Glencoe and Aviemore

What a weekend! Absolute scorcher! Great for the tan, nae so good for hard running!! 

We headed over to Aviemore on Thursday night at parked up at loch Morlich which was great and a fine spot. Friday we did Meall a Bhuachaille via the Green Loch. I've done the hill race here a couple of times but never ascended this way before which was great and very scenic with the Green Loch. No idea why I didn't take a photo of the Loch, probably the hoards of people there which was the only down side. It was more like the Med than Aviemore!

No pics of MAB either, it was just a quick up and down and then hit the road over to Glencoe..

Sat morning sunrise

Waking up to Loch Achtriochtan underneath AE on one side and Aonach Dubh on the other in blazing sunshine is surely the perfect start to a mountain goers dream day! I'd been waiting for a west coast hit for months and this was the perfect forecast although slightly hotter than I'd like but this wasn't a race just training and mountain loving!

We were here for Aonach Eagach ridge, A ridge I've done several times in both directions since the late 90's. Every time has been an experience. It's exposed, it's loose, it can be very dangerous and must be respected and great care must be taken traversing it. 

I have also raced over the ridge during the Glencoe Skyline. I don't remember saying to myself though that it is exposed, loose, dangerous and care must be taken! Nope, instead I ran across it as fast as I could while feeling hungry, thirsty and extremely fatigued! Looking back it's a crazy thing to do. It's not until you take your time over it and realise actually how dodgy it is. One slip and you're off!

This is what I was thinking this time that the more I concentrated on foot placements on some of the bits the clumsier I got and did have a couple of trips. 

I was unlucky enough to witness a serious accident here in 2004 when a woman fell down a gully near the start going East to West. We watched the rescue as we couldn't get past the bottleneck of people that had gathered.

Back in 2004

We decided to go West to East this time which is the same direction as the race and the faint path up to Sgorr nam Fiannaidh is right across the road from where I was parked so straight into an 800mtr climb! Ouch! 

Once onto the ridge we ran as much as possible and just took our time on the scrambles. Most folk were going East to West so it actually worked out better than having to overtake folk going the same way apart from when we got to the Pinnacles. A group of 4 or 5 guys were very slow and we had to wait for them to come across before we could cross. We were in no rush so it was fine and they were clearly shaky so we didn't want to hurry them. 

Like any other scramble I've done it never seems long enough and you just want more and more and for the climbing not to stop. It's great fun pulling up on the climbs with hands and feet. It's much better than running!

It was a great run and the views were unreal in every direction. 

We dropped back down to the road and ran back a long the trail that follows the road back to Loch Achtriochtan. 

After any Glencoe adventure it's always capped off with a night in the Clachaig Inn which we did of course and had a few drinks.

Back to Aviemore on the Sunday and up to Fiacaill Ridge for my back to back run. Another scorcher in very very hot conditions. We looped back down via Cairn Lochan to the Ski center. 

I love Fiacaill, easily accessible, a great short scramble but with amazing views and positions.

Loch Morlich and Meal a Bhuachaille at the back

Cairn Lochan

Awesome weekend with 3 days running, good food, good company and good laughs!  

 

2020 so far..

It's been a while since I've blogged, there hasn't been much to say, there still isn't..

Before the Chinese Flu hit the world, I was already injured from Knockergety night race in December and it was still lingering when lock down started in March. Training was curtailed to local lower hills but even if I could have gone into mountains (honest I didn't...ahem..) my ankle was limiting my mileage and climbing ability.. However if you're going to be injured and out for races then this year is the year to be broken! 

Standard

Carn a Mhaim

I had entries for 4 UK/Ireland Skyraces I needed to compete in the series (Snowdon, Arran, PRE and Mourne) and they were all cancelled except for Mourne which is coming up in October. This will probably be the one and only race I'll do this year. I also tried to get into Trofeo Kima in italy so I could tick off the triple crown of balls out Skyraces (Tromso and Glencoe being the other 2) but failed so it will have to wait for another 2 years being biannual.. 

The Big 4

Devil's

I ended up getting an MRI for my ankle and was diagnosed with ITFL impingement. Multiple physio appointments and much rehab later and I'm only just starting to fire again and getting back to some sort of proper training. That's been the longest lingering injury I've ever had and stemmed from an ankle roll which at the time didn't even seem that bad. It was my continued running on it though that tipped me over the edge. I have obviously lost a lot of what I'd built up last year but I'm getting stronger and stronger every week.

Macdui looming

I have managed to get out quite a bit though in the last couple of months and back to proper mountain running. I've had some big days in the Gorms, Glencoe and Torridon and I've got a few things lined up still to come. Just can't get enough just now!

The Gar

Good old Lochnagar has taken a fair hit and I was probably up there every other weekend for weeks either running or swimming. FWIW I either biked in from Ballater or parked in one of the extended layby's a long the Glen road. I didn't go near the car park until things had returned to normal (well, if there's ever going to be a normal) but the level of stupidity by drivers I witnessed up that Glen road and at Linn of Dee was astounding! Where have all these outdoor enthusiasts suddenly come from!? Somehow COVID has turned average Joe who sits in front of the TV eating pies into a mountaineer! It's hilarious!

Geallaig

It's been amazing getting back into the heart of the Gorms and onto big climbs after months of Bennachie, Kirkhill and Scolty.

The other change in my life this year has been moving out to Alford. It's great and much nearer bigger hills. Ballater's only 30 mins away! My new local week day runs are Corennie, Coilabhar, The Coreens, Pressendye etc.. Most of my mid week training is on these hills.

Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Braeriach

Cairn Toul

Lochain Uaine and a future swim I think

Carn a Mhaim center and Cairn Toul to the left

I also swam and mountain biked a lot to stay off my ankle which has been great and good cross training. The summer has actually been really good with extended periods of warm sunny weather so the lochs and sea have been pleasant. You just have to be willing to follow the sun wherever it is so I've had a few last minute, up early and out the door trips!

Muick

Pronie

Muick

Davan

Loch Builg

Davan

Muick

Cove 

Dinnet Bridge

I also bought a new bike this year, it's mental and I love it! I've really got more and more into biking during lockdown and have had some great days out. In fact I'm in danger of doing more biking now instead of running! It's really good cross training and gives my ankles a break, plus I can still be in the hills.. 

I'd like to do more big mountain days on the bike and find some nice long, continuous down hills.. Alford is great for biking too with loads of trails not too far away.

All in all apart from my ankle, lock down actually hasn't been that bad but only because I now have loads of local hills out here. I've kept busy and as fit as I can with a lingering injury that just would not go away!! I do feel like I'm coming back now though and am just zoning for Mourne Skyline, then loads of training over winter to try and come back strong for next year! Yaldy!

Glencoe Skyline (52km/4750mtrs) 30th/180 overall, 2nd MV45

This was A-race number 2 for me this year. Tromso was the main event for me but Glencoe was important as I was keen to bag the full route after having to settle for the poor weather route last year (32km/2700mtrs) due to high wind.

The Buchaille and Curved Ridge the day before

I was preying for good weather or at least no wind and it was looking good with Ben Nevis Ultra and ROS both getting blue bird days on the Friday and Saturday. However Sunday the weather deteriorated and although not particularly windy it was wet and dull which isn't a bat thing for a long run.. Well maybe not for Curved ridge!

Not even 7am..

I started steadily but was very aware not to push too hard, there was a lot of climbing ahead! I picked off quite a few folk between Kinlochleven and the A82. Legs felt fresh and strong on the path up towards Curved Ridge.

Glad to get to Curved Ridge and find it reasonably dry and managed to blast up with no big delays queuing. Love this scramble, nothing too tricky but there's some nice exposed bits that give you a nice "out there" feeling. However it does feel less stressy racing it, there are other folk in front and behind, climbers are tethered to the crag doing safety and watching you, a false sense of security, you are there to get up as fast as possible, you are in a race after all!

I got an unexpected surprise half way up when I heard a friendly, jovial voice - "alright Ayron?" Looking up at Charles Sprosan of Mountainrun.com and RO of the Lakes Sky races doing safety! Priceless!

Curved ridge

Up onto the summit of the Buchaille, poles out and I was off picking off a couple of folk here and there. The ground is very loose here with some good solid running scattered in between.
The decent into Lairig Gartain was fast and flowing and then back to a slog once I started the climb up to Etive Beag the 2nd big climb then back to flowy running down into Lairig Eilde.

There was plenty water in the burns so I started with only 500ml MF RAW to keep weight down then just filled as I needed but this is the last place to get water for a while so I filled up here. Throughout the whole race I probably used 1.5ltrs Mountain Fuel RAW in 3 pre powdered flasks. I used the same plain water flask on my other side and probably had the same 1.5ltrs. I also used MF jellies every 45 mins/1 hour plus NAKD bars and some home made cocoa/nut balls.

The weather turned nasty near Bidean nam Bian with some rain squalls and the wind picked up but thankfully didn't last. Once I got Stob Coire nan Lochan done and back to nam Bian I was starting to get hungry and legs were tiring. The descent back down to the A82 and aid station was hard going, the lower path was wet and like glass and I took 2 bad falls here.

I briefly stopped at the aid station and took a potato and a handful of sugary sweets and I was off.

Aonach Eagach awaits from just after the road aid station

The climb from the road up onto AE was brutal and the start of my low time! I really struggled on this after the pounding descending off of the south side of the road to go straight into another huge climb! By the time I was onto the ridge and running again I was very weak and realised I'd stopped eating. I had to slow and get calories in. This isn't a great place to feel bad, especially on the Crazy pinnacles where you have to be sure footed!! I was super careful not to slip/trip on this section. I wanted to stop so badly but I wanted to get past the techy bits and then stop and sit and eat.. I took a Jelly and a full NAKD bar, loads of water and slowly got going again and then I came back to life with a bang and managed to make good time.

Anoch Eagach ridge

As I was starting to get going I was passed by a lady but I managed to catch her up and pass her before I realised it was Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn who I know through Rob Sinclair. Only 2 days earlier she finished 3rd at the Ben Nevis Ultra and was now running GS and going very well considering! Great to see another friendly face on route!

I had absolutely no idea how I was doing as my watch had died after 8.5 hours but I just  kept chipping away trying to keep pace up and actually made some good time between AE and Kinlochleven. Katie and I swapped leads a couple of times but she eventually took me in the last couple of kms descending back down into Kinlochleven.

I was very very surprised and very happy to finish under 10 hours in 9hrs 39mins and placed 30th/140 finishers from 180 and 2nd MV45!

Katie and myself 

Awsome day out in the hills and glad to bag the full route this year. I did Ring of Steall in 2017 and managed 2nd MV40 so maybe I'll tick the trio and do Ben Nevis ultra next year gunning for 2nd MV45 or I might just bin the Glencoe races altogether as the prices are becoming ridiculous! I'll see.