Wheee-kend

Because it goes by so fast.

Saturday had to be a long run. Unquestionably. This was my internal dialogue.

"Me no wanna do a long run"

"What kind of talk is this? Man the FU!"

"Don't you mean Man the Lifeboats?"

"I mean man your effing running clothes because you are going to the Lammermuirs."

"But my achilles are sore."

"Never mind, you'll get as much coffee as you can drink and a piece of shortbread the size of a small dinner plate half way round."

"Yeah, okay then."

"Sugar and caffeine prostitute."

"Whatever, let's go."

It started out okay. I was unquestionably tired and my achilles were indeed sore, but I "sucked it up" as we athletes say. For the first half anyway. But when we got to the Carfrae Mill, which is the promised land of shortbread and coffee, someone was selfishly having their wedding and we weren't allowed in.
I honestly hope the bride has a big arse in her wedding photos. Put that on your mantle-piece.
A big arse and a small goatee.

We disconsolately sat on a wall and ate fudge and drank water in the burning afternoon sun. Peter was very expressive with his disappointment. Mine went underground and poisoned the waters of my morale. Having sucked so much up I now blew it all out again. It was hard to crack a smile for the next uphill stretch, into the wind, with my achilles are killing me and the hot sun. Peter tried to interest me in some standard birds and run of the mill farm animals. I wasn't for any of it.
He had the good camera and I just had my wee waterproof one. I didn't take it out until I had a rest up the top of a hill while Peter, who had been bothering birds, caught up.

Not even pretending...

Even my face hurts. I hate everything.

Even my shadow is angry.

Bu the time we were finished it was early evening. We'd set off late in the day. We stopped in Gifford at the Co-op and had what turned out to be our tea. Chicken and bacon sandwiches and steak flavoured crisps. I couldn't get enough salt. I didn't approve of any of my tea but it was delicious. I could still taste the crisps this morning though - they are pervasive.

Today we had arranged that we'd meet up with Nick W for the Gullane coffee, cake, run and sea experience. I wondered how on earth I was going to be with two good runners and my done legs and my ill temper. I figured we'd be alright as long as there was coffee at Falko's and thankfully there was. Peter and Nick were in full voice which left me room to concentrate on trying to keep up. I couldn't tell you much about any of it except it was good. Running along the beach with the wind behind us was great. The sun was out. Nick was saying how hot the sea looked. Actually it did. There was no chance it was going to be hot but we pretended it might be. As we rounded the corner to Gullane we were met with the sight of 1 million people on the beach.
Peter put in a bid for us to go further round the headland to swim. I didn't argue. Sometimes I can't be bothered with guddling around looking for the perfect spot. Often there's no such thing and you just end up wasting time. But today it was sunny and I didn't care. So we went along the coast to where we previously met Harry the Crab.

There was a lot of sand in the surf and we couldn't see Harry. Even in wet suits the sea was far from hot. I've been in the habit of wearing a hood but just wore a swim cap today and got an ice-cream head-ache. It was good to be in the water though. There wasn't really anywhere to swim, apart from straight out - which is a bit beyond what I wanted to do. I was out of my depth but was bobbing like a cork in my buoyant wetsuit, which was reassuring. Peter wanted to talk about being chased by a seal and Nick wanted to talk about a spate of shark attacks that have happened recently. I'm not so worried about either of those things so much as being dragged out to sea because the the tide is strong and I am weak.

And then it was the difficult task of trying to get  out of a wetsuit that has suctioned itself onto you with useless, numb hands. Never easy.

 So now it's time for a shower and to rinse out my wet-suit and get the tea on and somehow get ready for the week...................................................