The club try to organise a weekend "formal" training session once a year using the excellent facilities and location at Aberfeldy. This year Ronnie, Charlie, Graham, Toby, Keith, David Hunter, David Henry and Rik, were joined by Kenny and Allister Short who came for the Saturday only as they rushed back to take part in the Tweedbank Duathlon. Here is a brief report of how they all "enjoyed" some excellent training in and around Aberfeldy during the weekend of March 18th and 19th March.

Arriving around 9:00am on the Saturday morning, we were welcomed by the staff at Aberfeldy Leisure Centre. After unpacking and storing the bikes we prepared for a short run around the golf course and back to the centre.

Charlie then took an excellent swim session for around an hour and a half, where the squad were pushed hard focussing on technique as well as strength in the stroke. Video footage was also taken of all the squad to enable diagnosis of each others strokes.

After lunch we set off on our long cycle run out past Weem and over part of the Aberfeldy Half Ironman route up past the Falls of Keltney to Loch Kinardochy where we joined the Schiehallion Road over by the Braes of Foss to Kinloch Rannoch. The weather started to deteriate with strong winds and rain blowing into our faces on this part of the journey and it was also at this point Ronnies seat clamp broke and brought an end to his trip.

At Kinloch Rannoch we stopped for a coffee and a scone in the local coffee shop and suitably prepared for our journey back over to Aberfeldy. With the wind at our backs we set off for the quicker journey back arriving back in time for a shower and just the chance to catch the end of the France and Scotland rugby international, while supping a well deserved beer.

The Sunday saw us wake up to blizzard conditions and a layer of snow over the surrounding mountains that would have made our trip over Schiehallion impossible on the Saturday. After a hearty breakfast and a debate as to whether we should take our cycle as planned, we set off to Kenmore along the A827, however due to the weather conditions and time we turned at the entrance of Taymouth Castle to head back for our swim session.

Again Charlie took a great session which we all started to feel towards the end, when we started to do some drills to finish off. After a quick shower we set off on our punishing run up the "Birks of Aberfeldy" which some of us had to walk. After a short stop to gather our breath we then set off down the hill at full speed.

After lunch we set off on another cycle run via Weem and along to the bridge at Callwood cottage where we took the road to Kenmore. After stopping breifly to view Ben Lawers in the distance and have a close look at the Crannog we started back for Aberfeldy. The competitive spirit of the group was apparent as the traditional sprint to the 30 MPH signs started as soon as we had climbed the brae out of Kenmore. On return to the swimming pool we set off on a short run around the golf course just to finish the weekend. By this time everyone felt the legs heavy as a consequence of the non stop training.

At the finish everyone headed for the sauna and jacuzzi for a well deserved wind down after an energetic weekend. Well done everyone.

A big thanks to Ronnie and Charlie for organising the weekend and a special thanks to the staff at the Aberfeldy leisure centre and Balnerne Hotel for their hospitality.