January 31st - Morebattle Hill

Lovely sunny day. Spent it packing for tomorrow's move. Borrowed the farm's horse-wagon and emptied the garage into it. Pretty knackered after unloading it all at Main House. Didn't get a chance to run until 9 pm. Amazingly bright moon - you could easily have read a paper by it - and ridiculously mild. Quick 25 minutes up Morebattle Hill, during which I stripped to topless just for the hell of running at night in January in nowt but shorts and trainers. Wonderful run, and a lovely way to say goodbye to the Whitton hills. No picture, as cameras is packed away, so you'll have to imagine me topless. Steady, now!

January 30th - Gateshae Brae

Pushed for time before the afternoon school-run, so nipped out for a quick half-hour. Under-dressed for the nippy wind in shorts, so galloped round my Gateshaw Brea route in 25 minutes. Back tender all morning, and pain had gravitated to my buttock by the end of the run. Gradually stiffened as the evening wore on, which is a bit of a worry with the hefty exertions of a house-move to get through on Thursday. Dog caught and killed a rabbit on the way off the hill. Usually she loses interest as soon as she catches up with them. Dunno how this one invoked her ire.
First picture is the moon above Hownam Law.

January 29th - Whitton

After the veritable feast of social contact over the weekend (one race for Westies and another for Gala Harriers) it was back to solitary running today with an easy half-hour around the Whitton hills. Pleasantly surprised how bouncy my legs felt. No real hangover from the weekend's exertions. The only trouble is trying to find fresh subjects for the daily photos...

January 28th - Wooler Cross Country

Faffing with my coat at the back of the field when the hooter sounded, so had to make my way through the throng on the long downhill start. Settled into 5th place, where I stayed for most of the race. Very runnable, with long climbs and descents on paths. Strong blustery wind and very exposed route. Pulled a place back on the last big climb and managed (just) to hold 4th on the horrendous eyeballs-out downhill finish.

Wooler XC 2007

January 27th - Devil's Burdens Relay

Race-day. Nige, my intended running partner pulled out, and after the team reshuffling I was paired with Dave Riach. Watched the start in Falkland then after wasting far too much time, finally set off to the Leg 1/2 changeover, where Chris and Manny handed over to Scott McKendrick in about 5th place. Scott dropped a couple on the way to Scotlandwell, where Dave and I were waiting at the start of the navigational leg. Starts with a nasty wee steep climb, on which I felt I was labouring a bit, with Dave trottng along chatting at my heels. Got into my stride much more when we reached the moorland plateau. Running on a good track over Bishop Hill, across the rough stuff (the "Devil's Burdens") and up the steep and heathery West Lomond. Glorious clear sunny day with just a slight breeze to keep us cool. Delighted and amazed to discover that Dave descends even slower than I do, which I wouldn't have thought possible. Picked up a checkpoint in the gully, then legged it across a traverse to the edge of the woods and down the forest tracks at full tilt, hot on the heels of a pair of very sprightly Fife Vets road-runners. Just pipped them by a few metres at the finish in Strathmiglo, for a running time of 1:03, with the team now in 4th place, a long way behind 3rd but neck and neck with Fife Vets.
After a few minutes rest, jogged the last leg through the woods to Falkland in about 38 minutes.
Nice to get a race under my belt, and encouraged that there seemed to be a little bit of oomph in the old legs.
Team finished 4th out of 97, with Brian Bonnyman holding off a strong challenge from the Fifers on the final leg.
Results here and pictues below:

Devil's Burdens 2007

January 26th - Morebattle Hill

Busy with work and child-care all day, so didn't get a run in until after dark. Felt sluggish and jogged out to Morebattle Hill and back in about half an hour. Tree surgeon has been to dispose of wood that came down in the storms a couple of weeks ago. Race tomorrow. Running with the fleet-footed Nigel Scott, which is a bit daunting.

January 25th - Whitton Edge (again!)

Found my long-lost left fell-shoe buried under a chaotic pile of muddly wellies in the scary cupboard, so strapped it on in a state of feverish excitement - along with its neighbour and charged up to Whitton Edge and back in about 25 minutes. Well, I say charged, more of a brisk trot, with an eye to Saturday's race and Charlie's exhortations to "taper". Lovely crisp frozen snow underfoot, and crisp frozen hands by the time I reached the top.

January 24th - Whitton Edge

Heating's back! Scrounged a couple of buckets of oil from Farmer Brian to tide us over till the delivery comes tomorrow. House back up to temperature by lunch, but Anna stayed in bed for the afternoon just to be safe!
Horrible sleet & wind this morning, but lovely by dusk, when I beetled out for a quick half-hour up to Whitton Edge. Stormy skies all around, but managed to avoid any nastiness.

Click for photos.

Whitton Edge 240107

January 23rd - Cunzierton

Yet again, ran out of oil during a cold snap. The only thing that distinguishes this event from all the similar fiascos since we moved here is that this time it wasn't a public holiday, so at least we'll be spared the misery of last time, when we were without power OR heating over the New Year. The fact that we have run out again, only three weeks after our last delivery suggests a bit of a leak somewhere! Thank heavens we're leaving here next week. Lovely spot, but nothing bloody works...

Anyway, enough ranting. Fancied a flattish run today, so struck out west across the farm and picked up Deere Street, an old Roman road and now just a track through cultivated fields. Followed it south to Cunzierton Farm. We seriously thought of buying this when it was up for sale last year, and actually tabled an offer, only to withdraw it a few hours before deadline when reality finally overcame hopeless romanticism. It was bought by one of Anna's parishoners, Tim Butt, who has already spent tens of thousands putting a hard-core road in. Quote for running power out there is £73,000! It really is in the middle of nowhere.

Didn't realise how time was passing, and suddenly realised I had half an hour to get back home, having taken 45 minutes to get to Cunzierton. Pegged it the mile back up to the road, along to Over Whitton up to Whitton Edge and down to the farm. Finally seem to have my legs back after last Thursday. Just made it in time to let Anna leave for a parents' evening.

House freezing and kids snivelling. Cooker is also oil-powered, so it's the camp-stove again! Don't EVER buy a house with an Aga-style range. Complete nightmare. Stinking, inefficient, hugely expensive to run, make the kitchen unbearably hot for six months of the year, and as soon as you open the top to cook anything, the bloody temperature drops and it takes an hour to bring a pot of spuds to the boil. And yet posh middle-class women swear by them! A superb example of The Emperor's New Clothes.

First picture, showing the derelict Cunzierton Farm, was taken today. The second was taken last summer.

January 22nd - Whitton Edge

Woke to the sound of over-excited children and the sight of freshly fallen snow - just a thin coveing, with the grass poking through. Enough, though, to deter the school bus. Hamish claimed that we (i.e. Anna) had promised that if ever the bus couldn't make it up to Whitton, he could have the day off school. Much to his disgust, I bundled him and the twins into the car and drove him the 2 ungritted miles down to the village, dropped him at school and killed the next half an hour playing Pooh-sticks with the little men off the Jubilee Bridge. They arrived at nursery distinctly rosy of cheek and runny of nose, just like weans should be!
Feeling knackered and stiff-backed in the office all morning, and dragged myself out at 3 p.m. to try to catch the rapidly retreating snowline. Caught it at about 900 ft asl, and enjoyed lovely views across to The Cheviot, which at 815m had a good blanket. Must run out there soon...
Felt much better once I started running, and but for a bit of stomach-pain due to too much soup (possibly fermenting - a day past its best!) at lunchtime, I could have said I was back to normal.
I know I keep banging on about our plot, but my sainted mother (Hi, Mum) is still unsure exactly where it is. It's in the first picture below, just to the left of the trees in the middle of the shot. Looks like running country to me! The second picture looks west over Whitton Loch and over to the prominent Ruberslaw, just this side of Hawick.

January 21st - Morebattle Hill

Humdrum 33-minute plod along the road down to the village and back over Morebattle Hill. Knackered and listless, and the weather matched my mood perfectly. Ian Girvan, a neighbouring farmer and a good friend has been creating havoc in the local tree population again. Having uprooted a lovely row of hawthorns a couple of years ago to widespread condemnation, he's now torn down the prominant landmark T-wood, visible on the western slope of Morebattle Hill for miles around for genarations. No idea why. Think he has some kind of arborophobia!

January 20th - Grubbit Law

Horrendously stiff calves, and aching back, abdominals, shoulders and sides from Thursday's track session. Quite shocked at the damage. Knackered too, after another interrupted night with Toby. Intended to jog for 20 minutes purely to keep the unbroken sequence going, but couldn't be arsed going home so soon, so trundled down into the Hownam Valley and up Grubbit Law from Hownam Grange. Right foot cramping again on steep climbs. Bit of a worry with the Burdens next weekend. Jogged for 1 hour and 20 minutes, and according to my super-size watch, climbed 650 vertical metres. First picture shown the line up Grubbit Law, and second shows the view near the top, looking east into the Cheviots.

January 19th - Whitton

Stiff from last night's track session and looking after the weans today, so nipped out for a steady half hour around the farm when they were at nursery. Inexplicably started in waterproof, and slowly baked in it. The second picture shows the route of Tuesday's run, up Hownam Law on the right and along the ridge to Wideopen Hill on the left.

January 18th - Track session

Every week since June last year I have planned to get Across to Gala for the club track session. Last winter they seemed to do me a power of good, and last night I finally made it back. Cold frosty night and a slippery track. After the usual "core-stability" dance routine as prescribed by Coach Neil, we set off on 5 x 1000m with a 200m jog recovery. Seemed about 5 - 10 seconds down on what I was doing last winter, but by this time last year I had about a dozen track sessions in my legs. This time I was doing it on the back of lots of hill-plodding.
Times as follows:
3:21, 3:26, 3:31, 3:32, 3:28. Started session with an almost flat-out 400m "to get your hearts pumping" in about 68 seconds. Running by myself as usual on the main session, and pacing was all over the shop. Wish I'd been doing these sessions through the winter. Think I might struggle for speed at next weekend's races. Below is a picture of top-totty Katie, uploaded blurrily at higher-than-usual resolution as a special treat for Chris!

January 17th - Whitton Edge

After yesterday's gorgeous weather, we awoke this morning to nasty wind-driven sleet. Didn't get properly light until about noon, when the sleet stopped. Nipped out at 2:30 and ran up to Whitton Edge. Down to Over Whitton then back to top. Started to snow properly again, and the wind picked up. Really stingy on the face! 35 minutes easy. Interesting living on a farm that covers a 500 ft change in elevation! See below:

January 16th - Hownam Law & Wideopen Hill

At last the wind has blown itself out, after almost a fortnight. Woke to glorious sunshine and a light frost. Took off in the morning and drove round to the Hownam valley. Blissful 1 hour 20 minute run up Hownam Law, along ridge to Wideopen Hill, down to Crookedshaws track, back up to Wideopen Hill and down to car. Loved it - every minute of it. So refreshing to be running without the interference of the wind. Felt like I had the spinnaker up - that kind of effortless speed that comes rarely and without warning. Couple of naughty twinges from right knee, but I growled at them and they went away. Perhaps the days of battling against the wind have done some good. Wish I had a race tomorrow!

Click below for photos

Hownam Law Run 160107

January 15th - Gateshaw Brae & Morebattle Hill

Heavy-legged after yesterday's long 'un, to the extent that I was having to climb rather than vault the gate into the field where my office sits. Still bloody windy, so wasn't looking forward to my run. Headed out at 3:30, just in time to squeeze it in before dark. Actually felt quite chipper after a few minutes, and by the time I reached the top of Gateshaw Brae after 16 minutes the plump contours of Morebattle looked so alluring that I extended my intended route down into the valley and up the other side. About 35 minutes altogether. Really quite bored with running in the wind now. Have almost forgotten what it's like to run in straight lines!
Tina, my horsey landlady, has built some make-shift jumps in the woods just to make those after-dark runs interesting (see below)...

January 14th - Cranshaws

Invited to Anna's mum's for lunch. She lives in Cranshaws, a wee village in the middle of the Lammermuirs, where I spent my first year in Scotland, and where I met Anna. Gorgeous part of the country, so for a change of scene I took my kit and ran from there. Lovely to be back on old familiar routes. Still pretty blowy, but nothing like the last few days. Runnable the whole way. From Cranshaws, up Bothwell Hill, along ridge and up to top of Spartleton (467m asl), then down to cross road and around north end of Whiteadder Reservoir. Stiff climb up Priestlaw into a headwind, then across the tussocks to the Longformacus road. About a mile on the road, then down through the Cranshaws estate and into the village. Just under an 1 hour 40 mins of pure delight. Slept for 10 hours straight last night, and felt like a new man!

Click image for some rather lovely photos:

Jan_2007 runs

January 13th - Whitton Edge

When will this bloody wind ever subside? Seems to have been blowing a gale for weeks. Getting a bit hacked off with it, if the truth be told. Living at 570ft asl means that we tend to have it quite breezy, but this is something else all together. Difficult to stand still in the garden today, and it took an act of will to get out the door for a run. Feeling pretty shagged after yet another post 1 a.m. night. Anyway, I knew the runs would be short, so took both dogs and headed for Whitton Edge, which tops out at 1080 feet. Thought it would be entertaining to tie a kite to Henry (Yourshire Terrier) once we got there, but the thought of the reaction I'd get back at the house scuppered that one!
Trudged up the track to the top of the hill with the wind in my face, then turned and ran back along the ridge, with the wind from behind blowing so hard that I was scarcely in control, and running much faster than my legs were happy with. Shortest run of the year, at about 25 minutes, but still felt like I'd been through the wringer. Here's yet another canine portrait, just to prove I was out there.

January 12th - Morebattle

Set off at dusk for a road run. Changed my mind after 600m and jumped a gate and headed up Morebattle Hill. Stumbled down through fodder-beat field to the village, then down to the Tofts and along the riverside. Home in the dark via the road. Still very windy, and still feeling pretty knackered. Feel like I'm plodding, so really need to get a bit of speed in my legs before the Burdens. First picture taken on the self-timer, with camera sitting on sheltered side of trig-point on Morebattle Hill. Linton Hill and High Side in background. Second one taken on Jubilee Bridge just below Morebattle, looking back up the Kale towards the Tofts.

January 11th - Morebattle Hill & Gateshaw Brae

Blew a terrible hooley last night, and I fully expected to find my office in pieces scattered across the field. Now very glad to have built it so heavy from 6 x 2s. Still sitting on its blocks. Several trees down on the farm, and still windy enough to make standing difficult when I ran at 3:15 this afternoon. Strong wind from the left as I climbed Morebattle hill, which then pushed me down the east side of the hill and over towards Gateshaw Brea. Struggled on this climb, with the wind coming from the side again. Knackered from battling to keep balance and several tumbles. Down off Gateshaw Brae into the teeth of the gale. Steep descent, but blown to a standstill at times. Very exilarating, and arrived home staggering and chuckling. Dog impervious with a low centre of gravity, although her ears did some serious flapping! Can't find bumbag and camera, which I chucked down somewhere on my return. Pictures will follow when it turns up.

Stop press... Found it!

January 10th - The Eildons

Had to go to Melrose on the school-run, so decided to include a trot up the Eildons. Forgot to take proper shoes, so had to run in a 10-year old pair of completely slick Asics road shoes. Very wet and incredibly slippery clay. Ran the race route in about 50 minutes, 19 minutes longer than when I ran it in June. About 18 minutes of this was spent on my arse or flat on my face!

Lovely clear views across sun-dappled plain 300m below. Seemed to be a fair bit more gorse and heather than six months ago.

January 9th - Gateshaw & Morebattle Hills

Terrible night's sleep and groggy all morning, so set off into the wind and sun at lunchtime for a livener. Felt much better once I was out, and for the rest of the day. A tad under 40 minutes with a couple of nice stiff climbs. Still feeling sluggish. Pictures show the views from Gateshaw Hill, where the local farmer has built a series of cairns with metre-wide stones (and a tractor!) to confuse the archaeologists in centuries to come.

January 8th - Whitton

Making the most of Whitton and its hills before we have to leave at the end of the month. First rain of the year fell today for an hour or two, and Anooshka and I ventured out into it for about 40 minutes after lunch. Fairly muddy route over to the west side of the farm to look at the mast that's been erected to monitor the wind, to assess the site's suitability for a wind-farm. Not sure how many turbines are planned, but each one will net Tom £8,000 a year. Nice little pension! Felt a bit bouncier than of late, that is until my graceful swallow-dive off a slippery gate half-way round, ripping a sleeve and a glove on barbed wire on the way down.

Look at this first photo and tell me it's not the runningest damn countryside you ever saw!

January 7th - Whitton

Had to leave for Edinburgh by private bus for the annual village trip to the panto (Oh joy!), so ran first thing, before breakfast. Steady trot up to Whitton Edge with both dogs. As always, pretty creaky at that time of the morning, and the 40-minute run only just about cleared the cobwebs.

Pictures show the plot we've bought, immediately left of the small copse of trees a bit right of centre in the picture, and on which we'll be building later this year, and Thowliestane Hill on the neighbouring farm, with its rather fine iron-age fort.

January 6th - From Main House

We're moving to Main House (TD5 8AA), between Morebattle and Kelso at the end of the month. Drove out there and ran for 50 minutes through uninspiring, flat farmland. Realised how spoilt I've been living at Whitton for the last year, with hills on the doorstep. I'll miss it sorely, but it will galvanise me to get the new house at the foot of Hownam Law built ASAP.

January 5th - Wideopen Hill

Gorgeous sunny day. Restrained myself until three o'clock then headed out with trusty hound over Morebattle Hill, down through Corbett Towers and up St. Cuthberts Way to the top of Wideopen Hill, returning via Gateshaw Farm and Gateshaw Hill. Still feeling pretty knackered on climbs, but able to chug up steadily without having to walk anywhere, although it was touch & go climbing the steep east side of Gateshaw Hill. Used to run Wideopen Hill several times a week when we lived in the village, but seem to have got out of the habit. Shame, as the views across the Cheviots from the top are tremendous. 1:15 running time. First picture shows Wideopen Hill from Morebattle Hill. Second picture looks back over the outward route towards the farm, which is just out of sight behind woodland on the horizon.

January 4th - Morebattle Hill

Landlord turned up to fix boiler just as I was about to leave for my first Gala Harriers session in many months. Two-man job, so missed session and squeezed in a quick 25-minute jaunt up Morebattle Hill in the dark after putting the kids to bed. Full moon, but by the time I ran it had clouded over, so plenty of stumbling around and startling cows on the hill.

January 3rd - Highside

There was a hunt in progress on my usual hills, so to avoid having Anooshka taken for a fox I drove to the village and ran up Highside intsead. Clearly a day for blood-sports, though, as we ran straight through the middle of a shoot, to the obvious irritation of the "guns".

Legs feeling heavy, but luckily the stong, gusting wind was behind me on the climb, so I was spared the ignominy of having to walk any of it. Struggled to take a summit-photo because the wind was blowing me bodily all over the place!

We've been without oil since New Year's Eve, so I had to wash off the debis from my last three runs with a bowl of water from the kettle, standing in the bath! Oil delivery (and then a shower) tomorrow...