Next Saturday it's Stuc a Chroin so chose an easy run through the Vale of Leven parks to try and loosen the legs. Still a bit stiff and out of sorts from the last week or so.
Went through Christie Park then a short jog along to run through the Argyle Park then round Balloch Park. In BP from the top of Heart Attack Hill took the new path out over Whinney Hill to the viewpoint overlooking Inchmurrin and Glens Finlas and Luss. Returned via same path to BP and then Argyle & Christie Parks. About 9 or 10 miles in 90 minutes. Sunny but cool in the breeze.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Whangie Whizz Wed 25th April
1st run in this years Bog and Burn series, the Whangie held up the tradition with plenty of boggy bits making for a good test.
The race starts on the steep climb behind the Queens view car park and then undulates along a rough path past the Whangie and on for about another 3/4 of a mile. A 50 yard run along a farm track and then its up Aucheneden hill, round the trig point at the top, the hard work just about finished, and back down in front of the Whangie again for a cruise back to the car park, concentration important to avoid the rocks, holes and cow pats hiding in the sludgey??? path.
About 2 or 3 seconds quicker than last year can't be all that bad!
The race starts on the steep climb behind the Queens view car park and then undulates along a rough path past the Whangie and on for about another 3/4 of a mile. A 50 yard run along a farm track and then its up Aucheneden hill, round the trig point at the top, the hard work just about finished, and back down in front of the Whangie again for a cruise back to the car park, concentration important to avoid the rocks, holes and cow pats hiding in the sludgey??? path.
About 2 or 3 seconds quicker than last year can't be all that bad!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Arrochar Alps Sun 22nd April
Low cloud kept me in Arrochar again this week but felt rather flat and gave up on the planned run on the way up Ben Vorlich, so much for Vorlich, Vane & Ime.
Pleasant run up Glen Loin past Corriegrogan (couple of mins slower than usual) and on up towards the Sloy Dam. Plod up Ben V into the clouds. When you ask why every 50 yards its time to rethink the days route. Followed the usual path up but realised I had passed the top in the clouds when the path ran out. Turned East & uphill and soon came to the trig point. Cold, wet and windy at the top so straight back down.
Difficult top to come off in poor visibility, as you leave its easy to follow a path and head off down the east flank but as you come off the small top with the trig point go west and another path soon comes into view.
The run down is challenging enough to pick up the pace and turned out quite enjoyable even going right through the boggy bits near the road. Jogged back down through Glen Loin passed a few runners and cyclists but thankful the run was cut short.
Surprise on Monday, woke up to DOMS, a bit shivery as well so maybe cutting the run short on Sunday was more than just couldn't be bothered.
Pleasant run up Glen Loin past Corriegrogan (couple of mins slower than usual) and on up towards the Sloy Dam. Plod up Ben V into the clouds. When you ask why every 50 yards its time to rethink the days route. Followed the usual path up but realised I had passed the top in the clouds when the path ran out. Turned East & uphill and soon came to the trig point. Cold, wet and windy at the top so straight back down.
Difficult top to come off in poor visibility, as you leave its easy to follow a path and head off down the east flank but as you come off the small top with the trig point go west and another path soon comes into view.
The run down is challenging enough to pick up the pace and turned out quite enjoyable even going right through the boggy bits near the road. Jogged back down through Glen Loin passed a few runners and cyclists but thankful the run was cut short.
Surprise on Monday, woke up to DOMS, a bit shivery as well so maybe cutting the run short on Sunday was more than just couldn't be bothered.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
5 Mile Handicap Tues 17th April
Not quite sure what to expect for this years 5 miler, changed to a Tuesday to suit those who may be running the Lochaber Marathon on Sunday (not me) but this means there was not a lot of time to recover from any long runs last weekend.
Set off a wee bit fast as usual and suffered after the first mile for a couple of miles till I realised there was now only a couple of miles to go and it would be worth all the pain - ha ha - finished in 32:56 best by a few seconds since 2002.
Set off a wee bit fast as usual and suffered after the first mile for a couple of miles till I realised there was now only a couple of miles to go and it would be worth all the pain - ha ha - finished in 32:56 best by a few seconds since 2002.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Glen Finlas Sun 15th April
Easier run planned for today and went to do the Glen Finlas horseshoe. Starting up Creachan Hill and going anti clockwise via Beinn Ruisg, Creag an Leinibh, unamed top 2275' (=693M, using a map 30+ years old), Balcnock, Craperoch with Shantron Muir to finish. About 10 miles and 2900' of ascent.
Managed to avoid the electric fences on the way up Creachan and soon on top running through the huge peat hags which cover these hills. The route undulates all the way round and there are plenty of paths and sheep tracks to follow, not always the most direct route but they make for easier running than the tussocky ground.
Visibility ok apart from a general misty haze which meant only the outline of the surrounding hills could be seen but no real detail, no problem with navigation this time. Finished easy in 2 1/ hours.
Managed to avoid the electric fences on the way up Creachan and soon on top running through the huge peat hags which cover these hills. The route undulates all the way round and there are plenty of paths and sheep tracks to follow, not always the most direct route but they make for easier running than the tussocky ground.
Visibility ok apart from a general misty haze which meant only the outline of the surrounding hills could be seen but no real detail, no problem with navigation this time. Finished easy in 2 1/ hours.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Ben Lomond Mon 9th April
Only a short run yesterday collecting in the markers from last weeks Stoneymollen race so Monday morning run planned for Ben Lomond. Left the Vale in sunshine but not much about at the Ben.
Deforrestation?? commenced on the lower slopes so different look and feel to the mountain. Steady plod up keeping to the path as the cloud was down too low for any new routes. Pretty windy and wet in the cloud towards the top and no chance to pick out the Ptarmigan route to go back down so about turn and down the same way. A few more pepole about in the bottom half, glad my climbing was over for the day. 82 mins to the top & 42 mins to the bottom. 2 cloudy pix in the galleria.
Deforrestation?? commenced on the lower slopes so different look and feel to the mountain. Steady plod up keeping to the path as the cloud was down too low for any new routes. Pretty windy and wet in the cloud towards the top and no chance to pick out the Ptarmigan route to go back down so about turn and down the same way. A few more pepole about in the bottom half, glad my climbing was over for the day. 82 mins to the top & 42 mins to the bottom. 2 cloudy pix in the galleria.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Stoneymollen Hill Race 5th April
1st Club Hill Race of the year and first PB of the year by about 90 secs. Perfect conditions, cool, sunny, with great views of Loch & Ben Lomond and also the Clyde to Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Greenock and hills beyond. Great we race from the bottom of Lower Stoneymollen Rd starts with a 20 minute climb then an undulating run along sheep tracks to a small hill overlooking the Carman reservoir. Short sharp descent to pick up a farm track, last 1/2 mile on the road past the front of Overton Cemetary and finishes back down at Alexandria Leisure Centre.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Arrochar Alps Sun 1st April
The current schedule has to be flexible to cope with the variable weather in the West of Scotland. So having been out for over 4 hours last weekend this was meant to be an easy day but the good weather continued so I was keen to access the Arrochar tops & get another long run in. Plan was to run from Succoth up Glen Loin to Corriegrogan then Bens Vane, Ime & Narnain before dropping back down to succoth, a total of 13 miles and 6500' of ascent.
The first part of the run up through Glen Loin was cool and the ground frozen as it was still in the shade. As the path steepend up to reach the sun the temperature rose quickly although the breeze would cut you in two.
From Corriegrogan its straight up Ben Vane which ranges from steep and boggy to steep to really steep. As you approach the summit views open up to Ben Lomond and the other Arrochar Alps, also the Crianlarich hills and Tyndrum Hills and the tops of Goat Fell/Glen Rosa on Arran were visible as well as the Luss hills. Several lochs show themselves, Lomond, Gareloch, Arklet, Katrine and down the Clyde Estuary.
The drop off the back of Ben Vane down towards Lag Uaine went back in to the shade with the ground unable to decide if its Winter or Spring with a mixture of frost and streams.
From Lag Uaine to the top of Ben Ime via the Glas Bhealach is just over a mile with 1700' of ascent and took about 50 minutes. The first part to Glas Bhealach through tussocks and streams then frozen boulder strewn turf to the top. The higher you go the colder the wind so important to keep moving. Didn't stay long here, busy summit compared to the empty Ben Vane.
Jog down towards the last big climb up Ben Narnain tougher than usual as the feet were suffering due to the hard frozen ground covered already. Thankfully the Bealach a Maim is not as low as Lag Uaine and 25 minutes covered the last big ascent of the day, 1000' in a mile to the top of Narnain.
The initial descent from Narnain feels quite airy as you scramble through the Spearhead. Then the path undualtes its way around Cruach Nam Miseag but went over this minor "top" for fun as well ( = took the wrong path). Mixture of minor scrambles and streams all the way back down to the car park at Succoth. Out for a total of 2 minutes over 5 hours, a few pix in the Galleria.
The first part of the run up through Glen Loin was cool and the ground frozen as it was still in the shade. As the path steepend up to reach the sun the temperature rose quickly although the breeze would cut you in two.
From Corriegrogan its straight up Ben Vane which ranges from steep and boggy to steep to really steep. As you approach the summit views open up to Ben Lomond and the other Arrochar Alps, also the Crianlarich hills and Tyndrum Hills and the tops of Goat Fell/Glen Rosa on Arran were visible as well as the Luss hills. Several lochs show themselves, Lomond, Gareloch, Arklet, Katrine and down the Clyde Estuary.
The drop off the back of Ben Vane down towards Lag Uaine went back in to the shade with the ground unable to decide if its Winter or Spring with a mixture of frost and streams.
From Lag Uaine to the top of Ben Ime via the Glas Bhealach is just over a mile with 1700' of ascent and took about 50 minutes. The first part to Glas Bhealach through tussocks and streams then frozen boulder strewn turf to the top. The higher you go the colder the wind so important to keep moving. Didn't stay long here, busy summit compared to the empty Ben Vane.
Jog down towards the last big climb up Ben Narnain tougher than usual as the feet were suffering due to the hard frozen ground covered already. Thankfully the Bealach a Maim is not as low as Lag Uaine and 25 minutes covered the last big ascent of the day, 1000' in a mile to the top of Narnain.
The initial descent from Narnain feels quite airy as you scramble through the Spearhead. Then the path undualtes its way around Cruach Nam Miseag but went over this minor "top" for fun as well ( = took the wrong path). Mixture of minor scrambles and streams all the way back down to the car park at Succoth. Out for a total of 2 minutes over 5 hours, a few pix in the Galleria.
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