Training Log Archive: Big Jon

Gently wander from Baraemar Castle car park across fields to hte River DEE, wade across (barely knee deep) and out to monument for CP24 and my 100. A celebratory beer at 1130 in the morning :-)
Legs a bit stiff and some achy parts but knee was fine apart form a couple of minor twinges. Still hard to find any sore spots despite prodding and poking. Just as well I';m seeing the physio on Wednesday - another item to add to the list of things to check out!
Another lovely sunny day.

C • Nice coordinated finish 2

Linn O Dee to Luibeg Burn with S, RC, SR, KH, SS & JS for the big 'un.
Nice morning though fairly strong head-wind, not boding well for the tops.

Derry Lodge - Clach nan Taillearan (CP6), Garbh Corrie shelter (nicely done up inside, looks pretty cosy), up steep slope to Lochan Uaine (CP4), very windy here but quick dip with S to claim another lochan! Up angles Ridge to Sgurr an Lochan Uaine (nothing like as tricky as I had been led to believe (or feared). Then round the head of the Garbh Corrie to Wells of Dee (CP1) - a little sit over the top off the highest source and splash some water around...
Back tracked to drop towards Loch nan Stuirteag and R knee outside started to whinge on downhill, OK once on flatter ground but at least there's not much steep descent from the Braeriach plateau to the Lairig Ghru via Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain...
Another dip in Loch nan Stuirteag (CP2) (with RC, S and KH), then up over Monadh Mor and nasty steep gravelly track down to col then a plod up the boulders of Beinn Bhrotain (CP3 - and last point for S). Not looking forward to the descent and a few steep sections were a bit awkward but the group patiently waited for the hobbler to catch up!
Back to the River Dee, a wade across and plod along track, heading somewhat disconcertingly back towards the Lairig Ghru.... then cut right up to rejoin the Derry Lodge path. Had a body/mind refusal here and had to walk a fair bit so by the time I reached the Luibeg Burn the others had been sitting in the stream quite a while! Back on the bikes (well push it for a few hundred meters till track improved!) and then a whiz back to Linn of Dee.
Epic day out, 32km and 1800m ascent (and descent).
Knee hardly had any sore points as soon as I stopped - just steeper descents aggravated it.
Now on 99 Deeside Runners points, just 1 to go...
Loads of botanical interest - Butterwort (including high altitude ones still in flower), Common Sundews all over and also a big patch of Greater Sundew near the Luibeg- Lairig Ghru path, haven't often seen it in Deeside, also lots of strange alpines in Garbg Corrie - some base-rich rock and also the deer probably avoid it as so rocky! Plus, best of all, vast amounts of dwarf mountain willow and Juniper, all the way up the Garbh Corrie - extensive deer culls really do work!

Bikes back to Linn o Dee.

Rest day before long day in Cairngorms.

Glen Tanar up and down MTB tracks to add to map for SHIs! Lovely day - warm and forest smelling of hot pine and dust, flash-backs to O-Ringen 2018 in Skellefteå.
Loads of blaeberries out along Master-blaster.
Pretty slow on ups but lovely long gradual descent :-)

Couple of hours chain sawing in the heat - sweaty mess by the end!
Got the big tree chopped into lengths, now need to split them :-( and barrow them up to the log pile :-((

Loch Kinord to Cnoc Dubh by dragonfly boardwalk, winding route and south side then back direct (MTB track to eat and straight down main track).
Hot and sweaty and really slow on climb.
Loch now OOB for swimming until end of August FFS, "nesting birds"

Went to Cambus bridge instead and enjoyed a couple of laps up and downstream. Loads of people there, several families and a bunch of jumpers.

Intervals starting near White cottage, across towards WHW and back via (the other) Dess and riverbank.
10 x 2+1
Felt better than expected on warm-up, then first 4 were (mostly) uphill and tough, next 3 were slightly down and last 3 were along riverbank (so verrrrry slightly down - estimate about 1m for each!).Felt I was treading water a bit on last 2, but overall fairly happy with the set.
Hot and sweaty again... when will the humidity drop?

Walk with S, W, K & A on Holy Isle. Very pleasant and loads of unusual plants and some lovely black/red moths.
Then drive north and cutting the grass (sorely in need of it!) so no time for run once home.