Journey Run

Point to point run today, the car going in for a service provided an opportunity for a change to the usual looped run, on the way back I got dropped off at the end of The Erskine Bridge and ran back home. Under the A82 to start then through a couple of fields and onto a path to the Slacks, steep at first then eases, from the Trig at the top of the Slacks headed for the biggest Duncolm, another Trig, good views to Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills. From Duncolm ran along swampy muddy path for a mile or so to get to the John Muir Trail at Burncrook reservoir. The John Muir Trail undulates down for a few miles to the top of Auchencarroch Road, mixture of paths, forest road and hard packed trail, the last 4 or 5 miles on the road, mixed weather too, sun, rain, and a couple of hail showers, a bit longer than I thought but no complaints.

Slacks Trig looking to Duncolm

Duncolm Trig looking over Lily Loch to Burncrook reservoir

Duncolm Trig looking towards Loch Lomond

Finlas and Luss Hills from Duncolm

Conic Hill and East Loch Lomond from JMT

    

5 Mile Handicap

Club race , just under 5 miles, 5 of us set off in reverse order, finished 3rd over the line, 2nd on time, a few seconds slower than last year, cool evening, perfect for a road race, 

Run Of The Mill

First go at this hill race, 100+ runners took part, start and finish is at the bottom of Alva Glen. It's a 9 mile loop. starts along a trail to Tillicoutry, from Tilli it follows the Maddy Moss Mash hill race route in reverse to Ben Cleuch, Andrew Gannel Hill first then Ben Cleuch, the return is over Ben Ever and The Nebit. The trail at the start runnable then mostly walking onto the open hill, as the gradient eases get running again, the last climb to AG's summit a jog/stomp, run across to Ben Cleuch, down and up a gradual climb, increasing descent to Ben Ever, short steep trudge to the top, another steeper drop to the bottom of the climb up the Nebit, run off the Nebit with 11 1/2 minutes to beat my 2 hour target, made it with 30 seconds to spare. Great wee race, misty on top, helpful to have run most of the route before, tea and cakes to finish, a good day out.

On the trail to Tilli

Sprint finish

Auchengaich reservoir loop

Run over the hills surrounding Auchengaich reservoir, tough climb to start up the side of Auchengaich hill, on the top a quad bike track leads over more runnable ground to Tharsuin and Chaorach, steep drop into the glen then a trudge up A'Mhainach, chased a few deer in the mist, never close enough to get a picture. From A'Mhainach it's a steady run down over Maol am Fheidh and The Strone, low cloud all morning meant all I could see were the wee cairns on each hill top, easy navigation on paths, quad bike tracks or along side fences.

Ime and Narnain

Not sure of today's route when I set off from Succoth, went straight up a rocky path to the forestry road then along to the tourist path zig zags, plenty of route options from there, decided to try Ime and if if I had time go over Narnain on the way back. As I reached to top of the zig zags stunning view of the cobbler and moon, clear blue skies, sun and not much of a breeze, On the approach to Bealach a'Mhaim a thick layer of cloud blocked out Ime apart from the top. Views apart the first part of the run didn't go well, seemed like I lost 10 or 15 mins up to the Bealach, climb up Ime went better, back on schedule despite walking most of the way and came up through the clouds to a lumpy inversion. Took in the views for a few minutes then set off down into the clouds towards the Bealach, from there a trudge up Narnains steep sides, stayed in the cloud until nearly at the top, The Cobbler appeared and dissappeared every few minutes as the cloud undulated by. Descended through the Spearhead and down over Cruach Nam Miseag, slowly at first then a bit quicker once on easier ground, towards the bottom took a slight detour to pick up the Argo track and avoid the blockpath and stream, a great mornings run rewarded with stunning views.

Luss Hill Run

Luss run, a bit friendlier with the forecast low cloud and high winds. Beinn Dubh to start, took it steady so that I could run the whole way, into the cloud about 1500', a bit damp but not raining, round the corries met a couple of well wrapped up walkers coming the other way, dropped down Mid Hill, the loch appearing under a bank of cloud, another hill walker starting to climb Mid Hill as I reached the bottom. Short run to just beyond the end of the road across a field and small bridge to start the steep climb up Coillie Eughain Hill, walking all the way onto the peat hagged ridge and a run down the Paps to finish.

Ben Nevis Hill Race

Roasted on the hot rocks of Melantee and the Ben. The sun shone for this years Ben Nevis race, with no wind even on the top meant for furnace like conditions. Set off hoping for at least a breeze on windy corner, ran up the road past the Ben Nevis Inn, dropped to a run/walk on the walkers path then walk/trudge round windy corner, barely a breath, finished my water by the red burn, stopped for a refill and cool down, from here its straight up the screes, decided to ration my water which didn't really help, felt like hard work and lost a big chunk of minutes, as I drank more my energy returned a bit, moving better on the steep rock covered slopes, the gradient eased and managed a few short jogs but it was slow going, turned for the descent and started to pass a few runners, I think only one got past me, a couple of others did but soon got past them again. The descent down the screes steep and fun as usual, go as fast as you dare finding loose scree to slide down and use the larger rocks as brakes, back onto the tourist path at the Red Burn, the first part around Melantee Lochan ok as its wide and a not too steep descent, onto the steps, good rhythm at first then cramp kicks in, stop for some elctrolyte drink and salt tablets to shift it, round windy corner and down to the Ben Nevis Inn there's a lot of walkers, tricky rocky sections and a few fallen runners to negotiate, after the muddy short cut picked up the pace for a short while then eased back keeping it a bit safer, past the Inn, as usual a couple of minutes slower than hoped for, usually give it everything from here, just kept it steady today, the heat had tempered my will.

Claggan Park before the start

Approaching half way up at the Red Burn

Looking over the Field of Cairns on the way down