb up to Ben Nevis where you meet over 200 people on the summit having a party.  If you want your photo at the cairn you'll be queuing for over 45 mins so we took some pictures and headed down the tourist path.  Couldn't be simpler till I slipped, fell and broke another running pole!  But fortunately not injured.  The round trip was 7 hours in total with almost no running as the conditions weren't good underfoot to run - might have been a bit protective with our race next weekend but it was still a good workout.  We spent the rest of the day eating and eating to replace the carbs lost, and a couple of pints!  What a brilliant day and the pictures we took are amazing.  Certainly we were high on super Saturday! 
Sunday was a bit cooler with a breeze.  The Pap of Glencoe was advertised as an easier mountain to climb with a bit of light scrambling - where have I heard that before?  As we were stuck on a ledge having lost the path and my fear of heights really kicked in, I was beginning to think it was worth taking up golf!  We tentatively found our way back off the ledge and got to the summit.  It was worth it.  The view were the best I've seen from a summit but I was really shaken.  We met some other climbers on top and asked their advice about an alternative route down but tried that, got lost and climbed back on top before retracing our steps from the ascent.  I really was nervous as the ground was giving way under me on the descent but soon I was on firm ground and we made our way down.
We are so lucky.  Lucky to be alive and fit and living in a country where these amazing mountains are 2 hours from our house.  Rather than boring tarmac running we're having real adventures in the most scenic of locations.  Next to no running was done but 10 hours of climbing up and coming down steep ascents prepares your body for what lies ahead.  Next weeks race.
This week is about nutrition, hydration, quality sleep and sensible training to make sure my body works out enough not to think it's on holiday, but enough to keep it ticking over ready for the punishment that lies ahead.  Getting to the start line uninjured is the first goal and I've almost done it - my leg will be strapped for the race.  Fitness wise I'm 85% and in the end it will come down to my mental ability to get through the pain and push.  For Beth it's her fist race of such a magnitude (125km in 2 days) but she has the WHY; raising money for a charity dear to her heart, and that's like having a secret weapon.  My next post will be a race report and I'm excited as to what we will learn about ourselves while pushing the boundaries.  In the meantime, make the most of your life.  It's no dress rehearsal.