Training Log Archive: Mal

Aonach Eagach
Couldn't resist getting back up high before leaving the west coast. Had wanted to do Aonach Eagach previously but never got around to it didn't think it would be too bad similar to Striding Edge or Crib Goch so decided to head up.
Got in to fog just on the ridge and was fine. Hit the second down climbing bit as a roped up group approached from below. Let their lead go up and then nipped down slightly cautiously as it was super greasy and felt like little room for error. Heading up the other side and was a bit hmmmm, what if it's all like that? Can I down climb this bit? Can I get back up that last bit? Lost my bottle for a bit but realised I was fairly committed at that point so had to go onward. Saw a much nicer looking traversing path but that just appeared to drop off a cliff so went back and along the ridge. Caught up a pair of walkers on the pinnacles so buddied up with them along that section and then ran on. Got caught by a Kiwi (Lowrie?) who was out reccying for the skyrace so joined him for the remainder and back to the car along the valley.

Interesting day but enjoyed it.

The Ben. 48th (47th man)

Set out fairly steady a bit apprehensive about was was to come. Hit the climb and slipped back a few places with Tom and Joe coming past and Harry appearing on my shoulder. Then got a second wind to Red Burn and pulled away from Tom and Harry passing Math and a few others just tracking Sam Stead.
Got on to the rear of a Lochaber runner on the cuts and could see Joe just ahead in the fog and a quick glance behind saw Tom, Taddison and Sam Stead. Pretty pleased so far. Started to flag a little by the time I hit the plateau and Tom and Sam ran away here but they were the only ones. Cheered everyone as they came through and hit the top and set off down on a crazy descent. Caught up to Joe and Sam fairly quickly and ran down together none of us pushing too hard as we couldn't see the path and it was so busy. Got below Red Burn and had a quick glance behind only Pete Davies had stuck with us surprisingly and he blew straight past whilst Joe, Sam and I minced onward. Nearly caught up to the back of two runners ahead as we neared the road. Joe and I both had the same thought, "Sam is going to pounce as soon as we're on the flat", sure enough he motored off catching the two in the front fairly comfortably. Joe and I proceeded to have a slow motion race down the road but managed to get a slight gap and hold it in to the finish to be 4th AAC runner. Happy with that!

Great race will definitely be back!

Not much before had a bit of a stressful journey there arriving fairly late.

Easy back up the road afterwards. Bumped in to Selwyn jogging down so ran with him for a bit. Then a little more to get up to 2km. Legs surprisingly ok.

Run along the Northumberland Coast from Cheswick dunes up to the mouth of the Tweed and back. Absolutely stunning, Scremerston beach is such a nice place! Getting dark by the end. 13km in the hour then 1km faffy jog to the beach and back from the car to get a photo.

Saw some dolphins too.

Out with John. Along the Tyne to Dunston then up the Teams Cycleway. Then slightly overshot it and decided to go along and up to Saltwell Park. Back via the Great North Road and Millenium Bridge. Feeling amazing surprisingly.

Easy around Newburn with Anna

Down to Swalwell and Blaydon then along the river to Dunston and back up via Lobley Hill. Felt very dozy and unmotivated this morning but better once I'd gotten out.