Luss, Finlas and Fruin

From the top of Glen Luss, route was Coille Eughain Hill, two unnamed tops, then Beinn Tharsuin, Beinn Chaorach, Cruach n t-Sidhein and Beinn Eich, 11or 12miles and 4500' of ascent, some paths over Beinn Eich, the rest trods, sheep, deer tacks, mud and tussocks.

 
Steady climb up CE Hill then up the ridge to top 657, from here the ridge undulates over another 4 tops, Chaorach has two, round the top of a windy Glen Finlas to top 693, along to Tharsuin and Chaorach over runnable trods, a few rainy squalls came through, they only lasted 5 or10 minutes each followed by a quick blow dry, kinesthesis just about maintaining a safe body temperature.

Ran down Chaorachs northern shoulder across the burn and contoured on boggy tracks round Mahanch, keeping as high as possible to minimize the loss of height before Cruach an t-Sidhein, short sharp climb to the top, met by another wee squall, didn't hang about, set off towards Eich, taking a rising traverse to reach the ridge path, easier running, jogged up Eich, last climb of the day fuelled by three jelly beans, steady run down chased by another wee squall. Finished in just over 4 1/2 hours, more pictures here.

5 Mile Handicap

Latest club race, 8 of us set off in reverse order, the route is about 1/4 of a mile short, finished in 34:36, 4th over the line, 3rd on time, good fun, short speed session without too much expectation.

Merrick Hill Race 2016

The Scottish counter in the British hill running championship, and part of the SHR Champs as well, a return to almost the original route, one of my fav races, just missing out Bennan, probably due to deer fencing. About 200 set off for 8 miles and 3000' of ascent, short trot along from the car park towards Bruces Stoneto spread us out a bit, sharp left and jog walking up Ben Yellary, a steep muddy, potholed, rocky path, topped out in a few minutes, running again across the short undulating boggy section to the forest road, the stoney road drops down to meet the tourist path towards Ben Yellary, managed to keep running, gradually working ahead of a few determined jog walkers, up over the top speeding down the Neive of the Spit to the traversing climb up Merrick, nearly at the top and those ahead speed past off to the right, round the cairn and chase after them down the Rig of the Gloon, at the bottom its typical Galloway tussocks then a short trudge in a ditch beside a wall up to the undulating ridge to Buchan Hill. The run down, a boggy rocky path come stream to start then something of a path covered with potholes and tussocks before a couple of fields.

 Photo courtesy of Scottish Hill Runners

Turn out onto a forest road for the last hurrah, only about 250m but steeply twisting up to finish in about 2 hours 9. More pictures here.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill

Sunday afternoon run, easy one this week, from the foot of Glen Luss up Beinn Dubh from the top follow the ridge path round to Mid Hill and back.

 

Turned out to be a fine day, breezy enough to send the white clouds scampering about letting the sun shine through,the wind freshened as forecast pushing me off balance as I ran back over Beinn Dubh's rounded top. 

A check of the watch gave me 23 mins to get back under two hours for the8 miles and 2500' of ascent, just! More pictures here.

Ben Nevis Race 2016

My 12th go at this race, missed last years after a fall on the Cobbler which put me out for weeks, slowly getting back out there and pleased to get my entry back in January. Managed to avoid a similar problem this year and set off on Saturday morning for the 2 hour drive to Fort Bill. Sun began to break through at Ballachulish, maybe a good day. Race start reasonably clear, charge round the games field up the road and onto the tourist path, took the first shortcut, no gain or loss, left the second one and stayed on the path, gained about 20 yards, kept jogging until the trail steepens, start to walk and lose places, leave the path for the rocky groove round to the Red Burn, not losing places anymore, welcome drink from the Red Burn, tastes great. Straight up from here grass turns to gravel and rock.

Plodding up into the mist.

Gradually pick up pace as the gradient eases, jogging over the shattered rocks that cover the summit, the turning point seems further back this year, hand over wristband, gloves on and set off down over ouchy rocks, gradient soon increases and keep running into traffic, each one a puzzle to work out how to get past safely, soon back to the Red Burn, another refreshing drink, not allowed down the grassy bank this year, stay on the same trail as we came up, longer but seems easier to run, more traffic, back on to the tourist path, more of it this year, not so good to run down, round the corner and back into the glen, take a bumslide to miss a zig zag then the same short cut as on the way out, losing a place to a better route choice kick starts my effort and gain two or three by the road, push all the way back to the start, its downhill, mostly, manage to gain another few places and lose one, into the games field pick off a couple then steady to finish just over 2 hours 40. A good race. A few more pictures here.