Training Log Archive: olsoran

Day 1:
Bus from Newtonmore to the start at the Nature Reserve CP 5k west of Kinloch Laggan. Weather looking pretty good. The usual trepidation at not knowing what the MM would turn up. Creag Meagaidh – that’s what. Quick trip to the bushes before the start then off. Don’t bother with marking on the map – we’ll work out the GRs as we go along, but being very careful to double check each time.

Turn off the track, cross the bridge and head uphill through low heather towards 1. Get used to the scale again, keep going, pass various teams looking for the boulder way too early. No problem.

Number 2 is simple – back down to the stream, cross it getting the first of many feet wettings. Jog along the bank to the stream junction. Sun shining.

Number 3 is way more demanding. Great views of snowy crags of Creag Meagaidh in front of us as we join the track and run along it until it starts going uphill just before Lochan a'Choire when we slow to a quick walk. It’s a long snow slope and we can see lines of dots way above moving back and forth. We grind at our own pace all the way up to “The Window”. K 20 yards or so behind. The nice friendly teams in front had created the perfect snow ladder. Great views back down to the lochan and others toiling below. Search & Rescue tent watching on from the snowy top as we trudged up to them – a friendly greeting and the cloud comes over again. A mighty cold job they had. An iron post on the col and there was the kite.

On to 4 – getting blowy now, keep moving to stay warm. Up the hill slope directly opposite 3. K found it hard to overtake another team, the snow outside the footprints being too deep. Then we made the summit ridge of Stob Poite Coire Ardair. Control a short way along on the snow covered top.

Too chilly to waste time, compass out, this next one should be a blast. Fabulous snow, sunshine and great snow slopes to run down. Jog down admiring the great views all around. Hit a small stream – grab some water and then contour all the way round to the knoll and no 5. All good so far and in fair shape.

6 was the first intro to the peat hags. Down into the shallow valley trying to avoid height loss – across some of the aforementioned. Left hand route over the shoulder of Beannain Beaga and down into a slightly steeper valley, through more deep snow and up the other side. Meet others who’d taken the right hand route. Not far round to the nice wee Lochan An Doire. Another one ticked off. A gel required.

The last three controls could be taken in any order but it seemed a no brainer to us. We could see the first of our three way in the distance on a small hill but across more peat hags. Keep left of the river and just straight line it. Crossed paths with Andrew McM and Ali R at this point and exchanged pleasantries. Started to tire, but pushed on to the top of the knoll steadily.

It was the same type of ground to 8. Again we could see the hill top from afar but saved a bit of height by not dropping too low into a valley. More peat hags. Slowing up significantly now but a steady trudge took us up to the hilltop.

Dog legged out of 8 to the foot of the hill then It was an uphill grind over a col and down the other side to 9 on a stream junction. The finish marquee and banner was in sight. The last long slog downhill for 3k. Just time for K to fall foul of the 4 foot wide and 3 foot deep muddy ditch that looked like just any old puddle. Pre-warned I jumped it. Looking forward to the official photographs that were being taken at that point. :-)

Very tired but satisfied. Good chat over pasta, tea and shortcake. Then joined by Andrew and Ali. Then Bruce D on Haglofs duty. Nice job if you can get it :-)

They didn’t have beer and ceilidhs at MMs in my day. Managed one dance and went to bed…it was too painful. Too much beer is not a good idea when over 50 and sleeping in a tent at an MM.

Don't feel 100% today. Would have done a Hazlehead circuit but rest far better than go down with something properly.

Usual

To and from Burnett Park.

5 x 2/1 mins round cricket pitch. K also. Should maybe have done more but didn't fancy it after the last few days. More important to be fresh for next weekend.

With K in GoD later on.

Family marathon record pruned considerably. Watched it being taken apart albeit very painfully in the second half

C • New record 2