Training Log Archive: KingTim

After six years of not being able to do this race for one reason or another, I finally got there this year.

Great fun. Fairly wet underfoot, and half way through it started raining.

Ran with Mark B for the first 20mins or so but then he began to pull away and claimed a few more places. I managed to reel in a few runners but was also overtaken by a few, leaving me about 7th for most of the race. Claimed 6th place by overtaking on the long climb back up to Beacon Batch, then almost lost it again on the road section as he bore down on me on the Tarmac. Managed to pull ahead again on the last bit through the fields and finished in 7th (must have lost count somewhere).

I was hoping for sub-90 so I was very happy with my time.

Well done Mark on 3rd place.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/389740527

Having missed out on the fell race a couple of weeks ago I felt I had to get a decent hilly run done while in Scotland. Waited all week for the weather to improve enough to have cloud free peaks. Totally cloudless morning but of course freezing to go with it.

Actual moving time 1:33. Did a loop from the head of Loch Creran. Long haul up a forest track climbing up from the bottom of Glen Creran, then a steep little wet muddy path up to the saddle looking down towards Ballachulish. Along the ridge up and down a couple of little summits with a quick stop for photos on the highest one. Bit further along the ridge before dropping down a long, rocky and tussocky spur and into the woods.

Then it all went a bit bad. The woods were far from runnable with deep waterlogged furrows and dense foliage. And then a large area of recent felling bounded by an 8ft deer fence which I had to climb twice, either side of scrambling my way over the brashings.

Apart from the last half hour this was a beautiful run. Highlight was running down the spur with a massive herd of deer, like maybe a hundred of them keeping just ahead of me as I descended from the ridge. The stags were growling/barking every so often, presumably just letting me know who was in charge. And as a bonus I found a two-pronged antler on the ground which I carried back with me as a trophy.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/389373707

Visiting Dad in Scotland. Waited patiently for several days for my cold to fully clear out.

Morning run on the trails around Fearnoch Forest, including a km off trail through some pristine forest terrain. Beautiful.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/389373683

Family walk up into the clouds on Beinn Lora. Maya on my back, Raffy on Laura's, and Grandpa carrying provisions.