Out and back-just for the craic!

Despite the "we don't do out and back" rules, Captain Band picked an out and back route for our 18 miler this morning.  The planning for theses runs is getting more meticulous by the week, with song clues, poems, motivational texts and emails.  In fact the run is now becoming the easiest part of the exercise!!

Ignoring our "get to bed early instruction" Sean was at a party till 1am (drinking water :-( !) and as a result had 5.5hrs sleep and was incredibly grumpy.  Carolyn on the other hand was all Greased up (i'm not sure that sounds right!!)

We started with a hill up to Croy, which we were offered to WALK up.  However common sense prevailed and up we ran, although at a conservative pace.

Jim had a blockage (not for the only occasion on the run!) and had to stop for a suck of his tube and after an almighty suck, he shot fluid all over the place.  Fortunately, enough was left in his sack for the rest of the run!  We wouldn't want him dehydrating!

Despite slipy/icy conditions we got out to the 9 mile turning point in an average pace of 9min:30sec (although Captain Band did attempt to have us turning at 8.69 miles due to the fact she is blind and can't see her watch-not the only sight affected member of the team, in fact it's like running with Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder at times!)

This was our first week at attempting a negative split and as a consequence we pushed on as soon as we turned.  Sean frequented a bush and then had to run kenyan pace to catch up the 3 amigos-if you didn't know better you would think they were trying to get away from him!!!

Anyway, as I'm not allowed to mention something Jim did on the way back there is not much incident to report on our return journey.  We really went for the negative split big time and actually did the back 9 in sub 9 minute mile pace, although I don't think Carolyn will be doing Body Pump on a Friday again!!

The miles are starting to hurt a little bit as we build up our legs but everyone should be incredibly proud of how we are all doing.  The average time and the second split time in particular should fill everyone with immense confidence!!

And the best news of all is SANDRA'S SHOES ARE NOW DIRTY!!!