Sunday 23 June 2013

Post-Spine Adventures

The aftermath of the Spine Race involved the best coma-deep sleeps, huge multi-course meals and mentally-unchallenging activities like watching a reality TV show about Peter Andre! Eventually, I could move enough to cycle to the physio, who confirmed my ankles were trashed and 6-8 weeks rest would be good! The Haworth Hobble was conveniently in 7 weeks time, so I manged to fit one training run in before that and was keen to go! The race was really great, catching up with the RunFurther gang and scheming about all the races to come this season. However, boyfriend Andy had been busy winning cycling awards and making it to the presentation in time would require me to run a PB - no chance!- so I got picked up after 23 miles, which felt like plenty in the horizontal rain! The buffet at the cycling awards went down very well and the ankles hadn't been too bad, so I was keen to get out racing again!

A bit of Munro-bagging seemed the ideal way to get back to fitness, so Andy and I spent the Easter week in Scotland. Conditions were absolutely perfect so the crampons and ice axe were dusted off and the bagging got serious! My favourite day was the South Glen Shiel ridge, a Munroist's delight - seven summits in one traverse with amazing views. We also hired some nordic skis for a day which was brilliant fun! And I forced Andy to drive us round Aviemore Wildlife Park where the camels and buffalo come right up to the car, which I thought was awesome but car-owner Andy seemed less-enthusiastic! :-) We went home with lots more ticks in our Munro books and super keen for more, here's loads of pics!


Our first attempt at nordic skiing, near Braemar


The first downhill!

A bit too off-piste! :-)
Probably Druim Shionnarch?



7th Munro of the day :-)
Looking back along the ridge

Bagging Stob Coire Sgriodain

Plotting what to bag next!