First run in Arrochar this year round undulating Glen Loin. Set off anti clockwise in grey damp conditions but the rain stayed away and a weak sun poked its nose out later on the long downhill run back out the Glen.
Managed to run all the hills to make this short outing a bit tougher. Although running on tired legs still felt some energy to spare on the ups and recovery was reasonably quick with only short walking breaks after each hill.
Wore my new bargain inov8 Mist 210 jacket, kept the wind out but a bit damp inside the ripstop nylon. Packs down really small into its own bumbag with room for compass, whistle & waterproof trousers so should come in handy for hill race kit.
Although relatively close to civilisation Glen Loin still supplies a nice sense of away from it all and even better today with the mountains all round covered in snow. Another bonus was in contrast to Fridays run over Stoneymollen managing to keep my feet dry and warm. Mizuno trail shoes feeling more comfortable as well.
About 11 miles in just under 2 hours.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Drymen to Mugdock Sat 22nd March
Wanted to try the first few miles of the Highland Fling route again to work out a run / walk plan. This is the easiest part of the run but too quick here would make for a more painful end.
Set off from Drymen just after 12 and with the wind behind made for easy going, first couple of miles or so are on the road before joining a path along an old railway track. The WHW leaves the railway track just before Duntreath Castle to cross the eastern end of Quinloch Muir to get to Carbeth, past the huts and on to Mugdock Wood, ran all the way including the hills in 1 hour 39.
Took a couple of minutes out to have a drink and and change my burst jacket for a fleece and then set off with a few minutes walking and eating. Again ran all the hills but took a few walking breaks to drink and eat.
It was tough going into the wind to Carbeth and over the exposed Quinloch Muir but once back on the old railway track for a couple of miles past Dumgoyne and more comfortable running sheltered from the wind by trees and bushes. Kept up a steady plod to Gartness before working hard over the last couple of undulating miles on the road. Tired legs brough me back in 1 hour 50.
New Trail shoes ok but burst jacket not, and without a spare fleece it would have been an unpleasant run back. About 20 miles in just under 3 1/2 hours.
Set off from Drymen just after 12 and with the wind behind made for easy going, first couple of miles or so are on the road before joining a path along an old railway track. The WHW leaves the railway track just before Duntreath Castle to cross the eastern end of Quinloch Muir to get to Carbeth, past the huts and on to Mugdock Wood, ran all the way including the hills in 1 hour 39.
Took a couple of minutes out to have a drink and and change my burst jacket for a fleece and then set off with a few minutes walking and eating. Again ran all the hills but took a few walking breaks to drink and eat.
It was tough going into the wind to Carbeth and over the exposed Quinloch Muir but once back on the old railway track for a couple of miles past Dumgoyne and more comfortable running sheltered from the wind by trees and bushes. Kept up a steady plod to Gartness before working hard over the last couple of undulating miles on the road. Tired legs brough me back in 1 hour 50.
New Trail shoes ok but burst jacket not, and without a spare fleece it would have been an unpleasant run back. About 20 miles in just under 3 1/2 hours.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Gartocharn Sun 16th March
Short long run planned for this week turned out to be a 13 mile road run. Left from the club up through Balloch Park and out to Gartocharn via Boturich. Took the first right turn in Gatocharn up old school road to go back towards the Horseshoe where we ran down to Ballagan, back through Balloch Park and home.
Ran all the way including the hills and at 2 hrs 15 perhaps the longest non-stop run for a few weeks, a good run but it didn't last very long.
Ran all the way including the hills and at 2 hrs 15 perhaps the longest non-stop run for a few weeks, a good run but it didn't last very long.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sallochy to Tyndrum Sat 8th March
Alternative title, mental as anything, 30 mile jaunt from Sallochy Bay to Tyndrum. Wet, wet, wet and windy pushed enthusiasm to the limit. Luckily the forecast was accurate and we had a few sunny spells later mixed in with some rain and hail just to stop us getting too excited. This weeks feeding plan was a cereal bar every 90 mins with nearly 2 litres of lucozade on board as well and a few Mike n Ikes for the bad times.
Why Sallochy Bay? It meant 30 miles to Tyndrum, need you ask?
Settled into the walk up hills run everything else routine and reached Rowardennan in about 40 mins. Conditions pretty miserable but still made Rowardennan to Inversnaid in 1 hr 40. The tough section to Inverarnan next in a couple of minutes over 2 hours. The island is called I Vow. A food stop at Inverarnan for 10 or 15 mins then off to Tyndrum.
1st time I have run this section, 1st few miles are on easy forrest road gently undulating upwards through Glen Falloch. Terrain changes just after Derrydarroch with a roller coaster ride through Forrest, steep ups & downs bad enough at 20 something miles will be slightly more challenging after 40 odd miles. The last few miles although flat seem longer than they should but Tyndrum soon rolls into sight and a nice riverside run and crossing to finish. All in 8 mins shy of 8 hours, seems ok to me.
Why Sallochy Bay? It meant 30 miles to Tyndrum, need you ask?
Settled into the walk up hills run everything else routine and reached Rowardennan in about 40 mins. Conditions pretty miserable but still made Rowardennan to Inversnaid in 1 hr 40. The tough section to Inverarnan next in a couple of minutes over 2 hours. The island is called I Vow. A food stop at Inverarnan for 10 or 15 mins then off to Tyndrum.
1st time I have run this section, 1st few miles are on easy forrest road gently undulating upwards through Glen Falloch. Terrain changes just after Derrydarroch with a roller coaster ride through Forrest, steep ups & downs bad enough at 20 something miles will be slightly more challenging after 40 odd miles. The last few miles although flat seem longer than they should but Tyndrum soon rolls into sight and a nice riverside run and crossing to finish. All in 8 mins shy of 8 hours, seems ok to me.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Bishop Hill Sun 2nd March
1st of this years 4 from 6 SHR Championship, I ran it in 05 when it was last used as one of the counting races. Starts and finishes crossing a ditch with a 20 minute climb and 7 minute descent in between.
Big field meant a bit of elbows out to keep your place on the narrow path zig zagging up, a mixture of jog and walk in time with the gradient and whoever tried to pass. Being a short race pushed on and kept with a few slightly faster runners on the way up and most of the way down apart from the last steep section where I descended like a mouse.
Pleased to finished with a pb ascent & descent by about a minute overall and felt as if I could have gone quicker.
Big field meant a bit of elbows out to keep your place on the narrow path zig zagging up, a mixture of jog and walk in time with the gradient and whoever tried to pass. Being a short race pushed on and kept with a few slightly faster runners on the way up and most of the way down apart from the last steep section where I descended like a mouse.
Pleased to finished with a pb ascent & descent by about a minute overall and felt as if I could have gone quicker.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Horseshoe Fri 29th Feb
Long run today to give a recovery day before Bishop Hill on Sunday. Arrived home from work torrential rain/wind, perfect for a run. Looking for about 15 miles and set off on an anti clockwise loop with probably Boturich to get towards 15 miles.
Felt easy on the way out despite running Monday, Tuesday (swim Wed) & Thursday. Wind blew me up the first hill, payback would come later. Turned at the tee junction and the wind soon took my hat away, at least it meant a wee rest getting it back. Passed the turn offs to Gartocharn and straight into the wind, almost came to a halt even though its downhill. Worse to come, running into the wind and uphill, luckily no one saw me.
Took a right at Ballagan much nicer with the wind and rain behind. Turned past the water works onto the Boturich track and hit the wind again as you come out the trees at the top. Mostly down hill from now, so kept a steady pace going and cut into the back of Balloch Park staying within trees and shelter.
Ran home through Argyll and Christie Parks along the way, nearly 15 miles in 2 hours 15 mins+.
Felt easy on the way out despite running Monday, Tuesday (swim Wed) & Thursday. Wind blew me up the first hill, payback would come later. Turned at the tee junction and the wind soon took my hat away, at least it meant a wee rest getting it back. Passed the turn offs to Gartocharn and straight into the wind, almost came to a halt even though its downhill. Worse to come, running into the wind and uphill, luckily no one saw me.
Took a right at Ballagan much nicer with the wind and rain behind. Turned past the water works onto the Boturich track and hit the wind again as you come out the trees at the top. Mostly down hill from now, so kept a steady pace going and cut into the back of Balloch Park staying within trees and shelter.
Ran home through Argyll and Christie Parks along the way, nearly 15 miles in 2 hours 15 mins+.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Rowardennan to Inverarnan Sat 23rd Feb
Longer than planned run from Rowardennan to Inverarnan and back, about 28 miles, on the WHW. The route splits into four 7 mile sections, Rowardennan to Inversnaid, Inversnaid to Inverarnan, reversed on the way back. Didn't look good standing in Rowardennan car park just after 8am, dull, wet & windy. Aim was to practice race tactics, run down hill & flat, walk the ups.
Set off at an easy pace on the undulating track along side Loch Lomond, turned out to be pleasant running conditions as you are sheltered from the wind and most of the rain by trees. Lots of water in the streams crossing the route on their way into the Loch made for spectacular waterfalls. Some pics in the galleria. A few bedraggled goats as well.
Reached Inversnaid in 97 mins and stopped to refuel. Tough going from Inversnaid to Inverarnan, roots and rocks make it hard work to maintain any pace. Take it a bit easier on the rougher terrain to conserve energy and reach Inverarnan in just uner 2 hours. Only a couple of short sections with no trees where your exposed to the wind and rain. A ten minute refuel in the shelter of a WHW map and turned round for the return to Rowardennan.
Keeping strictly to the walk hills, run flats/downs seems to be working as we reach Inversnaid in the same time, within 20 seconds, as on the way out. No more food left just some Mike n Ikes before the last section and start to feel it in the last couple of miles but keep plodding on, even run the odd hill. Back in 105 mins slightly slower than the way out, to be expected but a bit more food might have helped.
Recover with soup & a roll in the Rowadennan Hotel with the welcome discovery that they sell draught Kronenbourg Blanc. Painful knee and foot and underarm chafeing from the Bingo Wings, but pretty good for almost 7 1/2 hours on the go. The run walk strategy seems to work.
Set off at an easy pace on the undulating track along side Loch Lomond, turned out to be pleasant running conditions as you are sheltered from the wind and most of the rain by trees. Lots of water in the streams crossing the route on their way into the Loch made for spectacular waterfalls. Some pics in the galleria. A few bedraggled goats as well.
Reached Inversnaid in 97 mins and stopped to refuel. Tough going from Inversnaid to Inverarnan, roots and rocks make it hard work to maintain any pace. Take it a bit easier on the rougher terrain to conserve energy and reach Inverarnan in just uner 2 hours. Only a couple of short sections with no trees where your exposed to the wind and rain. A ten minute refuel in the shelter of a WHW map and turned round for the return to Rowardennan.
Keeping strictly to the walk hills, run flats/downs seems to be working as we reach Inversnaid in the same time, within 20 seconds, as on the way out. No more food left just some Mike n Ikes before the last section and start to feel it in the last couple of miles but keep plodding on, even run the odd hill. Back in 105 mins slightly slower than the way out, to be expected but a bit more food might have helped.
Recover with soup & a roll in the Rowadennan Hotel with the welcome discovery that they sell draught Kronenbourg Blanc. Painful knee and foot and underarm chafeing from the Bingo Wings, but pretty good for almost 7 1/2 hours on the go. The run walk strategy seems to work.
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