Whinny Hill Trail Race

Club race, starts and finishes from the Castle in Balloch Park, bit different this year, run in the dark. We all started at different times, a couple went off early enough to finish in the daylight, the rest of us started in the light, finishing in the dark. A few minutes slower than usual, a bit hesitant to push the pace, maybe a better head torch would help. All of us had a couple of route mishaps, not too much a few seconds here and there, good fun and we'll need to try another one! 

Narnain and The Cobbler The Quiet Way

Great forecast, blue skies, no wind, early start in Arrochar for about 8. Plan was Narnain, Ime and The Cobbler, started up Narnain and soon realised last Thursdays hill rep session was still very much in my legs, get to the top of Narnain and see how I felt. Brisk walk most of the way up, a wee jog just before the Spearhead, happy to reach the top about 15 minutes slower than usual, took in the views for some time wandering about the rocky plateau, on the run off decision time, took a left for The Cobbler, Ime could wait for another day. Steady plod up The Cobblers back steps then up to the Needle, another break to refuel and take in the views, descent via the ridge to An t Sron then dropped down to the tourist path for a few yards, to avoid the zig zags took the argo track back to Succoth, a fine morning.

   

Beinn Dubh

Plan was for a run up Beinn Dubh then round to Mid Hill, in the end cut it short at the top of Beinn Dubh, ran back down chased by a rainbow. Set off up Beinn Dubh in the rain, kept a slow jog going, rain eased after half an hour and the wind picked up with height making it a bit awkward to run, by the top I was getting a bit cold and could see the next shower coming so turned round for an easy run back down.

  

Glen Finlas

Glen Finlas run, starting from the layby at the entrance to the glen, up and down the dam access road with a loop round the hills in between. Took the rough track on the north side of the reservoir, The track has deteriorated over the years, overgrown, a couple of landslips and much of it under water. Just past a stream/gulley past the end of the reservoir follow an old broken fence line to the top, there's a bit of a path if you can find it. Once you get onto the ridge, there's a good path, followed it anti clockwise over Beinn Ruisg, Creag an Leinibh and Balcnock's two tops, aim was to descend North to the dam to avoid the worst of the tussocks and ditches over Craperoch, left the path 1.5 miles after Balcnock's second top, too soon, had to traverse along tussocky ground for another half mile then down to the dam and a run back down beside the access road to finish. Disturbed 3 raptors feeding on a sheep on the climb up to the ridge and a stag as I ran along the ridge.

5 Mile Handicap

Club road race, 5 runners tonight, run as a virtual handicap, good evening for a run, cool with a bit of a breeze, 39 minutes, about a minute slower than last year 

Fruin Reservoir Loop

Glen Fruin hills today, high winds forecast and these hills are a bit lower , turned out fine. Strone to start, a steep mile, brief respite out n back to Maol am Fheidh then more up to Beinn a'Mhainaich. Dropped down into the glen by the fenceline, a few deer ran off towards Glen Luss. Slow trudge up Chaorach, easier ground now running over Tharsuin a wee shower on the way down via Auchengaich. Ground quite boggy today, glad to have my waterproof socks.

    

Ted Baker - Doughnut Hill Trail Race

 2nd year with the new route, a loop over Doughnut Hill, start and finish the Totem Pole behind Overton House, mostly trails with a wee bit of hill in the middle, just over 1000' of ascent in 4.6 miles, its a virtual handicap race as people start when it suits them and we all finish roughly together, good evening for a run, 6 of us made the start, I finished last by handicap but was the quickest on the night by a few seconds, in second place on the way up to Doughnut Hill managing to get past the runner in front just before dropping onto the hill and managed to stay in front taking the win by 30 seconds about a minute slower than last year. Finished off with a Doughnut and a Tesla Disco!