The Next Challenge... by Skye_Trekker

(I really will need to try and find some running buddies the same height as me...)

4th and final attempt at putting a post up on here.  I've posted, saved (but where the hell to???), sworn, ticked both the private & public options but still everything disappears and I now have 5 posts floating around the internet somewhere.  Not very happy...  I'm now trying to edit in a paragraph at a time under a 'private' post (but how come I've had 2 views already?) though surely there must be an easier way than this?

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In the end I decided that for the Half a 'did not start' was a fractionally better option than a 'did not finish' and a trip back to the start/hospital in the ambulance.  I tried and failed to run through this injury last year, only succeeding in losing 3 months of training & races for my pain - it wasn't worth it, so I decided to pull out.  Its the second time in a row that I've missed the Half through injury and twice now I've invited folk up to run the race, only to bail out on them at the last moment...  Really didn't have a choice though.

Anyway, the Skye Half weekend starts with a runners BBQ on the Friday night, though this year the weather was distinctly on the chilly side and it wasn't long before fleeces and jackets were being pulled on.  At one point I looked round only to see a guilty looking running buddy clutching our rather bemused dog to her as she was being used as an impromptu hot water bottle.  Couldn't really blame her as I did the same thing myself recently at a baltic outdoor climbing session - except the dog was a cuddly, soft 3 month old puppy at that point, whereas now she is skinny, leggy and a whopping 18kg - not so effective! A game of 'pass the dog' soon followed, however it wasn't long before the combination of wind, cold and midgies drove us all indoors, with the hope that the weather the following morning would be better.

Saturday dawned a lovely sunny, warm morning and around 9am we set off for the race start.  Out of our running group 2 others were injured apart from me, but with Tina and Africa drafted in as well as my youngest to the fun run we managed to enter a team of 6 altogether.  The other 2 non-runners watched the race start then headed off to the 5 mile mark to cheer everyone on.  I was delegated to photographer again, so was waiting on the first hill for the Half runners to pass, then the kids doing the fun run, before going back to the finish area.  My youngest finished in the same time as last year, but as she has moved up a year group and had to run 3k instead of 2k she was well pleased with what she did.

The big hope for the day was local runner Hugh Campbell.  He had won the race in 2010 in a stunning time of 1.12 - and it was his first ever Half (he'd been running less than a year too) so great things were expected.  And he didn't disappoint.  He came round the final corner in 1.10+, crossing the line in 1.11.15.  But it was at a price and he collapsed immediately afterwards and was taken to hospital a short time later, so then next hour or so was spent waiting for updates.  He is a genuinely brilliant guy, has time for every runner he meets regardless of their ability so there were a lot of people worrying about him...

The other 2 errant running buddies had appeared back from their cheerleading duties by then so we were waiting just in front of the finish for our team.  We had been given rough estimates from them all, but Africa and Tina surprised us by approaching the finishing line well ahead of time - they had run a brilliant race.  Not too far behind them came the next 2 and the final runner shortly after.  We were so proud of how well they all did given the hills and hot day.  After that it was into the High school (which is the base for the race) where soup/sandwiches/tea/cakes are laid on for the runners and its a fantastic way to catch up with everyone post race.  A recovered Hugh was able to put in an appearance towards the end and it was good to see him looking better, and he was still chatting to folk when we left 20 minutes later.

Back home after that to another BBQ with the leftovers from the night before, and the suggestion of an early morning recovery run was made - needless to say, not by somebody who had actually run the Half that day...  Arms were twisted and it was agreed on an 8am start, so it was an earlyish night.  I decided to ride, so took the long road round the top of the Island to meet up with the rest of the crew.  The photo at the top of the page was taken at the Quiraing (at the top of a 15% hill that never gets any easier no matter how many times I cycle it) before we all set off back to Uig.  A recovery run it was not - for the 8k Tina & Fiona averaged 8.4mph and Africa & Rachael were 8.11.  Kind of glad I had the bike actually.  Then it was just time for a quick shower and final pack before Tina, Scott and Africa headed home to Edinburgh.  It was great to have them up to stay - though I think Scott has been left a little shell-shocked by his Skye experience...  We are now trying to convince all 3 to come back and do the village 10k in Aug - we know they really want to !  And that was the Half weekend...

Thanks for the 'back' comments and advice.  Aphid - I've been referred to the 'local' pain clinic (Inverness!) and through them I got the injections that Mike mentioned.  They were, without a doubt, the most painful thing I've ever experienced.  It was like my spinal cord was being tazered (remember that post?) and to make matters worse, the injections didn't work and because they were done under x-ray I won't get them again.  Instead I've been given a TENS machine to 'help manage the pain'...  Reckon I'll stick with the tramadol thanks.  So for the time being I'll have to cut back on the running to see if that helps, and if need be I'll stop for a week or so.  Better that than being forced to quit for a couple of months.  Any other advice though would be greatly appreciated.  I've got a 100 mile sportive at the end of Aug so that is my target now - hopefully things will have sorted themselves by then.  7 hours with a sore back on a bike is going to be a painful experience otherwise...

The end.