30 June 2013 - Race Day!

More photos to follow...

Had a quiet night in Braemar on Saturday night, stayed at the Moorfield hotel where these two fellas welcomed us to our room!

Was up early to be at the registration desk around 8:20...brilliant, it's set up in the street...

Registration

So to the race itself. Lining up at the start I was thinking about those I know personally who have been here, and also those I've read about. Now I'm one of them...a runner!

The start

Had quite a slow start (mind games about my calf) but gradually started to feel good and relaxed. Made Derry Lodge at about 1hr 20 mins. Got a bit blowy here for the next few miles to the Luibeg Burn where I filled up with some of the finest natural water on the planet (wonderful!). Few folks were struggling here as the climb began, and some good hearted banter was exchanged as we all made our way up. Very hard terrain, not easy to get a decent pace going as the path throws up many different shapes and sizes of stones.

Corrour Bothy is the halfway mark between Braemar and Aviemore. It's also one of the most isolated places I've ever been, and I made sure I took the time to stop and take in my surroundings. We really are privileged to have access to such beautiful scenery.

Onwards and upwards to the boulder fields. I'd spoken about these with Tom Sutherland, and his information was 100% correct. They don't go on too far, but they sure slow you down, however it does give you a chance to catch your breath!

What's that in the distance...Aviemore! Or as I now call it in my head 'AvieThankF*ckmore' 10 miles to go and it's very rugged terrain for a couple of miles but I'm feeling good.

Round a corner and there's Joan and Colin Wilson who had ran in from Aviemore to run 6/7 miles with me. Wonderful people, awesome gesture at just the right time. After about a mile we get into some better path and can up the pace a bit. Then into Rothiemurchus Forest and I felt brilliant, running smooth and fast until, I planted my face in the dirt just before this!

Mon the Lairig

On throught the forest, and I'm wanting to walk a wee bit, but 'encouraged' by Joan I picked up a jog and only walked the ups. Mon the ups!

Not far now...

Colin and Joan left me at the main road into Aviemore, three miles to go. Roasting hot by this time but I know I'm gonna make it. Every runner on this stretch of road was magnificent, encouraging each other on for one more push.

Once onto the main street in Aviemore you can see the finish, it's not far, but it feels like miles! A very welcome sight of Susan and Megan, Colin and Joan, and Karen and Mike Todd, even Eleanor and Gavin (Susans auntie and uncle) are there to welcome me in at the finish. Awesome!

Made it!

My watch time was 5:37, I was hoping to be under 5:30...so guess what...I'll be back!

27 June 2013

3 sleeps and counting!

Had a pretty restful week as far as the running goes. Half on purpose and half because of a sore calf muscle (getting the excuses in early!) Regarding the sore calf, I've purchased a pair of calf compression guards, a snug fit (they're meant to be) but hopefully will do the job.

Feeling very excited about the race, latest numbers are 186 competitors, and from the Scottish Hill Running website, that's the biggest ever number of runners there's been for this event.

Kit check tonight, the kit on the left is obviously gonna be what I'm wearing (shorts or trackies depending on the weather), the kit on the right is what I'll be carrying with me.

Is this all I need or, Do I need all this?

Any runners reading this, if I've missed anything vital please let me know!

Mon the Lairig!

22 June 2013

Well there's only a week to go! Had a fantastic training run with Tom (runs downhill like he's on a tarmac path) Sutherland today.

Tom drove us up to Linn O Dee car park outside Braemar. From here we cycled in to Derry Lodge (this is the first cut-of point in the race next week). 

Left the bikes there and we ran in to the Lairig Ghru for me to get my head around the terrain, ascent, conditions. We went as far as the Corrour Bothy (or just shy of it) before turning round and running back to bikes for the return cycle.

Fantastic day and very much appreciated the time and effort provided by Tom, it's set me up perfectly for the BIG ONE next week!

 

15 June 2013

Wow...Barry Campbell dropped me a Facebook message asking if I fancied joining him for a run on Saturday morning (a 10 miler). Fits is perfect so I said yes.

We set off at 8am from Bells Sports Centre, down through Norie Miller, out to the Dundee Road alongside the river, lovely sunny morning.

Crossed the A90 at Kinfauns and then it's up, up, up! Man what a workout. As we got to the main road at the top Barry says, "To the left is the short way back, we're turning right!" Up again and around Deuchny Woods.

Big thanks to Barry for taking me out, great preparation for the Lairig Ghru, which is 2 weeks today!

13 June 2013

Some run tonight, GPS watch battery went flat as I was leaving the door, couldn't find my iPod (in jacket at work!) so off i set...nae watch, nae music.

And what a joy! Ran down the cycle path to North Inch, up through town to Fire Station, along Feus Road, up Crieff Road to the Tulloch then hame.

Amazing the sounds you hear and also how clear your head is when you've no distractions. Not saying it's preferable to no music, but it's certainly not as much a turn off as I thought it would be.

Have to say as well, great to see so many people out running and on bikes tonight, after such a long bleak spell, people really are making the most of the weather when it's nice.

Planning a decent run on Saturday morning, and that will be my last lengthy run as my tapering kicks in.

Mon the taper!

10 June 2013

After my weekend exploits on the trails, it was back to the pavements last night. Legs were feeling very tight to start with, so took it nice and easy down the Dunkeld Road into town.

Once I got to the North Inch, the legs were feeling good, so I had a decent fast run around the Inch, I then extended my run to go home via Feus Road and Crieff Road. 6.5 miles in 54 minutes.

Feeling nervous/excited about the Lairig Ghru race now, less than three weeks. Been reading some of the online information (of which there is surprisingly little!) and trying to get my head around what I'm about to do.

8 June 2013

Hoped to do a long run today, and boy did I get that. Ran from home, up Newhouse Road, to Broxden, down Glasgow Road, then took the path along the back of Craigie Hill Golf Course, that brings you out at Craigie View, up Glenlochay Road, onwards to Buckie Braes and finally to the trig point.

Mon the trig point!

It was a sair fecht in that heat, nearly uphill all the way too!

Got lost! Ended up in a field full of sheep, hasty exit and then home via South Inch, Tay Street and cycle path.

13.2 miles all in, took me 2hours 14 minutes.

Tell ye what, see for the Lairig Ghru...mon the drizzle!