Dumgoyne Run, Loch Lomondside Sunday Cycle

Saturday forecast was drizzle and winds, witht he wind gaining strength with height so I decided to stay low with a run over Dumgoyne to the Earls Seat, 7 miles and 2200' of ascent. The first mile a near 1400' climb up Dumgoyne followed by a steep 300' drop off the back. After a steady 600' climb in the next mile the path undulates on for another mile and a half to the Trig Point at the Earls Seat, the highest point just under 1900'. Driving cross wind makes it difficult to run, breathe and keep your balance all at the same time. Low cloud so no views today just concentration on foot placement and trying to move forward. We turned for home, the odd wee bit of shelter but no real respite from the wind. Passed a few walkers on the drop down to the fields behind Dumgoyne thankful we had finished for the day. Sunday and a cycle to Tarbet and back about 36 miles. On the way out we kept to the Loch Lomondside road reaching Tarbet in just over an hour. On the way back we kept to the cycle path to Luss then back on to the road for the last few miles, pleased to finish my longest cycle to date in just over 2 1/2 hours.

10 Mile Handicap

19 Runners took part in the annual Milburn Harriers run round the Hoseshoe. Run as a handicap, an undulating 10.4 miles, my time was set at 78 minutes, I hoped for 76. Set off along the main street through the Vale, 1st mile too fast as usual then settled into a steady pace over the next 3 miles with the wind at my back. Just before half way the runner in front came into view, someone to catch at last although I was through Blairquhomrie before I caught him. I managed to pick off another 4 by the finish. Getting caught by a runner from behind with about 2 miles to go got the concentration going again. Finished in 77:16. Good day for running, sunny but not too hot, breezy on the way back.

Pentland Skyline

Looking back to the outward leg once the clouds had lifted

The trail ahead

Record 185 finishers in todays race, turned out to be a tough 16 miles and 6000' of ascent, into a strong wind which threatened to knock us off our feet for the first half. Set off at 11 in misty blustery conditions, a problem with my achilles meant a bit of a hobble for the first few descents. Got to Scald Law, hill 6 of 16 and loosened the shoes which seemed to sort the problem. Battered by a head on wind until I arrived at the drove road in 2 hours 8, between hills 9 and 10. The clouds lifted for the return leg which is a bit rougher, more heather bashing, less trails, kept a steady pace, running the less severe climbs. For a change I mananged to pick off runners on the ascents, only one overtook me on the way back, made up for losing time on the early descents. The Milburn name reaches many places with some benefits, got a shout of Jim Robertson, Milburn Harriers, and a welcome jelly baby from the last checkpoint marshall. Worked hard today for my 3 hours 57. A few photos here more pictures here, I feature on No 142.

Ben Venue

Run for a mug, the last race in this years SHR Champs, 7 1/2 miles with 3000 feet of up and down. Lots of runners today, warm and wet, forecast was to clear but didn't happen. Same course as last year with an extra bit, finishing at the end of the track as it enters the BV car park, a steep tricky muddy finish.

Off we went at  1 o'clock, ran most of the forest tracks reaching the bottom of the hill in 29 mins, into walk mode into the  mist up Ben Venue's steep Southish ridge, a series of upward undulations, even managed to pass a few folk. Reached a murky summit in about 55 mins.

Super ridge run follows, rocky at first dropping down to Bealach na h-Imriche, hill runners certainly are. Follow the fenceline, the marshalls suggested, taking a different line from last years off ridge path we gradually worked our way up to the 3rd checkpoint crossing a number of swamps and streams.

Its more or less downhill from here, steep trackless descent towards the forest, a bit of fun falling, bumsliding, cursing, blame the shoes, lose a few places, get running again over ferns, through the deer fence and grab them back before we hit the forest tracks.

Steady running, not too fast as its about three miles to the finish, I let go on the steeper sections, working hard on the last few uphills, all too soon I reach the bridge over the Achray Water river in spate, not quite Musi o Tunya but still impresssive. Reach the end of the short road section in 1:45 and some, within a few seconds of my finish time last year, undulating extra bit to the finish and the guy behind overtakes on the first up and moves ahead, I try to catch him on the downhill stretch to the finish, close to within a couple of feet but the paths too narrow and twisty to get past, can't make the last turn and slide through the finish funnel tape on my back stopping my watch just under 1 hour 50.

Bella Road Runners put on a good show with juice, tea, sandwiches and cake at the finish, Loch Achray washes most of the mud off.