Training Log Archive: Big Jon

To Badnaban and back.

Up Conival and Ben More Assynt. Out 5-15 moving 4-45. Tough long climb then bouldertastic on the ridge, you really wouldn't want to fall with he sharp edges of quartzite looking pretty wicked.

Loch Buine Moire, across and back, felt very cold on entering water but oK once going. Managed to survive without monster shakes afterwards.

Drove to Kirkaig bridge and ran along the riverbank path from there - much more pleasant than the road (and no locals tooling along at 60). Legs felt bad at start but perkier by end, maybe getting used to the morning runs.

Wander round the peat-road loop from Drumbeg. Pleasant but breezy morning. Out for about 90 minutes.
Then after lunch headed east past Nedd, great name ;-) and wandered down to Loch Ardbhair and looked at the broch - but it was separated from us by a 2m wide channel among seaweed coated rocks... so didn't attempt to jump it! Saw several red deer on the way down including an impressive stag with huge 12 point antlers. Living well in the birch woods.
Out about 30 minutes.

Loch Drumbeg - very windy so chose western end to try to avoid worst of the wind-chop on the water. Raining and cold but once in water was same as ever.

Along to River Kirkaig and up path. Legs felt bad at start but a wee bit better by end.

Lochinver, up river then back via Glen Canisp house. Felt reasonable for first 40 minutes then legs gave up and I really struggled.

Loch an Arbhair, nice splash in the rain.

Morning jog, left again and managed to move up hill a bit better this morning. Down to road end at Badnaban and back. A bit drizzly and overcast - lovely running conditions.

Chilled day, drove to Scourie and wandered along peninsula to west. Lots of divers (of the avian variety).

Swimming in Loch Unapool. Didn't stay in so long today and avoided the shivers after :-)

Morning jog, turned right out of door (same as days 1&2). Felt a little worse at start but better by end.

Walk up Cul Mor. Felt a bit slow at start but OK till near top - very steep boulder field - and struggled here. Lovely descent and stopped for a quick skinny dip in a wee lochan half way down (unnamed but feeding into the Allt Lochan Dearg a' Chuill Mhoir). Warm water but a bit weedy.
Swam 25 strokes, so passes the HQ definition of a swim :-)
Walking for 3 hours

Swim across Loch an Ais. Gentle swim across and back, felt a bit light-headed during return and really struggled with cold after - shivering violently until soup and hot chocolate at Elphin Tea room saved the day.

Went the other direction this morning - uphill start, not good. Shorter than yesterday because:

Walk up Suilven. Went from Inverkirkaig, east summit then west summit - refusal on last 50m, too much exposure.
Track fairly wet and rough in places. Out for 6-45. Fairly knackered by end - pushed return to make sure we got to the teashop at Inverkirkaig before it closed ;-)
We did!

Walking for 5-45

River Kirkaig, next to old bridge, lovely deep pool, fast current. Splashed around a bit, tried to swim upstream - comical!

Managed to get 10% further over yesterdays distance, so celebrated by adding 5 mins on. Still a bit shuffley.

Walks in Culag Wood and Assynt trust newly established woodland (moor with a few trees here and there - should look good in another 30-40 years!).
Out about 3 hours total.

Loch a Choin (south of Inverkirkaig). Lovely little loch tucked into hills 200m from road. Very enjoyable - sun was out which made it seem more bearable, but shuddering with cold by end.