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Other Stuff Ruth Runs

Ruth Runs: The Great Scottish Run 2 – Run Harder

I’d been wondering why everyone was taking so long. As the crowd moved, the full length of St Vincent Street appeared ahead, from the tickertape starting line to, at its far end, a startlingly abrupt 30 degree slope — the kind of horrific steepness that, as a kid, your Mum would tell you off for biking down without your brakes on. My impatience vanished, leaving a single thought: “how the hell am I getting through this?”

So, of course, I’m doing it again on Sunday 2nd October, tackling the Great Scottish Run to raise funds for SAMH (the Scottish Association for Mental Health).

SAMH Shirt

The theme of this run is Sabotage. It’s been a tough year. My health hasn’t been great — I’ve lost three months of training to injury — a broken toe and a twisted ankle. Life issues have proved difficult to deal with, and that’s impacted on my well-being and my creativity. At times, it’s been overwhelming. Whether physical or mental — Beastie Boys or Cancer Bats — Sabotage has dogged my every step this year.

But I’m still here. More than that — I’m in Glasgow, living amongst good friends, studying a fascinating course in Fantasy, and beginning to find my own way in the world.

So what better way to celebrate that than running 13 miles through one of the hilliest cities in the country — and raising money for charity to boot?

So why SAMH? SAMH support those living in Scotland with mental health issues, as well as their families and carers. There are community-based programmes for everything from housing to addiction. They run the national anti-stigma campaign See Me, and the anti-bullying campaign Respect Me. They also provide employment support, as well as a host of information and advice. Whether you’re a student looking for a bit of extra support as you make this massive life change, or a carer looking after a someone with a mental health condition, this is the place to go.

If you’d like to help me support SAMH and their excellent work, please head to the link below to sponsor my run.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RuthRuns-GSR2

Alternatively, if you can’t afford a donation, why not leave me a little encouragement on the Great Wall of Support?

http://greatscottishrun.com/wall-of-support/

Finally, if you want to watch, why not check out BBC2 Scotland‘s coverage on Sunday 2nd October from 11:00 – 13:45?

I’ll see you at the finish line!

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Other Stuff Ruth Runs

Ruth Runs: GSR 2015 – A Huge Thank You

I ran a half-marathon on Sunday. And I have you to thank for it.

There I was, waiting in the Pink Wave, watching those in front crossing the starting line, and wondering why so many of them were just walking across it, instead of running, and getting on their way. Then I looked ahead, up St Vincent Street. Way, way up…

Quite along way up...

So thank goodness for you lot.

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Ruth Runs: GSR 2015 – The Final Playlist *UPDATED*

It’s nearly here! Just two more days until the Great Scottish Run kicks off in Glasgow, where I’ll be running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. I’ve got my shirt, I’ve got my race number, and my wave. All that’s left is to actually do the thing.

Well, that and two more things…

Tonight's job
Tonight’s job
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Other Stuff Ruth Runs

Ruth Runs: Glasgow 2015 – How you can help

No turning back!

I’m doing Glasgow’s Great Scottish Run. I know, I must be a glutton for punishment after last year, right? Well, maybe that’s true – I’ve been in training for a few months now and, well, real life hasn’t made that an easy task, frankly. However, all those difficult weeks are starting to pay off now, as I’m hitting the long distances. And this time out, I’ve got some extra motivation from the reasons why I’m doing this run.
 
I don’t want to be the only one getting the benefit from all this training. So I’ll be running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, and the magnificent work they do with both sufferers and their loved ones. I’ve set up a JustGiving page for donations, if you’re able to do make one. And if you can’t, I’ll be telling you how you can help me support Macmillan without spending a penny.

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Blog Fiction Other Stuff Ruth Runs Writing Process

How Writers Write, and When Runners Run

Cafe-4-mini
 

Tony Ballentyne’s blog series How Writers Write is exactly that. Once a month, he’s interviewed folk like Keith Brooke and Neil Williamson and they’ve duly answered – on where they write, choices of style, and what helps them get into the right frame of mind to create great stories. You’ll find rare insights into the creative process of some ace writers, so it’s well worth a browse.
 
A few weeks ago, Tony dropped me an email with a few of the same questions, and you’ll find my answers (complete with a guest appearance from Millie the cat) in the latest installment.
 
How Writers Write: Ruth EJ Booth – http://tonyballantyne.com/how-writers-write-ruth-booth/
 
Just one more thing before I go:

 
orig-MEDC0209
 

Today marks a year to the day that I ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon in aid of Mind – my first ever running event. So I thought you might like to know I’ve signed up to the Great Scottish Run‘s Half Marathon event in Glasgow in October. I’ll be running for Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of my friend Carol Laird. More on that nearer the time.