Hilly Weekend

A new race on Saturday, Ben Ledi, 6 miles with 2400' of ascent, organised by Skidaddle incorpoarated a sponsored walk. About 60 runners set off along forest roads to the usual ascent path. Ran most of the way to the ridge, suffered a bit and eased back till the heart rate and breathing calmed down, I was looking forward to the views from the top, last time I was up here it was cloudy, as I approached the top over a few false summits, into the mist, no views again, reached the top in 50 minutes, ran along the ridge and down to the entry into Stanks Glen, managed to pass a few folk here before the trail flattened out, one person passed me then lost their shoe so I got past again. A mixture of forest road and rootsy path to finish in just under 75 mins. Re-fuelled on cakes and tea set off for the Gargunnock Show with its hill cum trial race, about 5 miles and 1000' of ascent. A mixture of road, fields, hill and trails, 24 mins to the top and 20 mins back down, a couple of minutes slower than last time, June 2009, a nice village agricultural show, walked around in the sun looking at the animals and tractors. Pictures from Saturday here. Sunday and found time late afternoon to fit in another run, a circuit of Glen Douglas hills, Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich Hill, 6 miles and 3400' of ascent, nice sunny breezy run, great views to Loch Lomond, Arrochar Alps and beyond, Disturbed a herd of deer grazing near the ridge off Tullich Hill, just over 2 1/2 hours to get back to my bottle of Peroni cooling hidden in the stream. Some photos here.