Live your best life

Is it just me or are you starting to avoid watching the news or reading the newspapers, hard copy or online (before I'm called a dinosaur!) Good news doesn't sell newspapers or get "clicks" as well as bad news does and there is plenty of that around.  It's terrible to think we've  become accustomed to what is happening in Ukraine.  Every day people die or are in a shelter living in squalor keeping out of harms way.  But we've got used to it.  We're all feeling the impact of higher fuel prices and the ever increasing energy bills.  Everyone seems to be going on strike for more money and I understand why but just don't know where it will come from.  Perhaps the new Prime Minister will have a magic wand to discover a pot of money that will keep everyone happy.   The NHS is on it's knees and staff are leaving because they can't take any more - 2 years ago we were calling them heroes but somehow they never got the reward they deserved for their heroic efforts - a bit like Ukraine.  We've forgotten it was like a warzone in the hospitals.
Why am I starting my blog with such depressing thoughts I hear you ask?  Good question, it's just what's floating round in my head at the moment as I try and work out the answer.  Believe it or not, it does actually have a connection with my running.
As Beth and I prepare for the England 125 X and 50 X in less than 2 weeks time, We've been up in the mountains getting our bodies used to long days, hard climbs and harder descents.  On Friday our warm up was 15 km, twice round Chatelherault, our favourite local run.  It's nothing like the mountains but with 313m of ascent it's a decent workout at the end of a weeks training which sets us up for Saturday.
On Saturday we checked the weather forecast to try and avoid the rain - don't know why we bothered.  We went to Loch Tulla and climbed Beinn Achaladair and Beinn a'Chreachain.  In total we covered 23km, climbed 1,600m in 5.5hours - not fast but you can only go as fast as the conditions allow.  The wind was so strong we were blown of our feet on the summits.  The rain was as sharp as needles when it hit our skin.  But the real danger was that we spent a long time on the summits and along the ridges in cloud base.  There were few distinguishable features on the summits so it was what I'd imagine it would be like walking on the moon.  One minute you had a beautiful view and by the time I had taken my phone out, it was gone.
Beth was getting a blister and I was concerned that it was taking us longer than planned.  Your mind plays games when you can't see where you are going and you are having to lean into the wind, staying away from the path near the edges because you could easily have got blown over.  It also was difficult to take on food as you'd have to stop, take your gloves off and there was little shelter to be had.  With the lack of food your mood can go down and all you want to do is sit down and wait for a helicopter to pick you up.
But that's what's so wonderful about being in the mountains.  You are exposed to the elements and you have to battle through.  You can't go on strike up there and expect someone to come and get you.  It's down to you to overcome the problem and do so quickly before it gets worse.  You're on your own.
Fortunately I had the help of technology.  My phone and watch (belt and braces approach) had the OS map of the route and we followed that red line as though our life depended on it - well it did to an extent!  There were two other walkers ahead who we tried to keep in sight but the clouds cut them off and they were gone only to reappear 5 minutes later.  But beware, they might not have known where they were going and we'd end up lost with them.  So constant checking where we were was required and eventually we came off the mountain, out of the stinging rain and wind onto the track at the bottom only to face the next challenge.  A long road out when you're tired and hungry and the bridge you are aiming for, never seems to get closer.  Again you just want to hail an Uber but not in the middle of the highlands.  It's all down to you.  Run or walk?  Running get's you back quicker so that's what we did.  We got hot and took of our waterproof jackets.  Of course you know what happened less than 2 minutes later?  The rain came on, heavy.  Who cares.  Skin is waterproof we said and we trudged on.
By the time we'd got back to the car we were delighted with our adventure.  It had everything in it and we learned how to deal with adverse conditions and not resorting to curling up in a ball and getting into our survival bag.  Some food and drink and we were brand knew.
This is living our best life and removes us from the negative news or the worry about our energy costs.  Perhaps that's something everyone should try.  Instead of staying in your house with the heating on listening to the depressing news, get outside into the fresh air and see what mother nature has to offer.  It's certainly uplifted our spirits, so much so we went up Tinto Hill on Sunday for another dose of "wellbeing".  GPs should prescribe it rather than antidepressants!
Whoever today is announced as Prime Minister they won't have all the answers and we will all have to contribute / suffer in some way but count ourselves lucky we're not lying in a hospital bed praying to get better or sheltering from the war in Ukraine.  Running in the mountains is always an adventure and reminds us to live your best life - it's no dress rehearsal.