Stoneymollan

Another easy weekend run, set off for a lap of Stoneymollan and luckily got round before the rain. As it was a short run I put a bit of effort in taking 10 minutes of my usual time.

Arrochar undulations

Set off early for today's run, from Succoth, tide in, up Glen Loin, over Ben Vane, Beinn's Ime and Narnain and the Cobbler to finish avoiding the crowds by returning to Succouth via a new route for me the Cobblers SE ridge. Took it easy through Glen Loin walking the bigger hills, the track to the Ben Vane turn felt hard. Steady trudge up Ben Vane, thoughts of cutting the run short never far away, towards the top into the clouds and a blustery wind, sheltered just before the summit for something to eat and dug the compass out for the 280 degree run off. Over the top and into a gale, trot along the bearing to this rock, time to turn left and drop down into Lag Uaine. Soon out the cloud and work my way round the crags into the glen. Find my exit ridge for the climb towards Glas Bhealach, its between two streams and has a faint path to follow, easier than the open hillside. From Glas Bhealach things got harder as an icy squall blew in, sheltered behind a boulder, two buffs on and hood up then set off for Ben Ime's steep northern slopes. Head down and went for it, a bit of dermabraision from the hail, arms wrapped around me for warmth, the higher I went the colder I got, legs turning blue but didn't want to stop to put on extra gear in case it got blown away on the exposed slopes. Reached the top a bit quicker than usual. Some more food then gloves on sheltering behind the summit. Decided to call it a day after this unless the cloud lifted. Legs painful on the descent, kept working, trying to get some life back into them. Started down on my usual bearing but soon under the clouds. Gradually felt better until I realised Narnain and the Cobbler were both clear. Ran though Bealach a' Mhaim, easy to locate the path up Narnain, ran where I could. Reached the top in just under 4 hours. More food in the shelter of the wall at the trig point. The run back towards Bealach a'Mhaim a bit stop start on the badly eroded path. Lots of walkers climbing the Cobbler's back stairs and set off after them, great climb and as the gradient eases I manage a run to the busy summit ridge. Pick my way slowly along the twisty bouldery ridge path to the western end for a run down the quieter SE ridge. Great views back towards the Cobbler and across to Narnain. Legs complaining a bit on the run off the ridge to meet the new zig zag path. A nice easy jog back to Succoth, tide out. 15 miles and 7700' of ascent over the four tops, finished in 5 hours 44. A few pictures here.

Riverbank 5k

Third running of the Clubs 5k starting from the rear gate to Cameron House, through Lomond Shores and onto the cycle path on the Leven finishing just past the Vale Academy. 18 of us set off in 5 groups, we all had someone to run with and chase, tried to run at an even pace and thought I kept the first mile steady but struggled on the second mile. Managed to keep it going with a good effort for the third, please to finish in 20:48. Photos Here.

Ben Lomond

A warm and windless afternoon greeted the runners as we set off at 1 pm for my yearly attempt to get under 1 hour 40. A quick dash along the road then up through whats left of the woods. Came out the woods in a small group and ran as many of the flatter parts as I could. Seemed to work as I didn't lose as much distance as usual on the steep parts. Onto the shoulder at half way and running up into the clouds. At the top they kick you off the track again over rough ground to meet the ridge path, working hard now the up part is nearly over. Reach the top in just over 69 minutes, a quick drink from the summit marshall and off chasing the runners in front. The run off the ridge tricky down the rocky zig zags while trying to overtake as many as possible. The close proximity of other runners means careful foot placement as we all tend to go for similar lines while keeping our chaotic descent upright. The first part of the plateau just as tricky, not as steep but still plenty of rocks to hop over as we try to pick up the pace. Settle into a steady pace as the plateau levels off, towards the end we leave the trail down a steep grassy bank, thunder and lightning overhead helps increase the pace. Through the gate and back on the path then just when you think the routes changed and its path all the way back we are directed onto trackless boggy tussocks for a few hundred yards. Soon we're back on the path again and losing concentration for a second down I go, knees, hip and hands take a battering in a rocky ditch, try to roll out of major impact and get going again without losing any places, although running with a limp for the next two hundred yards slows me down a bit. Knee soon eases and back up to speed for the bad step, tip toe through and down into the forest. Keep working hard, in traffic again, route choice important to keep passing slower descenders. Back on the road and muster a last effort to finish just over 1 hour 41. Pictures from the finish here.

Dumyat

Extremely dry for the Dunyat race, 5 miles 1250' of ascent, a nice wee up and down from the grounds of Stirling Uni. Over 300 runners made for a busy race, started in the middle of the pack lost a few places going up then got them back going down. Road and track leading into bluebell woods then onto the hill, ran more of the ups than usual and got to the top in just under 32 mins, about a minute more than I was looking for, concentration a bit wayward. Round the trig point and down through a mass of runners still coming up, gradually picked up the pace making good use of gravity but wary of a fall on the busy paths. Nice run down through the woods, the steep muddy bank too dry to attract much of a crowd. Nice n steady along the up part of the track then gradually wound up the pace all the way to the finish once back on the downhill. Finished in 155 place in 49 mins 10. Civilised end with a shower and then the Uni cafe for food before the drive home. Some pictures here.

Stuc A Chroin

143 started the 14 mile 5000' Long Classic race from the village of Strathyre. Beautiful sunny day luckily with a strong cooling breeze. Covered the two miles of forest track undulating up in 22 minutes, felt like I pushed too hard. Through the trees and onto the moor, steady jog walk towards Meall Mor and an easy run down into Glen Ample. Kept to my own pace on the ascent of Beinn Each, letting one or two past on the short level sections on the way to the crags. Three or four got past just after the crags as the path steepened up and I slow down. Let them go, hoping to catch them later. Good run off the top of Beinn Each, caught and passed a few on the ridge. Felt harder than I would have hoped, still, views to die for and the breeze kept you from overheating. After about a mile of undulating ridge you have a 1000' in a mile climb up the Stuc's SW Ridge, yo yo time again as those I had passed on the ridge drift pass me. Reach the top of the Stuc in 2 hours 11, a few minutes down on schedule. Round the cairn and ease after those in front, not too fast as there's a few undulations on the way back and Glen Ample as well. Gradually pull a few places back on the run off the Stuc, the ridge along to Bealach nan Cabar and the drop back in to Glen Ample. Steady traverse along to the crossover hoping somethings left in the tank. Cross the bottom of Glen Ample and the first part of the climb ok for me although yo yo time again as I'm passed by two or three. Cramp hits about half way up but luckily another runner offers me some nuun drink which seems to help almost immediately and although losing ground on those in front I manage to run out the Glen as the slope eases. Jog over the col then try to make a steady pace back across the moor, gradually reel in and pass the three in front, one sticks with me and overtakes on the last up before the forest. Overtake and leave him on the run into the forest and pass another couple oh and a wee fall in a ditch. Back on the forest track, keep it steady for the first slightly uphill mile hoping that no one passes, one guy does, a wee chat then he's off. The last mile is downhill, not steep but enough to help you along, I can hear footsteps behind, lean forward, lengthen my stride but can't shake him and he soon passes. Manage to catch another three before the end, a couple of them barely jogging, then a quick finish required to keep ahead of the kind runner who gave me the Nuun, 3 hours 36 for 105th place. Super race, route on the hill fully marked with 30 or 40 friendly marshalls out on the hills, laden with water, sweets and loads of encouragement.

A few pictures here.