This top and trainers were meant to be together If you include last week, then I’ve got sixteen weeks until my Half in September, which seems like loads of time. But it’s a big ask, this attempt to get faster. When I really got into running around ten, eleven years ago my half marathon time… Continue reading Half Training again – weeks 1 and 2
Author: theleadlesspencil
I started blogging to practise using that writing 'muscle'. And it's made me realise that I keep banging on about the same subjects: mainly 'running', sometimes about what I'm reading, and, even more occasionally, where I'm going.
Shoe Issues
So, I may or may not have given myself a slight injury yesterday. It may or may not have been from a new pair of shoes that I was trying out. Or it may or may not have been that my old shoes really do need to get retired. Or was it because of my… Continue reading Shoe Issues
Hay Festival 2025
Anne asks me a random question. ‘Can you describe the talks we’ve seen with words beginning with “C”?’ ‘Why the letter “C”?’ ‘Because the first words I thought of all began with it, so I wondered if I could create a theme.’ It’s hard to bring a coalescence to such diverse speakers as Emma Barnett… Continue reading Hay Festival 2025
WHW: Day 8 – Kinlochleven to Fort William
15.85 miles (15 miles officially) Back row: Brian, Ian, me, Paul; Front row: Val, Simon, Julie, Sally, Heather, Derek After three shortish days, our last leg is officially the longest at around fifteen miles. By the end of today we will be in Fort William, our West Highland Way will be complete, and our merry… Continue reading WHW: Day 8 – Kinlochleven to Fort William
WHW: Day 7 – Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
9.14 miles (8.9 miles officially) The Inn with a mahoosive extension Outside, as forecast, there was barely a cloud in the sky as I attempted to take the majestic drops of the mountain sides into my phone. I failed. We gathered on the grass for several morning group photos and then headed off back along… Continue reading WHW: Day 7 – Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
WHW: Days 5 and 6 – The Moorlands
Day 5 - Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy 7:12 miles (6.8 miles officially) The next day was a mere seven-ish miles, so we treated ourselves to a lazy start. Because the Tyndrum Lodges is essentially a campsite, our breakfasts were in paper bags (croissants, yogurts, cheese and crackers) which made it easier to keep them… Continue reading WHW: Days 5 and 6 – The Moorlands
WHW: Day 4 – Ardlui to Tyndrum
14:51 miles (11.5 miles officially) Falls of Falloch Wanting to get the nine o’clock ferry in preparation for another long day, it is a bit annoying that breakfast at Ardlui Hotel doesn’t begin until eight. This means that, to be on the safe side, I need to brush my teeth before brekkie, because my suitcase… Continue reading WHW: Day 4 – Ardlui to Tyndrum
WHW: Days 2 and 3 – Loch Lomond
Day 2 - Drymen to Rowardennan 15:78 miles (14.5 miles officially) I was pleased with myself for being able to get up Conic Hill without feeling too short of breath. I followed the adage about taking exaggeratedly short strides on the steeper uphill, and we took our time, both of which helped. The thing about… Continue reading WHW: Days 2 and 3 – Loch Lomond
WHW:Day 1 – Milngavie to Drymen
14:23 miles (although it said 12.1 miles officially) I try to remind myself, about eight miles into what will eventually be fourteen plus miles, that I will get stronger as the days progress. That’s how I remember it the last time we went out on a big walking adventure. But that was ten years ago,… Continue reading WHW:Day 1 – Milngavie to Drymen
Glasgow
Stepping off the train in Glasgow, we felt for a moment that we were back in Liverpool. There was the same glass and iron roof that we’d left just a few hours ago, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same pigeon, or at least its cousin, nonchalantly strolling around the concourse, paying… Continue reading Glasgow
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