Arrochar Run

Change of plan due to the low cloud, instead of the hills round Glens Finlas and Fruin which turn into vague grassy lumps in the mist went to Arrochar for mostly easy to follow trails. Ran up the Glen Loin trail to Coirgrogain on to the Ben Vane path, a steep trudge accompanied by noisy complaints from various departments, quads, glutes and hips, probably due to 2 races in 5 days this last week. Quite a few walkers out today, you hear them first, their outlines emerging from the grey mist and rock then fade back to noise after I pass them. Vanes summit empty and cold in the mist and wind, a quick re-fuel and off towards Ime via the turning stone, the turning stone is a large boulder that marks my preferred descent. Easy run down through tussocks, soft rushes and over streams and bogs, all looking unfamiliar in the mist. I had hoped to drop below the mist at Lag Uaine, the lowest point between Vane and Ime, no luck today the mist fills the glen. Make my way across to a narrow ridge to start the climb to Glas Bealach half way to Ime, a faint path winds its way up fading at the bottom of a crag where a grassy ramp provides a way through, the next part towards Glas Bealach is pathless again, the climb feels too easy and I've veered away from the up slope, stop to check the ground aspect, I don't want to end up on Beinn Choarranach instead of Ime, a quick traverse and I was back on track for the steep climb from Glas Bealach, despite aches and pains going up Vane this climb went better than usual, more ghostly shapes appear as I reach the summit, lots of walkers from here. Drop off Ime to Bealach a'Mhaim then down the path that runs past the Narnain Boulders, the Buttermilk burn providing pleasant company to the top of the zig zags back to Succoth.

Glen Loin trail

Lochs Lomond, Arklet & Katrin from Vane

Ben Vane summit

Turning Stone

Crag on Ime

Ime's summit

Buttermilk Burn

Beinn Dubh Hill Race

Good to be back running a Wednesday evening Bog and Burn race, first one since 2019. Just over 100 runners set off on a cool sunny evening, ground very dry even for Beinn Dubh, bogs non existent, ran the flatter sections on the way up, round the cairn at the top then set off to catch as many as I could on the way down, finished in 73rd place, cooled down was a seat in Luss Water.

Not far from the top!

The Cobbler Hill Race

Perfect weather again for the second running of this hill race. 90+ turned up , double last years runners. Set off near the back, not sure how this would go, a couple of minutes running then next 20 minutes are a hands on knees trudge, single file on a muddy then narrow tussocky path, no running just grind your way up. Managed a couple of overtakes as the people in front were slightly slower, onto the ridge and a run, shuffle, walk. Hands on knees again for the last couple of hundred yards to the top. On the descent slowly down a rocky path to start, I've a short cut that gained me a couple of places which I soon lost then stuck in traffic through the rest of the boulders, gathered a bit of pace along the ridge then slower down the steep tussocky, muddy path through the forest to finish a few minutes slower than last year.

 

Cobbler from the trail to the start

Clubmate finishing

The Brack across Glen Croe

Stoneymollan

Back to Saturday for my long run this week, sun cream on for the first time this year, stayed local but tried to go off path as much as possible. Started off straight up to the Carman Fort and along past Bromley Muir Trig Point to the top of Stoneymollan, took the 3 Lochs Way for a mile or so them up onto Killoeters ridge, off the hill onto the Hel; n Back race route, went in reverse turning up towards Ben Bowie, took a left turn on a fire break path through the young conifers and followed the ridge to the top. Took a more direct route back, 3LW, down Stoneymollan, through Tullie, the Vale Hospital and Christie Park. The cloud finally clearing the top of Ben Lomond as I ran down the Stoney.

Shepherds Pool from Killoeters ridge

Firth of Clyde from Killoeter

Steaming

Ardmore Point from Hel n Back route

Glen Fruin from Ben Bowie

Ben Lomond from Stoneymollan

 

Stoneymollan

Club Hill race, about 5 miles and 1200' of ascent, 10 of us set off in reverse order, I finished last but 5th out of 10 by time, Course quite muddy after a couple of wet days.

Arrochar Hills

Another Friday run, perfect weather, planned to run Vane and Ime, arrived a bit late at Succoth, no room to park, drove round to the bottom of the Rest and Be Thankful, there's a small layby with room for about 4 cars, only two in it.

I ran from here about 5 years ago, about the same ascent as my planned run but half the distance, it's one of the steepest runs I've done. Up the back of The Cobbler, straight up, no paths, grassy with a few crags further up, from The Cobbler down through Bealach a'Mhaim and up Narnain, back down and across the Bealach and up Ime, from Ime back towards the Bealach for about 100 yards then down steep grassy slope to the col below Beinn Luibhean, a short trudge with some twinges of cramp to the top of this Corbett slightly lower than The Cobbler. Nice grassy path twisted its way back down to the Rest and Be Thankful.

After a lonely climb up The Cobbler there were loads of walkers and a couple of runners, peace and quiet restored once I left Ime for Luibhean. Views for miles, Paddy's Milestone and the Paps of Jura out to the west, Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg to the North, Crainlarich and Lui Munros all visible.

Back of The Cobbler

The Needle and Ben Lomond, not me on top!

Crianlarich Munros from Narnain

Cobbler from Narnain

Nevis and CMD from Ime

Lochs Lomond, Arklet and Katrine from Ime

Jura from Luibhean

Narnain and The Cobbler from Luibhean

 

Croe Water

Birnam Hill Classic

First race in the Scottish Hill Runners 2023 Championship, one of the 2 short races, I ran it in 2011 & 2015. After a short road section steep up on a twisting path through trees to a peaty craggy top, the descent steep, rocky and muddy at first then a stoney track before a mile or so of undulating track back through the forest to finish. Cool and dry, good for running. The big field was split in 2, Ladies and older Vets first, the rest half an hour later. I ended up in the second group, on the first climb there was only 3 or so behind me, got past 3 on the way up then 3 on the way down, when they put all the results together I had an ok place, 238/297.

At least this guy waited for me at the finish 

Race started at Beatrix Potter Garden in Birnam