Run Britain Day 159: Portsoy to Rosehearty

I ran the first leg today with Maria, who retired from the crown prosecution service after Covid and moved up to this part of the country after being inspired by a road trip. 

She was diagnosed with MS after a long period battling obscure and ill-understood symptoms and took up running long distances to keep her mind and body healthy. 

She is a force of nature and it was a real pleasure to share some miles with such a wonderful person. It was a nice patch of running into MacDuff as well and with 10 miles clocked off, I felt pretty good about the day. 

Maria also had a great story about an appointment with a young neurologist who had fumbled his words when I tried to tell her that 60 minutes of running an hour could be a problem for her and “her condition”. “Don’t worry,” she said, “I never do more than 60 minutes of running in an hour.”

It makes me sad when I think about all the MS patients, or patients’ of any illness for that matter, who fear exercise after being told to be careful by over-cautious doctors. Being diagnosed with a clinical condition is rubbish. But being told that it means you need to live your life differently to how you would perhaps like to, feels incredibly unnecessary in this day and age. 

Getting into Rosehearty in more gale force winds was a challenge, especially considering the slight time constraints I had this afternoon. Today is Lottie’s last day on the road with me, so we’re heading back down to Edinburgh so she can fly home and Sam can fly in. 

I’m sad that Lottie’s time driving the van is over.