SA Virtual Challenge

This weeks SA Virtual Race, another 8km, finished in just over 37 1/2 mins, happy to run about 1 1/2 mins quicker than three weeks ago, probably ran fresher, used the same club 5 mile race route except in reverse, followed the race with an easy 5 mile recovery running the route backwards, next week the Virtual Hill Challenge, how much vert can you do in 30 mins.

Ben Bowie and Killoeter

 Another Ben Bowie run, changed a few loops to keep it fresh, started straight up to the Fort.

From the Fort ran along the muirs past the Trig Point to the top of Stoneymollan.

Onto the Three Lochs Way to Ben Bowie then John Muir Trail and 3LW to Killoeters ridge dropping down at the top of the Red road running up past the Black Third farm to the top of the Stoney.

Dumgoyne from Stoneymollan

Back along the muirs dropping down to the quarry for an extra bit of vert up to the Fort, down past the Radiomast to finish just over 3 hours.

Ben Bowie

Another local run, up round the Carman reservoir, past the Trig point along to Stoneymollan, then  a loop round Killoeter and Ben Bowie.

Most of the snow gone, some icy patches, the ground soft on top but still frozen underneath with a lot of surface puddles making for cold toes.

On to the Three Lochs Way for a short while then down past the Black Third farm, turning up through the trees onto Killoeters undualting summit ridge, dropping down and across the Three Lochs Way over to Ben Bowie. Over Ben Bowies two tops to the John Muir Trail back to the Stoneymollan. Thought about a short cut through the Vale to avoid more cold toes, turned out fine the frozen turf kept my feet above most of the freezing puddles, ran along the muirs to the Trig and the Fort, descending past the Radiomast to finish in about 3 1/2 hours.

SA Virtual Challenge

Ran another of the Scottish Athletics Virtual Challenges this morning, this one was 8km, used the club 5 mile race route and finished inside 39 minutes, a couple or so minutes slower than the club race last September, gives me a target to work towards as there's a few more of these planned over the next couple of months along with another "max ascent in 30 mins".

SMBBWHPW

Reverse of the route I ran at the end of November with an out an back to Ben Bowie added in, aim today was a brisk walk up the steeper hills, running the easier hills, the downs and the flats. Set off towards Carman Fort before dawn, clear skies, no wind, a little snow on the ground which was frozen, dry feet!

I could see a runner ahead on the traverse from the Fort to Bromley Muir Trig Point. The sun rose just as I reached the Trig Point, gradually caught the runner in front, Ian, who ran with our club a few years ago, good to catch up with him, he might even come back to the club now he works closer to home. 

Loch Lomond from Ben Bowie

The Arran hills above Greenock from Ben Bowie

From the top of the Stoneymollan track ran the out and back to Ben Bowie, leaving a couple of other loops for my next longer long run if we're still in lockdown.

Ran down the Stoneymollan trail, into Balloch, ran through the Park along to Fairy Glen and up to the Whinny Hill loop. Round the Whinny Hill Woods trail, low clouds coming over so no views. On the way back I cut through fields to avoid some road miles. Up through the Haldane and the trail to Auchencarroch taking the road towards the Dump then onto farm tracks avoiding the swampy fields and golf course.

Onto a muddy Pappert Well trail up to the Trig Point, returning past the Well down through the Vale to finish just outside 5 hours..

Ben Bowie, Killoeter, Stoneymollan

Ben Bowie again this week with a couple of loops added for more hill, less trail. Through the woods beside Upper Stoneymollan Road and onto the Three Lochs Way and John Muir Trail, busy with walkers.

Up to the top of Ben Bowie using paths and woods on the west side, good views to Loch Lomond and Dumgoyne.

Ran off the west side of Ben Bowies twin tops, across the Three Lochs Way and up onto Killoeter, disturbing a few deer on the way along the ridge, all but one too fast for the camera and it didn't get too close either. Views to Clyde estuary, Ardmore and the Arran hills beyond. Returned via Stoneymollan Trig and Fort, hard work running off path to avoid the ice bubbling up through the grass.