Adam in Runderland

When I booked my trip to Scotland I wasn't sure what the weather would be like. I presumed that early May would likely be cloudy with showers, but not too cold. I prepared accordingly. It was a wonderful surprise then when I awoke on the second day of my trip to see blue skies and bright sunshine. It was ideal conditions both to take in the views, and to run up into the mountains. That said, I packed all my kit as weather can be changeable once you reach the summits. I had my hat and gloves, waterproofs, compass, first aid kit and plenty of fuel and water. In order to reach the Cairngorm mountains, ten miles away, I needed to first head to Aviemore which would mark the half way point. The Speyside Way which I had run to the north the day before also continued as far as this tourist town, so I picked up the trail by the bridge and headed south. Immediately I was enveloped in thick pine woods. Another deer stood frozen at the sight of me before bounding away. Crows circled above the ...

It was my ambition to run in the Scottish highlands this year. The opportunity came when three of the engineer trainees I work with moved up to Perth, Scotland. With a bonus bank holiday for the Coronation I would have plenty of time to travel, visit staff and hit the trails. The route from London to Perth is straight forward. A five hour journey by train to Glasgow is followed by a 90 minute train trip to 'The fair city'. My evening meeting left enough time for a short run around Perth. It was a gloomy, drizzly day, but the clouds cleared enough for me to see the top of the nearby Kinnoull Hill 222m above the city. I headed in that direction. First I needed to cross the River Tay. A footbridge followed beside the railway line over the water giving beautiful views north and south. Once on the other side the ground began to rise as tarmac gave way to trails. I was soon beneath the tree canopy and pushing hard to cope with the elevation. It was damp and warm with birdsong filling...