Training Log Archive: SarahD

Full lap of the course at Knockburn as w-u. Short jog around after.

Knockburn x-c 3 miler. Wasn't totally up for this, but generally felt ok once I got going. Legs a bit heavy on the hill, especially the second lap. Pretty happy with position and time. Not many senior or vet ladies running but will be good to check time against CW as a benchmark. E running 15s/km quicker than me on his course.

Time to get back to this again.

Cow shit squelch - so good to be home. Legs feeling heavy but nice to be able to breathe again. Didn't realise at the time just how much the altitude was affecting me.

Travelling home Thu night.

Chilling out at A+R's on the ILRI campus in Addis. Pool was really quite refreshing - not that warm here the last couple of days.

Took a taxi up to the church at the top of Entoto, a good way beyond where I reached yesterday. After touring round set off to run back down, adding in a bit of an extra loop on one of the more popular running routes through the forest. No runners there today ( several hours too late probably) but lots of female wood carriers transporting huge loads on their shoulders down to Market. Continued on down the road to Entoto market before stopping to do some shopping etc.
Cool and cloudy this morning. Good for running but not so good for the views over Addis.

From Entoto market continued on back to S's house with a jog / walk. Feeling very tired and footsore from too much hard surface. Took 70' total.

Exploring the Entoto hills (playground of the local running community) behind S's house, on foot. Armed only with a compass and a vague knowledge of the geography, I was set for a bit of an adventure. Climbed up to the N through eucalyptus forest, across a road and on further until I came out onto some pasture land. Turned W along a forest track, but then dived along a smaller path heading further NW again. Came to a steep drop into a gorge with a very small stream in it which I wanted to cross but had to descend through thicker forest to do this. Then picked a small path / animal track on the other side heading downstream, deep in the forest by now. After ~5' of this I came across what I now realise to be a spotted hyena lying on the track in front of me. Not quick enough to get my camera out, but no doubts about the id. Eventually I came to a bigger river which I knew would take me back to civilisation if I followed it downstream. It ran down through a wider, pretty valley with bits of footpath alongside and I even came across another runner for reassurance. Reached a tarmac road and decided to try and head further NW in the vague direction of a church up in the hills. I was into urban areas now and continued mainly walking. After a good long while and some busy market streets, I eventually found a church. I wasn't convinced it was what I was looking for (it wasn't) but as I'd been going for long enough I decided to head back down the hill via some back lanes. After much zig-zagging and winding I eventually got myself back down to the city ring road at a point I knew from the GER, and walked the last 3.5km back alongside it. Sore feet by the end from too much tarmac / hard surfaces, but a really good exploratory outing. Had lots of people calling after me, but really didn't get too much hassle and didn't feel too on edge.
Out for ~4.5h

Early morning splash at Lodge pool.

At Wenchi volcanic crater (~3200m). From the rim dropped down ~400m into the crater and then continued round the lake edge. Took a boat across to a wee island with a monastery, then on to the other side. Continued round via some hidden valleys, muddy wetlands (shoes off), water mills and thermal springs. Met a group of locals walking up the last climb who were moving at a good pace and as we hit the steep bit two of the ladies started to break into a trot. My competitive nature came to the fore and we pushed on up the last climb at a good lick! Very beautiful scenery. Slightly overcast day, so good temperature for walking. Out for ~4hrs.