Whinney Hill Sat 2nd Feb

Club Cross Country race starting with a lap round Balloch Park then out to Whinney Hill and back. A light covering of snow, lots of mud, ice and some wintery sun met the runners.

Last year the course was marked on the Friday & apparently someone moved the markers resulting in several runners going off course, grump & groan. So, this year set off at 8:30 to mark out the course before the 10 o'clock start, beautiful winter morning which turned out to be the best part of the day. Made it back to Balloch Castle just in time for the start, three club runners and five guests.

The lap round the central grassy bit of Balloch Park is where the runners sort themselves out before heading out a narrow walkers path to Whinney Hill. The path loops round overlooking Inchmurrin with views across Loch Lomond to Glens Finlas & Luss. In between is a cracking undulating cross country route where the paths range from hard packed gravel to foot deep icy mud and everything in between with a few tree trunks and roots thrown in for good measure.

Steady on the outward route, more ups than downs give way to a fast mainly downhill run back, with a tough wee climb through the woods and muck to make you work. Slippy underfoot on the way back requires a fair bit of concentration as the pace increases. Then the narrow path back into Balloch Park twists and turns, care required to avoid an early bath in the burn.

Better course marking kept us on the twisting track through the trees back to Balloch Castle and tea, coffee and biscuits. A bit slower this year, all to do with less competition and the early run round to mark out the course...nothing to do with age!