Merrick

Back to Glen Trool for a soggy Merrick, same out and back route as last year. The weather cleared up by the start promising much.

About 40 of us set off for the 20 yard run before we relaxed into walk mode up the Fell of Esconchan, just over 12 minutes of huff puff and sweat before I was running across the top. Another walk up the steep lower slopes of Bennan, into the mist for a staggery traverse round Bennan's top skipping over rocks and holes. Steady run through Course Craig apart from the swampy bits, climbed the wall at the bottom of Benyellary into a world of wind and rain, hat and jacket to the rescue for a head down plod up the tussocky hillside, running again as I approached the top, the running action helped to keep me warm rather than making me any faster. Visibility not good, but walls and paths to follow. The front runners coming back  now, ghosting by in the mist on a variety of lines along the Neive of the Spit. Now for the last climb to the top of Merrick, I can run most of this. Round the cairn in 78 minutes. Pass the last few runners coming up Merrick on my way back, run up Benyellary and down the tussocky slopes to Course Craig, over the wall and escape from the windy rainy torture chamber. Tired legs evident on the traverse round Benan , the steep trods at the bottom churned up by the runners in front make for a fun descent and I manage to catch a couple of runners at the bottom. Run over the undulating last top before a steep swampy trod back down to the start. Finished in 2 hours 11. Some more pictures here. More pictures here. Tough wee race, about 8 1/2 miles. Big thanks to the cheery marshalls on Bennan, Benyellary and Merrick who stood there in pretty horrible conditions.

5k and a Luss hill run

Parkrun nearly comes to Balloch. Saturday mornings have a new informal 5k run round Balloch Park. About 30 gathered today, all ages and standards. The course is marked with 20 or so direction arrows and markers at each km. A nice uphill start from the Park gates, the route goes behind the Castle then back down in front, past the walled garden for a run along the lochside, turning back through the playing field and tracks finishing back at the gates. Finished 5th, just over 23 minutes. Drove up to Luss after lunch for a 9 mile 3700' run up Beinn Dubh, down Mid Hill across the Glen to the short steep climb up Coille Eughain Hill running back down to the bottom of the Glen over the Paps. A quiet afternoon only a few walkers out, a breezy mixture of sun and mist. 

Followed a new animal track off the Paps a bit longer than usual but by passed the worst of the brashing. Finished in about 2 hours 50. A few more pictures here.

5 Mile Handicap

19 of us set off at 1 minute intervals for this years race, worked for some. The starter having a bit of fun tonight handing out early and late starts depending on your behaviour. Slightly longer course this year, thanks to club members and their gps. Set off near the back, try to go slow at the start, nearly works. Onto the cycle path then over Bonhill bridge and up to Jamestown, caught one or two. Soon passing the Tullie roundabout and along to Christie Park, Middleton st, this time to the end, down to Davie Graham's and back to the club, finishing in just over 36 mins.

Ben Nevis

Weekend in Glen Nevis campsite with the Ben Race thrown in as a wee bonus. Forecast of 75 mph gales didn't quite come to fruition. Sat started damp with the top of  Melantee well hidden by cloud, by the time I registered the cloud was lifting. Just before 1 o'clock the usual plod round the field behind the pipe band, through kit check and the Race started with the news that half way was perfect and the summit windy with visibility down to 30 metres. Reached the Ben Nevis Inn in an easy 9 mins 15. Steady run up the tourist path, probably too steady arriving at the Red Burn Crossing in 57 mins. Straight up from here, started ok then faded about half way up and lost a few places. Jacket, hat & gloves on in the cold damp wind, felt a bit better and pushed on as the gradient eased, caught a few who had just gone past. Jogged over the jagged rocks to the summit checkpoint in 1 hour 53 and turned for home. Picked off runners in ones and twos down the steep rocky trail before the grassy bank. Only one got past me here, better than usual. Running down the tourist path I stuck to the path rather than any of the possible short cuts and didn't lose any more places. A bit stop start past the walkers going up and down though. Reached the Nevis Inn and onto the road for the last mile, managed to pass another three and keep ahead of those trying to close behind. Finished in 2 hours 53. A runners pictures from the weekend here. Picture set where I can be found gasping for breath here and smiling here. I'm only in the uphill pictures as I didn't run quite fast enough!