FOMO? Oh No!

So we are in the month of February (just) and all my running buddies are clocking up the miles, the long mile runs are getting longer and I'm in a reflective mood thinking about last year when that was me and I can't help wonder if I'm suffering a little bit of Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)? 

But as my "long" run of 10 miles loomed yesterday and the snow, sleet, rain and wind battered my window I decided that NO, there was definitely no FOMO. There was even some bargaining with myself that, as next a half marathon was not until May my run could even be shorter, as there was no 'real' reason to run 10 miles!! 

The miles ticked by, the weather was still deciding between snow, rain, sleet or all three and then the turning point loomed on my run, I could either turn for home (with 7 miles in the bank) or carry on and get the 10 ticked off... Being type A,  already being wet and cold, I thought how bad could it be!! 

10miles later, with the help of a great audiobook the 8th instalment of the Peter Grant series and quite smug of my multitasking by ticking another book of my 20 books in 2020 challenge,  I was back shivering at my front door dripping all over the mat and looking forward to a hot, steamy shower and a nice cup of tea! 

Finally, I thought it would be a good opportunity to update on how my Dad is doing for anyone who has either followed by rambling for the last year or had the pleasure (cough) of running with me in the last couple of yeats will have known that my dad was diagnosed by with Bowel Cancer in late 2018. He went through very tortuous treatment with enduring both radiation and chemotherapy, which was why I decided to run Edinburgh marathon last year to help fundraise for Bowel Cancer UK. 

His initial scans after the treatment were encouraging and he was put on a watchful waiting list; this means scans every 3 months to ensure that cancer remained in remission. 18 months on Dad is star patient, he remains cancer free and back to his usual fit, healthy and of course annoying self and we would not want him any other way!! 

Both him and mum are looking forward to the weather picking up a little so they can get back in the van and touring around the UK and Europe chasing the better weather. 

Thanks for turning in to my ramblings

Any excuse to shop

This week it is clear that the weather has definitely turned autumnal and someone is arsing around with thermostat; one minute it's hat, gloves and long tights weather and next it's shorts and t-shirt weather again.  

One thing is for certain the wind and rain is back! I heard the other day that one town in England had a right down pour and had as much rain in 12hrs than they would have expected in the whole month! From one extreme to the other; driest September since records began and now wettest so far.....

The best thing about the change in the weather is that we get to buy new running kit, which helps us both stay warm and stay safe. I never need

an excuse to buy running kit and the new seasons kit helps to fuel my addiction.

Social media was all a buzz the other week with the launch of the Aldi kit and I for one was waiting at the door at 8am the other Thursday. Armed with base layers, compression tops, black socks and flashing lights I made my way to the till.  My next biggest challenge was where on earth was I going to put it all, perhaps it is time to sort out my running draws, switch over my summer running kit to my autumn/ winter kit. Gone are the shorts and vest tops and in come the long sleeve tops, 3/4 tights and full length tights, gloves and buffs are the new standard.

As well as an opportunity to shop and buy new kit, here are my other reasons to like autumn/winter running:- 

• Running in the cold/wet and dark makes you feel hard core 

• How amazing you hot shower/ bath feels after your run 

• Cozying up on the sofa after your long run feels more justified 

• The natural rosy glow you get after your chilly run

• Running in the snow makes you feel especially hard core

My parting shot is that no matter what the weather; red hot or pouring with rain, it is definitely getting darker so make sure you can been seen. The best quote I heard the other day was "your never heard of a Christmas tree getting run over" well they do have a point. 

So remember be bright and be seen