The Gar

A wee blast on my local - Lochnagar..

After Morven and with no more big races for the rest of the year I was just looking for a steady 10-12 miler with plenty climb. There's only one place that fits the bill that's not too far away..

From Glen Muick car park I had a good climb up to Meikle Pap and then chose to descend into the corrie so I could nip up Black Spout, Left branch through the hole! Never gets old that one..

I've been shaking off a tight right calf for a couple of weeks and after a 19km beast of a tempo run with Rob on Wednesday night (I was hangin!) it has turned into a proper niggle!

I've got Meall a Buchaille race in 2 weeks so hopefully I'll get it sorted.. I'm having Deja Vu! I was recovering from a similar calf issue last year same time. I picked it up on Ben Nevis hill race which I carried into Glencoe Skyline, 2 Breweries, Pentland Skyline and I only recovered just in time for Meall a Buchaille!

I like to scare the tourists!

Corrie path

Lochnagar

Black Spout

Blown tyre

This woman was my savior!

Total route 20km/1500mtrs..

Great day and great run only to be spoiled at the very end driving out of Glen Muick heading for coffee, not paying attention I hit a boulder and blew the front passenger tyre! This was only the start of my issues!

Because I've got after market alloys on the van the bolt heads are 17mm instead of the stock 19mm and I didn't have a 17mm socket to get the bolts out!! Nooooooo!

Luckily and thankfully after stopping the next 5 passing cars the 5th one driven by an elder lady complete with hippy hat and a great sense of humour produced the goods with a 17mm socket... ya belter!!

Van jacked up and wheel off I went to get the spare from under the van.. Next issue... One of the bolts holding the spare wheel up under the van was a locking nut and I didn't have the key! Fit!??

I managed to scramble further under the van to undo the brackets of the metal work that holds the wheel and with my new elderly friend digging up the ground under the van with her bare hands to get the clearance I needed to drop the wheel I finally got it out! 1 hour to change 1 wheel and I missed the Ballater coffee shop - Raging!!