Training Log Archive: Big Jon

From top of Craig Lash (CP95) to Arntilly Craig and through woods back over Long Cairn. Pleasant running though trail shoes so not best in forest.
Walked to top of Craig Lash with E - 30 mins or so.

Suie with E. Good cover but had problems early on with no grip, no glide and then balling up. Not really sure why, probably snow temp or too much sun on snow at that point? Frustrating but we carried on and found some better areas, a lot of out and back on the big forest roads as smaller tracks or rides were snow free (under trees).
Really enjoyed lots of this, some good spells leading and then some following - much easier to follow the newly made tracks with good glide :-)
Shame the forest is just a tree factory - endless billions of spruce trees planted inches apart and tall, dark and spindly... Still bits looked quite nice blanketed in snow :-)

To and from Cross Roads - teeter over the ice at DAP then road fine till in shadow - got off and walked for half a mile, then fine to access to Mill Maud. Coming back thought I'd try the Lumphanan road (A road so better gritted...) not so, pushed bike up through field to top road and walked along a bit further then tentatively cycled to the sunshine. Deeside Way was totally fine apart for the Dess burn bridge which is lethal...

Up to Mill Maud, lovely bit of natural woodland then pleasant pine plantation with even a wee path in it. Great views from summit, stunning day with sunshine and just a few clouds over the North Sea and some of the far western hills.

Lap of Dess Woods with S, trying to find non-icy paths - mostly very successful :-)
A bit tense on rougher sections due to foot but didn't jar it and it has eased off afterwards quite a bit. Maybe aim for longer tomorrow.

rest day - foot still a bit sensitive and tweaky if twisted or jarred. No long-term damage but let it settle a bit.
Went for a walk to CP69 - monument near Cambus. I'd forgotten how spectacular the view is from it towards Lochnagar, esp with a solid white covering of snow on it.

Craig Rath (CP100), a bit of fresh snow on a mix of clear paths and ice... All good apart from last section near top - heavily rutted crusty icy snow - too many previous Deeside Runners :-) and I twisted my foot in a drainage channel. A bit tender and tweaky for the rest of the descent so extra careful.
Fantastic weather - blue skies and sun out. A bit of a sneaky wind at top but views were superb.
Very happy with the run and only had a couple of stops on the way up. Met 2 others, both hill walkers.

Back to Zoom for the session. Ribs fine for most - the worst pain was when trying to get up from the floor!