Training Log Archive: runnermdj

Tracey's (day before) Birthday Munro run with Tracey & Andrea. Started at Forest Lodge by Victoria Bridge and headed up to the first Munro Stob a' Choire Odhair via the standard route. Just over an hour to the top. Lovely clear day with great views, cool on the tops and very little wind, perfect! Headed across to Stob Ghabhar via the (other) Aonach Eagach ridge. Great climb in a dramatic setting. Did a detour coming off Stob Ghabhar to visit a remaining snow patch to help out with some data and photos for the Scottish snow patch survey. A bit tricky scrambling down to it. By the time I regained the ridge T & A were far in the distance so had to up the descending pace to catch them. Really enjoying the run and feeling good, until Andrea decided to put the boot in on the 400m climb to Clach Leathad! Had to hang on at pretty much race pace on the steep climb. Thankfully the pace calmed a bit from there but made the rest of the run much tougher than it should have been, legs wobbling a bit on the stoney run across to Creise. Reached the last Munro Meall a' Bhuiridh after 3h 30m. The run off was pretty rough in places, in particular the path under the chairlift at the end. Magic day out and legs definitely feeling it by the end.

Started at Alva Glen Car Park and ran to Tilli via Farriers, then up the Run of the Mill climb to the gate below Kingseat. Ran the climb quite hard, only 1min slower than the race last year, so not bad so soon after cold. Felt much better today, definitely beyond the bugs. Carried on fairly hard to Andrew Gannel. Was sunny and warm on the climb above Tilli (as it always is!), but started chucking down with rain just a couple of minutes before the top of AG. Cowered down below a crag and put on thermal, gilet, waterproof, hat & gloves and waited a while until I could see the leaders of the Ochils 2000 race coming off Kingseat. Ran on to The Law and got there just a couple of minutes ahead of Hector Haines who had a big lead by then. Carried on to Ben Cleuch where the next pack caught up. Took the direct route to Ben Ever and arrived at there just after Hector. Stayed on Ben Ever for a while seeing quite a few folk through before a brisk descent to the car so I could get to Stirling Uni to see the finish. Mixed day of hefty showers, but beautiful in between with sharp colourful views. Great to be out on the Scottish hills again.

Ran down to Holyrood then round the Queens Drive clockwise. Climber the crags on the way round to get a bit of off road/climb. Feeling quite bit better, though not top fit uphill! Ran with marco. Nice weather.

Ran along Queens St, Dean Path, Ravelston to Corstorphine Hill and back with Marco. Lungs definitely working harder on the climbs and not totally got rid of the cold but ok. Annoying to feel so rubbish on the hills after all the good running on hols!

Ran from work (St Andrews Square) down to Holyrood, up the bog, back down Queens Drive and back, with Marco. Definitely improved today but not out the woods yet. Kept it fairly easy pace.

Lungs probably worse today so another day off :-(