Beinn Eich

Short run today, up and over Beinn Eich, nice and sunny to start, the wind and rain blew in on the run up to Beinn Lochain, turned back, 5 miles, 2500' in about 2 hours, sun came out again as I finished. Hopefully leaves some energy for a few hills next week.

Midweek hills

Beautiful sunny morning with a free night ahead decided to go for an evening run up Narnain and the Cobbler. Only a few walkers coming down and a couple of tents just above the forrest made for a quiet run in the evening sun. Gentle breeze to keep me cool. Steady trot up the zig zags past the boulders to Bealach a'Mhaim, fast walk to Narnain's rocky summit, a few minutes to catch my breath and take in the views.

Across Loch Long to Glen Douglas and Luss Hills

Back down to the Bealach for the short jog walk to the Cobblers middle peak. A bit cooler here as the sun dropped towards the horizon, Lui and More touching the clouds in the distance.

Beinn Ime

Back to the Bealach, cut along to the old blocky path to avoid the zig zags on the way back. Finished 11 miles and 4500' in just over 3 hours, more pictures here.

Fort and an Arrochar run

Lost Saturday, managed to get up to the fort in the early evening sunshine. More pictures here.

Sunday, early rise for Arrochar, Glen Loin to start, through Lag Uaine, drizzly rain, jacket, hat and gloves on for the climb up the NE slopes of Ime beside the gnarly ridge, some snow still in the corrie rim. Chilly breeze, a quick re-fuel in the rain.

No views from Beinn Ime's misty top today.

Easy run to Bealach a'Mhaim, thermal top on for the plod to Narnain's bouldery summit.

Quick drink then down through the Spearhead.

Soon warm up down the rocky trail, a fun 3000' descent in two miles to finish in about 4 hours 20 for 13 miles and 5000' feet. A few more pictures here.

Fairy Glen

Short club trail race in Balloch Park, three 1 mile loops round Fairy Glen and Heart Attack Hill, my first lap just under 8 minutes, the next two just over, still managed to sneak under 24 minutes by a few seconds, 3rd of 8 runners, good night for a run and good fun, fresh cut fruit and homemade cakes at the finish.

Durisdeer

Nearly 300 lined up next to Durisdeer church for the Scottish and British championship race, I ran it in 2012 when it was a Scottish Championship race, 150 ran that day. Overcast today, not much of a breeze made for a warm run. About 11 miles and 3800' of ascent. There are 5 climbs, Black Hill to start and finish, a couple of colls and Well Hill, the initial climb and Well Hill not too runnable the rest are if you've got the energy. Set off steady keeping to the lower path. Relaxed descent off Pettylung towards Dalveen, running most of the way round Staygail apart from the trudge to the second coll. Soon running again, this route has a lot of ankle and knee trashing traversing! The climb alongside the Lavern Burn tussocky and slow, not a slow as the climb up Well Hill, kept the effort up from here on.

Tussocky undulations on the way up Well Hill

Run mostly down until the second climb up Black Hill, ran the last section catching and closing those in front, pushed the first part of the descent catching another couple, steady round another traverse before last gasping descent, across the bridge, a short up and sprint back to the church for coffee, sandwiches and cakes, finished just over 2:20 204th out of 269 finishers. Sunday cool down run up to the fort, a fresher sunny June day.

Arrochar run

Looking for a short run today with a bit of climb, Narnain and the Cobbler sounded right, 11 miles and 4500' of ascent. Mostly man made paths, makes it easier, no route choices, most of  it runnable. Zig zag tracks to start from Succoth, gradient eases alongside a foaming allt A'Bhalachain, shelter beside the Narnain Boulders, jacket on from here, hard work against the wind funneling through the glen. round Bealach a'Mhaim, climb up Narnain wind assisted, nobody on top, a couple of pictures then off before the next shower blew through. Jog walk the Cobbler steps, muddy trail, steep grassy bank.

Ime from the Cobbler

Nobody on top, steady run back through the glen, 2 hours 50, some more pictures here.

Cort Ma Law

Boggiest of the Bog n Burn series, 6 miles with 1500' or so of ascent. Clear cool evening, bigger field this year. Didn't try to run all of the initial climb, jogged and walked, keep the jog going  towards the top and along a series of up undulations with a few boggy bits to get you in the mood. From the top of CML to Lecket hill is where the fun starts, band after band of emerald green bog to negotiate, initially ok, tussock to tussock, gradually going into oxygen debt, the last couple, a launch and hope, knee deep. From Lecket a short gallop down muddy tussocks and tracks, slow walk out the gulley, gradually start to jog, one last bog, caught, thigh deep, face down, crawl, running again over the style and a few undulations trying to gain and not lose places. A final fast run down to finish just over 71 minutes.