Training Log Archive: SarahD

Tired. Helping at club training am.

Well this must be one of the grittiest runs I've done in a long time. Plan was for the Auchenhove skyline from KH house. 7 of us in total, 4 of whom had raced last night, so I thought I should be in ok company. Felt just dreadful from the start, but told myself it would improve once I got warmed up. It was a stunning morning (both moonset and sunrise), a few cms of snow, and good company helps a lot. So I dug in and brought up the rear most of the way, but did feel a bit brighter by the top of Craiglich. We lost our line heading off the end of the ridge to the first road crossing and had a fair bit of felled / windblow / gorse tramping before we escaped. At Lumphanan we were a good bit behind time so 4 folk headed back by the roads while I continued towards Dess with KH (on a mission) and ME. V appreciative of Js date slice when we stopped in at home and I v nearly had a refusal to go back out again. But my car had to be retrieved at some point so I continued with them along the DW and then up towards Mortlich. That was going to be a hill too far for me though, so I left the girls at the col and turned down the track to return to the start point by the low track / road option. Bit of an epic.

Jog over from home to DAP then a second jog with KH and a last few minutes just to be sure.

Dess woods night race. Gorgeous night in the end. Bright moon and a few cms of snow on the ground. Set off faster than planned but didn't want to lose a bunch of the girls. With EC for the first lap and half of the 2nd, until the climb up from the waterfall where she dropped me for dead. Tied up a bit after that and got caught by ME going through the fields. Dug in, but couldn't catch her down the hill. Still pretty pleased with the race. First time I've ever got my lungs really going in a night race I think. 2nd FV and only a couple of minutes behind SW. Pretty chuffed to have run 3 races by the 13th Jan.

Lovely run from Corsedarder out to the caper closure, over Craiglash then drop into Finzean woods. Fresh morning.

Been meaning to get some more time on skis, but the weather etc. never seems quite right. 2 x out and back laps of Aboyne castle grounds. Slow into the headwind on the way out.

Didn't fancy the long trek up to Forvie on a night like this. Shame - one of my favourite areas.

Test running for 6 days D4. First time on the CC extension. Felt pretty wild and lonely up there today. Has the makings of a memorable event, hopefully for the right reasons!

Checking out Coull for DNC. Foot ok, but going v slowly and carefully in the terrain.