Training Log Archive: Big Jon

With RC, good day, cold and windy but mostly sunny. From Glenmuick junction up big track then cut off to Craig Vallich (CP63) then along track (and first solid snow patch) to Cairn Leuchan (CP64), continued along track to south dropping into the head of Glen Tanar and up other side, some big snow drifts in track but pretty firm and good going. nearly to the wee hut and cut off across the peat hags (worst on the DR points so far). Seemed endless but eventually reached Head of Black Burn (CP68) and turned north onto some suddenly runnable ground. Realised just in time the ground isn't quite right and turned east to cross a burn and up to the real HoBB! Would have been embarrassing to miss a summit - and its a bloody long way to come back for it! Turned north and headed to the Quartz Cliff (CP67). Amazing vertical cliff in a wee corrie with nothing like it for miles around. Some great snow drifts in the top of it, but a bit steep/hard to try running down them. Crossed back to the big track and wended our weary way back up to near Cairn Leuchan retracing our steps (no real other option). Wind was at its worst dropping down the big diagonal track , but at least it helped cushion the legs a bit on the 2.5km descent. Still running at end, tired legs but nothing too badly sore.
Great day out with stunning views of Lochnagar and Beinn Avon/BheinnA'Bhuird in the sun with a covering of fresh snow.

Rest day, feeling weary after past week and another long one planned for tomorrow. Walk round Queens Loch - filing up after the draining & dredging of last year.

Redburn/Braes loop with EC, first part on tracks then into woods - so nice at this time of year. Visited the Poldhu Wells at end.
Breathing poor at start but settled into it.

Up Glen Muick from van to start of track. Into a head wind and a remarkable amount of climb compared to how it feels in a car :-)
Legs not feeling great... but hey ho, and into...

Cul nan Gad (CP53), Fasheilach (CP59) and Creag Dearg through didn't look particularly red to me (CP62).
Legs really not great at start (possibly still not recovered from Tuesday) but gradually got going into the swing of things at a nice low intensity run/walk up the climbs. Windy but cloud stayed well above me (only just on the plateau of Lochnagar for most of the run). Snow patches were distinctly firmer than Tuesday, so glad there were no steep ups or downs!
Long descent off Fasheilach across fairly decent going - some peat hags but many still snow filled, ground fairly firm - maybe still frozen?
Bit of a slog up Creag Dearg, but only 100m climb, then onto path and a nice descent back to van. Met JO near the top - she was just doing the one point today as she'd been up several already this week.
Pleased to see run at less than 2 hours - had got into my head that it would be nearer 3 :-)

Dess Woods taking photos of control flag on various features. Seeing if these could be used for a technical exercise online.
Out fir 60 mins but lots of stopping and starting.

Glen Tanar to edge of forest on south track - had to push bike on a couple steep bits of rough track. Whizz back at end :-)

Black Craig (74), Braid Cairn (72), Hill of Gairney (77) & Cock Cairn (79). Strong southerly wind an d full waterproofs on before climb to Braid Cairn, from 600m uo all in thick cloud with a few light showers. Had to get phone out for compass off Braid Cairn - could see about 25m!
A bit of an epic but fairly mild temp and mostly really good going underfoot, though climbing and descending snow patches without being able to see the far edge or angle was a bit stressful at times!
Pretty whacker at end.

Lots of Ab work plus a fair bit of glute stuff.