Arrochar hill run

Good forecast, planned Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler using the less busy Narnain ascent and Cobbler descent, going straight up Narnain from Succoth car park, down to Belach a Mhaim, up the back stairs to the Cobbler descending via An t Sron and the zig zags back to Succoth. Set off before 7:30, cool and cloudy, forest road to start then straight up the old access path, not much running, steady trudge, only a few people up this way, a couple and a guy on his own and a guy with 2 large husky type dogs, met man and dogs again at the top, he was doing Narnain and Ime, ran off towards Bealach a Mhaim and changed route to Ime, another steady trudge, a few more people here, about 9:30 and still reasonably quiet. Back down to Bealach a Mhaim and with time left on the Parking ticket went up the Cobbler. Descended via An t Sron rejoining the busy walkers path at the top of the zig zags, easy run down to finish in just over 4 hours with a seat in the stream to cool off.

The Brack from Narnain

A'Chrois from Narnain

The Cobbler from Narnain

Ben Lomond from Narnain

The Spearhead at the top of Narnain

Hills of Glens Luss, Douglas, Fruin and Finlas from Narnain

Beinn Ime from Narnain

Narnain and The Cobblere from Ime

Ime from The Cobbler

A couple through the Needle

The Cobbler from An t Sron

Ted Baker Pappert Well race

Latest club race, another lollipop route out the back of Pappert to the trig point returning past the Well, down a fire break to join the outward route, finishing in just over 46 minutes, 7th out of 10 in the handicap. Everyone finished within 5 minutes and if you discount the first and last the other 8 were within 2 mins 20, times ranged from 44 to 71 mins.

Luss Lollipop

New race, about 7 miles and 3300' of ascent, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill then Beinn Dubh again, 69 runners set off in low cloud but warm with little wind. Route marked due to the low cloud meant I lost the benefit of my local knowledge although I did make up 20 yards on the guys in front cutting the corner at the peat bog. Lost a bit of ground on the top half of the climb back up Beinn Dubh, good descent to finish in 50th place inside 1 hour 48, a couple of minutes inside my target time.

At the finish

Luss Lollipop recce

New race next week, went for a run round the route, I have run most of it in my training runs in the Luss Hills except for the drop into Glen Mollochan and the climb up Southern flank of Beinn Dubh. Runnable climb up Beinn Dubh and round to Mid Hill, rough tussocky descent into Glen Mollochan. Sting in the tail is the 1000' climb back to the top of Beinn Dubh in half a mile, varies between steep and hands and knees steep, mercifully it's only half a mile then a nice grassy run  down to finish at the bottom of Glen Luss inside 2 hrs 15.

Beinn Dubh ascent

Beinn Dubh ascent 2

Beinn Dubh descent