Whinney Hill Cross Country

Small field for today's club Cross Country race, 8 of us set off round Balloch Park and onto the Whinney Hill  trail. Undulating up for the first couple of miles then undulating down for the next couple of miles. About 5 miles all in with 500' of ascent in just over 45 mins. Stoneymollan Sunday cool down.

Beinn Eich

Odd run today, arrived at Glen Luss with odd shoes, luckily one for each foot, old Inov8 for the right foot, new Inov8 for the left foot, the old ones have a few holes in the sole, half a size larger as well. The plan was to run up the Glen road, up Beinn Eich along the ridge to Doune Hill, cross the Glen and come back via Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. The tops had some new snow. Easy run up the glen, startled by a few large deer gazing at me from a roasdside field, past the art gallery, a closing down sale I feel I should visit. Soon onto the hill, ground softer than the last few times. Cross the first two stiles and jog to the third, the sun's out but the cold wind bites through, getting my jacket out I realise one of my juice bottles is cracked, leaking its contents on my spare gear and down the back of my tracksters. Some snow lying now and I drop into walk mode from here.

Steep initial climb, snow getting deeper all the way, about three quarters of the way up the clouds close in and it starts to snow horizontally, staggering through hidden drifts I think about turning back as visibility drops to a few metres. Snow's reasonably deep, I move on, up for the top, then I'll turn back, I should be able to follow my footsteps back down, there's only mine, no-one else has been up here today. I think I'm on top, can't see much, not even the summit cairn, then I realise I'm standing on it.

Quick picture then down following my footprints, after the first hundred yards they start to disappear the spindrift covering and filling them in leaving not much more than small slits, about half way down, the squall blows through, clear blue skies again, inviting me back up.

Not today, I run down, cross the glen and climb up Coille-eughain hill rather than face a run down the road. Reach the top in the sun, great views, the next squall comes in as I run down the Paps.

9 miles, 3500' in about 3 1/2 hours. One of those runs, if you knew what it was going to be like at the top you wouldn't go, having been, you are quite pleased. More pictures here. Usual Sunday Stoneymollan cool down, back into the snow.

Carnethy 5 and Stoneymollan

45th Carnethy 5, over five hundred runners set off, good conditions, cool and dry, a bit soft underfoot. Usual charge across the bogs onto Scald Law, steady run over South Black and the Kips. Descending traverse to the Howe. Up the three short climbs to Carnethy's big summit cairn, heather and scree descent and back across the bogs. Finished in 82 mins for 328th place. Link to report, results and pictures here. Sunday's cool down, round Carman reservoir, through the quarry to the Fort, returning past the radio mast on farm track and road.

Third time lucky

I turned back the last couple of times on these hills and although it was still cold, the lighter winds, blue skies and a lack of icy precipitation meant it was time for another go at a Luss loop. Starting up Beinn Dubh, along to Mid Hill, drop to the glen road across and up the other side, returning back to the foot of the glen over the Paps. 9 miles or so and 3000' plus ascent. Not much snow on the lower slopes, still frozen, makes for dry and not cold feet, Sealskinz socks help, Sealskinz gloves as well, had to take them off on climb up Beinn Dubh in the sun, too warm. Quite a few walkers out today. Towards the top the wind picks up, jacket and gloves on, for the last few hundred yards, great views of snowy mountains to Arrochar and beyond from the top. Stopped to take a few photos but they don't have the wow factor you get when you see it yourself.

Didn't take long to cool down and scuttled off for Mid Hill. Great running on frozen turf and snow, skimming across the boggy bits faster than usual. Mid Hill, more pictures then run off into the glen. too warm again. Jogged the first part of the climb up Coille-eughain Hill then resorted to the usual steady trudge. More pictures at the top. Great run down the Paps past Auchengavin back to the car. Frozen ground and Sealskinz stop the feet turning numb with cold and makes for an enjoyable run. About three hours today, more pictures here. Sunday, out for about an hours cool down run around Carman reservoir up to the Fort.