The sun shone for the 1st Trossachs Duathlon, 40 km of torture or pleasure depending on your outlook. This was a run/bike/run duathlon. First a Hill Run 7 miles 2200ft, then a 16 mile Mountain bike on forestry fire roads with a 2 1/2 mile run to finish.
Run1, up and down Ben Venue , started from the Loch Katrine access road undulating upwards on forrest tracks. Once clear of the forrest it was straight up the steep slopes, heather providing welcome hand holds, to the top of Ben Venue with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and lochs. From the top it was a rocky ridge run to a high Beallach followed by a tricky descent on an eroded path covered in rocks and bogs requiring full concentration to stay upright. To get to the transition area it was 1/2 mile past the run1 start in the Ben Venue car park.
The bike run got progressively tougher, leaving the transition area towards the Dukes Pass the first couple of miles were fast on road and forrest tracks beside Loch Achray then it was on to a mixture of rougher steeper tracks, paths and forrest roads as the route turned away from Loch Venacher up to Loch Drunkie. The route round Loch Drunkie narrow and rutted in places . After Loch Drunkie it was a lap of Druim Buidhe with some overgrown tracks to navigate before a very rough steep descent. Back onto forrest tracks and roads for a few tortuous miles where even pedalling down hill became a chore. The last mile or so thankfully down hills steep enough for gravity to help get the legs spinning again.
Run2 was 2 1/2 miles or so back up the start of the BenVenue route before looping round on forrest roads, reduced to a steady plod. Great event and scenery with weather on the day to top it off. Hopefully on again next year but would need more bike fitness. Splits run1 1:34, bike 2:04, run2 0:35 all in 4 hrs 13.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Arrochar Sun 18th March
Continuing arctic mountain weather meant another low level trail run. Took the forest trail from Succoth through a wind tunnel called Glen Croe then on up the old crumbling Rest & B Thankful road. Apparently the vintage cars drove up here last week. At the top a left turn towards Lochgoilhead for a couple of hundred yards then a left turn down the undulating forest track to Ardgarten. From Ardgarten went up the newish trail at the end of the car park back up towards the Cobbler & Narnain and then picked up the outward trail for the last mile or so. About 14 miles & 2700' of ascent in just over 2 1/2 hours. Good run apart from the 3/4 of a mile on the road through windy Glen Croe. Big variation in the weather one minute bathed in sunshine the next straight into the teeth of a snowstorm. A few pix in the Galleria.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Glen Luss Horseshoe Sun 11th March
High winds, clouds, rain, snow so back to the relative comfort of the Luss hills. 2nd attempt in recent weeks to run the horseshoe.
Climb up Beinn Dubh followed by a run along the broad ridge skirting the 2 corries before dropping down into Sith Mor and then the steep climb to the highest point of the run, 2408' of Doune Hill. Undulating ridge run along to Beinn Eich via Beinn Lochain then a quick descent to Edentaggert farm at the top of Glen Luss. A couple of tortuous road miles to finish.
Huge amount of water everywhere today made slippy going on all the steep climbs, even slippier going up Beinn Dubh was the frog spawn inhabiting every pool of water, much the same as Glen Loin a couple of weeks back. Only bits slippier than the climbs were the descents.
Hills empty today only passed 2 guys walking up Beinn Dubh, maybe the low cloud, wind and driving rain had something to do with it?
Climb up Beinn Dubh followed by a run along the broad ridge skirting the 2 corries before dropping down into Sith Mor and then the steep climb to the highest point of the run, 2408' of Doune Hill. Undulating ridge run along to Beinn Eich via Beinn Lochain then a quick descent to Edentaggert farm at the top of Glen Luss. A couple of tortuous road miles to finish.
Huge amount of water everywhere today made slippy going on all the steep climbs, even slippier going up Beinn Dubh was the frog spawn inhabiting every pool of water, much the same as Glen Loin a couple of weeks back. Only bits slippier than the climbs were the descents.
Hills empty today only passed 2 guys walking up Beinn Dubh, maybe the low cloud, wind and driving rain had something to do with it?
Monday, March 05, 2007
Luss Hills Monday 5th March
Took a holiday today and after the kids left for school set off for a run. Clouds down to about 2500' and snow from 2000' so instead of the planned Ben Venue went a few miles up the road to Luss for a run round the Horseshoe, logic being they go just over 2000'.
Usual route planned, 12 miles and 5000' of ascent, up Beinn Dubh, run along the ridge, round the corries, drop into Sith Mor then up Doune Hill and back to Glen Luss via the ridge over Beinn Lochain and Beinn Eich.
Started the climb up Beinn Dubh through a muddy field/swamp before picking up the path. The path alternated between stream and swamp most of the way up. After the initial steep climb the wind kicked in, no gusts just difficult. Difficult to breathe & difficult to keep your hat on. Solution...put 2 hats on.
Got to the top with a jog walk, too windy at the top to stop so kept on towards the 1st corrie. Took in views of a stormbound Arrochar Alps from the shelter of some peat hags. Toes began to freeze in the icy slush along the top and thoughts of the Beinn Eich ridge began to fade. Pretty soon the wind chill had wiped it out comletely. Soon realised why the toes were so cold, loose laces, somehow even when they were tied up didn't feel like Beinn Eich.
Ran on past the second corrie and dropped into Sith Mor, still no urge to climb back up into the wind and as the toes slowly came back to life cut left down Glen Mollochan eventually picking up a rough path to join the road for a run down Glen Luss. All in 9 miles and 2600' of ascent. Couple of pix in the galleria.
Usual route planned, 12 miles and 5000' of ascent, up Beinn Dubh, run along the ridge, round the corries, drop into Sith Mor then up Doune Hill and back to Glen Luss via the ridge over Beinn Lochain and Beinn Eich.
Started the climb up Beinn Dubh through a muddy field/swamp before picking up the path. The path alternated between stream and swamp most of the way up. After the initial steep climb the wind kicked in, no gusts just difficult. Difficult to breathe & difficult to keep your hat on. Solution...put 2 hats on.
Got to the top with a jog walk, too windy at the top to stop so kept on towards the 1st corrie. Took in views of a stormbound Arrochar Alps from the shelter of some peat hags. Toes began to freeze in the icy slush along the top and thoughts of the Beinn Eich ridge began to fade. Pretty soon the wind chill had wiped it out comletely. Soon realised why the toes were so cold, loose laces, somehow even when they were tied up didn't feel like Beinn Eich.
Ran on past the second corrie and dropped into Sith Mor, still no urge to climb back up into the wind and as the toes slowly came back to life cut left down Glen Mollochan eventually picking up a rough path to join the road for a run down Glen Luss. All in 9 miles and 2600' of ascent. Couple of pix in the galleria.
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