Forecast was for a weather window Sun am where the winds would subside & rain ease, ha. Left Rowardennan car park just after 8:30 light showers and a wee bit windy, 3 of us, the other 2 were 1st time Munroers.
Started off at a quick pace to get the blood flowing and warm up. Soon settled back into a steady pace taking the steeper bits nice and easy. Once clear of the forest very little shelter from the wind made for a noisy run.
Stuck to the tourist path on the way up, it would have been a bit cruel to go off into the softer stuff.
From the halfway plateau the wind really kicked in, ok as it was pretty constant rather than big gusts. Ran easy across the plateau to the last big climb onto the summit ridge. By now the wind was a bit stronger but still manageable, ran along the summit ridge and climbed up the last steep slope before grabbing onto the trig point for a few seconds.
My companions faces a picture as they moved Sloth like across the summit trying to make out they were part of the ground.
Steady jog down, took it nice and slow at the corners and rocky parts, pleasant run once off the summit cone, stayed on the tourist path all the way down.
Good run apart from some stinging rain on the way up, it took us 90 mins up and 53 or so down, 2 hrs 23 all in, home for lunch.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Glen Loin Sun 18th Oct
Longest run since the 20 miler at the end of August. This week turned out to be a 16 mile 3000 FOA run from Ardgarten via the high track to Glen Loin, a clockwise loop round Glen Loin then back to Ardgarten via the low track.
Low cloud, not too much wind, but persistent rain, however, managed to stay reasonably warm until the last couple of miles. Steady pace round and we all managed to run the hills including the fun 1000 feet in four miles from Succouth to the Glen Loin ford / turning point.
All in 3 hours 22 mins and passed a few other walkers and runners out in the dreich conditions.
Low cloud, not too much wind, but persistent rain, however, managed to stay reasonably warm until the last couple of miles. Steady pace round and we all managed to run the hills including the fun 1000 feet in four miles from Succouth to the Glen Loin ford / turning point.
All in 3 hours 22 mins and passed a few other walkers and runners out in the dreich conditions.
Piperdam Oct 09
Mon to Fri spent at Piperdam in one of the Vegas Exec lodges, managed a couple of runs on the surrounding hills, plenty of interesting wildlife, Rabbits, Pheasants (hunners), loads of Duck, a Heron, a Deer and 2 Rainbow Trout, but thats another story.
Facilities first class even though we had to meddle with the heating, lucky it was a mild week. The lodge has a Snooker Table along with a Sauna and Hot Tub, used the Snooker Table.
Managed a game of golf on the Piperdam course between Budweisers and the odd Tequila! A nice get away from it all break with no contact with the outside world. A few pictures from Thursdays run in the Galleria.
Facilities first class even though we had to meddle with the heating, lucky it was a mild week. The lodge has a Snooker Table along with a Sauna and Hot Tub, used the Snooker Table.
Managed a game of golf on the Piperdam course between Budweisers and the odd Tequila! A nice get away from it all break with no contact with the outside world. A few pictures from Thursdays run in the Galleria.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Manor Water Sat 10th Oct
First go at this race a 10 mile 2200 FOA out and back run through the rolling Borders Hills. The race is combined with a sheepdog trial and was set up by a farmer keen on fell running. The start is a few miles from Peebles.
Arrived in plenty of time driving over familiar territory from family fishing trips 30 odd years ago. Turned off the main road between the remains of a railway bridge before crossing a hump back bridge over the Tweed. The fishermens cars clogging the narrow road.
Sharing the day with the sheepdog trial meant better facilities than your average hill race, registration was in a horse box, a Marquee set up with tables and food, toilets.
Waiting for the race to start and stood in the Autumn sunshine watching the Sheepdogs working hard to pen their flock.
The race is gently undulating and starts at Woodhouse farm, up through a couple of fields and onto the John Buchan Way, then a left turn to pick up a Landrover track ascending Whiteknowe and Whitelaw hills. a short down & up through Dead Wifes Grave, traverse over and round Hunt & Breach Law's before the stagger up the Scrape, you had to call out your number to the marshall at the top, got mine wrong!
Reached the top of the scrape on the hour, turned for the mostly downhill run back, running off the Scrape was ok, passing the runners behind and catching the runner in front, then he passed me on the next uphill and I couldn't catch him again. Struggled to lift the pace from then on, perhaps feeling the previous weeks races and reps, still it was a beautiful sunny day, easy terrain, a delight to run.
Bottle of the sponsors, Broughton Brewery, Greenmantle Ale to all finishers and quite tasty it is.
This race is the first of a weekend double the Pentland Skyline the other a 16 mile 6000 FOA trek, not this year, but I'll def be back to give this race a go with better preparation and then maybe the Sunday PS. Finished 60th of 86 in 1 hour 40 mins.
Arrived in plenty of time driving over familiar territory from family fishing trips 30 odd years ago. Turned off the main road between the remains of a railway bridge before crossing a hump back bridge over the Tweed. The fishermens cars clogging the narrow road.
Sharing the day with the sheepdog trial meant better facilities than your average hill race, registration was in a horse box, a Marquee set up with tables and food, toilets.
Waiting for the race to start and stood in the Autumn sunshine watching the Sheepdogs working hard to pen their flock.
The race is gently undulating and starts at Woodhouse farm, up through a couple of fields and onto the John Buchan Way, then a left turn to pick up a Landrover track ascending Whiteknowe and Whitelaw hills. a short down & up through Dead Wifes Grave, traverse over and round Hunt & Breach Law's before the stagger up the Scrape, you had to call out your number to the marshall at the top, got mine wrong!
Reached the top of the scrape on the hour, turned for the mostly downhill run back, running off the Scrape was ok, passing the runners behind and catching the runner in front, then he passed me on the next uphill and I couldn't catch him again. Struggled to lift the pace from then on, perhaps feeling the previous weeks races and reps, still it was a beautiful sunny day, easy terrain, a delight to run.
Bottle of the sponsors, Broughton Brewery, Greenmantle Ale to all finishers and quite tasty it is.
This race is the first of a weekend double the Pentland Skyline the other a 16 mile 6000 FOA trek, not this year, but I'll def be back to give this race a go with better preparation and then maybe the Sunday PS. Finished 60th of 86 in 1 hour 40 mins.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Horseshoe Race Sun 4th Oct
It was always going to be a hard one after yesterday's Ben Venue race but looked out the curtains to a sunny blue sky day. First off at 10 then watched and waited until my start. Set off along the main streeet towards Balloch, not too fast, felt ok.
The first climb starts in the middle of Balloch and undulates upwards for about 2 miles up onto the Horseshoe at Ballagan. The next couple of miles are almost flat then a gentle descent followed by a short steep climb up to the Tee junction and turn for home. A runner passed me near the top of the climb and then it felt like I was going backwards for the next mile or so. Only after the highest point on the route did I get any drive back into my legs.
The next couple of miles have some steep downhill parts before returning into the Vale at the bottom of Auchencarroch road, a mile or so to go and with my first look at the watch realised I had 8 1/2 mins if I was to sneak under 80 minutes, no chance, tried to push it but still ended up over 81 minutes.
Tea and biscuits to finish in the sun, photos here, as usual we runners get the best of the day.
The first climb starts in the middle of Balloch and undulates upwards for about 2 miles up onto the Horseshoe at Ballagan. The next couple of miles are almost flat then a gentle descent followed by a short steep climb up to the Tee junction and turn for home. A runner passed me near the top of the climb and then it felt like I was going backwards for the next mile or so. Only after the highest point on the route did I get any drive back into my legs.
The next couple of miles have some steep downhill parts before returning into the Vale at the bottom of Auchencarroch road, a mile or so to go and with my first look at the watch realised I had 8 1/2 mins if I was to sneak under 80 minutes, no chance, tried to push it but still ended up over 81 minutes.
Tea and biscuits to finish in the sun, photos here, as usual we runners get the best of the day.
Bella Ben Venue
Sat 3rd Oct and a new race starting off the road to Loch Katrine running up Gleann Riabhach on forrest roads and paths. Once out the forrest the route was to run up the shoulder of Ben Venue then along the ridge over its two tops, drop down to a Beallach then back up onto Creag a' Bhealach before plunging back down into the forrest for a roller coaster run back to the start.
That was the plan, the weather had other ideas, Mountain Rescue advised they couldn't stand up on the ridge and the race was cut back from 8 miles/3000 FOA to an out and back to the Beallach, 6 1/2 miles & 1800 FOA. It was no more than breezy at the start & off we went.
The first 2 1/2 miles through the forrest climbing about 1100' but runnable. Once out the forrest the fun started, the Ben Venue hill walkers route is a bit of a swamp on a good day and with 600' of ascent in under 3/4 of a mile hard work all the way.
As we turned the corner approaching the turning point the wind hit, running hard with no forward movement, knocked sideways then backwards, maybe the MR team got it right! Clawed my way to the cairn in 46 mins and turned for home, good fun with the wind at your back.
The run down to the forrest was fast but tricky through the bogs with some steep rocky sections to test your brakes, took a few plunges into gunky brown muck but only one fall crossing a stream.
Back into the forrest on rubber legs after the hard descent off the hill, lean forward and give it a go, a few streams to jump and the odd short sharp uphill to break your rhythm. 26 minute descent to finish in 47th place.
Results, pictures and more pictures.
SHR Write up.
That was the plan, the weather had other ideas, Mountain Rescue advised they couldn't stand up on the ridge and the race was cut back from 8 miles/3000 FOA to an out and back to the Beallach, 6 1/2 miles & 1800 FOA. It was no more than breezy at the start & off we went.
The first 2 1/2 miles through the forrest climbing about 1100' but runnable. Once out the forrest the fun started, the Ben Venue hill walkers route is a bit of a swamp on a good day and with 600' of ascent in under 3/4 of a mile hard work all the way.
As we turned the corner approaching the turning point the wind hit, running hard with no forward movement, knocked sideways then backwards, maybe the MR team got it right! Clawed my way to the cairn in 46 mins and turned for home, good fun with the wind at your back.
The run down to the forrest was fast but tricky through the bogs with some steep rocky sections to test your brakes, took a few plunges into gunky brown muck but only one fall crossing a stream.
Back into the forrest on rubber legs after the hard descent off the hill, lean forward and give it a go, a few streams to jump and the odd short sharp uphill to break your rhythm. 26 minute descent to finish in 47th place.
Tea, coffee, sandwiches and loads of cakes after, another reason Hill Runners do it with a smile, super race which the Bella H say will be run again next year, hopefully the full route.
Results, pictures and more pictures.
SHR Write up.
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