Thursday, February 28, 2008

Horseshoe Sun 17th Feb

For the second run of the weekend went round the Horseshoe, anti clock wise with a loop round Balloch Park on the way back. Tired legs kept the pace down and a real struggle the last mile or two, dug in and managed to plod it out but didn't feel right. 12 miles or so in just over 2 hours, and this was an easy week.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Carnethy 5 Sat 16th Feb

Managed to enter online for this from California, lucky as it was full by the time I got home 5 days later, 550 entries. Well organised race to start the year, sports shops on Site, changing/showers, bus to & from the start, tea marquee after the race and a school dinner. All that and 5 hills with 2500' of ascent in 6 miles.

Cold but perfect day, clear skies with only a little wind. Usual charge across the bog with a welcome rest at the queue for the style then a 20 minute plod up Scald Law. Once on top it was a fast undulating run over South black Hill and the East and West Kips. The drop off West Kip tricky in the shade as the sun hadn't thawed the ground. Pleasant cruise to the Howe then the 2nd big climb up Carnethy. A helping hand from one of the many marshalls handing out jelly babies and kendal mint cake meant you were soon out the gully and on your way to the last part of the climb to Carnethy summit.

From Carenthy summit cairn its a plunge down heather clad slopes followed by a 2 minute blast back across the bog. Pleased to finish in 81 1/2 mins when I felt like 85+ at the start. And a school dinner to come.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

WHW run Sunday 10th Feb

1st of 3 longer runs planned to cover the remaining parts of the Highland Fling race route, this week Drymen to Milngavie & back, about 23 miles. Early start for 3 of us would mean we should be started for 8:00 am. Cool and calm, a nice day for it. Target was to finish feeling like we could run it again.

Set out across a field, through a knee deep bog in the first 2 minutes - of course, then onto a short road (bad) section past the Pots of Gartness then off road (good) most of the way to Milngavie. Met very few people to start with, lots of awkward gates to pass, thankfully this will be the start of the race so should'nt be too tired to deal with them, initially meet a few walkers and the odd runner, but as we aproached Milngavie the WHW gets pretty crowded. .

Slight detour at Carbeth breaks up the out and back route, soon into Mugdock Park and then Milngavie & the "start". Short break for something to eat & drink and then back on our feet towards Drymen.

On the way back kept up the "jog up the hills, run the flats & downhills" with a few other walking breaks thrown in. Certainly felt the pain in the last few miles, but still ran the road section hills n'all and up through the field to finish in just over 5 hours. Target met?

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Kipperoch Sun 3rd Feb

Another late night, this time with a Las Vegas theme, meant no driving on Sunday morning. Set off just after 8 in pursuit of a fellow Millie. Ran through Renton & onto the Kipperoch eventually catching what had been a jogging dot on the horizon.

Ran along the main road through Cardross towards Helensburgh and turned up the Red road. The Red Road undulates up, a good test followed by a delightful route choice after the Black Third farm, turn right past the cow feeding station and the associated slurry. All so that we could experience the last wee steep climb before the track through the woods.

Easy jog back down the Stoneymollen and the favourite trudge along the bypass to Christie Park and home. About 13 miles, 1400' of ascent in 2 1/2 hours.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Whinney Hill Sat 2nd Feb

Club Cross Country race starting with a lap round Balloch Park then out to Whinney Hill and back. A light covering of snow, lots of mud, ice and some wintery sun met the runners.

Last year the course was marked on the Friday & apparently someone moved the markers resulting in several runners going off course, grump & groan. So, this year set off at 8:30 to mark out the course before the 10 o'clock start, beautiful winter morning which turned out to be the best part of the day. Made it back to Balloch Castle just in time for the start, three club runners and five guests.

The lap round the central grassy bit of Balloch Park is where the runners sort themselves out before heading out a narrow walkers path to Whinney Hill. The path loops round overlooking Inchmurrin with views across Loch Lomond to Glens Finlas & Luss. In between is a cracking undulating cross country route where the paths range from hard packed gravel to foot deep icy mud and everything in between with a few tree trunks and roots thrown in for good measure.

Steady on the outward route, more ups than downs give way to a fast mainly downhill run back, with a tough wee climb through the woods and muck to make you work. Slippy underfoot on the way back requires a fair bit of concentration as the pace increases. Then the narrow path back into Balloch Park twists and turns, care required to avoid an early bath in the burn.

Better course marking kept us on the twisting track through the trees back to Balloch Castle and tea, coffee and biscuits. A bit slower this year, all to do with less competition and the early run round to mark out the course...nothing to do with age!