Runs Writes Code

The Loch Ness Marathon is a medium-sized event following the roads to the south of the Loch into Inverness. Around 4,000 runners did the marathon this year, with a further 5,000 in the shorter events. The event village has a festival atmosphere complete with a mini 'expo'. It is picturesque and undulating. A great course to run steadily: when I ran it in 2008 in 4hrs 9 I loved it. This year, racing as part of Fife AC's marathon team I was to have a very different experience! Having had a three-week cold I had tapered too deeply. This might not be a problem for most people but it's not great for a runner with mastocytosis! On the morning of the race my skin flared red in the shower and I realised I had let too many mast cells build up. People with mastocytosis are advised to avoid exercise, especially intense exercise. However I have discovered (through sheer bloody mindedness) that regular training - in my case - reduced the excessive number of mast cells by d