Training Log Archive: SarahD

Cycled with J and E from Braeintra round the coast road to Kyle, via Plockton. Overcast at the start of the day and turned showery by lunchtime. From Kyle decided to pop over the bridge to Skye and the teashop at Kyleakin. Returned to Kyle to catch the train back to Stromeferry, from where we pushed the bikes back up the hill then cruised back to Braeintra. Out all day but only a couple of hours cycling. Fun!

Wall to wall blue skies all day. Walked with E up to the high point of the track from Achnahinich to Balmacara then picked lots of blaeberries on the way down, before driving over to meet up with J at Balmacara at luchtime so that I could do some....

... on the first part of the Balmacara map. Really heavy going at the start uphill through bracken, long grass, scattered birch wood and rough ground. Character building stuff, particularly in the heat with flies and clegs buzzing around. Waved at a few of my early 'controls' from a safe distance, but somehow managed to keep pretty good map contact. Fantastic wild untamed feel to the place. After crossing the fence to the area grazed by cattle the going was much easier and the orienteering really pleasant, with THE most amazing views to Skye etc. Felt like I'd hardly run but was totally exhausted.

Then a bit of a potter with J and E on the bikes in the afternoon, round Plockton. Felt distinctly wobbly but an ice cream and coffee got me back up the hill to the car.

Travelled over to the W coast with E, to meet up with J at Balmacara. Feeling pretty washed out but there was time for a run before tea and the weather had cleared up nicely. Headed down the road from the B+B at Braeintra to Achmore, then picked a line up onto Creag Mhaol. Steep, rough, and well vegetated, so little running on the hill itself. From the first top dropped through bracken and birch to a col then picked up a bit of a path through the undergrowth onto the second top and a brilliant viewpoint - E up Loch Carron, N to Bealach na Ba and W to PLockton and Skye. Returned to the col then dropped off to the W. There was a bit of a path but half way down it disappeared into 2+m bracken and it took me 10 minutes or so to cover 100m. After escaping the bracken ploughed through bog myrtle etc before thankfully reaching the road. Jog back up the road suddenly seemed really easy.

Went out to Kingshill with the plan of doing some hill reps, but was feeling very tired. Jogged out to my planned start point and felt a bit better, but still not very bouncy, so decided to go for a steady run instead. Felt much better after 25 minutes or so - shame there's not time for a warm-up like that during lunch break. Enjoyed the run round the edge of the woods and over the top. Hopefully fit some hills in tomorrow instead.

Done. And now for a glass of vino collapso - I need it.

1km BrS at Hazlehead. Proper swimming for the first time in several years. Good for a change but I'd soon get bored of it.

C • Where at Hazlehead? 2

Home matwork session

Had to push myself to go out and do this session. 8 x 2' + 1'. Started on the 500m measured track at Hazlehead, but after 2 reps decided that I was going to depress myself too much there, so continued on round the roads / tracks. Felt tough but worked quite hard and felt good about it by the end.

To and from Hazlehead.

Rest Day
Went swimming with Ewan, then paddling once we got home to bail out the back yard.