My first outing to Ben Ledi, starting from the access road to the Strathyre Forest Cabins. Take the signposted path into the forest to start the climb up Ben Ledi, from the summit head along the northern ridge and follow the fenceline path to Ben Vane, returning the same way to the Beallach between the two mountains where a path leads through Stank Glen back to the side of Loch Lubnaig for a short jog back to the start. 12 miles and 4500' of ascent.
From the access road to Strathyre Forest Cabins a sign posted path winds its way up through the forest, the views open up as you head towards cliffs protecting Ben Ledi's eastern side. The path levels off and swings south to avoid the cliffs where it picks up the ridge towards the summit. A good mixture of run, wheeze and then walk.
Navigation easy on the climb on a well worn path. Very warm today but views curtailed by a gloomy haze. From Ben Ledi to Ben Vane you follow a ridgline path undulating from North to Northeast over a couple of minor tops and past a few small Lochans. You could take a more direct route but that would involve a bit of heather bashing and a lot more up and down.
The return route follows the same ridge to the low point of the Bealach just before the climb back up Ben Ledi here a good path leads down open hillside into Stank Glen then winds its way down towards the river on forest paths. Finished with an easy 3/4 mile jog along the road and a cool down in the river.
Took me just over 3 1/2 hours, nice run and I'll go back on a clear day. A few pictures here.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Glen Rosa
Glorious weather for the 1st long race in this years SHR champs. Starts and finishes behind Brodick Castle with 13 miles and 5500' of ascent in between. Route sort of undulates upwards and takes in 4 tops, Beinn Chliabhain, Cir Mhor, North Goat Fell and Goat Fell.
After a nice sail across from Ardrossan, with race registration on board, 122 set off for the 2 flattish mile run through the forest into Glen Rosa. You have a choice of routes to the summit of Beinn Chliabhain, I started climbing up beside Garbh Alt to get onto the ridge early. A lot of runners continue along the glen for a shorter steeper climb. Jog walk the ridge, its a tough race and you need to pace yourself.
Leaving BC you drop steeply down into Coire Daingean and contour round below the A' Chir ridge then run up Fionn Choire towards Cir Mhor, top No 2. From there you have to return to Fionn Choire then contour under Cir Mhor to the Saddle, to avoid the route along the top which is a difficult rock climb.
A gravelly path takes you up from the Saddle to North Goat Fell where you are faced with the choices and trickery of the Stacach to get to Goat Fell. My route choice better than some stuck up on the crags, there are a couple of sneaky paths to help you avoid having to rock climb.
I had dropped behind a few runners on the way up from the Saddle, however I caught most of them with a great run off Goat Fell, knowing there was no more ups to come. Stopped for a refreshing wash in the stream just before re-entering the forest. The first part of the forest is a bit up and down before turning downhill to the finish through fields behind Brodick Castle.
Finished just under 3 hrs 47, 80th out of 115 finishers, great race, scenery to die for, took a few pictures before during and after, here's a link.
Leaving BC you drop steeply down into Coire Daingean and contour round below the A' Chir ridge then run up Fionn Choire towards Cir Mhor, top No 2. From there you have to return to Fionn Choire then contour under Cir Mhor to the Saddle, to avoid the route along the top which is a difficult rock climb.
A gravelly path takes you up from the Saddle to North Goat Fell where you are faced with the choices and trickery of the Stacach to get to Goat Fell. My route choice better than some stuck up on the crags, there are a couple of sneaky paths to help you avoid having to rock climb.
I had dropped behind a few runners on the way up from the Saddle, however I caught most of them with a great run off Goat Fell, knowing there was no more ups to come. Stopped for a refreshing wash in the stream just before re-entering the forest. The first part of the forest is a bit up and down before turning downhill to the finish through fields behind Brodick Castle.
Finished just under 3 hrs 47, 80th out of 115 finishers, great race, scenery to die for, took a few pictures before during and after, here's a link.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Stoneymollan
Short long run Sat PM, along towards Renton, up the track behind the reservoir, through the quarry and along to the top of the Stoney, an easy run down and along the bypass through Christie Park and home.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Cort Ma Law
A lolipop route or as the starter put it a lower case q. About of us 80 set off up towards the Lairs from Crow Road Car park above Lennoxtown for 6 miles 1700' of ascent of the boggiest bog and burn race. After the run up to the lairs its an undulating run round the tops of Cort Ma Law and the Leckett before a short descent into a tussocky gulley and the inevitable walk out to join the outward route for a few hundred yards and then a fast run down to the finish.
Took a few more walking breaks than usual on the initial climb and once on top a wee bonus the bogs between the Lairs and Cort Ma Law relatively tame this year, ok with a bit of care.
CML to the Leckett the opposite as the number of emerald green swampy bits seemed to have multiplied, managed to hop from tussock to tussock most of the time the odd knee deep plunge saps your strength and helps to keep the pace nice and slow.
Managed the plunge in and out of the gulley without a fall for the first time although the guy in front was sludged about half way down, saved the effort to overtake. Walked out the gulley then got sort of running again back to the style. From the style its a short runnable climb back up to the Lairs and a fast run down to finish in 66 mins 4 secs.
Took a few more walking breaks than usual on the initial climb and once on top a wee bonus the bogs between the Lairs and Cort Ma Law relatively tame this year, ok with a bit of care.
CML to the Leckett the opposite as the number of emerald green swampy bits seemed to have multiplied, managed to hop from tussock to tussock most of the time the odd knee deep plunge saps your strength and helps to keep the pace nice and slow.
Managed the plunge in and out of the gulley without a fall for the first time although the guy in front was sludged about half way down, saved the effort to overtake. Walked out the gulley then got sort of running again back to the style. From the style its a short runnable climb back up to the Lairs and a fast run down to finish in 66 mins 4 secs.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Kilpatrick Hill Race
Record entry of 117 for this blast up the Kilpatrick Braes, a short tour round Loch Humphrey, Greenside reservoir and a trot up the Slacks. 6 miles and 1400' of ascent. My tenth go at the race, been under the hour twice, in 2004 and 2009, this year I would be happy with anything close to 60.
Felt strong but weary on the road up to the bottom of the Braes. As we zig zagged up the hill I tried to run as much as possible without blowing up and also put a good effort where I had to walk. Once up on top got into running mode across the moor and along the ridge to join the farm track to Loch Humprhey, fine on downhill sections but could only manage what felt like a steady jog on the ups.
Left the track for the moor and lost a place or two on the short climb, gained them back plus a couple more on the way back down. A short up and over to the rough path along Greenside reservoir, picking up places. Dug in for the short climb up the Slacks running more than usual and gained a couple more places.
Gasping for air after the trig point but the hill is now helping and gradually gets steeper, take a couple of runners here and push hard for 50 or so yards to get clear, ease back before the steep drop off the Braes as I'm blowing out my ears. Pass a couple more tentative descenders at the top of the braes and try to catch two more in front, get close just as we join the road but they ease away to finish 20 or so seconds ahead of me. Glance at my watch towards the end, sub 60 is on and kick hard to finish in 59:45.
Felt strong but weary on the road up to the bottom of the Braes. As we zig zagged up the hill I tried to run as much as possible without blowing up and also put a good effort where I had to walk. Once up on top got into running mode across the moor and along the ridge to join the farm track to Loch Humprhey, fine on downhill sections but could only manage what felt like a steady jog on the ups.
Left the track for the moor and lost a place or two on the short climb, gained them back plus a couple more on the way back down. A short up and over to the rough path along Greenside reservoir, picking up places. Dug in for the short climb up the Slacks running more than usual and gained a couple more places.
Gasping for air after the trig point but the hill is now helping and gradually gets steeper, take a couple of runners here and push hard for 50 or so yards to get clear, ease back before the steep drop off the Braes as I'm blowing out my ears. Pass a couple more tentative descenders at the top of the braes and try to catch two more in front, get close just as we join the road but they ease away to finish 20 or so seconds ahead of me. Glance at my watch towards the end, sub 60 is on and kick hard to finish in 59:45.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Jura Weekend
15 miles and 7500' of bog and rock including a little bit of tarmac torture to finish, thats the Jura Fell Race, must be doing something right as this was the 30th year running and the 200 or so entries were booked out within a couple of days. This was my first time although I had thought about entering for the last few years, difficult logistics and what you might call a high tariff had put me off.
Its an achievement getting there in time for the race and runners choose a variety of ways, some via Arran, others the Tayvallich launches, some by canoe, I took the slow road, car to Kennacraig, boat to Islay, boat to Jura then a cycle to Craighouse, the vestiges of modern life dropping off with each step.
Road closure due to an accident at Butterbridge on the way nearly cut the weekend short but a quick about turn through Hell's Glen and we managed to bypass the blockage.
Arrived at Kennacraig amongst many familiar faces for a lovely sail to Islay, Jura's mountains looked awsome in the evening sun. A short hop across the sound of Islay to Jura followed by an hours undulating cycle to Craighouse, an easy 8 mile coastal road even more fun with a 20kg rucksack on my back.
Craighouse is a small village, a shop, a few houses, the Jura hotel, the Jura distillery, I think around 200 people inhabit the island, most at Craighouse, race weekend must treble the islands population.
Set up tent on the hotel lawn and go for some rehydration then a walk to loosen off from my first time on a bike in a couple of years, ouch.
Race day and the weather has closed in, cloud from about 1500' below all the tops. Spent some time checking bearings and comparing notes with other runners, one good soundbite was even if you are in what appears to be a strong group don't just follow, make your own decisions, know where you are and where you want to go.
Set off at 10:30, the route has 8 timed checkpoints, the first three are over complex hills, then the three Paps with Corra Bheinn to finish.
About 210 start and soon in single file up towards CP1, target 1 hour, even before we entered the murky clag got the compass out and started checking bearings at every turn or lump, made it in 50 minutes. The second checkpoint is reached via a curving rocky ridge, I had two bearings to take me there, the change from one to the other is the hard bit. Couldn't see a thing, just kept checking the compass, now running in a group of about 10 or 12 all slightly hesitant with map and compass in hand, lost a few minutes on the way to CP2.
Marshall told me compass a bit iffy at CP2 and suggested a left turn, I wasn't going to argue, as we dropped down below the cloud the advice looked reasonable and we soon came to the small loch for the next bearing which seemed to be ok. A short traverse past the loch and a final bearing for the climb and in a few minutes we were up to CP3.
The steep drop into Glen Astille preceeds the Paps, the group now down to about 8. Across the glen we could see the runners in front disappear into the mist. Onto page 2 of my route notes. Visualise follow a stream, move leftish, then right to avoid the worst of the boulder fields. We climb back into the clag, the ground a bit different, 2000' up within a mile on ground so rough that you wouldn't throw a dead werewolf down. One guy breaks ahead but the rest of us stay reasonably close together. We summit together and trot along a very narrow ridge, probably hands and knees on a clear day, the run off is 1100' in 3/4 of a mile of tough but fun scree running, the rocks slide down and hit you from behind if you stop too long, some a bit too big for comfort.
The clag slightly thinner here and through the gloom we first hear then see the marshalls clapping us to the base of Pap No 2 for the trudge up the craggy ridge and onto page 3. Another steep climb, 1400' in just over half a mile, get a bit cold and drop to the back of the group, stop to put on my jacket, it's the last I'll see of them until the finish. Glad of the mist as I pass huge steep cliffs just before the top. Another ridge run then hang a right when you pass a ruin. A steep two bearing descent follows, 1500' down in half a mile, a bit stop start over heather and scree, see another runner away from my line, ignore him, stick to the lines I picked and pop out under the clag with Pap 3 in front.
Catch another runner on the climb, he seems ok but a bit unsure, chat him up the hill, we debate a few route choices, the tops a laugh, boulders everywhere. We have a wee break on the top, chat to the marshalls before clambering off down through rather big chuckies, my new companion, an Ileach keeps pushing us left into steeper rockier ground, not happy I take us back onto the planned bearing and we work our way down, a sort of flailing falling kinda running through ankle snapping scree. My pal waves me on, he is slow going down. As I leave the last Pap the clag clears the tops!
The last hurrah as the cheery marshall points out is just up that wee gully to the top of Corra Bheinn then you'll have a lovely run off to Three Arch Bridge and a final 3 mile tarmac trot. I have now had cramp in at least 3 different leg muscles in turn, both legs at once of course, takes your mind off the pain of going uphill. I reach the gulley after a few minutes and although near vertical for some reason it is a joy to scramble through. From there its a short push to the top. The marshall kindly supplies some isotonic lucozade which soon kicks in on the 30 odd minute run down the deer tracks to the final checkpoint at 3AB. More lucozade and the first couple of road miles comfy, pass a few people all encouraging. The last mile weary, only boost is I manage to pass a walking runner.
Ignore the prize giving in favour of a shower, a cold one at that, return to the hall to pick up my tee shirt and certificate, free tea coffee and cakes then go for a lie down before the nights entertainment.
Food and drink in the busy hotel bar keeps me going until about 1:00 am then drift off to sleep to the sound of a thumping Ceildh in the village hall.
Sunday dawns to sunshine and a midge dispersing breeze for a leisurely journey home. Starts out well when a kindly nurse offers to take my rucksack back to Feolin while I enjoy the cycle. Only hiccough is another road closure due to a bad accident at Ardgarten requiring a detour through Crainlarich.
Results now out and I was 193 out of 199 finishers, with 10 or 15 others timed out at various checkpoints, I finished in 6 hours 17 mins and 20 seconds. A superb getaway weekend of smiles and hills. I took a few pictures, link here. Race pictures from a local photographer starting to appear here.
Its an achievement getting there in time for the race and runners choose a variety of ways, some via Arran, others the Tayvallich launches, some by canoe, I took the slow road, car to Kennacraig, boat to Islay, boat to Jura then a cycle to Craighouse, the vestiges of modern life dropping off with each step.
Road closure due to an accident at Butterbridge on the way nearly cut the weekend short but a quick about turn through Hell's Glen and we managed to bypass the blockage.
Arrived at Kennacraig amongst many familiar faces for a lovely sail to Islay, Jura's mountains looked awsome in the evening sun. A short hop across the sound of Islay to Jura followed by an hours undulating cycle to Craighouse, an easy 8 mile coastal road even more fun with a 20kg rucksack on my back.
Craighouse is a small village, a shop, a few houses, the Jura hotel, the Jura distillery, I think around 200 people inhabit the island, most at Craighouse, race weekend must treble the islands population.
Set up tent on the hotel lawn and go for some rehydration then a walk to loosen off from my first time on a bike in a couple of years, ouch.
Race day and the weather has closed in, cloud from about 1500' below all the tops. Spent some time checking bearings and comparing notes with other runners, one good soundbite was even if you are in what appears to be a strong group don't just follow, make your own decisions, know where you are and where you want to go.
Set off at 10:30, the route has 8 timed checkpoints, the first three are over complex hills, then the three Paps with Corra Bheinn to finish.
About 210 start and soon in single file up towards CP1, target 1 hour, even before we entered the murky clag got the compass out and started checking bearings at every turn or lump, made it in 50 minutes. The second checkpoint is reached via a curving rocky ridge, I had two bearings to take me there, the change from one to the other is the hard bit. Couldn't see a thing, just kept checking the compass, now running in a group of about 10 or 12 all slightly hesitant with map and compass in hand, lost a few minutes on the way to CP2.
Marshall told me compass a bit iffy at CP2 and suggested a left turn, I wasn't going to argue, as we dropped down below the cloud the advice looked reasonable and we soon came to the small loch for the next bearing which seemed to be ok. A short traverse past the loch and a final bearing for the climb and in a few minutes we were up to CP3.
The steep drop into Glen Astille preceeds the Paps, the group now down to about 8. Across the glen we could see the runners in front disappear into the mist. Onto page 2 of my route notes. Visualise follow a stream, move leftish, then right to avoid the worst of the boulder fields. We climb back into the clag, the ground a bit different, 2000' up within a mile on ground so rough that you wouldn't throw a dead werewolf down. One guy breaks ahead but the rest of us stay reasonably close together. We summit together and trot along a very narrow ridge, probably hands and knees on a clear day, the run off is 1100' in 3/4 of a mile of tough but fun scree running, the rocks slide down and hit you from behind if you stop too long, some a bit too big for comfort.
The clag slightly thinner here and through the gloom we first hear then see the marshalls clapping us to the base of Pap No 2 for the trudge up the craggy ridge and onto page 3. Another steep climb, 1400' in just over half a mile, get a bit cold and drop to the back of the group, stop to put on my jacket, it's the last I'll see of them until the finish. Glad of the mist as I pass huge steep cliffs just before the top. Another ridge run then hang a right when you pass a ruin. A steep two bearing descent follows, 1500' down in half a mile, a bit stop start over heather and scree, see another runner away from my line, ignore him, stick to the lines I picked and pop out under the clag with Pap 3 in front.
Catch another runner on the climb, he seems ok but a bit unsure, chat him up the hill, we debate a few route choices, the tops a laugh, boulders everywhere. We have a wee break on the top, chat to the marshalls before clambering off down through rather big chuckies, my new companion, an Ileach keeps pushing us left into steeper rockier ground, not happy I take us back onto the planned bearing and we work our way down, a sort of flailing falling kinda running through ankle snapping scree. My pal waves me on, he is slow going down. As I leave the last Pap the clag clears the tops!
The last hurrah as the cheery marshall points out is just up that wee gully to the top of Corra Bheinn then you'll have a lovely run off to Three Arch Bridge and a final 3 mile tarmac trot. I have now had cramp in at least 3 different leg muscles in turn, both legs at once of course, takes your mind off the pain of going uphill. I reach the gulley after a few minutes and although near vertical for some reason it is a joy to scramble through. From there its a short push to the top. The marshall kindly supplies some isotonic lucozade which soon kicks in on the 30 odd minute run down the deer tracks to the final checkpoint at 3AB. More lucozade and the first couple of road miles comfy, pass a few people all encouraging. The last mile weary, only boost is I manage to pass a walking runner.
Ignore the prize giving in favour of a shower, a cold one at that, return to the hall to pick up my tee shirt and certificate, free tea coffee and cakes then go for a lie down before the nights entertainment.
Food and drink in the busy hotel bar keeps me going until about 1:00 am then drift off to sleep to the sound of a thumping Ceildh in the village hall.
Sunday dawns to sunshine and a midge dispersing breeze for a leisurely journey home. Starts out well when a kindly nurse offers to take my rucksack back to Feolin while I enjoy the cycle. Only hiccough is another road closure due to a bad accident at Ardgarten requiring a detour through Crainlarich.
Results now out and I was 193 out of 199 finishers, with 10 or 15 others timed out at various checkpoints, I finished in 6 hours 17 mins and 20 seconds. A superb getaway weekend of smiles and hills. I took a few pictures, link here. Race pictures from a local photographer starting to appear here.
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