Ardgarten Sun 23rd Aug

Five of us turned up to run the Ardgarten loop. Agreement already reached on a clockwise run by way of a bit of gurning. The day started wet and stayed wet but not too much wind to chill the bones on the plod round, over and about the 20 miles with 4000' of ascent on forrest and cycle tracks with 2 or 3 miles of road just to annoy you.

The first 6 or 7 miles take you along Loch long undulating upwards to the path over the Dukes pass. The Dukes Pass is a couple of miles of slight up then back down to Loch Goil side.

A two mile run takes you to Lochgoilhead, then a couple of miles nice and flat but on horrible road.

A steady 3 mile climb takes you almost to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful for the 4 mile mostly downhill run to Ardgarten.

Ran most of the hills then walked until the hill walkers caught up, finished in just under four n half hours. Rain finally went off for us to change. As its summer the info hut was open for a refuel of crisps, fullfat Irn Bru and a boost.

5k Race, Thurs 20th Aug

First Club 5k race tonight, starting on Old Luss Road at the back entrance to Cameron House, through Lomond Shores to the path running along the Leven, onto the cycle path and finishing just past the Vake Academy. Overall downhill course with no major ups or downs, finished in 21:23 the same time as my first 5k, the Dunky Wright earlier this year.

Lomonds of Fife, Sun 16th Aug

A nice wee race to finish off this years summer holidays, 11 miles and 3400' of ascent. The race starts near the Bunnet Stane with a climb up West Lomond, run along to East Lomond via the Monument then back via the Fort to West Lomond for the bumslide and run in to the finish, unusual for a hill race a water station is included.

The first climb is about 20 minutes or so - for me - about turn and run half way back down before traversing to the right gradually descending via a series of narrow tracks to pick up an undulating forrest road for a mile or two towards East Lomond.

The exit from the forrest road is well marked with tape and takes you up a narrow path through the forrest to the Monument checkpoint, follow the marked path on through the forrest and onto the track which runs between the two Lomond Hills.

The route to East Lomond is all runnable apart from the short sharp climb at the end. At the Trig Point about turn and run back towards West Lomond, a short detour is marked to take you to the next checkpoint, Maiden Castle, a big grassy mound. From the Castle a short run across pathless moorland back to the track to West Lomond, runnable except for the last short climb to the top.

From the top a short run to the top of the descent gully where I managed to overtake 3 people lying on my back, some run down this but sliding is faster.

Finished in just over 2 hours 20, my slowest of three attempts at this race, but not by much as they have all been within 40 seconds. After the race its back to Strathmiglo village hall for tea and some food.

A good intro to medium hill races, rolling hills with no big climbs or technical parts, the twists and turns are well marked with tape so you can't really get lost.

Left the Vale in rain and low cloud but by race time sun and blue skies, a strong wind the only problem on the way back from East to West Lomond. Pictures here give you some idea of the terrain, if you want to see the bumslide before you try search for Lomonds of Fife on YouTube, a few Swedish runners had spotted this and flew over to join in the fun.

Lossiemouth Aug 09

Annual holiday in Lossie at Silver Sands, yes the one in the news with the scam Caravan Sales. The Site was the busiest we had seen it in the last 10 years. Weather good as it always is in the magic circle...forecast rain, showers etc, actual sun, sun, sun.

Ran every couple of days, 2 hour clifftop run to Hopeman and back was the longest, a couple of easy 5 mile beach runs and 3 hill rep runs, all finished with a swim in the sea.

There were 14 of us.....


As well as shopping in Tesco, Chinese Buffets and watching the jets we partook in all the usual Lossie activities;

Watching the sunset....


The Beach.....about 3 or 4 miles long with a nice wee track up a hill at the end to take you onto the clifftops and the Moray Coastal Trail, perfect for hill reps.


Andrews 15th birthday....poor wee lamb, 9 out of his last 10 birthdays have been in a tent at Lossie


Golf, a round at nearby Hopeman, a links course where we saw former Open Champ Paul Lawrie playing in an exhibition match, Andrew is teeing off at the par 3 12th, "Prieshach"....


Duffus Castle....


Who will be back next year, will they let us in, these and other interesting questions may be answered when we feel like it.