Training Log Archive: SarahD

In Glen Ey for a night shift on the DR Aberdeenshire Munros & Corbetts relay. With LP. Leaving plenty of time and making it relaxed.

Glen Ey to Glenshee over An Socach, Cairn a Gheoidh, Cairnwell & Carn Aosda. Took a direct line up AS which was v steep & hard on the calfs, but got us up onto the ridge quickly and going was good from there. Descended straight off the back of AS picking up the wee path for the steep descent, then striking off round the side of the hill , trying to minimise height gain & loss. Was less boggy, heathery and peat-hagged than I remembered and the climb up onto CaG was good underfoot too. After that we were onto proper paths and tracks for the most part. Felt really good physically after a couple of easy / rest days and could have pushed the pace more, but was actually dropping L! Stomach felt a bit bleugh - shouldn’t have gone for the extra coffee whilst waiting at nick’s in Braemar! Nice night and got light much sooner than I expected, with some lovely light in the sky. I do love a good night run :-))

Sitting out a beautiful day to save my energy for DR relay leg.

From Tarland up to Tillypronie to cheer on the changeover on the DR relay. Thought I was going to miss them so flogged myself up the hill - then had ages to wait! Spin back via Redburn and Ordie.

A ridgey circuit of Beinn Dearg’s Choire Grande from the head of Loch Glascarnoch. Started over the wee top of Carn Loch nan Eilean then a steep scrabble up onto the south ridge of Cona Mheall. Sadly it clagged over just as I hit the crest - shame as it’s a cracking wee ridge and the views would have been great. Took the usual line from CM over to BD then descended by its south ridge to Creag nan Choire Ghranda. Dropped to cross the Allt Mhucarnich by a somewhat sketchy line that steepened up as I descended - fair amount of heather clinging and bum shuffling to find a way through the crags. Then it was back up to finish along the Meallan Mhurcaidh ridge - much nicer than the bogfest down in the valley. Good day out though it felt like progress was painfully slow. Not much in the way of easy ground mind! Back to the van without seeing another sole again!

Chill Little Assynt loop with EF & HP. Stayed dry for the duration - the monsoon came later! Legs feeling pretty ok. Plenty good chat!

Afternoon wander up to the lochan for a dip. Set off from the house in the sun, but raining by the time I was in the water. Water much warmer than a few weeks ago and felt quite comfortable in for 5’.

In Corriemulzie from the old schoolhouse.

Seana Braigh from the north. Been wanting a revisit to SB since my night epic on the VWMR last year - I didn’t get to see much of it then and wasn’t really in a fit state to appreciate it either! Forecast for today looked good, so was a bit disappointed to wake in LI and not even see Suilven! Thankfully by the time I reached the start of the ride in it had cleared out nicely over SB and was dry underfoot. On that basis I decided to go for the scramble up the An Sgurr ridge which was a great choice with stunning views into the choires etc. A bit of interest near the AS top itself, but nothing that had me unduly worried. Once onto the plateau it was an easy run round to the main top then back off the ridge to the west to return to the bike. Lots of nice light and sunshine, and a brief shower too. Lovely mountain- glad I returned.

Back oot. Dip in the rock pools near the schoolhouse.
Never saw a sole from start to finish!

LK reps in the rain - 9x3’+1’. Legs still a bit tired to do a really good session, but seemed like a plan to get some quality out of the way today and let me play tmrw. Not so bad that I didn’t make myself go a bonus rep, just all a bit slow!
Liking the new shoes - fingers crossed.