Training Log Archive: Magic

Last day of freedom to get to the hills before lockdown part 2. In the Black Mountains supporting Helen Brown on her recording breaking South Wales Traverse. Parked north of Llanbedr and met Helen (with Matt and Ed) on the far side of PCC. Slow but steady then for the next 3 hours, before leaving them to get back to the car via Cruig Mawr. Lovely day to be in the hills and a few new bits for me (but forgot to wear my watch!). Picked up the pace a lot after leaving Helen. Hip stiff and limping for the last 20 minutes.

Day off, but don't remember why!

Run over to Mark and Clare's to drop off bike packing kit. Quads still very sore, but responding well to stretching. Took until about 45 minutes to start feeling okay, but glad to get there.

With Martyn, trespassing into RCT. Quads sore and tight, kept having to stop and stretch them and really struggled going up hill. Nice evening though.

SWOC Street O in St Mellons. Not run here before and it was nice to be somewhere unfamiliar. Quads complaining a lot from about 10 to 30 minutes but then got a bit better. Almost felt like I was running okay (if downhill with a following wind). Think I close a good route (skipping most of the low scoring controls), but as usual, phone only recorded the first 10 minutes before shutting down. May have sore legs tomorrow.

Drive back to Taffs Well before moving to Cardiff for a fortnight while my landlord self isolates in the house.

Western Scotland Gravel bike adventure - Part 7 - campsite to Tummel Bridge.
Didn't meant to create a separate entry for this, but as per Saturday, my watch reset itself while having breakfast. Also stocked up on food as Glen Lyon was looking pretty empty. Cloudy this morning, which started to list while having breakfast.

Western Scotland Gravel bike adventure - Part 8 Tummel Bridge to Glen Lyon.
This was great. At least once the trek back up to Kinlock Rannock was over. Climb through Rannock Forest was really nice and perfect for gravel bikes, as was the track across the moor and the descent down into Glen Lyon. Stopped briefly at a map at the bottom to see a cafe marked just up the road. Headed off with fingers crossed. Cafe open and with plenty of cake. Clouds had also lifted and the sun briefly came out.

Western Scotland Gravel bike adventure - Part 9 - Glen Lyon to Tyndrum.
Last stage, but broken halfway for a remote lunch stop. After having a gently but nevertheless consistent headwind for the past few days was hoping that it would be behind us today. But no, the clouds have brought with them a westerly wind, so the cycle up the glen (supposedly the longest, lovely and loneliest in Scotland) was into a stiff and cool wind.

Tar mac ran out after the last dam and the lake side track was very bumpy on my pretty tender contact points. Was glad that there was no rush and the bumps could be negotiated slowly! This was the only section with river crossings, which meant able half a dozen paddles through pretty cold water. Lovely descent after the pass at the end of Loch Lyon but surprised to then learn that there was another climb back up towards Tyndrum. Did the climb on the West Highland Way, which was somewhat nice than the bust A road, then a final smooth descent to Tyndrum.

Great trip all around, but made special with so much sun. Route was really varied and offered loads, shame to miss out on the Glenfinnan section but was the right call. Hop to be back to discover more in the not too distant future.