Luss Hills and a cycle

First time for a while away from the Vale hills, cycled to the top of Glen Luss, ran out over Beinn Eich, and Beinn Lochain to Doune Hill, then back to the top of the glen.

Overcast when I left the house, sun came out as I started to run, quickly up into the clouds, not a lot to see until I came back into the glen at the end of my run. Good to be back on a bigger hill, ran at first then a brisk walk as legs stiff from my cycle took a while to ease off up the steepening lower slopes of Beinn Eich.

From about half way the gradient eases and managed to start jogging again, pleased to keep it going to Doune Hill then all the way back. Finishing inside 2 1/2 hours. Quick change then an easy cycle home.

SA Virtual Challenge and Balloch Park

Another Scottish Athletics virtual race, 5 miles instead of the usual 8km, used the clubs 5 mile handicap route in reverse. Took a few seconds off my mile splits compared to the last virtual run but Strava added 16 seconds to my total. Followed this with an easy run in the opposite direction adding in a loop round Balloch Park

SM BB K WH PW

Monthly long long run this weekend, Mount Mallow to start via the track behind Carman Reservoir.

Carman Reservoir and Dumbarton from Mount Mallow

Last hill, Whinny Hill from the first hill, Mount Mallow

Along past the Trig Point to the top of the Stoneymollan track, along the John Muir Trail until it starts to descend towards Glen Fruin then a short steep climb up through trees to Ben Bowie.

Helensburgh from Killoeter

A frozen Shepherds Pool

Killoeter next then onto the Red Road up past the Black Third and Shepherds pool, down the Stoney trail to Balloch.

Fairy Glen 

Into the bottom of the park along to the Fairy Glen trail up to the loop round Whinny Hill trail, back in to Balloch, up through the Haldane and followed track and trails that pass between the Golf Course and dump to Whinny Hill.

First hill, Mount Mallow from last hill, Whinny Hill

A lot of the paths were as hard as the roads, frozen solid with ruts and lumps, tough on my feet in fell shoes with their thin soles. Covered over 20 miles and nearly 4000 of ascent, walked the steeper up hills and stopped every 1 to 2 hours for some food, flapjacks were good except nearly frozen and brain freeze quickly followed each drink of juice.

SA Virtual Challenge and Ben Bowie

Two runs today, first up a Scottish Athletics Virtual Challenge, as much climb as you can do in 30 mins, managed just over 300m except the Strava software only registered 279, which is a few metres more than the one I did in June. The SAL verification process corrected my June effort but not this one despite being advised of the error. Back home and changed tops and added a windproof jacket for an out and back run to Ben Bowie. We ran this route on Thursday night but turned back when the snow got knee deep and we couldn't find the path up to the twin summit. Not as much snow today, a few patches compacted into ice along the 3LW and John Muir Trail. Plenty of walkers out today and a couple of other runners and cyclists.