Back to the track for a 24 miler from Drymen to Milngavie & back. Compared to the last few weeks a flat route. Forecast not good, high winds and showers.
Set off about 8:20 into the wind and rain, jogged along the road to Gartness avoiding the field in case we got our feet wet. Past the Pots and onto the WHW track for an easy there and back jog. Rain stopped and the miles soon dissapeared, worked hard up the hills on the moorland track before the Carbeth Huts.
Reaching Mugdock started to feel short on energy but continued to Milngavie anyway. A bottle of lucozade and started back, jogged along but still with nothing extra. Ran without walking breaks, managing the stress by breaking the run into shorter sections. Showers on the way back as well. Soon back on the road at Gartness, pushed hard up the hills and recovered down the backs.
Finished with a run up through the field in 4 hrs 48, good effort at what turned out to be quite a tough run probably because we ran it all without any real walking breaks.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Luss Sun 14th Dec
Unsure of today's route apart from a few of the Luss hills, turned out to be an 11 mile 4600 FOA jog round the snow covered hills. Starting up Beinn Dubh, round the Corries, brief return to Glen Luss before crossing to climb Coille-eughain Hill, then instead of running (East) down the Paps turned South West then South to pick up the climb up to Beinn Ruisg on the Glen Finlas circuit, then return to the bottom of Glen Luss.
Set off just after 8 on a dull Sunday morning, no wind so a good day to get in some hills. The main tops were covered in snow from about 1500' and squelched up Beinn Dubh slopes avoiding the worst until any icy water shoe invasion about half way up.
View towards Conic islands above the clouds.
Brighter weather towards Dumbarton with Rock & Quarry silhouetted in the distance. Snow drifting to a foot or so on the top meant for freezing cold toes and minimal stops. The run along towards the corries colder by the minute the adjacent Loch trying to suck in heat and light and emit cold and dark in comparison to the now hidden views towards Balloch. Clouds rolled over from the North and snow started to gently fall in the still air.
Run off mid hill not as slippy as it should have been, no falls, no submissions this week. First drink break back down in Glen Luss walking up the Glen before the track to the river crossing. Steady plod up CE Hill, lack of chest high vegetation made it easier than the summer. Back into the snow at the top meant a quick change to running, avoiding the slush pools, towards Creag an Leinibh and a contour round to pick up the Glen Finlas trail and the sharp climb up to Beinn Ruisg.
Feet now like blocks of ice. Wanted to pick up the ridge just before the summit of Ruisg running down towards Auchengavin but as I approached the summit the cloud rose from the Glen and cut visibility to 50 or so yards, everything white. Continued on the more familiar Finlas route then as the surrounding aspects steepened turned East and downhill to try to get out of the cloud and pick out a route to the bottom of Glen Luss.
Steep pathless descent into Coire Eoinein meant slow going until clear of the snow. Still a fair distance to travel from the views opening up towards Glen Luss. Coire E full of gullies so kept to the sheep tracks higher up the hillside as they tend to pick up easier crossing points downside is they include a fair bit of re-ascent.
Ran down the lower part of the route of the Luss Highland Games Hill Races to finish off a tough wee run in just over 4:20. Some more pictures in the Galleria.
Set off just after 8 on a dull Sunday morning, no wind so a good day to get in some hills. The main tops were covered in snow from about 1500' and squelched up Beinn Dubh slopes avoiding the worst until any icy water shoe invasion about half way up.
View towards Conic islands above the clouds.
Brighter weather towards Dumbarton with Rock & Quarry silhouetted in the distance. Snow drifting to a foot or so on the top meant for freezing cold toes and minimal stops. The run along towards the corries colder by the minute the adjacent Loch trying to suck in heat and light and emit cold and dark in comparison to the now hidden views towards Balloch. Clouds rolled over from the North and snow started to gently fall in the still air.
Run off mid hill not as slippy as it should have been, no falls, no submissions this week. First drink break back down in Glen Luss walking up the Glen before the track to the river crossing. Steady plod up CE Hill, lack of chest high vegetation made it easier than the summer. Back into the snow at the top meant a quick change to running, avoiding the slush pools, towards Creag an Leinibh and a contour round to pick up the Glen Finlas trail and the sharp climb up to Beinn Ruisg.
Feet now like blocks of ice. Wanted to pick up the ridge just before the summit of Ruisg running down towards Auchengavin but as I approached the summit the cloud rose from the Glen and cut visibility to 50 or so yards, everything white. Continued on the more familiar Finlas route then as the surrounding aspects steepened turned East and downhill to try to get out of the cloud and pick out a route to the bottom of Glen Luss.
Steep pathless descent into Coire Eoinein meant slow going until clear of the snow. Still a fair distance to travel from the views opening up towards Glen Luss. Coire E full of gullies so kept to the sheep tracks higher up the hillside as they tend to pick up easier crossing points downside is they include a fair bit of re-ascent.
Ran down the lower part of the route of the Luss Highland Games Hill Races to finish off a tough wee run in just over 4:20. Some more pictures in the Galleria.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Ice Station Ardgarten Sun 7th Dec
Tough run planned for today didn't quite come off, starting at Ardgarten pick up the lower forrest track to Glen Loin and run acw to the top and instead of following the Glen back down take a left and head up the Bealach a' Mhaim returning to Ardgarten between Narnain & the Cobbler. A loop of the Cats Crag on offer for anyone with any energy left, about 17 miles & 4400' of ascent.
Didn't quite go to plan, the first hour & 1/2 spent negotiating icy tracks too low so they had thawed and re-frozen in sheets of ice, ok if you stuck to the verge but a bit harder to run. About 1/2 way up the Glen the ice gradually turned to snow which made for a great run to the top.
Turned back at the top and ran back towards Succouth, cut off the track through gorse/stream/brambles to get to the road and a 2 mile jog back to the cars at ice station Ardgarten. About 12 miles and 2000' of ascent.
Didn't quite go to plan, the first hour & 1/2 spent negotiating icy tracks too low so they had thawed and re-frozen in sheets of ice, ok if you stuck to the verge but a bit harder to run. About 1/2 way up the Glen the ice gradually turned to snow which made for a great run to the top.
Turned back at the top and ran back towards Succouth, cut off the track through gorse/stream/brambles to get to the road and a 2 mile jog back to the cars at ice station Ardgarten. About 12 miles and 2000' of ascent.
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