不做「沙發土豆」的湯米，跑、跑、跑，從英格蘭跑到蘇格蘭，再跑到愛爾蘭|威廉

原標題：不做「沙發土豆」的湯米，跑、跑、跑，從英格蘭跑到蘇格蘭，再跑到愛爾蘭|威廉

2017年盛夏，湯米和哥哥傑米的自我挑戰是計劃在24小時內，征服蘇格蘭、英格蘭和威爾士三座最高峰。最後，哥倆比計劃快了好幾個小時，最終以18小時31分鐘完成了全程。

今年夏季我們在不列顛島（英格蘭、蘇格蘭和愛爾蘭）旅遊時，湯米發誓要天天跑步。但是，跑步是個行單隻影的運動，如果想動力十足，最好的辦法是不失時機地參加跑步比賽。

所以，我在計劃從英格蘭，北上到蘇格蘭，跨海到愛爾蘭整個行程的同時，也隨之注意著所到之處是否有跑步比賽。大部分城市每個月都會有一兩次賽事，而且比賽時間基本都安排在周末。

第一個計劃中的比賽是山丘越野賽，是在蘇格蘭距愛丁堡兩個小時車程的阿博因，到時正趕上一場傳統的蘇格蘭高地運動會正在舉辦。

蘇格蘭高地運動會（蘇格蘭奧運會）和愛丁堡的軍樂節是我旅行計劃中的兩個不能或缺的體驗機會。

我把阿博因高地運動會的舉辦時間與我們的旅行計劃對接得天衣無縫。高地運動會在8月舉辦，我在今年3月初就上網為湯米報名登記上了11公里的山丘越野賽，當時他是第四個報名者。

能參加蘇格蘭高地運動會機會難逢！在每年夏季，蘇格蘭有50多個類似的運動會舉辦，但是最為著名的就是阿博因高地運動會。

高地運動會中的山丘越野賽是原始的比賽項目。據說很久以前，一個叫馬爾科姆的國王命令他手下的人「跑山」，誰跑得最快，誰就可以成為他的信使。

我根據自己歷來的參賽經驗，對湯米提出了建議：因為整個11公里的賽程，需要穿越兩座山丘，所以他需要控制跑速，不能加速太早、跑得太快。

「啪」！的一聲發令槍響，開跑了！選手們先在場內跑一圈之後，他們沿著公路跑一段，進入叢林中，又爬上俯瞰整個城鎮的山丘…

我在離終點1公里處焦急地等待著。這時，我遠遠看到了湯米熟悉的跑步姿態。我邊看邊數著名次。湯米在30名之內，看得出他胸有成竹地控制著自己的時間。他以第23名的成績衝到終點，可喜可賀！在他前面的沒有一個和他一樣年輕的選手。這個高地運動會對湯米是一個極好的鍛煉機會！

湯米在蘇格蘭高地運動會跑11公里山丘越野的頭一公里的公路跑。

湯米來英國之後，他的第一個跑步比賽參加的是7月初的倫敦奧運公園的10公里公路賽。從這裡可以看到在北京奧運之後2012年倫敦奧運的比賽場館。

那天天氣特別的熱，據說是自1976年以來最熱的一天。湯米從來沒有參賽的經驗，開跑過快。當我在起跑1公里處觀察他時，他的時間是3分30秒——比我建議的時間快了一分鐘。他試圖保持這個速度，堅持了3公里，之後不得不慢下來（大部分參賽者都是如此）。艷陽高照，缺少陰涼，湯米掙扎到最後，成績是43分50秒。開跑過快是跑10公里的大忌，之後的7公里得掙扎地跟上，很被動。無論如何，這是湯米第一次參加的比賽，取得了自己的「最好成績」，並為下一次比賽做了鋪墊。他得到了一枚獎牌和一件文化衫。

湯米在倫敦奧運公園10公路跑衝刺。

湯米的第二個10公里跑，比較辛苦，跑的不是平路，是半島山丘越野。那也是一個炎熱的周日，他參加的是布萊斯特爾市附近的Bream Hill Run。在我看來，湯米表現不錯，但是他回來說，賽跑一路他都感覺累得沒有趕超的盡頭。

就在幾天前，湯米又在愛爾蘭參加了一場比賽。這是在英格蘭、蘇格蘭跑步比賽之後第一次參加愛爾蘭的比賽。

這次參賽是「計劃外」的。我們來愛爾蘭西海岸旅遊，「最後一分鐘」發現Tralee（楚麗市）有跑步比賽，就急急忙忙報了名。

當時，我看到一則電視消息說，「楚麗玫瑰國際文化節」即將開幕。「楚麗玫瑰」選美大賽是文化節的核心內容。與一般選美不同，來參賽的不是受過訓練的模特，而是品學兼優，內外兼修的普通愛爾蘭女孩子。無論在愛爾蘭本土還是在其他國家的愛爾蘭女孩都有資格參賽。進入決賽圈後，都可以來到楚麗市參加決賽，愛爾蘭電視台會現場直播。文化節中，除了選美，還包括10公里公路賽。

周四我替湯米報了名，周日就參加了比賽。

這次天公作美，16攝氏度加微風。賽跑路線、地面軟硬度也比較好。開跑之前，我簡單給湯米又交代了一遍注意事項。讓湯米記著5周前倫敦賽的教訓，起跑不要太快。

湯米也沒有辜負期望。我看見他時，他已經衝到終點，計時牌上顯示：42:55。比倫敦賽成績快了近一分鐘！

湯米也得到一塊楚麗玫瑰10公里公路跑獎牌。

中間那位姑娘名叫傑妮弗.伯恩，她是2017年的「楚麗玫瑰」。

真棒湯米！2018年夏天，湯米在英格蘭、蘇格蘭和愛爾蘭都體驗到了跑步的艱辛和樂趣。

祝你享受跑步。今後，無論你在哪裡，盡量不做「沙發土豆」，多多出去跑步、徒步！

2018年愛爾蘭楚麗玫瑰節10公路公路賽樂隊助興。

In the summer of 2017 Tommy』s big challenge (with brother Jimmy) was the Three Peaks — that』s the highest mountain in Scotland, England and Wales, with the 800 kms of driving in between, within 24 hours. The lads bust that target by a good few hours, finishing in an astonishing 18 hours 31 minutes. Well done lads!

This summer, Tommy』s pledge was to run as much as possible during his stay in the British Isles. But running is a lonely sport, and to maintain one』s momentum the best thing is to enter a race every now and then…

So as I planned out road trip through England, north into Scotland and then over the water to Ireland, I was on the look out for race opportunities for Tommy. Most races are held over weekends, and most cities and towns have a few per month.

The first race that materialized as a real possibility was the hill race of a Highland games being held in Aboyne, part of Deeside, about 2 hours』 drive north of Edinburgh.

Along with the tattoo in Edinburgh, a Highland games (a 『Scottish olympics』) was high up on my list of most-wanted experiences on Scotland.

I managed to find that the Aboyne games fitted our itinerary perfectly. I went online and managed to enter Tommy for the hill race of 11 kms. He was the 4th person to enter as early as March!

What an occasion the Highland games is! Over the summer months about 50 such games are held throughout Scotland, but the most famous are those held on Deeside.

The hill race within the Highland games is actually the origin of the games. Long ago, a King Malcolm of Scotland sent his men running up a hill to decide who would be most physically suited to being his messenger.

My advice to Tommy was to go easy for the first kilometer or so and remember that there would be 2 climbs over the 11 kms length course. It was key that he should control his urge to run too fast too early especially on the first hill climb.

Off they went! First, a lap of the games field, and then out into a road and into the forested hills overlooking the town…..

I waited anxiously about 1 km from the finish, and spotted Tommy』s familiar gait. He was well inside the the first 30, running grittily and looking as if he had timed his efforts well. He crossed the finishing line in a very creditable 23rd place, and there was no body ahead of him who was younger. A great Highland games run for Tommy!

Tommy』s first race of the summer was in early July in London in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k. This was within sight of the venue used for the 2012 London Olympiad that followed Beijing』s 2008 staging of the Games.

It was a hot day during the UK』s hottest summer since 1976. Tommy had no experience of running in a race and was somewhat carried away by the occasion and started far too fast. When I saw him at the 1 km post he clocked 3 mins and 30 seconds — a minute faster than I』d recommended! He was hanging on at 3km, but generally slowing ( as most runners were). But coupled with the hot Sunday morning sun and lack of shade, he was struggling to hold on for the rest of the race, finishing is 43:50. That was a hard way to run a 10 km — too fast at the start and about 8km of hanging on! Nevertheless he had put down a marker of a personal best 『PB』 — to improve on his next run. And he received a T-shirt as a souvenir! (Many runs include a T shirt and medal to all finishers).

Tommy』s next run was another tough one....a 10 K, but not in a road, up hills and cross country. This the Sunday morning Bream Hill Run (near Bristol) was made tougher by another hot summer』s day (by British standards) at 27 C. Another good run from Tommy — but he said he felt tired most of the way.

Tommy』s most recent race (just a few days ago) was in Ireland, after his races in England and Scotland. This was an 『11th hour』 or last-minute race entry as we neared the city of Tralee in Ireland』s Southwest.

A few days before we arrived there I saw a news report on Irish TV talking about the upcoming 『Rose of Tralee』International festival. The Rose of Tralee at the core of the festival is a very famous beauty contest — with a difference . The girls are not professional models but ordinary Irish girls with beauty outside and inside. Any girl of Irish heritage worldwide is eligible to enter her local 『rose』 contest, and all 『roses』 can travel to Tralee for the grand final . And as well as the Rose beauty contest there are all other kinds of events....including a 10 kms road Race!

I entered Tommy on the Thursday for the race on the Sunday.

The weather conditions were perfect. Cool at 16 degrees C with a wind. This was quite a quality field of runners and I briefed Tommy on formula to better his PB that he』d set in London five weeks before.

Tommy ran very well and I saw him just before the finish — he crossed the line in a new personal best of 42:55.

Well done Tommy on gaining some great race experiences in England, Scotland and Ireland during the summer of 2018.

Enjoy your running wherever you are. Get off the sofa and out for jog or walk!

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