Knockargety night race

The 2nd Deeside night race at Knockargety, Tarland and I was keen to podium in my category at least and maybe even get an overall place as no Dan Whitehead to be seen! 

However, Peter Hendry and Stuart Pringle were both running and I didn't see Calum Dempster at the start so i thought it could be on! Stuart had raced the day before at the Lochaber winter series so I thought he'd be tired and I might get the better of him as I've been going well recently on shorter courses.

It was a cold night, perfect for a race! 

This is a flat trail race through woods, single track, landy track, road, felled tree stumps, heather, grass etc etc. Very fast running and care needs to be taken as several of us found out, Stuart receiving 3 injuries! We both rolled an ankle each in the first couple of kms on tree routes but not bad enough to stop.. 

So from the start Peter, Stuart and myself sped off waaaay too fast but it was enough to build a gap for a while with everyone else behind. Then the inevitable happened at this pace.. I could hear somebody behind me and I had no idea who it was. I certainly wasn't going to look. The footsteps followed for a while until finally overtaking me and it turned out to be young Calum Dempster again who beat me by 1 second at Cnoc Dubh when he took 3rd overall putting me in 4th two weeks before. Calum was on top form and disappeared quite quickly in front.

Peter had a good lead on Stuart who was slowing by now with his race the day before starting to take its toll. I had now caught up with Stuart but he was still pushing on so I decided to hang back with him as there was nobody that close behind us and I knew if I overtook I would speed up but only for a short time. It was great and we had a wee chat here and there and pushed each other on.

Then Stuart had some bad luck, he hit his head ducking under a fence which alerted me to the hazard so I missed it, then not long after he ran straight into a felled tree stump giving him a nasty gash on his thigh! Ouch!! He was now hobbling in front and with a head torch getting closer to us from behind, somebody else was catching us so I passed Stuart and put in a wee push and got a bit of a lead on him. I kept it up until we got back to the carpark at Tarland Trails and Stuart had managed to gain on me and caught me and passed me! The hardy bugger was on fire! I stayed on his heels though down the road towards the finish and found a last spurt of power and just managed to pip him by 1 second!!!! 

I finished 3rd overall and 1st V40 with Stuart 4th and 2nd V40. It turned out Calum had caught Peter and won with Peter runner up. 

The post race was at the local cafe in Tarland where I caught up some folk and shot the shit. Prizes were veggies so i got a bag of tatties and a Lindt chocolate rabbit! Yaldie!

Brilliant race and another great battle with Stuart. 

Dess Woods next 17th Jan. Ooooosh!

Tattie and chocolate prizes.

Conachcraig from Glen Muick

The Corbett ticks continue with Conachcraig (850m) bagged on Sunday in some interesting conditions!

As is now normal with timekeeping outwith my control ;) and with the added factor of the morning after the night before, we didn't have many daylight hours left to take on something bigger so it had to be local and fairly short.

This has to be the most overlooked Corbett I've done as I've probably passed it more than 50 times on my way up to Lochnagar!

Looking NW from the Clais Rathadan track towards the Braemar hills

From Glen Muick car park in quite pleasant conditions (blue sky, no wind) we followed the main Lochnagar tourist path through Allt na guibhsaich up the Clais Rathadan track but when you get to the fork where you would turn left and up towards Meikle Pap and the Gar you simply turn right (NE) at the cairn and follow a faint trail up onto Conachcraig.

Cuidhe Crom left, Meikle Pap center and the Gar just out of sight to the right and behind

Just as we cleared the forest at Allt na giubhsaich and its shelter it was obvious the day wasn't going to stay quite as still as I'd hoped! It got progressively gustier as we climbed and by the time we were at the split on the Clais Rathadan track it was very blustery with frequent freezing, driving snow showers creating whiteout at times.

Getting breezy!

A lull between Conachraig and Caisteal na Caillich

Once we summit-ed Conachcraig we carried on a bit further NW over to the summit of Caisteal na Caillich which was actually not bad running underfoot considering the snow. The issue was the arctic blasts into the face!

The photo opportunities were too good to miss and I couldn't stop snapping! UNREAL scenes were developing in and out of blizzard conditions.

The Gar

Close up of the corrie

The Gar center behind and with MP in front and Cuidhe Crom on the left

The money shot and the reason why I do this!

Between Conachraig and Caistal

 

Running in the mountains is always special no matter the weather. Summer is great and nothing better than moving fast in minimal clothing and gear whilst getting a sun tan..  HOWEVER to really know you're alive and for a more intense experience with scenery that competes on a global level, Scottish winter running is unlike anything else! And it's only just begun!

Unfortunately tho there will come a point where running is impossible and it's time to either dig out the axes and crampons or skis! Until then though I'll keep running as long as poss up high. Boooya!!

The route was 13km/580m although we did a bit more repping some bits.

For once we were back to the van early and zooming into Rocksalt and Snails in Ballater for a fine bowl of curried carrot, lentil and apple soup in front of the wood burner! Incroyable!!




Oh meant to add I was running with a couple of new tops and thought it was worth mentioning..

I wore an Inov8 Tri blend short sleeve under an Inov8 ATC Merino LS hoodie! Game changer!
So summit temp was -4 and wind chill was anything between -10 and -15 brrrr.. however I was absolutely fine in the above combination until the snow really started blasting me and I was getting wet so I did pull on my OMM Sonic smock for a bit more protection but even then the Sonic is wafer thin and I was toastie.

Inov8 Tri blend T SL

I really liked the hood on the ATC although sinch cords would have been even better but to have a hood over a buff was great. As for the built in pullover mits, absolutely brilliant and I used them over my hands the whole time. I did put gloves on when it was really bad and blowing on top.
I was never too hot and never too cold - Goldilocks! Merino feels so good next to the skin, smooth and cozy but also light weight.

Inov8 ATC Merino LS Hoodie

I'm not a big perspirer anyway so I wasn't too surprised I was dry underneath back at the van but I was totally dry! Very  impressed with the wicking performance.
Fit was perfect, I chose medium (5,9/70kgs/slight build) and it was great, not skin tight and not loose, I have a short upper body and longer legs so it sat a bit lower on my bum which is great for me and another layer over my bum.
I've actually just ordered another of each as they're on offer on Sportsshoes just now. The Tri blend T is half price!!

Braid Cairn, Glen Tanar

The Deeside Corbetts still summon us just now with minimal snow and short travel time.This week was the turn of Braid Cairn, a child summit of mount Keen and Corbett.

Goes without saying any run begins with coffee and what better place to stop off but Spider on a Bicycle in Aboyne where I bumped into Zicky who were off to solve mysteries with their bike gang (actually they were off to bike a route on the Fungal). Good wee catch up tho..





The problem with the Mount Keen area is monotonous landy track no matter which way you go in.
Our route started from Glentanar car park then taking the more southerly track following the same course as the Water of Gairney between Clachan Yell and Little Cockcairn then at Black Craig take the south fork on the track and ascend Gathering Cairn first then onto Braid Cairn. Return was the reverse and the quickest way back.

The guts of the first 10kms is on what seems never ending Landy track. Once you clear the Forest of Glentanar and head out onto the open hills the views are great. At the ruined shelter at the fork under Black Craig it's onto single track and some nice techy steep running up to Gathering Cairn.

Black Craig and Clachan Yell from Gathering Cairn

The forecast as ever was bullshit and what started out as a nice blue skied, dry day although a bit breezy, turned into a full on blizzard-fest up top! Gusting 50mph and -10 wind chill with horizontal sleet and hail and often zero visibility made Cairn finding a bit tricky!

Braid Cairn

We got some short glimpses of Mount Keen but it was mostly hidden in cloud and the snow flurries. It was bad enough at Gathering Cairn and we still had to nip across the plateau to Braid Cairn where it was more exposed.

Lions face and Mount Keen behind

This was the worst bit and we got battered here, bare legs pelted with freezing wind and hail! As soon as we found and touched the Cairn we were off, no photos nothing, just a big fat U-turn back to Gathering Cairn and directly down to the broken shelter off grid through deep heather!

Then all that was left was the 10kms back out to the van and another mad rush to catch Spiderbike for 2nd visit this time choosing Lentil and Coconut soup by the wood burner.. bliss!

Ace day, mad weather and although mostly landy track it was good and fast running and another Corbett bagged. Route was 30km/4000ft!

The route

Culardoch and Creag Dail Bheag

Back to Braemar for the 3rd time in a row to tick off more Corbetts!

I'm really enjoying exploring these smaller hills nearer home plus they're more runnable than munros just now with less snow lower down.. I'm never fed up of Deeside either with some of the best coffee stops in the country! :)

This week we chose Culardoch and Creag Dail Bheag which lie just North of Braemar and SE of Ben Avon.
Parking at a freezing Keloch car park (-4) on the Invercauld estate there's a 1.5km run on tarmac to begin with then turning right and North into the forest just before Invercauld house..

???

The route is mostly Landy track which is a little monotonous but the views are amazing especially with a little snow..

Once you climb out of the forest and onto the open hills the scenery really is spectacular looking SW over to Carn a Drochaide and down into Mar Lodge estate with the Dee snaking its way down towards Braemar, SE over to Meikle Pap and Lochnagar and then NW to Beinn a Bhuird and Ben Avon.

Carn na Drochaide to the right, Morrone to the left, Mar Lodge and the Dee center and Glen the Ey Munros at the very back.

Culardoch was first up after the long slog in on the Landy track then a good steep push on single trail up to the trig point. Although the weather was mostly clear with blue skies it was quite gusty and bitterly cold with -10 wind chill gusting up to 40mph on the tops. Thankfully I chose leggings!

Culardoch

Lochnagar with the nipple of Cac Carn Beag and Meikle Pap to its left

Close up of the Gar

My kit list for a slightly cooler day -

Inov8 Arctic Talons, OMM Flow vest under an Inov8 ATC long sleeve and then OMM Sonic smock which I switched between wearing just on my arms and shoulders and then when particularly cold or if stopping for any length of time pulling it down over my pack to my waste. I find this works really well year round and a good compromise between keeping cool when running and warmer when not.

Sheltering behind Culardoch trig point with Beinn a Bhuird/Ben Avon behind shrouded

The wafer thin Sonic does have its limits though and on Creag Dail Beag where wind was particularly bad I briefly pulled on my OMM Kamleika jacket for more protection.

Rab Powerstretch beany and Mountain Fuel buff, OMM Fusion gloves, OMM Flash tights on top of  a crotch-less leather thong (just checking you're reading this!).

Salomon Ultra 8 pack containing everything I would carry for an AL race so full body cover (INOV8 Race Ultrapants, OMM Kamleika Jacket), spare OMM thermal T, map, compass, head torch, bivvy, 500ml water (loads of water courses on route), nutrition was my staple Mountain Fuel jellies and a couple of NAKD bars.





From Culardoch it's back down on to the Landy track and retrace until back at the Bealach Dearg then it's a bit of heather bashing up onto Carn Liath or Creag Dail Bheag as it's now known.

This is where it got interesting on the summit and out of the lee of the lower slopes and into the full weather from the NE with strong gusts and driving blown snow hitting us on our right hand side making difficult running. I had my buff pulled diagonally across my face covering my right eye! The views out of my left eye were great! Unfortunately we only got rare glimpses of the nearby higher munros because of cloud.

Beinn a Bhuird and Ben Avon money shot!

Ruined wall on Carn Liath

Once back at Carn Liath cairn and following the ruined wall south we turned SE zig zagging down through deep heather which was a slow slog and difficult under foot then finally back onto the Landy Track and the tedious run out back to the van.

The long road out

Then another race against time trying to catch Rocksalt and Snails in Ballater before it closed but we lost! I had to make do with the Spanish Board at the Barn in Banchory instead, oh well! :)

Great day out even on killer landy track and well worth it for the amazing views!
The route was 23kms/1200mtrs.

The route

Live long and prosper! ;)

Knockfarrel Hill race 8kms/380mtrs

The short races keep on delivering!!

Considering I've had the craziest season of long plod races I'm surprised at my recent speed. All I've done this year is long training days in the mountains, AL races or Skyraces.. Either everyone is getting slower or Sonic the coach is managing to squeeze some more effort out of me! ;)

Myself and Stuart

I'd never done Knockfarrel before and since I'd been going well recently with Morven and Meall a Buchaille I thought I'd have one more crack at a shorter race before retiring for the year so off Stuart and I went up to Strathpeffer to check out this short and fast race put on by HHR!


Running slightly late and once we eventually found the shinty club it was quick reg, quick change and warm up run up to the start line!






It was cold with snow on some of the near by tops and we were warned of ice! The sun was out at least.
Stuart and I lined up right at the front in vests brrrr!! Seconds later we were flying a long the first flat trail for a few hundred mtrs until a sharp right onto the first short climb through a part frozen, cow trodden, dubby field. Loved the leap of faith over the burn!
I was probably top 6 or 7 for the first few kms. The 2 guys in front slowly started pulling away but when the first steep climb came onto Knockfarrel I was back right behind them as we all bunched up, pulling up on heather and grass up onto the summit. I knew Stuart was right behind me having pulled away from him on the field.

A white capped Ben Wyvis in the background

Stuart only a few seconds behind

Ord and Smiff battling it out!

Javier sweeping

The steep climb onto Knockfarrel really saps it out of your thighs and once on top trying to accelerate my legs felt like lead!
However I managed to get some power from somewhere and got in front of the next 2 runners sitting around 5th now. There were a couple of lead swaps here and there across and down to the foot of Cnoc Mor. This was a sketchy decent on a steep, wet techy trail and the sun in our eyes! I had no idea where I was putting my feet but kept up with the Moray guy in front eventually getting past him on the last climb.

Just before the last decent back down to the field

Jack Travellyen wasn't far behind and I thought he was closing in until I looked back half way across the bottom field but he was too far back to do anything on the last flat trail back to the finish. 

Stuart was just a few seconds behind Jack.

Home straight!

Stuart

I crossed the line in 45:50, 5th overall and 1st V40! Boooom!! Stuart was only seconds behind finishing 7th overall and 3rd V40. Next Deeside in was Smiff having got passed Ord on the steep decent through the trees from Cnoc Mor.

Back at the shinty club for coffee and cake was great and catching up with the usual suspects and folk I'd not seen in a while was good craic including Graham Briffet and hearing his grim tales of the OMM he and Dave Kerr had just competed in coming 2nd overall in their race!

Prize giving  was a free pick and I chose the Shiraz out of the chocolate, Rosey and beer. No brainer! ;)

The Deeside homeless and some guy having a fit

Another quality day racing but probably my last race (I know I said that ater MAB) this year. Although the Lochaber winter series was mentioned today.. hahahaha.. Just can't stay away from this racing lark! Which reminds me, off to enter some Sky races! Shazzaaam! :)


*All race photos courtesy of HHR

A wet, moody day on Pannanich!

A fine start to the day in the warm and cosy Birdhouse cafe in Banchory for coffee, smoothies and croissants, staring out at the rain pouring down, the cars ploughing through standing water on the road and people walking past the window under umbrellas generally looking miserable.. Oh great! 

What's that old saying - There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing! 

Then it was the short drive out to Ballater and to the start of the days route, Pannanich and Craig Vallich loop.

On with the suitable clothing and off we went starting from a layby just east of the town on the South Deeside Road. It's landy track winding up through the forest following the tree edge east and parallel to Brackley Burn which was a raging torrent with 2 days of heavy rain. It's a steady climb from here all the way to the trig point.

If for any reason you stop to take in the views on the way up past the forest, be careful not to lean on the fence by the path... you might get a wee 15,000 volt kick! lol

Pannanich summit

We took a wrong turn early on which had us visiting the mast site on Craig Coillich which was a great steep climb! I can see myself coming back here for reps!
Although the weather was awful there's still something satisfying about running in the rain and zero visibility! It was very, very wet with multiple small streams forming and running down the trails and mostly no visibility with the very occasional break in the sky. A shame as the views here are amazing. I've been hiking and running in the Glen Muick area for years but not really looked at these much easier and more accessible lesser peaks.

Hole in the sky

Once on top it's fairly flat and good running, well apart from the deep troughs of water we had to either bypass through heather or wade through.

From Craig Vallich down towards the Bridge of Muick we were treated to the most amazing, atmospheric and moody scene developing from the west where we got a sunny break above and between the Coyles of Muick and Creag Dearg lighting up the heather which stopped us in our tracks!

Gorgeous!

Soaked to the skin while soaking up the atmos!

Because we went wrong at the start we were up there a bit longer than anticipated so it was touch and go catching Rocksalt and Snails before it closed!! Nooooo.... We picked the pace up and got back to the car, dried off, changed and into town for 4pm which gave us just enough time for the most amazing, fully loaded and hot plate of Minestrone soup! Yaldie!!


As landy track routes go it was great and the terrain suited my companion's injuries so a win win for an easy accessible 18kms/700mtrs road side sesh. Booom!

The route