Glen Douglas

Set out for Glen Douglas this morning and a run over the three 2000' hills to the North of the Glen road. Stiff climb up from Invergroin to Beinn Bhreac, muddy path to start then dries out above the forest. A number of blind summits try my enthusiasm, rather windy at the top, I drop a few feet down on the Loch Lomond side to shelter. The next couple of miles take me along to Ben Reoch into the teeth of a gale with some rain and hail thrown in to cool me down. Seriously windy again so another shelter on the LL side. Back over the top and I drop down towards Tulloch Hill, the wind funnels through Ant-Sreang and I'm getting cold. Find shelter and get my extra thermal and thicker gloves on, that and a couple of sweets makes all the difference, happy again and  I trot off down the hill before the last climb up Tullich Hill. On the way up the Sun starts to break through and I climb up on to the ridge earlier than planned. Tullich has three summits and I visit the highest two. I can see the next wintery squall is on its way and run back down to Invergroin before it hits. Just under two hours 50 for the 6 or so miles with 3400' of ascent. A few pictures here.

Arrochar

First run over the Arrochar tops for some time, Glen Loin, Ben Vane, Ben Ime returning via the path between Narnain and the Cobbler, 14 miles and 5700' of ascent.

Easy run up Glen Loin then a steady plod up Vane, jackets and wooly hats on for the cold wind and snow at the top, cloud above the tops meant views to savour all round. Careful run off Vane, picking a good line past the crags down into Lag Uaine. The climb up Ime too snowy to take direct so we traversed across above Glas Bhealach to avoid the worst of it.

Super steady snowy walk up, views to Jura, Arran and Ailsa Craig from the top. Run off easy at first over snow then we found a nice dry trod to left of the main path. Finished off with a helter skelter run down the  man made path between Narnain and the Cobbler. Out for just over 4 1/2 hours.

A few more pictures here.

Beinn Dubh

A new race in place of the Whangie, 4 miles and 2000' of ascent. I have run up here often, times ranging from 46 minutes to over an hour to get to the top. My pre-race target was up in 40, down in 20 and finish under the hour. The race starts in a field just across the A82 from Luss. 91 of us set off, I start at the back and jogged up, losing ground through the first field then gradually picking people off as the hill bit into their enthusiasm. Kept the jog going past half way, walked some boggy parts and again as it gets steeper towards the top before managing to run the last few hundred yards reaching the top in just over 38 minutes, round the cairn and freewheeling back down, I pass a couple then two others pass me on the steep drop towards half way down, I work hard along the flat closing the gap ahead and overtake a few as the path drops down again, can't catch the guy who passed me near the top, I clatter down the rocky path and into the slippy field at the bottom to finish 64th just inside 53 minutes.

Dumgoyne

Had to go to Glasgow this morning, came back via Strathblane and took in a wee recovery run over Dumgoyne to the Earl's Seat. There's three parts to this run, how far you can run up Dumgoyne before walking, time to the top, run all the way from the top to the Earl's Seat. Managed to run a good way up to two large boulders one either side of the path, then 27 mins to the top on tired legs was ok but a bit stiff legged coming down the other side.

Ground out the initial run up Garloch Hill into the cloud then along the not as bad as they look undulations to the Earl's Seat,  managed to run all the way. By the time I got there the cloud had lifted giving a good view of the way back.

Cool breeze on the top at the Earl's Seat Trig Point, didn't wait long. Trotted along avoiding the bogs as best I could but still ended up with freezing toes. By the time I got back to Garloch Hill.the cloud was lifting revealing the Loch Lomond Hills in the distance.

Toyed with the idea of running back over Dumgoyne but my quads didn't fancy the extra few hundred feet of steep downhill. Finished in 1 hour 50, about 7 miles with 2400' of ascent.

Ben More Hill Race

I ran this in 2010 when it was the Mull Monsterette, this years version was shorter a straight up an down Ben More. A mile shorter than Ben Lomond but the same amount of ascent and generally up all the way, no wee flat bits to have a rest. I set off at the back of the small field of 36 runners, double the number of three years ago, and slowly ground my way past a few on the short track section before the hill. Kept the same run where I could approach which kept me in sight of the runners in front. About half way up it gets a bit steeper and I have to walk. A strong wind pushes us around as we zig zag up Ben More's North Western shoulder. We go through some scree then running again as the gradient eases towards the top. Two of us turn at the summit cairn in 64 minutes just as the winner finishes. The run down is a constant downhill only the terrain changing from scree to tussocks to stoney path and stream. We change places all the way down passing five other runners on the way, eventually I lose out by three seconds, its the same runner who beat me by a second at Screel. Finished in 1:32 the same time as my number 132! A few pictures from the race area, Loch Na Keal and Ben More here. Race pictures here.

Roots, Rock, Running

Screel Hill Race, I ran this in 2004, slight route change due to forestry ops with a few feet less down and up. Just over 60 runners set off, sunny but not too hot. The first half mile winds up on a forest road before heading onto a rocky root covered walkers path twisting and turning up through the forest, we cross another forest road then more rocks and roots, not too steep and I managed to keep running most of the way with only the odd rocky outcrop to scramble over. The path steepens up as we leave the forest, sweating a bit now and more walk than jog. We're soon up on the ridge and running again along a boggy path, a couple get past me on the way down and up to the second top. We drop off the back and traverse back along a heathery path below the summit ridge, I've let a 50 yard gap develop and try to work to get it back. The path kicks back up to the ridge before plunging down a rocky path and back into the forest for a helter skelter run on the same rocky root strewn paths we ran on the way up, I catch only occasional glimpses of those in front, I pick off a couple but can't quite close on the guy who passed me at the top finishing about a second behind in 41 1/2 minutes. Some pictures here, thankfully I managed to beat the guy in full army kit and rucksack.

Stoneymollan

21 of us set off from the bottom of Lower Stoneymollan Road for the 5 mile/1000' annual club Hill Race, the fourth in this years Club GP. There's a nice trophy in memory of Alex Robertson for the winner, and the race is run as a handicap to give everyone a chance. On a run up the last hill the day before to do the obligatory gorse bush trimming the ground was very dry after the snow and ice. Luckily there was some rain on the day to soften it  up a bit. Good fun chasing down those in front, that and the fear of being passed by those behind keeps you on your toes the whole way round. A good run tonight finishing just over 43 1/2 minutes, about 3 minutes quicker than last year, 4th over the line and 3rd on time. A few pictures here.

Luss Lomond

Double run today, Luss this morning and Ben Lomond this afternoon, about 16 miles and 7000' overall. Luss run was Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Coille-eughain Hill finishing down the paps. Set off in bright sunshine, little wind until near the top of Beinn Dubh. A glass like Loch Lomond shimmered below. Passed a few walkers on the way up, made the mistake of running past them which meant we had to keep running. Wheezed our way to the top in 52 minutes, easy running along the ridge and down mid hill before the stiff 1000' in just under a mile of Coille-eughain Hill. Good running down the Paps, a lot easier than their Jura equivalents. Home for some food, then itchy feet, such a nice day I set off for Rowardennan for an easy run up Ben Lomond, maybe even get to use my micro spikes. Lots of walkers out so had to keep running again. Managed to run most of the way to the last steep bit before the plateau where I had a wee recovery walk before a steady jog up the plateau, towards the end the track was pretty snowy so on with the micro spikes for the run up to the summit ridge.

The spikes are easy to put on and worked well, confident on snow and mud up and down hill. It was a bit breezy at the top with cornices to the glens at the back, didn't stay long just stopping a few minutes for some photos, views to Arran and Jura.