Training Log Archive: runnermdj

Run from Alva Glen up the land rover track, then over Ben Buck, Ben Cleuch, Andrew Gannel, KS gate and down to Tilli shops. Felt warm bathed in sunshine lower down. Hit snow near the top of the land rover track and from there over the tops was hard work in snow which was a foot deep in places. Quite a surprise there was so much. Cracking day, was lucky the clag only closed in as I came off AG. Descent timed perfectly to catch seeing everybody running the Kirk Craigs race. Very slippy conditions.

Warm up run from Balvormie down to Beecraigs Loch and back with Dan & Jon Gay. Wild day, 4C, cold rain and blowy out of the woods.

Beecraigs Festive Handicap - Got a bit of a shock when I turned up and was given a 55min Handicap for a 14km race! Queried it and was given an ungenerous 23min discount so setting off 2mins before Scotia, 2mins behind Mike Reid who I never beat and 4 - 5mins behind Stewart Whitlie, Dan Gay, Steve F etc who'd I'd hope to be able to race on a good day! No chance of winning Handicap anyway so just got on with it! Started pretty quick and felt OK despite the bad weather. No one in sight after passing folk early who were already on their last lap! Came to a junction heading to Balvormie where I was sure the course turned right but no markings. Knew there was another right turn in 300m or so, so assumed they'd marked wrong junction, but no markings on that one so turned right anyway and picked up the markings again after next junction. Got just past Balvormie and Stewart, Dan, Mike etc came past the other way, depressingly far ahead. Tough up Cockleroi in the wind & rain. Passed the Handicap winner heading for Cockleroi before I'd even finished lap 1! ( lap 1 - 28.40). Heading through Balvormie car park again, it became clear why I was so far behind, the whole field had been going through the dodgy junctions without turning right so lopping off a chunk of the course (1km/lap) and an extra Hill! Kept pushing best I could anyway though the cold rain was starting to get to the legs. At the second dodgy junction there was a new arrow pointing left, the way everyone must've gone, but decided to ignore it and run the (more than) full course. Scott was behind running steady but followed the arrow, so by the end I finished last by a long way! Still enjoyed the run and just unfortunate about the marking issue. Can only take my hat of to the marshals in weather like that. Will take the win though anyway since finished the course! ;-)

Warm down jog back to the car with brother Simon who'd dutifully waited for me at the finish.

Nice run round the trails in Callander Park. Decided against doing the Parkrun since racing tomorrow. Ran with Tracey for the first 20mins.

Pre-work easy steady around Warriston Triangle and Stockbridge loop.

Run across to AS with Stewart

Run from the boulder up the crags, nether hill, dunsapie crag, round the road to pick up the climb up nether via the gorse then down the tourist track and back. A mini version of WASP to break in Paddy and Kev though think they were a bit broken! Still a bit below par on the climbs due to the cold rumbling on a bit, and held back a bit on the downs as the guys were finding them tough. Very windy on the tops. Felt much better for it.

Run back from AS with Stewart.

Warm up round Stockbridge loop then to the Warriston Triangle

First half of Xmas session, 5 x 1min brisk, 1min jog round the Warriston Triangle (managed exactly one lap).

Second half of Xmas session - time trial round the Warriston Triangle. Nine of us running and we set folk off at 30sec intervals in alphabetical order (Chloe, Dessie, Govinder, Iain, Kev, Mike, Paddy, Stewart and me). Ran ok given I've still got a lingering cold. Didn't feel particularly great but worked at it. Tough towards the end. Good fun session, hopefully repeat it next year. Breezy day though mild.

Warm down back to work including the Stockbridge loop.

Run up the WoL and round the cycle path with Stewart, Paddy & Kev.