Carnethy 5 and Stoneymollan

3 of us set off to join 500 other runners for the season starting C5 Hill Race. Five Hills, 2500' of ascent, this years flavour, mud n snow. A cool half hours contemplation once we were bussed to the start. Finally the junior race set off and then us. Run, boghop, run, boghop and onto the first climb up Scald Law, the odd elbow to contend with towards the back of the pack as we slipped and slithered our way up.

Scald Law back right, South Black Hill, back left, from the bus queue.

Undulating mud and snow trail across South Black Hill, East and West Kip, running down to the Howe, tip toe, slip slide, run past the snowman. Took the middle route along the muddy trail to the Howe, one fall as I tried to steal a few yards and overtake by running along a ditch. I think we all sat down and slid the last 50 feet or so to the bottom. Faffed about with my bag to dig out some Jelly Babies on the way up towards Carnethy's gully hoping they would somehow make it easier, not as fearsome as it used to be and I'm soon running again towards the last climb to Carnethy's summit, round the cairn and push for the finish, we hit the scree early, no marshalls about to chase us off, it's easier to run down than the gritty heathery trail. One last effort as we boghop, run, boghop, run to the finish in just over 85 minutes.

Carnethy

Links to results and pictures here.

Short run on Sunday, up behind the reservoir and along the trails up past the quarry and along to the trig point, a couple of pictures then about turn and back via the club Stoneymollan race route, 7 miles and 1300' in 80 minutes.

Sunday afternoon and an easy cycle along the cycle path to Balloch and on to Duck Bay. Stop for a few pictures. 

The Ben with its head in the clouds.

About turn and ride through Cameron House grounds, Lomond Shores and back along the cycle path to the Vale.

Arrochar Trails, Killoeter and Ben Bowie

Hoped to get a hill run in this morning, weather outside didn't match the one on the telly and we drove past Luss for Succoth, ran along the lower track to Ardgarten and up to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful.

Just about the only view today, The Cobbler disappearing into the clouds from across Glen Croe.

Pouring all the way apart from a 5 minute respite. OK on the way up, sheltered by the trees, more exposed on the run down the newly tarred old road, got off the road and back on to the trail towards Succoth at the bridge, good short climb past Ardgarten. A bit quicker this week, 14 miles, 2800' in 2 1/2 hours. Local run Sunday, along the bypass and up Stoneymollan, ran across the top past Black Third Farm and down towards Cardross. Trudge up onto Killoeter via a break in the trees close to where Darleith road meets the Red road. Ran up the ridge, easier than it used to be as there's a good quad bike track alongside the newly planted conifers, ran off Killoeter across the 3LW and up Ben Bowie. Cold on top.

Ran back to the Vale via the 3LW, some work needed through the forest, muddy, slippy and poorly marked, 11 miles, 2000', 2 hours 45.

Whinney Hill and Glen Loin

Club Cross Country, round and out the back of Balloch Park. Woke up to a cool calm morning, perfect for running, pity the wind and rain blew in by the time 14 of us set off round a muddy park and onto the Whinney Hill trail. We marked the top part of the course Fri PM and had an idea it was muddy, marked the park on Sat before the race, it was worse not a lot of traction for my trainers with an inch or two of slipperiness on top. Its about a mile round the park before you get onto the WH trail which undulates up through a couple of muddy forests. The run back, mostly downhill, brought three of us together by the time we reached Balloch Park, good fun as we finished within a couple of seconds of each other. Post race tea, coffee and sugar sheltering from the elements in the castle rest rooms. Sunday's forecast poor, managed to get up reasonably early, went to Arrochar for a run round Glen Loin, anticlockwise then the out and back to Ardgarten, similar to last week but too wintery to chance a detour over the Beallach. Thought about sitting in the car until the monsoon eased, just got on with it and no respite for the first half hour. Cleared up for 20 minutes or so until I was lured into the upper reaches of the glen where it was not so pleasant for a mile or so each side of the ford, slushy snow underfoot with howling sleety rain.

Good test for my gear, and with a change of gloves the only problem was cold toes. Met a few mountain bikers sliding uphill as I ran back towards Succoth and slush free trails. Toes gradually warming up as I ran the out and back to Ardgarten, out on the lower trial, back on the upper trail from Honeymoon Bridge, about 17 miles, 3000' in 3 hours 10. No camera today, only a few phone pictures here.