PWWHSM

A run round the hills overlooking Alexandria, Pappert Well, Whinny Hill and Stoneymollan.

Set off about dawn, running up towards the Trig Point near the Pappert Well as the sun rose, no need for a jacket or gloves today. cool with a slight breeze. Across fields and the golf course to the back of the Haldane.

Cut out some road through more fields behind Balloch Park joining the Whinny Hill trail in the woods before the loop.

Back down through Balloch Park stopping for a quick chat with Big Pete out for a walk in the sun.

A mile or so of road through Balloch up the Stoneymollan track, along the ridge to the Fort running on tired legs to finish inside 4 hours.

Eich Doune Mid

Pushed the 5 mile limit to about 6 1/2 to get to Luss for a run over these hills. Parked at the top of the Glen, up Beinn Eich to start, wet and soggy underfoot meant more walking than usual to avoid a face plant or two.

Over the top the wind picked up along with a mixture of hail, rain and rainbows. Cool running for the next 40 minutes over Beinn Lochain to Doune Hill, usually do Doune Hills smaller second top as well, missed it out as I was feeling the cold.

Ran down into Sith Mor and some much needed shelter from the wind. Trudged up Mid Hill enjoying blue skies and weak sunlight on the way, by the time I reached the top the next squall was coming in over the Arrochar Alps, rain started as I ran the short out and back to the two small cairns. Steady run down to the Glen finishing just over 3 hours.

Ben Bowie

Back to local hills and trails this week, Stoneymollan, Ben Bowie, Killoeter, joining them up using the Three Lochs Way and John Muir Trail. Mist and drizzle all the way round. Started up the trail behind the Carman reservoir, along the Muirs to the Stoney.

Trails to Ben Bowie then Killoeter, returning past the Black Third onto the trails.

Back over the Muirs to Carman Fort and down past the Radiomast, finishing inside 3 1/2 hours.

Duathlon

Latest race in the Clubs annual GP, 6 of us set off in reverse handicap order spread over 15 minutes. Run is a 4 mile+ circuit round the Vale, the cycle just over 12 miles, up and down the horseshoe from the bottom of Auchencarroch road with a 5 mile loop through Gartocharn in the middle, set off on the run in the last group of 3, reached transition almost a minute down on the other 2, only caught one person on the cycle, 3rd fastest on the run, 4th fastest on the bike, 3rd overall out of 6. One more race to go, 3 lap Cross Country round Balloch Park.

SA Virtual Challenge

Another Scottish Athletics virtual race, 3km road run, used the same route as last time except shortened it from 3.18 to 3.07km, target was sub 13 mins, finished 1 second over 13 mins as it took about 10 seconds to access the Strava app on my phone!