Training Log Archive: Big Jon

Aboyne to home along river bank - lovely day and very pleasant run, saw several fish jumping. Waded Tarland burn - but a rope across it now, so much easier. Pushed last section - ca 10 minutes or so.

Home to Iain's then railway line to Aboyne, through castle grounds to Tarland road, up new bit of track then cut down to new bridge over Tarland burn and up to Mortlich, headed north from top and dropped northeastwards to check out new track on hillside, eventually found it - a huge scar - 10-15m wide with track and spoil. Sunk into hillside at steep angle with no drainage - should do well when the first heavy rain comes - 5m deep gullies anyone? Utterly incompetent track construction. back via moor of Dess and along west of road then crossed Dess burn at some fallen willows below new pond near main road. Good to get a long run in - first for a long time! Felt Ok throughout, drank about 3/4l of water, no need for food. Left thigh and buttock stiffening at times - definitely something to do with deep problem in left buttock, perhaps should get some investigation done into it.

Picking up last 7 control flags from Wednesday training. Lovely warm day and the west end of Shooting Greens is getting better every time I visit it. With a re-map it would be a great area for a high class middle distance race.

Spent the rest of the day digging and sieving soil, moving rocks and general heavy duty gardening.

rest day - feeling tired and trying to get a map drawn up - finished at 11pm

Hanging controls in Shooting Greens for training session. A couple of back-trackings - once I realised previous control was in wrong place and then I was missing the last control (didn't find it, but Sarah spotted it and brought it back while out on course). Line courses were too hard for most at the training......

Trimming branches off trees for white course (larch along a fence) - 20 mins hard work trying to get back in time for first starters - failed!

Glen Tanar with Deeside Runners, 6x2+2 flat, 6x1+1 hills. Big turn out - Dan W, Sam, James E, Dave H, Alan T, Alan Smith..... trailing off back on some, in the mix on most. Felt it was a good session and got a kick out of it. Dripping wet - really humid and mild despite overcast sky.

2 bridges loop and hill to duckpond.

Hil of Banchory - lovely sunny day, cool air. Nice run, largely in woods round edge of HoB housing development - lots of blaeberry growth in parts.

Mat work, feeling OK, if a little rusty after 2 weeks off.

1 hour walking briskly round Kinker delivering election leaflets.