5 Mile Handicap

Club handicap race, 6 of us set off in reverse order, started 3rd of 6, finished 4th of 6 in just over 37 minutes, a bit slower than last year but ok on the day. .

Mamore hill run

Staying in Glen Nevis campsite for a few days, to get to my run on Saturday morning cycled up the glen to the lower falls car park for a loop round a few hills. Mullach Nan Coirean to start accessed via forest roads and trails winding up to the NE ridge, the ridge steep and boggy to start, the gradient eases for a while and a couple of walkers ahead gave me a target to maintain effort as the views open up all round, passed the first walker before the steep rocky climb to the summit the second just before the cairn. Next the undulating traverse to Stob Ban, a few more walkers coming towards me, keep to the top of the crest avoiding the worst of the boulder fields, the final climb slow up through glistening quartzite which contrasts with the red granite of the Mullach. Changed into a thermal base layer to combat the cool breeze and slow pace along the rocky ridges, with some food as well I soon perked up leaving behind ideas of cutting the run short and continued past the wee lochain on the way to Stob Choire a' Mhail and the Devils Ridge to Sgurr a' Mhaim, another quartzite capped hill, plodding up the zig zag stalkers path from the lochain the ridge looked busy with a few small groups of walkers, by the time I got to the ridge it was clear and I had the narrow path to myself. Soon on top of Sgurr a'Mham, stopped for a brief refuel then down the steep NW ridge, a fun descent to start, a twisting scree covered path, the scree fades too soon leaving more bouldery ground, a good workout for the quads, the cycle back to Glen Nevis Campsite thankfully mostly downhill.

Mellantee, Half Way Lochain and the Ben from Mullach Nan Coirean

Ridge to Stob Ban from the Mullach

The Devils Ridge and Sgurr a'Mhaim from Stob Ban

Mullach Nan Coirean from Stob Ban

Lochain Coire Nam Miseach

Stob Ban from the Devils Ridge

Glen Nevis from Sgurr a'Mhaim

Ben Bowie

Ran local today, mixture of trails and hills, Killoeter, Ben Bowie and Stoneymollan via 3LW, JMT and Hel n Back trails. Started up Stoneymollan road, turning onto the Hel n Back route in reverse past the Black Third Farm, had to climb the locked gate to get on to the trail to Killoeter, Crossed the 3 Lochs Way to get to Ben Bowie, dropped on to the John Muir Trail back to the Stoney, along the muirs to the Fort and home past the Radiomast.

Crianlarich Hills from Stoneymollan

Shepherds pool from Killoeter

Tree felling on Killoeter opens up the views along Carman and Bromley muirs

Low tide at Carman reservoir

Luss Loop

Another blue sky morning, I was going to run my local hills, too good a day, cycled to Luss and ran the loop round Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, coming back over Coillie Eughain Hill and the Paps. Beinn Dubh runnable, Coillie Eughain Hill trudgeable. Cycled back after a seat in the Fairy Pools to cool off, waters getting colder!

Luss Tups

Conic Hill from Beinn Dubh

The Cobbler over Tullich Hill (Glen Douglas) from Mid Hill

Crianlarich Hills from Mid Hill

Luss and Loch Lomond from the Paps

Nevis Race Weekend

Fort William for the weekend, another go at the Ben race, lucky with the weather, strong gusts of wind eased on Saturday morning, a wee bit warm was the worst you could say. A lap round the games field and off up the road towards the tourist path, steady running until windy corner, slow to a walk as the gradient picks up, walked from here until the summit plateau where a slow jog resumed picking the pace up where possible. Turned at the top, gloves on for the descent,  across the plateau and as the gradient increased cramp took over, took a couple of electrolyte tablets and it gradually eased, pattern repeated every 15 or so minutes meant a steadier than usual descent, reached the road a the end of the tourist path just over 2 hours 51, new I had to get a move on to break 3 hours, only 1 1/2 minutes left when I reached the games field, max effort to finish 4 seconds inside 3 hours. Sunday saw  a run over Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean, lost my phone on the way up, luckily it was returned to me the next morning. On the way home on Monday, blus sky day meant I had to stop in Glencoe for a wee run over a munro I had still to do on Buchailletive Beag, Stob Coire Raineach.

Bidean Nam Bian and The Three Sisters from Stob Coire Raineach

Ben Nevis and the Mamores from Stob Coire Raineach

Buchaille Etive Mor from Stob Coire Raineach

Stob Dubh from Stob Coire Raineach

The Anonach Eacgach from Stob Coire Raineach

Stob Coire Raineach from the col between that and Stob Dubh

River tumbling into Lairig Gartain from the col