Survived AND had fun

Hi there. I'm writing this with a very pleased-with-myself feeling today. I have survived, completed and enjoyed my first ever race! As I mentioned here it wasn't perhaps the most sensible choice of run for the first time but who cares about being sensible?



Its so much fun to have friends to do it with...friends who are also prepared to scramble through waist-deep sludgy mud, climb down an almost vertical bank clinging to a rope, wade thigh-deep through rivers and also run up and down big, steep hills for around 9 miles (altho' admittedly it wasn't physically possible to run all bits and a few times we couldn't run, where we might have done, because the tracks were narrow and there was a lot of people).



We set off at 5.30pm so around half the route took place in the dark with headtorches to find our way. It was a beautifully clear and dry day so despite getting wet at 5 or 6 different points we were fine while running (the numbness soon wore off once we were out of the water!) but once we finished the temperature was down to freezing level and we got very cold very fast.



By the time we had eaten and had a few glasses of wine it was around midnight and we were shattered - but oh so happy - and we tottered off up to our hotel bedroom, then had a leisurely breakfast yesterday morning before heading back home to our families. Now we just need to plan the next adventure.

Now, the astute reader may have guessed that today's photos don't bear much relationship to what I've just been wittering on about. They were taken this morning when Islay, the dogs and I had a walk in the Butterdean Woods to try and find some signs of Spring. We didn't really find much it has to be said. A few slightly green (and out of focus) buds, some crocuses and that was about it. But it is definitely coming and it is definitely warmer (I'm just choosing to ignore the wind and rain on the velux window above me!).



Islay enjoyed standing on this hummock and shouting out, to the thankfully deserted woods, that she was a dirty rascal and mummy was a smelly one. My, she's so ladylike.



P.S. If I get hold of some photos from the Mighty Deerstalker I may post them in a day or two - if I'm feeling brave enough. I stupidly didn't take my camera so don't even have any before or afters of my own.

P.P.S. I am hoping to get some actual sewing done this week. Last week was a write off but I have high hopes of achieving something, not sure what, productive this week.