Balmaha to Rowardennan Sun 27th Jan

Ran on the West Highland Way again, this week from Balmaha to Rowardennan and back, started off in a bigger group for the first few miles until we warmed up and then went on at our own pace.

The path runs along side the Loch and criss crosses the road along the way. Two or three short sharp climbs taken at walking pace on the way out. Turned at the Rowardennan pier in 2 hrs 10 mins, and took it easy for the first couple of miles on the way back, same again walking the up hills and running the flat & down hills. Changed to a steady run back, jogged up the hills to finish the 15 miles in 4 hrs 2 mins.

Very scenic run along parts of the loch you don't normally see, would make a nice walk in better weather.

Drymen to Balmaha Sun 20th Jan

Couldn't decide where to go for the 1st long run of the year, slept in so took a short drive to Drymen to tackle the West Highland Way towards Balmaha.

With new (bargain) shoes in luminous white the target was about 3 hours and reached Conic Hill just under 1 1/2 ours so continued down into Balmaha. Met an old workmate and his family on their way up Conic out for a Sunday walk. After a short break about turn for the steep plod back up & over Conic keeping a close but relaxed eye on the variety of dogs sniffing about their Sunday outings.

After Conic its an undulating run back to Drymen, met the WHW girls on the way back and then a v large long blond haired Alsatian barked and growled towards me at pace. Ignored it as best I could as it's owner shouted Marvin, Marvin to little effect. The monster continued straight towards me until the last second where it muzzled past without chomping.

Tired legs kicked in after yesterdays race so kept the legs ticking over for the last 40 minutes, new shoes suitably muddy, 14 miles and about 3000' of ascent in just over 3:20. Couple of pics in the Galeria.

Cross Country Sat 19th Jan

First race of the year and 8 runners turned up for the annual Club race of 2 laps round the Polaroid Industrial Estate, sunny and cool, perfect conditions.

Marking out the course before the race met the Heron again and 6 or 7 Mallard took flight across a sparkling river Leven as I ran along the bank. A few extra trees to cross this year and paths being closed in by bushes suggest less people are using them, oh and came off worst in an argument with a bramble bush, ouch.

Still no stopwatch so it was the HRM again, forgot to set the limits and had 38 minutes of beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. Interesting to compare data from the same race 2 years ago when I was 7 weeks into a marathon training programme, 3 1/2 min slower this year with a HR 4 bpm higher.

Cycle Path Sun 13th Jan

Still in recovery mode after a 3 week New Year layoff and managed to limit the Sunday run to a 8/9 mile 95 minute jog on then banks of the river Leven with a detour round the Polaroid Industrial Estate as a recce for next weeks Cross Country.

Grey and wet, but thankfully not too cold, rewarded with some birdlife on the way, some Oystercatchers skimming the river Leven, 2 Cormorants, a Heron and a comical Shell Duck swimming one way but going in the opposite direction with the current. Nice run with not too much on the road.

Stoneymollen Sun 6th Jan

Chose a nice easy 1st run of the year and 1st run for 3 weeks along past Carman road then up the hill behind the reservoir, through the quarry and along the moor to a descent via Stoneymollen. Jogged along the Vale bypass to the back of Chrsitie Park and home. Feet frozen in the soaking ground on the moors and still a little snow on the tops. Happy new year.