Polaroid Cross Country

1st race in this years Club GP, ground a bit too dry for Cross Country, high winds had brought a few trees down on the course requiring care going over, under or round. Hard work in the wind along the path beside the Leven. Finished just over 37 mins, slower than last year but a better placing.

Ben Bowie and Killoeter

More off road this week using an out and back over Bromley, Carman and Overton Muirs, with a loop round Ben Bowie and Killoeter in between, less road and trail more hill and moor. Another overcast day, ran it all this week, nice and easy to start, finishing in just over three hours.

Killoeter summit

Ardmore from the Hel n Back route

Mount Mallow summit cairn

Roon the Vale

Longer run this week, Stoneymollan, Ben Bowie, Whinny Hill and Pappert Well. Idea was to walk the steeper hills and run the rest aiming for about 5 hours. Kind of mizzly morning but not much of a breeze which is ok for a long run. Jog walked up to the Fort and Trig then ran to Ben Bowie, a walk on the last climb to the twin tops. Ran most of the way to Whinny Hill except a couple of short sections through the forest. Back down the trail then across fields past Robin House through the Haldane housing estate leaving via tinkers loan up the road towards the dump, a track leads across behind the golf course meaning only one muddy field to cross to reach the Whinny Hill trail, a bit of a mud bath, down the fire break back onto the trail and home via Bonhill Bridge and the Magic Roundabout. Finished in just over 5 hours.

Ben Bowie summit cairn

River Leven bhouys

Apprentice rowers on Loch Lomond

Burn of Balloch in Fairy Glen

Whinny Hill trig

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last Club race of the 2021 race series, 7 of us set off just after 9am, plenty of muddy patches but in between ground firm dry, good for running. 3 laps, each one slightly slower, came home second, first for the club.

Happy Dubh Year

New years day run up and down Beinn Dubh with a cold swim in Luss water to finish. Mixture of sun and cloud, breezy to strong gusts on the top. Steady run up, the last few hundred yards crab like against the wind, a few hazy pictures on top then back down for a swim in the Fairy Pools, cold and river in spate struggled to resist the current, stayed close to the edge. Quite a few in for a swim today.

Arrochar Alps from Beinn Dubh 

Looking back to Beinn Dubh's summit cairn on the way down

Conic Hill and some islands

Fairy Pool