Well, what a long time since my last post, but I can assure you I have not been idle. 
Lot's of messing around with my training regime - which I have settle now for long week short week. This both allows my body to recover, let's me have a life every second week and encourages cross training to prevent injury. Although I have had the last two weeks off because I had to take to my bed after my flu jab. I had, however, convinced myself I had cancer and also AIDS (although probably more likely anaemia) until my bloods came back normal and I could all of a sudden get back to training, the fact that I had utterly convinced myself I was ill being the biggest hindrance of all!
After a move to Aberfeldy to take up a post as a staff nurse I couldn't be in a better training ground, with the Cairngorms not too far away and some other bits and also pieces on my doorstep. I have learned to love hill reps - main training ground the Birks of Aberfeldy where I run (really slowly, totally breathing out my arse) for a mile uphill and then recover on the jog back the other side. All very pretty and the waterfall especially awesome after some big rain, which is all the time. 
So... the main event. Took a dander up to Glen Shee and ran some lovely hills that nobody except a keen Corbett bagger would bother taking in. The objective was to get to An Socach and get a foot on the ground in between here and Carn a Gheoidh. I can't say it inspired me with confidence but the nature of the ground wasn't unexpected. Undulating. Boggy. Definitely something I want to be hitting in daylight. I spent most of the day 'off piste' and, despite all the miles I have been putting in, surprised to find my legs quite so tired. Definitely need to get off track a bit more often to strengthen them up, as 28 miles of the route will be on similar crap terrain. Although I made decent moving time I seem to have accumulated over an hour of stopping time in an otherwise six hour day. That definitely needs worked on too!
And last but not least, seeing as how it is the point of it all, please take time to visit https://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Ellis27/ (although I can't seem to make it a hyperlink and don't know what I'm doing wrong) and donate a little bit of money.

First proper hill run for over three months today. Lack of training (because there aren't many hills in Orkney, and that's where I've been the past quarter) combined with anaemia appears to have taken its toll. If I was at ten before, I'm at one now, and where I need to be by June is more like twenty! But it's easier to get back to ten once you've been there before and I have the next nine months to get up there and beyond.

So yesterday's run took us from Lochgoilhead up The Brack and over to Cnoc Connich. Our intended route had been to ascend Ben Donich but we took a wrong turn somewhere, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because the original plan would have been half the distance again and another 400m climbing! As it was we 'ran' 9.5miles and climbed 1130m in bog, long grass that would have swallowed a man whole, more bog and also some wet and spongy ground that appeared suspisciously like bog. So, not the easiest come back but still faceplanted reality. Running really will be the next nine months of my life...

http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Ellis27

Up at 5am for a 0715 start sharp. Am told if I’m not ready then I miss out the first day of running; and am subject to Shane’s wrath! Not to worry I am ready by 0630. Give the kit list a quick mental check – map, waterproofs, compass, hat – WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MY HAT?! OH MY GOD MY LIFE IS OVER; THEY’LL NEVER LET ME RUN NOW! Oh wait, here it is in my pocket. Stash that bad boy away for later.

Get on boat – is bloody freezing so I squash myself in the middle. Lie head on lap to grab some more zzzz’s. Hope the man opposite me does not think I’m leaning in to be closer to him. Get off boat and head to the ladies, which is actually in full view of everyone but with the psychological protection of a bush to cover my, er, bush.

Oh, it’s us to start next. Dibber goes beep. And I’m off! Starting out once again on what must be the best mountain running event ever of the calendar. Ever. Fact. I didn’t even get paid to say any of that.

Day 1 – 40km, 2400m.

A long spectacular journey over fell and through valley. We make friends along the way and I take part in a spot of ‘runner watching’ about the actual athletes. They go so fast that they are clearly not having as good a time as us – picnics, enjoying the view. Our new friends include Peter (whose real name turns out to be John), Map Man (who joins us at the Frodo hill, probably better know to lake-goers as Froswick) and whose actual name is Phillip and who is full of fun facts about sheep and cattle. I think he thought I was being sarcastic when I told him this. I wasn’t. I actually love Countryfile, especially Adam’s farm. We split off our nemesis (two very nice girls whose names I didn’t catch but we played a grand game of leapfrog with) down death gully. Close to the last checkpoint our nemesis catch back up! And then they are gone! The last kilometre or so is on road and I don’t have the inclination to run – hating the tarmac as I do although it is admittedly useful for things like driving. And into the finish. 8h 20m. I feel like a hero.

At camp we make our own wee party zone (there were four of us down from Aberdeen). It is gin o clock, and beer o clock, and eat-as-much-as-you-can-and-when-you’re-full-just-keep-eating o clock. My favourite time of the day! Simon, who we met at the GL3D last year joins the party camp. Happy times. Then 2050 is bedtime, ready for a 5am start tomorrow!

Day 2 – 49km, 2900m.

Sleep like the proverbial log. I feel refreshed and ready to take on the world! Oh, it’s raining. How pish. Wet tent down. Waterproofs on. Get going. First checkpoint somewhere in the mist... but we make it! Dib and keep going. Stop for a pee. Turn the corner and the papparazi are there! Good job I didn’t pee 5 minutes later. I can see the headlines now. GIRL PEES ON MOUNTAIN. CAMERAMAN SEES ALL. Anyway... sorry Mr Cameraman if you did see anything untoward. Down into Trout and back up Nanny Lane. What funny little names things in the Lakes have!

Follow the dykes... just follow the dykes. Oh look a sheep path. Seems to be going in the right direction, follow that instead. Reach the checkpoint with no dramas. But then disaster strikes! My running partner wants to switch to B course. Now, I’m no stranger to running in mountainous terrain by myself but it was so wet and misty and I would have another six checkpoints to see by myself. So be it. Wish each other luck and I’m off to follow more dykes. Stop to put a jacket on in the lee of the wall. Couple come over the wall.

Me to couple: Putting a jacket on, it’s cold.

Couple to me: That was lucky.

Me to couple: (confused expression) Why?

Couple to me: Cold... is that like code for having a pee.

Erm, no, I was just cold. I think we have established earlier in this account that I don’t mind squatting in front of anybody.

Manage not to get run over in the mist and stop past Lakeland MRT and SARDA to have a chat and give them a donation as insurance in case I die on Red Screes. Which is likely.

Take a total navigational meltdown and wander off the top. Rescue by MRT does seem likely. Look at map, I mean REALLY look at map. Turn out not to be lost, just a little ‘off course’. Back on track. Follow the walls.

Oh a big cairn. Am I top of something? I shouldn’t be here! What the... Am I on Dove Crag? How did I get here!!!??? Oh my god. I’m wet and cold and alone and also lonely and miserable. Sit down and feel very sorry for myself. Eat some real food and take proper stock of the map. On second thoughts, I’m exactly where I thought I was and am just being a fanny. Head off for Ambleside.

Meet lots of Elite runners coming up the hill. Glad I am not them. Take about a year to get to Ambleside. Ask a policewoman where Bilbo’s cafe is (it doesn’t say I can’t in the rules!). No time for coffee. How the *&^% do I get out of Ambleside? Wrong street... take 2. Second time the charm and start the ascent to Loughrigg. Haven’t seen anyone else in A class since Red Screes. Am sure everyone is tucked up in bed at Camp 2 by now. But two other runners catch me up. They reassure me there are still lots of people are behind me. Feel a bit better.

Two climbs left to go. Come on, I can do this! Keep telling myself it’s an easy day tomorrow. Although easy is relative. Up the next hill. Stop for some cheese. Have a cheese high. Next checkpoint; tick. Start singing a lovely song about a pie to the tune of Madonna’s Like A Prayer. It went something like this –

 

Life is a pie-ie-ie,

Everyone must be pie,

What kind of pie are you,

I’m a pie-ie-ie.

 

Probably not a number one.

Last climb. Up stickle brick road to stickle barn skarn tarn. Or something like it. Stop to speak to everyone descending for the excuse of a rest. Takes another year to get up. By my calculations it is now 2016. Onwards to the last checkpoint. Start dancing the YMCA. Quick glance back – good no one saw that. It will remain my little secret. Beautiful descent into camp. I CAN SEE TENTS! Pick up the pace. Oh, a tiny incline. Walk again. Make a big effort for the finish; it’s always important to look like one has had an easy day when one finishes these things! Am greeted by Shane, he tells me well done although I have been out for about 7 years. I think I may have won (!) Total time 12h 7m.

Our party camp has been joined by Jo, an Elite runner who has teamed up with Caroline and Elaine. Callum fetches my bag. Tent up, dinner on, dinner eaten, have a poo, announce to camp that it was most unsatisfying, go to bed.

Day 3, 29km, 1800m

Up at 5am for a 0700 start. This was becoming a habit! Callum rejoins me for A class. Only two big climbs today. Our nemesis pass us. Up St Sunday crag. Windy windy! Am reduced to crawling. As is the girl in front. Passed by EVERYONE on the way up. Feel like Mrs Slow who has a degree in slowness from the University of Slow. But pass people on the way back down, and pass our nemesis. Left knee protests. Run past camera man. Hope he makes me look fast. And skinny. Picnic stop and then straight up to Chapel in the Haus. Cue some rapping and a little bit of beatbox. Get spit on my hands. Gross.

See our nemesis behind us! Have nothing to speed up with. Straight to the top of Place Fell. Stop for a picnic. The nemesis arrive. Time for us to go! Lovely running on soft grass. Right knee joins left knee in protestation. Round the side of the loch. One more checkpoint to go! It’s about a million years away but mostly flat. Manage a small jog, imagine I look like an old man who has messed his pants and is hurrying home to get changed. Right hip joins right knee and left knee in protest. And we’re there! I see runners behind us and put on what I think is a sprint but not much more than a glorified shuffle. To the finish. Time 6h 35m.

And that was it. Event over, post race food, a hat for my birthday from the race organisers. Back in the car to ferment on the way home.

Not that results matter but finished 13th out of 15 finishers and 33 starters. I prefer the second statistic. Shane and team; see you again next year!

 

Beinn a Bhourd, Ben Avon, (Beinn a Bhourd), Beinn Bhreac, Beinn a Chaorrain, Beinn Mheadhoin, Derry Cairngorm. A little over 30 miles, a little over 3000m ascent. A little under a third of the overall way.

Some time before this I'd bumped into my superfit pal Caroline randomly in the Cairngorms (she was going up, I was coming down) and we had arranged to go running one Tuesday. As luck would have it we picked what must have been one of the most beautiful days of the year, and I selfishly suggested the titled route, Caroline's only criteria being it had to be a 50km, 2500m+ day.

So, bikes packed (to save some of the boring run), running crampons, ice axes and a plentiful and everlasting supply of duvet jackets and insurmountable amount of food at the ready we left Aberdeen at 0530 hours to get the most out of the daylight.

7am start from carpark - freezing! Cycle into Clais Fhearnaig path. Dump  bikes. Hoof it up the hill to warm the fingers and toes. Long climb onto Beinn a Bhourd, but steady, and pathed. Very enjoyable running down to the Sneck. Quick sandwich stop. peeing made interesting with the wind. And up Ben Avon.

Not an awful lot to say about this and resummitting Beinn a Bhourd fairly straightforward. Fun begins on the way down to Beinn Bhreac across the yellow moss. In bog... out bog... in bog... well, you get the picture. Fall in a hole. God damnit woman, pay attention and stop looking at all the wonderful scenery. Anyone would think I was enjoying myself!

Three down and I can't remember how many hours at this point - possibly 5. I will download my Garmin eventually. Back across the yellow moss and onto hill four. An exciting descent down the scree (will have to work out if this will be a night section, which would add to the excitement). Quick sandwich stop and straight up the burn line. 'Impossible' exclaimed Caroline, but up we went and possible it was. Major sugar low despite the picnic so cram 3 bars in. Much better.

Stunning atop Beinn Mheadhoin but erosion meant not such a nice descent into Etchachan as I remember. And a long snowfield to climb back out. In trainers. No danger of slipping but doesn't half waste energy kicking steps! Next June had better no be a late winter! Up onto Derry - last hill of the day. Too much snow on MacDui to contemplate and too late in the day... and I really hate the run down Sron Riach which would be our bail point if we did go on. Stop to sun ourselves - we have earned it after all! More of a shuffle, really, back to Derry Lodge. Stop again to enjoy the sun and the late daylight. After all, there won't b much scope for this when it comes to the real thing.

Both decide we'll walk back to the bikes. Then see some walkers coming the other way. Start running again. Not that I care what they think! Back to car. Excellent day.

Thought I'd start a wee blog on my journey to AMRT: The Big One. This is an event I have planned for myself in June 2015; that is to run 29 of the 30 munros in Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team's patch in a single outing. That is 29 munros and 100 miles. That is 29 munros, 100 miles and 10 000m of ascent. Even I'm smart enough to know that this will require some training. Some of these first blogs will be written in retrospect as reconnaissance began some months ago, and, well, the blog only started today...This is a charity event so once I figure out how to work my blog I will put on the link!