Beinn Ime

First run for a couple of weeks, reasonable forecast and decided to try Beinn Ime, late start, not many spaces left in the car park at Succoth, decided to take the zig zags, first run for a while and they are a bit easier. A lot of work has been done on the path through the trees, wider, flatter and surfaced with type 1. Left the shelter of the trees into a cool breeze, gentle at first then picked up on the approach to Bealach A Mhaim, across the Bealach to the start of a trudge up Ime, into the cloud and it got pretty cold, path icy in places, easy enough to avoid, a few walkers ahead gave me some targets to keep the effort up, didn't quite come out the clouds at the top, a bit of blue above, maybe another 100 or so feet would have done it. Didn't hang about, freezing, glove upgrade for the descent. Easy run down, ran beside the path most of the way to the Bealach, easier underfoot and avoided most of the ice. Wind eased as I ran down, warming up once back into the shelter of the trees, gloves off and a steady jog to finish.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last Club race of the year, 4 of us set off from in front of Balloch Castle for a 3 lap 4.7 mile Cross Country, stayed in 2nd place all the way, perfect conditions, drizzly, no wind plenty of mud, finished just outside 40 mins, about 30 seconds quicker than last year, good fun.

Glen Finlas loop

 A bike, run, bike day, out and back cycle to the Glen Finlas reservoir with a run round the surroundng hills in between. Abandoned the planned outing to Arrochar and set off for Finlas on the bike, couple of steep climbs on the way up the Glen to warm me up before the hill run. Took the trail alongside the reservoir, more like a river today, then a faint path that leads up to the ridge, an old fence marks the way,  a steep wee climb, about 1000' in less than half a mile, a small herd of deer watched my slow progress from the top. Up on to the ridge, fine views all round, down the Clyde estuary to Arran, over Loch Lomond and towards the white topped Crianlarich and Arrochar munros. Once I reach the ridge there's a better path, good running over Beinn Ruisg, Creag an Leinibh and the 2 Balcnoc tops, all down hill from the second one. Leave the path about a mile and a half after Balcnoc2 for the pathless descent towards the reservoir, doesn't take long to realise I left the path too soon again, should have stayed on another half mile or so, traverse along sheep and deer trods to avoid the worst of the tussocks and ditches. Short run across the dam back to the bike, cold toes on the cycle home.

 

10 mile handicap

2nd last Club race of the season, 6 of us set off on a hilly loop round the Horseshoe, run as a virtual handicap as everyone tends to set off when it suits them rather than the usual reverse order, makes working out the handicap results a bit harder and not as much fun chasing those in front down , or being chased down. Wet and windy to start, running into the wind for the first mile or so, the next 2 or 3 miles undulate up, then 3 undulating miles before 3 miles of downish, strangely the down hills were the worst, last mile or so flat with a wee kick up just before the finish, finished 2nd on time, first on handicap a few minutes quicker than last year. 

Ben Bowie and Killoeter from Banachra Woods

Cycled out to Banachra woods for a run over these two local hills, fine day with a cold wind. left the forest road to got through the pine trees and up the overgrown path to Ben Bowie, down a soggy ridge to the 3LW and along to the bottom of Killoeter, short run up and over the top back down to the 3LW and John Muir Trail to Banachra for the cycle home.

Duathlon

Club Duathlon, 4 mile run and a 12 mile bike, wet and windy, only two of us today. Had a good run, about a minute quicker than last year then lost a minute in transition, struggling to get my gloves on over wet hands and knocked one lens out of my cycling glasses, didn't waste time refitting and it probably helped as the other one was fairly blurry. Its a hilly route with plenty of corners not much chance to settle in to a steady effort, couple of issues catching my laces in the chain, front cog at first then back cog after I flipped it to the outside of my shoe, tucked it in my shoe and solved the problem, a few seconds quicker than last year.

2 Loops, 2 Trigs and a Fort

A busy weekend meant a short long run on Sunday, used one of our Club routes, less than 7 miles a couple of decent climbs but nothing sustained and straight out from my front door. The loops are round Carman reservoir and round the moor overlooking the River Clyde, the first Trig is TP5637 - Renton, a low level trig just over 500' above sea level, good views across the Clyde, the second trig is higher, just under 1000', TP1668, Bromley Muir, follow the trail past the quarry and along a boggy track, great views up Loch Lomond and over The Clyde, the Arran peaks visible on a good day. Return along a muddy trail to the hill fort and down past the Radiomast.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill

Short afternoon run, Glen Luss, an out n back over Beinn Dubh to Mid Hill, a few walkers out mostly on their way down. Managed a steady run up Beinn Dubh cold wind with some warmth in the sun. Jacket and gloves on three quarters of the way up. Past the trig point and along the ridge stunning views opened up to the Arrochar and Crianlarich hills taking my mind off the now biting wind. Past the two wee cairns and down to the top of the hill overlooking the Glen, didn't hang about, about turn and back along the ridge, thankfully the wind mostly behind, hills empty now for a nice run down Beinn Dubh.

5 mile handicap

Club race, 5 mile road race, 7 off us set off in "virtual" reverse order, finished  2nd over the line and second on run time beating my handicap by a few seconds.

Narnain and The Cobbler the quiet way

Arrochar run before the weather breaks, straight up Narnain, across Bealach a'Mhaim to The Cobbler, down via An t Sron and the Argo track. Looked good for a run, high cloud and little wind, set off for the block path up Narnain, a few people out on the climb meant I had a some targets to catch, helps keep the effort up. Good views, the cloud skimming the surrounding tops and a bit of fog floating around added to the atmosphere. Reached the summit plateau empty except for a couple of people sitting at the cairns. Passed a couple of walkers on the run off towards Bealach a'Mhaim, then had it all to myself, no one about, no wind, silence apart from my breathing and footfall, this area is usually really busy, set off for The Cobbler, still no one about, another empty summit apart from a couple sitting behind some rocks looking towards Loch Fyne. Ran down the ridge to An t Sron, rocky at first then grassy with the odd bad step, fine views. Ran down over the Buttermilk burn and took the argo track back to Succoth, peaceful run today without the usual Arrochar Alp crowds.

  

Bromley Muir again

Another local hill run, decided to stay local as I started a bit late, same route as last week except in the opposite direction, Stoneymollen to Ben Bowie, round to Killoeter and back via Bromley Muir, a few minutes quicker this week!

Bromley Muir

Stormy weekend, saw there was to be a lull Sat morning time for a run over my local hills, Bromley Muir with a loop round Killoeter & Ben Bowie (opposite direction to last week). farm track to the Radio Mast to start then the path to the Fort, Bromley Muir next, nice and soggy as expected. Short forest road section to the steep climb onto Killoeter's ridge, more wet ground along the ridge, easy on my feet. another short section of forest road before the harsh surface on the 3LW, took the ridge path to Ben Bowie, returned via Killoeter's ridge avoiding the forestry works then 3LW down the Stoney, fine morning to be out, breezy mostly sunny with one wee shower. 

Ben Bowie & Killoeter

Easy run today, from Banachra Woods, rain starting as I set off up the forest road, turned off through the forest , a bit of shelter here, left the forest on the path on the North side of Ben Bowie, No views from the top today, set off down the ridge joining the 3LW about half way down, from the crossroads took the Hel n Back route up to the end of Killoeters ridge and onto the narrow path through the forest brake to the top, continued on to rejoin the 3LW and then the John Muir Trail down to Banachra.

Glen Striddle

A run I use when I am looking to get a few miles and few thousand feet of ascent in without much travel or thought on where to go. Out and back over Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill, dropping down to the road at the top of Glen Luss, about turn and run back. The climbs are as hard as you make them, ran all the way up Beinn Dubh a few minutes slower than I would have liked, along to Mid Hill then down into the glen. Turned back up Mid Hill, intended to run this as well, ended up taking a couple of walks on the steeper parts, next time I'll make it, easy run back round to Beinn Dubh and down to the bottom of the glen, Loads of walkers out today must be nearly winter as that is when these hills get busy.

Glen Fruin , easy

Short run this weekend, two race tired , late afternoon start up The Strone, trotted out to Maol am Fheidh and on up to a'Mhanaich, on the way back dropped straight into the glen from a'Mhanaich, following the fence into the glen, found a walkers path/quad bike track back to the reservoir and along the road to the car, an easy couple of hours.