Allie & a marathon

I loved the look of this shawl by Wood House Knits when I first saw it so delved into my stash and found the perfect combination of yarns:

Left to right: 'Beauty' sock 4ply yarn from Lime Green Jelly on Etsy, 'Stormy fat lace/skinny sock (held double) from Debonnaire at Ally Pally last year, 'Spiced Plum'  Fyberspates Vivacious 4ply

i-cord cast-on with 3 stitch i-cord edging at each side (photo before blocking)

i-cord cast-on with 3 stitch i-cord edging at each side (photo after blocking)

3 stitch i-cord edging on reverse (photo after blocking)

Starting the mosaic stitch section - front

Starting the mosaic stitch section - reverse

I enjoyed the mosaic stitch section so much that I did an extra pattern repeat

It's such a simple yet absorbing stitch pattern

Tilly helped enormously

I loved watching the sections develop

For the final section I started to do the mosaic stitch but ripped it back as the contrast of the paler colour looked better, which of course the designer knew all along!  I also thought I might like to add pompoms to the 3 points but Mike shook his head and said it looked better without (I might not be fully convinced about that yet........)

It will be having its first outing very soon!

My Favourite Trail marathon

A few days before the Beachy Head marathon, Sussex County Council issued a safety warning because another huge crack had developed along part of the 7 Sisters (the group of hills we traverse near the end of the marathon).  

As a result of this the Race Director re-routed us away from that section but sadly some tourists still ventured close to the cliff edge!

This is always a very sociable event with lots of runners I know taking part, plus of course the lovely Ant Bliss and his crew from Sussex Sports Photography taking photos of us. Traviss asked us all to wear our Mega Marathoners tee shirts so we could have a group photo at the start (I opted for my pink flamingo cap for a change!):

Although it was cold at the start, the weather was perfect with bright sunshine and just a bit of a breeze to freshen us up.  The views were stunning and I really had to resist spending all my time taking snaps.

It was incredibly congested at the start as it seemed that a lot of walkers had started too near to the front and after we'd scrambled up the first hill it was impossible to get going properly for the first 1.5 miles.  There was also a hold-up at each road crossing.  No worries though as I wasn't looking for a specific time, just a lovely day out in the beautiful countryside.  I chatted with lots of different people throughout, got hugs from marshalls/chums and a kiss from Ant when he spotted me coming towards him as he crouched down taking photos.

Here are my photos taken at various intervals throughout:

Spot the White Horse of Litlington in the distance, far left

I loved the folds of the land in this valley

I always take a photo of this field as each time it seems to have been mown or planted in a different way to create beautiful patterns

Looking over the Rathfinney vineyard Litlington

The talented duo entertaining us outside the pub at the checkpoint before Cuckmere Haven

Beautiful Cuckmere Haven shimmering in the sunlight

Heading out of Cuckmere Haven up the 1st of the 7 Sisters

Looking back down from whence we'd come!

The colour of the sea was magical

Despite warnings to stay away from the edge of the cliff, as the chalk is unstable and liable to fall into the sea, these Japanese tourists still risked their lives by posing for photos right on the edge!

Marathon 159 completed in 6:39:57

Awesomeness!

I have several running friends from across the pond and I always love hearing them say "awesome" and it reminded me to write about Mr Awesomeness himself, Nick Nicholson. Why does he deserve that accolade?  Because for the last few years he has been quietly devoting his whole life to smashing records in the marathoning world and pushing himself beyond what is considered the norm.

How many people can do a loony jump like this during a marathon?!

Seen here with his lovely girlfriend Lorraine who's appeared on my blog several times.  It can't be easy having a bf who's always jetting back and forth between here the the USA.

Here's a selection of his races for late September/early October.  Of course the ones in the USA also require air travel as he covers the whole country.

Nick is originally from Pensacola, Florida and following a painful divorce he decided to challenge himself to do something amazing and in true Forrest Gump fashion he chose to run.  Unlike some of the airy-fairy records claimed by some people, who go out for a training run of marathon distance (which is unverified) and claim it as a proper marathon, all the marathons Nick has completed are all official events in which his name appears in the results so his records are verifiable.

Here are some of his stats:

2018 is the 3rd year in a row when he has completed 200+ official marathons:

2016 - 202 marathons

2017 - 253 marathons

2018 - 201+ marathons as at 6th October which was also his 700th official marathon

He set the record for most official marathons in a year (270) between 22 July 2017 and 21 July 2018. I  can't really get my head round that can you? - how can a body sustain such a high level of activity?  It just shows what grit and determination can achieve.

He has completed 50ks (ultra marathons that are longer than the standard 26.2 miles) in each US state in Alaska on 24 July 2018 in 40 weeks and 4 days.

Not only is he an awesome runner, he's a nice guy too.  Keep on pushing the boundaries Nick; you are truly awesome (except when you hunt me down and overtake me in the latter stages of a marathon which is just rude!).

More awesomeness

What else deserves that title?  Mother Nature, that's for sure.  I have loads of beautiful photos to share so will make a start with these:

I was doing the washing-up when I spotted this beautiful Greenfinch sitting on the Borage in the herb bed.

I thought he was catching bugs........

...........but he was actually eating the flower-buds!

Unlike last year when I was snapping lots of assorted fungi, this year I've hardly seen any as yet!  I'm hoping they'll just start appearing all of a sudden.  This gorgeous shaggy inkcap, aka Lawyer's Wig, Coprinus comatus, appeared at the edge of the lawn a few days ago and I watched it develop and disappear over 3 days:

Day 1

Morning

Afternoon

It looks like tufts of hair!

Day 2

Morning

Afternoon

Day 3

You can only just make it out!

Almost gone.

I'll leave you with a photo my one of my Christmas Cacti which started flowering at the beginning of October.  It's 4 years old and usually starts to flower at the beginning of December so I think it's a bit confused as my others are only just starting to produce very small buds!

I've got my favourite Trail marathon, Beachy Head, this weekend so I'm hoping the weather stays nice and bright as the views are amazing on a clear day.

Big badda catch-up time!

Oh my goodness, I've been so lax in my updates and now there's too much to go in one post so I'll have to split into bite-sized chunks (and not necessarily in the right order).

First we have the long-awaited ballot results from the London marathon:

Oh no, I hear you cry!  You haven't got a place and it's all about dementia charities in 2019.

But fear not dear friends, the lovely people at The Dementia Revolution (the partnership for 12 months between Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity I've been supporting for the last 13 years, and the Alzheimer's Society) have offered me a Gold Bond place so I will be there - well I could hardly not be there could I!

This of course means that I have to raise £2000 for the cause which is going to be jolly hard work as everyone I know has supported me at least once and some many times more.

I've raised over £54,000 for research already but I'm going to have to be super-creative to find new ways to reach my fund-raising target this time - as usual I have a plan brewing inside my head and it's  a very scary and suitably testing challenge for 2019 which I can't share just yet.  Suffice to say it will be tough and will take me right out of my comfort zone (yet again), especially since I will be 62 when I undertake the really tough part of it (gulp!).

My fund-raising page is now up and running and full details of my challenge will be revealed in due course.  I might also do something special at the London marathon just for old times' sake..................

A short while ago Dame Barbara Windsor very bravely announced that she is living with dementia and she sent this lovely message:

Now what else is there to catch up with?  There have been a couple of marathons:

The Tolkien Challenge

Back to beautiful Samphire Hoe again for my 4th running of the Tolkien Challenge.  I wasn't sure whether to do marathon or ultra distance at the start but settled for marathon in the end as the motorway traffic was bad due to roadworks and I wanted to get home at a decent time.

It was the perfect weather for a little jaunt by the sea and I'll let the photos do the talking:

The Highland cattle and sheep were sharing the grazing in different areas.

I always love seeing the cliffs.  They make me feel small and humble.

Traviss made the usual announcements but this one for Nick, my favourite nutty American, was extra special and I need to give him his own post.  Suffice to say he is shattering and setting so many World Records and is absolutely amazing (note to self - don't forget to write about Nick asap!)

I tried to be really good and only took photos on my last lap (although I did spend about 10 minutes chatting with a bird watcher at one stage.  He was watching a Peregrin Falcon on top of the cliffs but was interrupted when someone flew a drone overhead which scared it off.

As we stood chatting this small murmuration of Starlings took flight and flew down the side of the cliff right over my head - the noise of their wings was amazing!  They performed some fabulous  acrobatics before settling back on the cliff-face.

Dungeness power station in the distance

For some unknown reason, I was captivated by receding lines that day.

Jon striding out along the sea wall.  His mum & dad were there too.  He's got his whole family into marathon running and his mum has been an absolute treasure during races, handing out ice-lollies and sweeties when needed (more receding lines).

The day-glo orange Sea Buckthorn berries look unreal don't they!

There was lots of Sea Lavender along the sea wall

I don't recognise this plant and must look it up

The obligatory lichen shot!

The rust-coloured reeds against the green water drew my eye

Sea meets clouds, meets multi-coloured sky

Bye-bye sea.  See you again soon.

Another fab Tolkien medal

My finish time was around the usual taking into account chatting and taking photos - 5:39:44.  That was number 157.

The Kanga-Roo Kanter

Back to Ashdown Forest for another challenge event in Traviss and Rachel's Winnie the Pooh series - for the past 2 years I've done both days and earned suitably themed medals at the Winnie the pooh Wander, Eeyore Expedition, Tigger Bounceathon & Piglet Plod.

This year it was the Kanga-Roo Kanter and the Owl Amble but I could only do the first day as life got in the way.  The other issue is that I had a camera malfunction and so all the photos I took were lost.  I couldn't work out why until I remembered the start when we were all setting out.  I was going over a short, sharp grassy mound when Dee was taking photos and I waved to her - a man behind me pushed into me and I stumbled and fell flat on the grass.  The rude man didn't even say sorry, nor did he stop to check that I was OK!  I think the memory chip in the camera must have been dislodged in my fall hence non of my photos were saved.  Ho hum.

So this is the only photo I have, taken right at the start by someone else.  I'm on the right, wearing my pink flamingo crochet cap, chatting with James and plotting adventures for 2019 (as you do!).

I had a very pleasant run despite the tumble and the weather was perfect with a gentle breeze to cool us down.  Everywhere looked wonderful as the bracken was changing colour to shades of rust and lemon.  There were lots of dog walkers and horse riders out and I had some lovely chats with fellow runners en-route.

I hadn't decided whether to stick at marathon distance until my last lap when I decided I wanted to get back home for Strictly come dancing (Mike and I have become strangely addicted to this programme which is odd because we are rubbish dancers!).  For those of you who watch this I was sad to see Katie Piper leave this week as she is such a lovely lady but sadly she wasn't the best at dancing.  I met her years ago on the This Morning programme and I was humbled by her amazing attitude to what had happened to her (she had acid thrown in her face by an ex-boyfriend).

Sorry, I digress.

Before I set out for my last lap I paid a visit to the aid station for the first time as my water bottles were empty.  They're those soft, squishy bottles which fit into my ultra-running vest.  I topped one of them up and tried to get it back into its pocket but I couldn't get it back in so Kirsty very kindly took pity on me and came to help.  This resulted in much hilarity and squirting of my drink and I must have wasted about 5 minutes there for no real reason!

Never mind, I trotted around my last lap without falling over so that was a bonus and even better I finished faster than day 1 last year so was very happy with that.  So that was marathon 158, completed in 6:04:09 which is a couple of minutes faster than last year and would have been more if it hadn't been for the squishy bottle debacle (oh and the chatting and photos)!

To finish here's quick showing of my completed Allie Shawl which has been blocked and just needs a few finishing touches (I'm feeling the need for pompoms for some reason) before I do a write-up about it unless of course I get distracted by something else as is my wont!