Life's a snowy Labyrinth

The new year has started with an interesting mix of weather. It has carried with it a hint of menace which has developed (in the north east of the country) into something pretty adverse and, for some, downright hostile.  As long as you're not driving and are not elderly or otherwise disadvantaged, its only been a mild distraction hereabouts. We've had to crank the heating up, mind.  

As a confirmed chionophile (who knew?), plodding around the woods in fresh snow brings a welcome change of aspect and I've managed to get out a few times last week. 

This weeks efforts have been much less successful. We have had to deal with the snows frigid icy legacy which offers a challenge, at least in terms of staying upright.  I like to think I know my limitations, but breaking my foot last year suggests that even the most assured off-road runner can misjudge conditions.  

As a sporty type, its an expensive time of year and various club subscriptions are increasingly bloated with additional costly contributions to national bodies in order that they can fund whatever it is they do. 

Checking a website used by several clubs for membership, I noted the average club membership to be around twenty quid with an additional twenty quid 'tax' in some cases for the national body. The fell running membership (FRA) is 16 notes, but as the magazine and website are very good, I don't grudge this at all. I'm never very sure what a tenner buys you for Scottish Hill Running, but an improved website would be welcome. 

At a time when most are squeezed financially from all directions, I find myself looking very closely at value for money. As an old grimble, club membership doesn't seem all that relevant, but if you like to take in the odd race or find that you are interested in masters title races and the like, you're stuck with putting your hand in your pocket. This, coupled with rising costs of race entry, makes for an expensive hobby...and don't even get me started about cycling and the cost of kit. Bah, humbug. 

On a separate note, we arrived in Pitlochry last Tuesday for a fleeting visit in time for a huge dump of snow, but as I was driving and we were staying over in Perth, I failed to embrace the conditions and, instead, found myself stressed out and impatient to leave, less we got stuck somewhere on the A9. The snow disappeared around Dunkeld and by the time we got to Perth it was freezing rain, which is the worst. 

We also failed to get our entry in on time for the Falkland Race spending all week languishing on a virtual waiting list. Given the fresh wet snow this morning, I doubt we would have even attempted the trip to Fife.  Corresponding races at the Lakes and North York Moors were cancelled, so today its a jog around the woods or maybe half an hour in the gym, or a wee cup of hot coffee in one of our many cafes. Shouldn't grumble really, but I'm old and that's my prerogative. I've binned 'The Go Between' (L.P. Hartley). I struggled with the book when I was 16 and it seems my reading stamina has not improved. Instead I'm giving 'Mr Pottermacks Oversight' by Austin Freeman a go. Apparently its an inverted-Mystery classic - whatever that means.