Polaroid Cross Country

First race in this years club GP. Five of us set off for the 2 lap , 4 1/2 mile run, a sixth joined when he saw us disappear into the trees. The muddy bits were very muddy but the rest was dry making for quick times. Finished 4th out of 6 a couple of seconds quicker than last year. Good morning for a run.   

Glen Fruin Hill Run

Slightly longer and harder route this week, picked this route in case of snow and low cloud as there is fencing beside most of the route to aid navigation. As it turned out there was hardly any snow, a few patches here and there, ice and old rusty fence wire the only issues. To start cross the thankfully frozen bogs before a steep trudge into the clouds up Auchengaich hill, From there its runnable up and over Tharsuin and Chaorach following quad bike tracks and fence lines all the way back down into the glen. A few frozen springs to avoid off the back of Chaorach along with rusty fence wire left after the fencing was replaced a few years ago. The climb up Beinn a' Mhanaich another fenceline trudge back into the clouds, set off down the ridge with a short detour to take in the wee bump of a hill Maol am Fheidh then down the The Strone to finish, Reasonably dry and frozen turf made for good running, didn't hang about on the tops in the cold wind with little in the way of views.

Quad bike track from top of Auchengaich towards Tharsuin

Tharsuin

Cairn on Chaorach

Trig on Chaorach

A' Mhanaich ascent beside gully on the left 

Gulley further up

A'Mhanaich

Boulder points the way

Maol am Fheidh

  

Luss Hill Run

First hill run for about 5 weeks, Glen Luss, Beinn Dubh to Mid Hill and back, about 7 miles. Cold, but no snow, ground frozen with icy patches. Loads of walkers out today avoiding the higher tops in Arrochar. Cold wind set in near the top, hat and gloves on. Easy run round the corries to Mid Hill, plenty of photo stops along the way. Turned back towards Beinn Dubh, hat and gloves off in the warming sun, a lot of the ice melted leaving softer muddy ground underfoot. Slippy run off Beinn Dubh back into the glen, great day to be out.