Isle of Arran, running to Loch Garbad

Here I am in Scotland. After a harrowing road trip still carrying the week's tiredness along I think I'm back to normal. I guess if you call going to sleep at 8pm when you're on vacation normal.

Got out for a brief five miler yesterday. I had big plans but when I woke at 4am the wind was raging off of the sea, rain hammering the windows, and it felt about 40 out. The weather soured my motivation and I decided to stay in, however since I was now streaking days off running I figured it best to break it. I stepped out the door and to my surprise, other than the wind, it was pretty mild out. 

I opted for a run up to Loch Garbad via the trail surrounding Eas Mor waterfall. I hadn't run up there in a few years even though it's the closest trail to where we stay. It's a nice two mile climb to a loch, out and back. It's in heavy conifers too so protected from the weather. To my surprise the trail system had been expanded, now I could more or less make a reverse lollipop adding in a side trip down to the sea then back home. 

Since I broke my streak I'd had nearly a week off. I felt sluggish and tired despite my pace being normal. It was good to get out though. Fresh air. Trees creaking in the wind. All the small drainages were babbling away full of water. Eas Mor waterfall was flowing fairly well too. 

 

Once up high the open fields were shrouded in fog and old stone fences drew your eye onward. I stashed my unnecessary hat, gloves, and jacket behind a tree. The whole area gave the feel of what you would expect from Scotland. Dreary, wet, windy, gray. If you'd never been here, this what it's portrayed as in all the movies. Not that it's a bad thing. All environs have their own beauty. It's up to the person to appreciate it and see what is happening. 

The trail system is fairly steep. It's not single track but looks like someone took a bulldozer and plowed a path with it. Bridges cross the creek in multiple places and fences keep people safe from cliffs. The view at Loch Garbad wasn't very photogenic but I tried my best. The run back down didn't last long and soon I had run all the new trails popping out onto the road. I kept descending until the raging onshore winds were spitting sea water on me. I took a minute to enjoy the smell and sound of the sea and reminisce, staring at the erratic wind fetched swells I daydreamed I was standing in my surfing wetsuit looking for the best peak to paddle out on.

People in full Goretex, hoods cinched tight, gave me a funny look as I ran by in short shorts and a thin long sleeve. I made my way back up "the track" to Whin House Apartment where we were staying. I opened the door the happiest I'd been in a week. My medicine never fails me.