Ran solo and unsupported; pack had food and emergency kit as well as poles in case I rolled my ankle and had to limp off the hill (4.3 kg weight). I got dropped off in Aviemore and ran the 3km to Coylumbridge to the start. Restarted my watch and off through the forest. First few miles lovely, then a bit rocker but mostly runnable by the stream. Couple of river crossings but in May quite easy without getting feet wet.
The boulder fields I found too technical to run through so lost a lot of time there. They didn’t last forever though and the trail reappeared, although still quite slow as rocky. Then passed over the stream (falls of Dee, I think!) with a little plaque telling me how far I had left to go. I had eaten something every half hour and felt fairly good, and was glad when the trail opened up again as a sandy dirt track, much more runnable!
Back in civilisation the last couple miles were down a landrover track so quick if more boring. Finished in the Linn of Dee car park at 5 hours 20. Treated myself to last of my ginger cake before a proper meal back in Braemar; got picked up again a couple miles down the road.
It was much warmer in the valleys than the pass and I was glad I had my windproof and gloves easily accessible! Water very easy to refill as next to a stream for majority of route, although I did use a filter to be safe.