Longer than planned run from Rowardennan to Inverarnan and back, about 28 miles, on the WHW. The route splits into four 7 mile sections, Rowardennan to Inversnaid, Inversnaid to Inverarnan, reversed on the way back. Didn't look good standing in Rowardennan car park just after 8am, dull, wet & windy. Aim was to practice race tactics, run down hill & flat, walk the ups.
Set off at an easy pace on the undulating track along side Loch Lomond, turned out to be pleasant running conditions as you are sheltered from the wind and most of the rain by trees. Lots of water in the streams crossing the route on their way into the Loch made for spectacular waterfalls. Some pics in the galleria. A few bedraggled goats as well.
Reached Inversnaid in 97 mins and stopped to refuel. Tough going from Inversnaid to Inverarnan, roots and rocks make it hard work to maintain any pace. Take it a bit easier on the rougher terrain to conserve energy and reach Inverarnan in just uner 2 hours. Only a couple of short sections with no trees where your exposed to the wind and rain. A ten minute refuel in the shelter of a WHW map and turned round for the return to Rowardennan.
Keeping strictly to the walk hills, run flats/downs seems to be working as we reach Inversnaid in the same time, within 20 seconds, as on the way out. No more food left just some Mike n Ikes before the last section and start to feel it in the last couple of miles but keep plodding on, even run the odd hill. Back in 105 mins slightly slower than the way out, to be expected but a bit more food might have helped.
Recover with soup & a roll in the Rowadennan Hotel with the welcome discovery that they sell draught Kronenbourg Blanc. Painful knee and foot and underarm chafeing from the Bingo Wings, but pretty good for almost 7 1/2 hours on the go. The run walk strategy seems to work.
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