Training Log Archive: SarahD

Late afternoon potter along through Bellwood and back by the DW.

Feeling much better today but stomach still a bit gurggley. Taking things easy but joined J for a wee swim in Loch Kinord. Felt pretty chilly and 10' was enough.

Violently sick in the middle of the night :-(
Note to self:
1. Don't ignore signs that say "Don't drink the water"
2. Use puri tabs on a trip like that. There really wasn't anywhere to pick up safe water yesterday short of knocking on a door.
3. And if you think you've drunk dodgy water, don't whatever you do have liver for tea. Just don't.
Keeping liquid down ok now. Will try a but more later.

Cateran trail part 2. Ok nights bivvy above Alyth and not awake as early as I thought I might be. Gorgeous morning. Thankfully the coos didn't come to check me out until I was up and about.
Section over to Glenisla is the same as the start of the RuTH, so knew what was to come. Took a while to get going and even once I did I wasn't moving very fast, but felt comfortable enough. Consequently took somewhat longer to reach Glenisla than anticipated, but wasn't really fussing about the time. Brief stop there for a snack and water refill (from the "Don't drink this water" tap in the toilet block).
Next section over towards Forter was really pleasant and I took a shortcut to go round the edge of Auchintaple Loch rather than following the weird line of the trail over the back. Glad I did, as this was my favourite spot of the trail and had a lovely lunch stop at the loch edge.
A fair bit of road then followed and I started getting pretty footsore. By the time I left the road I was struggling to keep a run going, so it was a slow last 5 miles back to the Spittle. Wasn't too impressed at some of the detours to avoid property, such as the one just 1km before the end that hikes you an extra 35m straight up the hill, just to come back down again. Otherwise a great day and really enjoyed seeing some of the hidden bits of these glens.
Felt that my pack was too heavy (~7kg) and ended up with a lot of rubbing. Must remember the greasy stuff next time and maybe invest in a lightweight sleeping bag.

C • Good one! 1

Cateran trail part 1. Trusting the weather forecast it seemed like there was a weather window from midday today until early afternoon tomorrow. Set off from Spittal of Glenshee just after 11:00. No rain but cloud right down. Have previously run the first section over to Enochdu on the old relay, but didn't remember a right lot about it. Climb was over soon enough, but everything was v wet underfoot, so even heading down over seemed to take an age. Sun was coming out by the time I reached Kirkmichael in 1:45 and time for a bacon roll / coffee at the shop. Next stretch to Bridge of Cally looked pretty flat on the map and I hoped to make good time. Ha ha. It was lovely but it wasn't flat and it was v v boggy. Best part of 2h to cover this stretch. Then it was onto the road for a bit, but seemingly always heading up over. Then when we reached a flat bit the path disappeared into a jungle of undergrowth- more slow going. By the time things improved I was struggling to keep any sort of run going. So Alyth in 5:45, big slap up pizza at a pub then waddle back up the hill again to find somewhere to kip. Tired, a bit chafed, and at least one blister, but hopefully will feel perkier in the morning. Tough day.

Glen Tanar old 5x4 route steady with J, JR and TR. Felt easy enough. Dank and midgey but good chat.

Feeling quite lethargic and unmotivated all day, but eventually convinced myself to have a wee potter on the bike. Headed out steady on SDRd from Aboyne - Dinnet and almost turned back along the A93 as I still wasn't really into it. However, went over the crossroads and once onto the Dinnet straight I got my head down and put some effort in. And somehow I just carried on beasting it back from Ordie towards Tarland and Aboyne, head down so that I couldn't see the climb and when it felt tough I tried to make myself change up instead of down. That really wasn't the plan - fun though!