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Week 1
Day 1
Day 1 of this rather mad challenge and the first 6 miles completed on the treadmill. I took it easier than normal, not having put my running shoes on for 4 months, but I’ll admit that the final mile wasn’t pleasant! I did it though so I’m off to a pretty good start.
Today’s route started in John O’Groats and took me through Canisbay and Upper Gills, ending at Rigifa.
The only thing of real interest I could find out about today’s route was that Canisbay has a “startlingly white” church – the Canisbay Kirk – but it’s by the side of the A836 so I wouldn’t have run past it anyway. From what I could find out it’s likely that there’s been a place of Christian worship on that spot for the better part of 1,400 years!
One thing I will say about today’s run – well, watching the virtual route video below – it completely took me back to running the last half mile of my LEJOG walk. Seeing the roundabout and the Roads End Coffee Shop really did stir up some good memories.
Route
Route Video
Below you can see a video of the route, showing Google Street View images from along the route. Obviously I didn’t run these roads – if only! – but hopefully doing one of these each day I run it’ll make it at least feel a bit more like I’m running those miles in the great outdoors?
Photos
Okay, so these aren’t photos from my real route – obviously – but as I was using the Zwift app on my iPad I thought it’d be fun to take some snaps of the virtual me as I was running…you know…as it’s a virtual run challenge and all that?!
Day 2
Day 2 of my little run and another 6 miles completed on the treadmill. I won’t lie, I felt a bit on the achey side this morning after yesterday’s short sharp shock, but I put my trainers on and got out there anyway.
Today’s route started at Rigifa and took me through Inkstack, ending just past Greenland. As I was aching a little bit I took a sensible approach to today’s miles and split it into two runs, one at lunchtime and one after I’d finished work for the day.
Going through Inkstack – if I had of course – I would have passed Inkstack farm, a pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle which has been in the same family since 1843! That’s mental!
The route went past Loch Heilen, which would have just about been visible from the road at a push. It’s a marl loch 191 acres in size and only 1.5m deep. From what I read it’s a bit of a challenge to fish there but people do, some catching some really nice looking fish.
Near the route was Burn of Midsands (Greenland Links), a coastal meadow that hosts a wide range of wild flowers: endemic Scottish primrose, grass of parnassus, rare hair sedge. field gentian, wild thyme and frog orchid. The meadow is also home to the great yellow bumblebee and the most northerly population of small blue butterflies
Splitting the day’s miles into two runs was definitely a good idea, that and playing with the treadmill speed seeing as I’m constantly running up hill for this challenge. I think I’ve just about hit the sweet spot on my second run today so I’ll try that again tomorrow and see how it goes.
Going a bit slower will mean it’ll take a bit longer to complete the miles, but better that than giving myself an injury, eh? This isn’t a race after all and I’ll get it finished when I get it finished.
Route
Route Video
Below you can see a video of the route, showing Google Street View images from along the route.
Photos
Some photos from my virtual runs.
Day 3
Day 3 and another 6 miles completed on the treadmill. I definitely think I’ve hit the sweet spot with the treadmill’s speed for my 3 mile stints as I’m managing to keep my heart rate pretty steady and – although hot – I’m not exactly feeling tired at the end of my runs.
Today’s route took me through Thurdistoft – passing RAF Castletown – and Castletown itself. I couldn’t find anything at all of interest about Thurdisoft but Castletown seemed like a interesting place.
Located on the most northernly coast on the mainland of Scotland, Castletown in Caithness is frequently referred to as the ‘Flagstone Village’ reflecting its association with the quarrying and export of high quality flagstone as paving and construction material.
The origins of a settlement in the area date back at least as far as the remains of an Iron Age broch on the coast to the west of the village.
Construction of the airfield at RAF Castletown began in 1939 when it was realised there weren’t enough airfields to defend Scapa Flow.
The first squadron to call Castletown “home” was 504Sqn, flying Hurricane Mk1s. In May 1941 No. 124Sqn was formed at the airfield with 18 new Spitfire Mk1s. Their task was to fly the usual coastal and convoy patrols, and to give new pilots flying experience before they were sent south. The last aircraft to use the airfield was a Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly helicopter, on 24 March 1945.
Today the airfield has been largely returned to agricultural use. Its three runways and the perimeter track still exist.
Route
Route Video
Below you can see a video of the route, showing Google Street View images from along the route.
Photos
Some photos from my virtual runs.
Day 4
Day 4 of my run and another 6 miles completed on the treadmill, virtually taking me through Haimer, Thurso, Janetstown, and Newlands of Geise.
Haimer used to have a castle (a square tower consisting of some eight rooms) that was built by Alexander, 9th Earl of Caithness (1705 – 1765). It no longer exists though. Interestingly, it is said that Alexander moved his place of residence to a more inland site as the notorious pirate Gow, whom he had offended, had bombarded his house there.
Thurso is the northernmost town on the British mainland. It functioned as an important Norse port, and later traded with ports throughout northern Europe until the 19th century. A thriving fishing centre, Thurso also had a reputation for its linen-cloth and tanning activities. It’s also a major surfing area and a premier heavy cold surf destination which hosts surfing championships, including two World Championships for Kayak surfing.
Route
Route Video
Below you can see a video of the route, showing Google Street View images from along the route.
Photos
Some photos from my virtual runs.
Day 5
Day 5 of my run and only 3 miles completed on the treadmill today. An easy day after four days running 6 miles seemed like a good idea, so why not?
Today’s short 3 mile route to me through Westfield/Bridge of Westfield, for which I seriously struggled to find anything of interest about the area. Well, that is other than the fact that there’s a monument comprising of a round cairn, probably a chambered tomb of Neolithic date, by Forss Water. It’s circular, about 11.5m in diameter, and stands about 1.5m high.
And that’s it. I suppose it’s a little remote around there so it’s not surprising there wasn’t much of interest on a 3 mile stretch of road in the middle of nowhere?
Route
Route Video
Below you can see a video of the route, showing Google Street View images from along the route.
Photos
Some photos from my virtual runs.
Day 6
Day 6 and a single 5 mile run on the treadmill today after work. I have to say – and this is probably because of the easier day yesterday – I could have easily carried on running if it wasn’t for my iPad almost running out of battery!
Today’s route took me through Shebster, Achvarasdal and Reay, mostly along the same remote road before turning onto the A836 and through Reay.
Before getting to the village of Reay the road takes you past Achvarasdal Broch – an Iron Age drystone hollow-walled structure – one of the largest brochs in Scotland with an internal diameter of 10m. The walling rises to 1.6 metres above the central court and is made up of quite small slabs, and the broch has an impressive, 4m long narrow entrance passage on its east-south-east.
Within the village of Reay there are the remains of a stone circle, several Viking houses and burials, the site of a Bronze Age settlement and a mound which contains the layered remains of several Simple Atlantic Roundhouses.
Route
Route Video
Below you can see a video of the route, showing Google Street View images from along the route.
Photos
Some photos from my virtual run.
Day 7
Day 7 of my run and a single 6 mile run on the treadmill today. It felt a bit more heavy going than yesterday’s 5 miles, but it was great to chat with Steve for the first half.
Today’s 6 miles took me along a pretty remote section of the A836, not passing through any villages or anything, so there’s nothing much to talk about really.
From watching the video below though it looks like an amazing bit of road to drive/walk/run so I’d like to go there properly some time, once the world’s gone back to normal!
Route
Route Video
Below you can see a video of the route, showing Google Street View images from along the route.
Photos
Some photos from my virtual run.
