Training Log Archive: SarahD

Home up to x-roads then back roads towards Cushnie, Towie etc reaching Strathdon at Glenkindie. Brief glance at map before I left had failed to spot the undulating nature of these roads and was mostly into a headwind too, so took longer than expected to get up to Strathdon. Nice quiet route though and lots of bits that were new to me. Pit stop at SD then decided to head to Ballater via Bouties as I couldn't face more headwind climb. Much easier going that way and perked up a bit. Onto the DW at Cambus to get away from the traffic. Coffee at the Bothy before heading home by the SD Rd. Saddle sore and tired by the end, but a good trip out. On MTB with road slicks, but would have been a lot less effort on a decent road bike.

Feel good run round Glen Fearder, except I didn't feel good. Mixed it up with some botanical pottering too, so still an enjoyable jaunt. Out to Auchtavan, then across and up Meall Gorm to my favourite rock-garden crag, then back down the south side. Not sure why I'm feeling quite so knackered though.

Hanging, moving, and collecting controls at Bennachie. Dreich and midgy. Hopefully the last controls I need to look at before the 6-days.

Gramp event at Crathes. Midsummer's evening but you needed a headtorch to have any hope of reading the map in the forest in the peeing rain. Colours all seemed really dark even before leaving the car and was struggling to find where the next control was, never mind read the detail. Not helped by getting mud all over the map when I crashed down after getting both feet caught on the way to 3. Got caught by EC after no 6 and unashamedly decided to use her, just about managing to cling on without having much clue where we were going! Made me run a bit faster... up to then feeling heavy legged and a bit indigestiony. Managed to take in all the grottiest bits of Crathes too. Ahh Gramp summer series, just love it.

5x4'+2' out the main track to Half Way Hut. Steady uphill all the way, so distances not really relevant, but felt like I never hit top gear. Bum bag with camera bouncing around didn't help.

Exploring bits of GT I've never ventured into before. Out a bit longer than planned.

Up at Huntly so took the opportunity to do some skating laps of the track at the end. Did the cut-through a couple of times which helped get my confidence back up as the hill didn't seem so bad.