The Year Ahead

"Who would've thought" was a line my mother used when she was talking about something I'd done in 2011 - in her own little way it was a back handed compliment - she doesn't do compliments very well or very often and this one has made Iain and I laugh many times - I don't think that she realises to this day what she said, but I'll take it, as it means a lot to me and I don't know if there will ever be another one!!!
The year ahead is going to be a busy one, with races planned, a new baby is expected to make her entrance into the family in April making me a Nona for the first time, and as one of my other son's recently got engaged, who knows there may even be a wedding. So I thought, why not start writing a blog and keep a record of 'stuff'.
I've signed up to do my first Ultra Marathon along with my cousin Caron Mutch on 16th March, which also happens to be her 40th birthday on that day - I don't know which one of us is the craziest, answers on a postcard to ..... 
In 2011 I decided to hang up my marathon shoes after running, what for me, was the ultimate marathon - ING New York Marathon. I loved it, but I wanted to focus on shorter distances and improve my times.  Injury and other things got in the way in 2012 and I lost my way a wee bit and I needed to refocus and find something for me - well, as I'd hung up my marathon shoes, I'd have to find a different distance to run.  After my family, running is my passion and a great stress buster and I heard about the D33 Deesideway Ultra which is to take place early Spring 2013.  I put a wee message out on Facebook to see if anyone might show an interest and my lovely cousin Caron took the bait, the next thing we're out there training, Caron in and around Macduff and me in and around Bellshill, building up our miles for this race before entry opens on 1st January 2013 - are we crazy or what!! Probably a bit of both 'crazy' and 'what'!!
My reason for chosing this particular Ultra over any other is that I'm pretty hopeless regarding routes and directions, I get lost very easily and I can't read maps or a compass.  So this run was made for me, it is an out and back starting in the Duthie Park in Aberdeen before heading out along a track to Banchory - how difficult can that be!! Well stick with me and I'll keep you posted over the coming weeks, who would've thought.....