Ardgarten Sat 20th Feb

Back for another run round the loop, Ardgarten, Lochgoilhead and back to Ardgarten via the Dukes Pass. All on forest tracks apart from a mile or so in the middle and a couple at the end.

Beautiful day for a run, we drove alongside a glassy Loch Lomond, across the Loch the Ben cryin out for a run, past the Luss hills positively screaming at us to visit, the snow capped Arrochar Alps gleaming I dare you in the morning sun.

Not for us!

Set off anti clockwise raising a pech and a pant before long on the run up the rest. A wee walk then the long jog down the glen to the road and on the run into Lochgoilhead the sun finally reaching us over the hill for some warmth.

Took a walk up behind Lochgoilhead stunning views across the loch to Cruach Nam Miseag and others bringing back memories of my only 2 day Mountain Marathon aged 15, 30 odd years ago, the last peak being the Steeple behind Lochgoilhead, guess which team went up the wrong of the Steeples twin peaks. After a quick visit to the correct top and a manic descent we were second by about 5 minutes over two days.

No second prizes today, we crossed the peninsula via the cycle track and arrived at the Lochan in 2 hours 45, a steady jog brought us all back to Ardgarten in under 4 hours. A good effort with superb views all morning.

Carnethy 5 Sat 13th Feb

Carnethy Hill on the right, Charlies Loop on the left, two features of the Carnethy 5, this year was the 40th presentation and runners got a mug as a momento. 6 miles and 2500 FOA over five hills, good as it gets underfoot with low temps keeping the bog bogless and most of the rest of the course firm. Only problem was on steep sections of up or down whith frozen ground giving less grip.

Took it steady this year working hard up each hill without blowing a gasket and taking the descents a bit easier, at least off the tops until I could find softer ground adjacent to the paths or as the gradient eased lower down.

Once up Scald Law the race takes us a nice run over South Black Hill and the Kips before a big drop to the Howe and the climb up Carnethy. The final drop off Carnethy through snow and scree makes for a quick descent.
A last push across the bogless bog to finish just under 1 hour 17 mins.

Beinglas to Inversnaid Sat 6th Feb

Ultramillies were running from Drymen to Beinglas so I drove to Beinglas and ran to meet them and a run back to Beinglas. Started out with a wee diversion, 25 minutes or so to take some pictures of the falls.

Dropped back onto the WHW for a nice easy run to Inversnaid arriving in about 1:50, ran past for 5 or so minutes till I met the first of the UM's, turned and ran back to Inversnaid where we waited a few minutes for the rest. All ok but with a variety of demeanours. A few minutes rest and we all set off at an easy pace back towards Beinglas.

Textured treestump at Rob Roy's Cave.


Arriving back just after 3 walked through the field to the Drovers for a pint and a bowl of soup. 4 hours 25 mins for 14 miles and 2500 FOA, the others were about 7 hours.

Garadhban to Cashel Sun 31st

11 of us and Millie set off for an out and back run along the WHW, about 16 miles and 3500 FOA including Conic Hill twice. Some of us were saddled with a few aches and pains from yesterdays efforts.

Clear blue sky and sunny, but the still air freezing cold as we ran through the shade of the forest towards Conic kept us moving, you could taste a freshness in the air. Once out of the trees there was a little welcome heat from the sun. The views opening up over Loch Lomond a hint of what was in store.

By now we had split into a few smaller groups as we settled into an easy pace to tackle Conic Hill. The frozen track made for a slow careful climb.

The views from the top made up for the bitter wind streaming through us.

The run off Conic a pleasure as usual with an easy jog down through the forest. Moving fast enough to keep warm we ran over pudding rock and along a few undulations past Milarrochy bay and some happy winter campers to our turning point at Cashel.

Jogged along the straight and back for a few minutes to re-group then set off at a nice steady pace for Garadhban. We soon met up with the next group who were only a few minutes behind, the rest had turned back earlier and we wouldn't meet them until we finished.

The route was busy now, with walkers and quite a few runners, most seemed to be training for the Fling and WHW races in April and June.

We struggled to keep pace with some canoists hugging the waters edge as we ran through the woods on the approach to pudding rock, missing the turn off as we watched them paddling along in the bright sun, doubled back, we couldn't be seen to miss a hill. A quick up and down and then we were soon trudging back up Conic where we took a slight detour to go over the top. Paused for a couple of minutes to take in the views and some photos.

We picked our way down the icy track off Conic hill and filled our water bottles in the freezing stream for the last few miles, the water only slightly coloured. Started to cool down on the way back through the forest. An exhilirating run in superb winter condititions finishing in 4 hours 53. A few pictures in the Galleria.

Whinney Hill Sat 30th

15 runners plus Ollie set off on the Club race starting and finishing beside Balloch Castle. The boys start with a lap of the park the rest go in the opposite direction straight out the back.

Overnight frost foiled the course marker as there wasn't too much mud left.

Started at a steady pace trying not to get dragged along with the faster guys and our group gradually broke up until two of us pulled ahead. Just about hung on to the guy in fronts heels until the steeper downhill sections where I got past. Caught the next guy in front as he struggled to follow the markers into the Castle grounds and beat him in a sprint down to the finish.

Pleased to finish in just over 42 minutes a PB by 7 seconds. Stevie beat the course record by a couple of minutes, Ollie beat Ali and Jim beat Jim.