Arrochar Alps Sat 28th June

2nd year in a row for this challenging wee "half marathon", 13 or so miles with about 8000' of ascent and descent. Starts and finishes near the entrance to Glen Loin and spins you round Ben Vorlich & Vane, Beinn Ime & Narnain. Thankfully the main climbs get progressively smaller as you go round, 2500', 2000', 1700', 800'. Each followed by a steep descent of 2000', 1500', 1000' and finishing with a fun 3000' in a couple of miles down Beinn Narnain, and a bit of local knowledge does help. Two cut offs in this years race, 2 hours to Sloy Dam and 3 1/2 hours to Lag Uaine between Vane & Ime.


Field of 44 brave souls, about the same as last year, set off on an easy jog. The field gradually stringing out into single file up Glen Loin. Got to the bottom of Vorlich in 40 minutes for a steady plod up the tourist path, reached the top in another 57 mins leaving only 23 to get to the Sloy dam via the straight down route, took 24 mins but the kind?? marshalls waved us through with a couple of jelly beans.


For some reason it started to get really hard and struggled to the top of Vane in 73 mins leaving it tight to get to Lag Uaine before the time out. On the way down I cut the corner too early and lost about 3 mins scrambling and sliding down bits that were too steep to run. Feeling a bit sorry by this time and ready to chuck it in, but after a chat with the marshall it was all go again.


The climb up Beinn Ime breaks into 2 sections, the first a 900' slog up trackless tussocky ground to the Bealach a Mhaim, a wee seat here before the shorter climb to the summit, steeper but easier going with paths to follow and views opening out as you get nearer the top.


Got lost running off Beinn Ime in the mist last year losing about 15 mins, so I had my bearing prepared (165 deg) in case and just in time the mist closed in again. Bearing worked pretty well taking me down in 17 mins and within sight of the checkpoint Marshalls.


Last climb up Narnain and through a brief break in the clouds spotted the runner in front who I had swapped places with a few times already, he had overtaken me on the climb up Vane, I got ahead on the way down, he overtook me again going up Ime, it was something to work towards. After the previous climbs Narnain is relatively painless apart from the false summits. Reached the top in last place.


Set off off through the Spearhead for the 3000' plummet down to Sucouth, from the top it's a steep scrambly path and soon came across a couple of runners, he had suffered badly and they were walking in to the finish. After a wee chat to see how they were, and after all offers of food, clothes & drink were refused set off in pursuit of the dayglo Carnegie Harrier in front. Soon caught him and he shouted encouragement as I passed by.





Pleased to finish in just over 6 hrs 23 mins, about 25 mins slower than last year. Puzzling splits, all climbs slower, most descents faster. Don't think a couple of runs in Arrochar at the end of May and then a run in the Luss hills was good enough prep.



Super wee race, hopefully with a few more entrants in future.

Pappert Well Sun 22nd June

Chose a short long run for the week before the return to the Arrochar Alps race next Saturday. Despite being just behind the Vale you still get a sense of away from it all and good views as well.

Thoughts this weekend were with JR and his WHW exploits with regular updates by text and on the club website yesterday and through the night as he ran ever closer to his 12th completion. Gave him some encouragement from the Trig point and found out he had made it when I got home, great stuff.

Ran the reverse race route just for a change, some nice muddy bits, even more fun than usual.

Only problem was being Tagged by Davie last week which means I have got some thinking to do, sometime soon.

Ben Sheann Wed 18th June

Short sharp Bog & Burn race, 2 1/2 miles with 1400' of ascent. A bit of a contrast to Jim R's WHW this weekend - good luck Jim, we are all with you on this one. The race starts at the back of Strathyre with a 1 mile 1400' ascent through a forrest, you pop out the trees for the last 100 yards or so before dropping down a rough path at the back of the hill in an anticlockwise loop back into the forrest to join the outward track to the finish.

The uphill is un runnable for all but a few, then you gasp to catch your breath on the way down hopefully recovering some composure for the sprint back through the forrest trail covered in pine needles over mud, big trees and steep drops all round although you don't notice them as you avoid the roots and rocks which appear from nowhere as you run as fast as you dare.

Great views of Loch Lubnaig from the top and surpisingly few of the infamous Strathyre midgies - the small ones have hobnailed boots. Only had to grab one tree for safety and finished this cracking wee race in 37 1/2 minutes.

Ben Lomond Sun 15th June

Missed Durisdeer on Saturday due to car problems, had sent it to convalesce in a garage to no avail. So with Arrochar Alps looming in a couple of weeks went for an easy option on Sunday, Ben Lomond.

Ascent via tourist path, descent via Ptarmigan. First time I had run down the Pt. route for 30 or so years (ouch). Nice and steady on the way up, sunny spells with a cool breeze, just about perfect for running. Passed the remains of a small fire near the top, still warm from the previous night.

After the initial steep drop off the back of Ben L a steady undualting run back to the car park. Good running apart from the narrow path on the lower slopes which meant stop start to pass a few hill walkers. Finished in just under 2 hours 15 then lunch & a Blanc in the Rowardennan Hotel before the drive home.

Cort Ma Law 11th June

Fine night for this bog and burn race, 6 miles & 1700' of ascent, starting above Lennoxtown at Jamie Wright's Well with a steep climb to the Lairs then an undulating run to Cort Ma Law and on to Lecket Hill, a sharp descent into a gully with the climb back out taking you to join the outward route.

Dry conditions meant only sporadic marshes to pick your way through and managed to stay on top of the floating green mush. Only came a cropper when straying too far from the path? into the gulley and found a ditch to lie down in for a second or two just after flying past 3 or 4 runners, they kept to the path but didn't catch me!

Steady plod out the gulley over tussock and muck but managed to pick up the pace after rejoining the outward track. Couldn't quite catch the runner in front but managed to keep the guy behind at bay with a good run in to finish in 62 1/2 mins, PB by 2 mins.

Luss Sun 8th June

With low cloud forecast to start the day & having been to Arrochar the last 2 weeks decided to try a longer than usual Luss Horseshoe, starting up Beinn Dubh and running anti clockwise and avoiding the Glen road after Beinn Eich by going via the hills on the South side of the Glen, about 13 miles and 6000' of ascent.

The 2000' climb up Beinn Dubh was wet and windy as you went into the clouds, the run round the 2 corries dropping just enough to skim under the cloud but still wet and windy. Clouds lifted as forecast during the 1300' plunge over rough ground to Sith Mor revealing the ridge run for the return leg reached by a 1700' foot climb up Doune Hill at 2400' the highest point of the run.

The clouds began to break up on the pleasant undulating run off Doune Hill over Beinn Lochain to the short sharp 500' climb up Beinn Eich, from here it is a 2000'+ descent within 1 1/2 miles back down to Glen Luss at Edentaggart farm.

Now in brilliant sunshine & instead of the usual trudge back down the Glen crossed the road for the 1000'+ climb up Coille-eughain Hill which gives a nice run down towards Loch Lomond through fields and farm tracks. Finished in a steady 4 hrs 29 mins. A couple of pictures in the Galleria taken from Coille-eughain Hill.

Kilpatrick Hill Race Wed 4th June

Big field of 94 runners for this years OK Hill Race, 6 miles & 1400' of ascent, mixture of terrain...road, field, path, sheep track, a few rocky bits but not too many boggy bits this year. Course well marked and marshalled by Westies & MRT.

Decided to have a go at a better time this year, only under the hour once & that was in 2004, other years about 62 to 65 mins. Half mile of road to start, gradual uphill before a steep haul zig zagging up the crags. Running again once on top and over the moor, join the farm track past Loch Humphrey before another trudge through moorland, a bit of effort required to keep running.

The route continues in a clockwise loop on a rough path?? along the side of Greenside reservoir before the short sharp climb up to the trig point at the top of the Slacks in 49 1/2 mins. About a minute too slow to break an hour but push on anyway.

Manage to catch a few on the way down to the crags and then the usual kamikaze flap down to the road for a 1/2 mile cruise to the finish in exactly 61 mins, only beaten this once so quite pleased.

Arrochar Sat 31st May

Another blistering day in the Arrochar Alps, planned an increase from last weeks run from 2 to 3 tops, Vane, Ime & the Cobbler, about 14 miles and 6800' of ascent.

Set off up Glen Loin after 8 at a steady pace, walking the steeper bits to save energy for the mornings bigger bits. Arriving at Corriegrogan bridge in just over 45 mins and a welcome splash in the river, a few minutes later turned up Ben Vane at the 2nd bridge. Spotted what looked like some walkers which gave me a target about half way up and kept up a steady plod till I overtook them, much to their surprise, if only they knew how fast some hill runners can climb.

Sheltered from any wind there were hundreds of long legged insects on the upper section of Vane, thankfully this part always goes in quickly as you have to concentrate on foot and hand holds & soon you are on the top of the knobbles which gives this munro its name. Spectacular views all round and a breeze.

A short break to refuel and a nice easy 25 minute descent to Lag Uaine starting off West then gradually turning South once past the top crags, turned too soon so came through some of the lower crags which slowed things down a bit. Interesting to compare this to last years Arrochar Alps race where the same descent took 16 mins in a pea souper mist.

From Lag Uaine its 1600' up within a mile so no running here, a 57 minute mile later & I'm feeling rather parched but happy to be on top again. A drink and some food before the run down to Bealach a Mhaim and then like a (spit roasted) chicken opted out of the Cobbler and stuck to the path through the glen only stopping to enjoy a few of the waterfalls en route.

Finished in just over 4 hours, about 13 miles & 5700' of ascent, glad that common sense prevailed in giving the Cobbler a miss and the sunstroke which could have been my reward. A few pictures from Ben Vane and a couple from Beinn Ime in the Galleria, and a picture of the Rock as well.