30mile Training Weekend.

The weekend was a 22miles mixed raod and trail run along country roads and trail pathes. Having run this route a few times I forgot how hilly the middle section was with hill after hill for 3miles.































The return 10miles in the past was along good trail pathes but due to upgrading by the council large section will become tarmac. The object of the weekend was to train two day in a row to see the effect on my poor legs, completing the the 22mile in 3hr30mins I felt good with a day hillwalking to follow on Sunday.

Sunday brought a climb up Ben Donich a small corbert but a nice wee hill non the less with rain showers and snow at the top. The group involved in this wee walk was Dave, Simon, Tricia, Stewart and Jo all people who have completed the Marathon des Sables or are taken part in the coming years event. The week was about mileage and reaching 55miles which I have reached with no real problems this will be the mileage for the coming weeks.

Easy Week.

This was any easy week only 40miles so back up to 50+ this week. Completed a 12.5k road race with 12 hills today good way to end the week will post the photo when I get them downloaded. Back to trail running next week with long run next Saturday and a day in the hill next Sunday so busy time ahead.

Well its been a good weekend 13k road run with 12 good hills in 65mins followed by some swimming yesturday. Toady was an interest climb up Ben Vorlich at Loch Lomond varied snow cover misty summit, very windy but good fun, some scary moments on the forzen grass on the approach to the ridge. very good winter walk..

Balmaha to Rowardennan

Well another reccie along the WHW from Balmaha to Rowardennan and back about 14miles. Bitting cold day with plenty of snow on Ben Lomond. This is a wee cheeky section of the WHW with some good flat sections and some cheeky hills on the approach to Rowardennan with snow and ice on the path care was needed to avoid injury. Trail food was made up of jelly babies and salty nuts with no ill effects. Next reccie will be the latter section of the Highland Fling from Benn Glas to Tyndrum which is the last 13mile of the race. A few small runs over the next couple of weeks with our clubs 12.5k road race with 12 hills on the way round my quickiest time to date 63 mins.

West Highland Way Reccie

Well 22miles today. The reccie was to check out the course for the Highland Fling in April so I did an out and back route from Beechtree Inn to The Old Oak Inn at Balmaha and back. The first section was flat with couple of hills on the approach to Drymen. The route from Drymen was a bit of a test as it was rolling hills for about 3miles with a quick downhill section on the way to the climb over Conic Hill, which turn out to be very pleasent with great views from the top of Loch Lomond and as normal forgot to take a camera. On the return the route from bottom of Conic Hill to Drymen seemed to pass in no time, looking back on it I did gain some hight heading out of Drymen so all downhill back to Drymen.(Happy Days). I ran today with the rucksack I plan to take to the Gobi very good piece of kit no bouncing around, food and drink very easy to get at, should have take a bit more of each. Trail food worked well mixture of jelly beans and mixed nuts. So on the whole another good days traning.

Training

Some good news. Firstly training going well 14mile run last Sunday in 2hrs, 16miles tomorrow with good sessions throught the week at the gym and with the club. Further good news was that my employer Muirfield Contracts Ltd (Dundee) have agreed to sponsor me for the Gobi Challenge 09 the finer details still to be confirmed.

http://www.muirfieldcontracts.co.uk/

Lenzie Jog 09

The first race of the year took place on the 2nd of Jan 2009. A 180 runners took to the start line on this cold and crisp day. Distance varied from 2.5miles and 5miles races. I took part in the Big Lads race and completed the 5mile course in 39mins and finishing in 51st place, not to bad after the party season. So its now onwards and upwards with my training for the Highland Fling.