Ardgarten 29th Nov

There were 4 of us who set out on an anticlockwise Ardgarten loop, 20 miles with over 4000 FOA. Almost all on forest roads apart from a mile or so into Lochgoilhead and the last couple of miles. Conditions dry and a bit colder than recent weeks but with some sun breaking through to warm the bones as we went round.

The start is a 45 minute plod up forest tracks until you are level with the top of the R&BT then a left turn to run down towards Lochgoilhead.

Following the track behind Lochgoilhead nice views to the hills above Drumsynie.

Pleasant run down Loch Goil side until the track up & over the Dukes Pass, ran the hills and walked some of the flats, reached the top and pushed on through the undulating track to Corran Lochan.

The 7 or so miles back up Loch Long, good rolling track but not my favourite to finish a run, you can see too much distance to where you are going. Finished on 4 hours.

Arrochar Trail run

17 miles was on the schedule and after disruptive influences disappeared 17 undulating miles it was. A run from Succoth along the forest tracks to Glen Croe, and on up the old Rest and Be Thankful road. A couple of left turns at the top took us back onto forest tracks towards Ardgarten but we cut off onto the Cat Craig Loop eventually arriving at Ardgarten from the opposite side. Ran back to Succoth via the lower forest track.

Got it dry for the first couple of hours, rain getting steadily worse in the last hour. We completed the 17 miles and 3400 FOA in just over 3 1/2 hours, 15 or so minutes quicker than last year.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Annual Balloch Park Cross Country, 3 laps round the central bit of the park, about 4 1/2 or so miles. Stormy forecast but lady luck shone down on what was my 10th go in a row at this race. Dry, little wind and not many swampy bits which was a let off given the recent rain.

14 of us set out just after 10, determined not to go off too fast I soon settled into a steady plod then got slower on each lap to finish in just under 38 mins.

Before the off....

Sat 14th Nov

Afternoon run today an out and back up Beinn Dubh and along the ridge past the two corries, about 7 or so miles with 2200 FOA. Half a plan to drop down Mid Hill to the valley floor and cross over for a return down the other side of the Glen but wind on the ridge made for hard going and I took the easy option, back along the ridge.

Wind picked up with height and blew a few holes in the cloud, Conic Hill lit up in the distance....

A few minutes later and the sun shone on the Vale...

Not another soul on the hill today, unusual for these accessible hills provide a challenge and great views without too much risk.

The wind meant a changing vista, not so sunny Conic Hill...

Along the ridge a few puddles and troughs are a quick cold feet reminder to keep moving. Took it nice and easy, stopping at any sheltered spots to take in the changing views. Round the corries to the top of Mid Hill and wind now the boss with a short detour to pick up my hat before being blown back along the ridge.

Tentative descent on the sodden ground to finish in just over 2 hours.

Ardmore Sun 8th Nov

Another long run this weekend, my New Balance 913's having done a shocking 700 miles I was only running if I got new shoes. So after traipsing round 6 of Glasgow's so called sports shops on Saturday I came home armed with a pair of old model Nike Pegasus 2S's dragged out from the back of shop number 6 from the unsaleable shoe pile.

Sunday morning and bargain shoes straight out the box we set off for 15 or so miles along the Kipperoch to Cardross, down Peel Street over the railway line to the shore and a nice muddy circuit of Ardmore before the up and up undulations of the Red Road past the Black Third farm and over Stoneymollen to the Vale.

Shoes ok for my first non New Balance Road Shoes in a few years, cheapish they may have been but when you take in lunch at Tiso's, juniors two hats and a belt from Burton's and celebratory tea in Cucina's maybe they weren't so cheap after all. That said they didn't make my sair legs any mair sair and apart from being a wee bit tired new shoes have again saved the day.

TW3

A busy weekend began on Friday night and I found myself driving a 17 seater minibus from the Vale to the New Lanark Visitor Centre for a Wedding Reception. A late night luckily fuelled by Irn Bru.

Saturday's expedition was to Aviemore for the final race in the SHR Championship. The Meall a'Bhuachaille race, a new one to me, about 7 miles and 2100 FOA. Good field of over 200 runners meant no shortage of competition for all. Run on forest roads, heathery paths and some man made hard packed paths with rocky steps, rocky steps ok for walkers but not so good for runners esp downhill.

After a heathery climb got chased off the first hill by a skeleton, more heather and narrow trods to the beallach at the bottom of the second climb up MaB, joined the man made path on the way to the top. Took the heather on the way back down to the Beallach, a bit easier on the feet and faster.

Re-joined a man made path here, you just feel somehow that there's less grip, just to prove a point the guy in front scored a 10 with his attempted face plant onto the path, ouch, coming to rest a couple of inches short of one of the cross ditch boulders. At the bottom of the hill onto road/forrest road for a 1 1/2 mile gently undulating run to the finish.

Before the drive home we sat down to sandwiches and homebaking courtesy of the race organisers, Highland Hill Runners. Good race even though it was more trail than hill and good value at a fiver.

Plenty of pictures, from Action Heroes and Steve Fallon.

Don't do many road races but on Sunday set off for the annual club outing to the Half Marathon in Fort Bill, in another minibus, this time with JR at the wheel, he did really well to avoid the artic at the top of LL!

This is an out and back race, start and finish in An Aird along the road to the Isles. A few runners looking for about 1:45 which is round about 8 min mile pace. Set out to try to get them to about 10 miles on target then leave them to it.

First mile 7:40, too quick but better than the usual 6:40! Relaxed for the second mile but still clicked by in 7 mins, oops, eased back and 8:20 for the third before settling to 8 min miles give or take a few secs.

Turned in just under 53 mins keeping nice and relaxed until 9 miles, then had to work a bit harder to maintain the pace, making a conscious effort to keep on target until 12 miles, somehow the last mile felt easier with a slippy run thru the shinty park to finish in 1:44:50.

The crux of the race is the minibus back home, coolbags to empty of beer, a fish suppper at Tyndrum and a Dram at the Drovers.