Ted Baker - Doughnot Hill Race

Club race, the Ted Baker, a new route over Doughnot Hill, starting and finishing at Overton House. Just under 5 miles with about 1000' of ascent. Mostly trail with a short section of open hill up and over Doughnot Hill. Just over 2 miles undulating up to the top of Doughnot Hill, started in 1st place, dropped into 2nd on the short hill section to the top and stayed in 2nd to the end. Over the top and down to the Black Linn reservoir, trail form here to the finish, a couple of short uphills but mostly downhill all the way back to Overton House. Post race club sprint and doughnuts to finish, nice addition to the club race calendar

Ben Nevis Hill Race

Weekend in Glen Nevis to take in the race, my 19th, 400+ runners set off on a good day, warm and dry at the bottom, cool and breezy on top. A lap of the football pitch and a mile of road to start, tourist path to halfway, running at first, took the first short cut then into a steady walk round windy corner, running again beside half way lochan to the Red Burn, I had finished my first bottle of water & electrolytes, filled my 2nd bottle already primed with electrolytes and set off up the Red Burn Screes. I had picked up a couple of the free energy gels at registration, took one about half way up, and half my electrolyte and water. Pleased to reach the top a few minutes inside 2 hours, no need to push the descent as I had plenty of time on the 3 1/2 hour finish cut off. Finished my electrolytes and water on the way down to the Red Burn, didn't pick a very good line down the scree, probably lost a few minutes trying to get back on track. Took a risk in not refilling my bottle with water and electrolytes, relying on the packet of Salt Stick Fast Chews if cramp hit. Easier running from the Red Burn past the Lochan then tougher running down the rocky steps, stopped to retie my laces and cramp licked in, Took a couple of chews as I walked to try and shake it off, wasn't working, tried a couple more chews, 4 or 5 runners had passed as the cramp slowly eased, Took it easy round windy corner and back down the short cut, took another gel and tried to pick up the pace and chase down the runners who had passed when I cramped, feeling better now, onto the road for the last mile, another couple of chews in case cramp wanted to return, managing to pass a few more and a couple in the return lap round the pitch finishing about 20 minutes inside the cut off.

Hammer Run

Easier Arochar run this week, Narnain and The Cobbler via the tourist path, more of a trail run with plenty of ascent. Forecast ok for the AM to get worse as the day progressed probably why the Succoth car park was only half full. Legs a bit tired maybe due to yesterdays bike ride. Took it slow running up the 2nd zig zags, easier going as the gradient eases on the path passing the Narnain Boulders to Bealach a'Mhaim. Walked up the steps/path to Narnains summit, quiet in the mist. Round the trig, down to the Bealach and another walk up to the Cobblers plateau, a few more walkers about now. A quick refuel, back to the Bealach for the 3rd time, finished with an easy run down past the Boulders, taking the argo track to Succoth avoiding the zig zags.

 

Sgurr nam Fiannaidh

Staying at Invercoe campsite for a couple of nights and took the chance to run up the munro overlooking from the end of the Aonach Eagach ridge, just along from the Pap of Glencoe, I had been up the Pap a couple of times and this looked interesting with hopefully some views to the famous ridge it sat at the end of. A mile or so of trails to the start of the climb, a series of steep ramps with a few flatter runnable bits in between, another hot sunny day, a welcome cooling breeze eventually kicked in about half way up. the same path to the two hills splits at a large cairn, the path to the munro twists and turns through scree and rocks, arriving at the top visible from below reveals another couple of higher tops along the ridge, mostly runnable as long as you don't look at the views. Sheltered behind a large circular cairn at the top , views along the ridge, across the glen to the Bidean massive, on the other side the Mamores with Nevis and CMD sitting behind. Turned to start the run back and stunning views down Loch Leven to the Ballachulish Bridge and surrounding hills opens up. Took it easy on the descent, steep, rocky and gritty good training for Nevis in a couple of weeks.

Sgurr na Stri

Stayed at the Sligachan Campsite on Skye for a few days, glorious weather, sunny, warm with a good midge deterring breeze, Walkhighlands had what looked like a good run from the campsite to Sgurr na Stri, with what was meant to be some of the best views in Britain, route guide said 14 miles and 1800' of ascent, turned out over 15 miles with 2700' of ascent, but the views were good! Reasonably flat for the first and last 5 miles, the 5 miles in the middle had most of the ascent. Good breeze but still hot, crossed lots of streams and used them to soak/cool my hat/head. A few walkers out as well. The first part of the climb is up and over the shoulder of Sgurr Hain then a rocky traverse to Sgur na Stri, walked quite a lot of this section taking care over the rocks and taking in the views to the surrounding hills Loch Coruisk and the stunning Black Cuillin Ridge, a 6 mile chain of rocky peaks and spires. The last climb up to Sgurr na Stri steep but thankfully short, with a short jog along the top to the summit. Took inb the views with a few pictures which don't do it justice then set off for the return, slow traverse across to Sgurr Hain then the trail back to Sligachan, tired for the last couple of miles but happy.

Beinn Donn Hill Race

Appin Show hill race, short and steep, 30 or so runners set off in the sun, started at the back then reeled a few in as the climb started, jog walk to the top then push as fast as I can on the way down, the track is very rough so always slower than I would like , at least no face plants this year! Passed a couple at the bottom of the hill, nearly another at the line with a wee sprint up the games field. Good day.

  

Whinny Hill Trail Race

Club Trail race, starts/finishes at the castle in Balloch Park, a loop round the grassy slopes in front of the castle followed by a run out to Whinny Hill and back to the Castle, about a 1/4 of a mile shorter than usual as the top of Whinny Hill out of bounds due to forestry work. Ground dry made for fast running, started out in 3rd place, got into 2nd and stayed there to the end, just over a minute behind the winner. 9 of us ran, hopefully get the full route next time.

Windy Hills

Shorter Arrochar run this week, Narnain & Ime, weren't sure as the forecast was for high winds/gusts to 50 or 60 mph, turned out a good bit less probably 30 or so, only uncomfortable section was the short flat traverse across to Ime's summit. Straight up Narnain to start, jackets off when the rain went off after 20 mins, back on near the top as it got windier. Met a few people coming down due to too much mud and water on the path, or too windy at the top, we pushed on ready to turn back if it wasn't safe, turned out fine, wind helping slightly as it was mostly behind. Top of Narnain and no one else there, stopped for a picture then set off for Ime, a few more walkers about but quieter than usual. breezy on the way up Ime, less sheltered than Narnain, the last 100 yards exposed to the wind but ground is easy and no steep drops. Sheltered behind the summit cairn then ran back down to the Bealach and the tourist path to the top of the zig zags, argo track back to Succoth.

Sunny Bromley Muir

Another run over my local hills, Mount Malow, Killoeter and Ben Bowie, weather kinder, blue skies, a gentle breeze, perfect for a run. Carman Fort to start, along Bromley Muir to the Stoneymollan and joined the 3 Lochs Way for a mile or so, up onto Killoeter, along the ridge past the summit cairn and down to the forest road, back up the 3LW then ridge path to Ben Bowie, 3LW back to the Vale and home.

Arrochar hill run

It's been a couple of months since I was in the Arrochar hills, plan was for Narnain and Ime, ended up taking in The Cobbler as well. Set off about half 8 in heavy drizzle, ran along the road behind Succoth village and up through the woods avoiding the zig zag path, along the forest track to the argo track starting the climb up Narnain, reached the concrete block path as the rain stopped, another runner passed and asked to tag along, which was fine except he was a good bit faster than me, helped me to push the pace a bit which must be a good thing. Soon into the clouds, not much of a breeze and reasonable warm. Didn't hang about on top of Narnain, down through the boulder field then took the grassy option towards Ime, steady trudge up Ime, back into the clouds, a few photos on top then a run back towards the Bealach, a wee route change here, climbed the back steps to The Cobbler then descended via the An t Sron ridge, rocky at first then easy grassy tracks with a few rocks, from An t Sron dropped down to the Buttermilk burn and over the tourist path to get to the argo track avoiding all the zig zags on the way back to Succoth.

    

Club 10k

The latest race in this years club race series, 10k road race, route based on the old Polaroid 10k route that finished in the Christie Park. 6 of us tonight, good conditions, warm and sunny with a breeze, soon fell into 3rd place and stayed there to the finish, pleased to finish a couple of minutes faster than last year.

Bromley Muir

Afternoon run , same route as a couple of weeks ago except in reverse, slightly slower possibly due to a late night! Another cloudy run, no views, a wee shower as well, dried up for the run over Bromley Muir.

 

The Ben via CMD

Another few days in Fort William, staying in Glen Nevis Campsite, forecast was hot and sunny. Decided on a loop from the campsite round Carn Mor Dearg, the Arete and Ben Nevis. Early start, about 5:45 am to try and beat the heat and get some views. Ran from the Campsite to the Youth Hostel and up to the tourist path via Heart Attack Hill, rather I walked up Heart Attack Hill, on the tourist path only a few others out, jog and walk round windy corner to half way lochan and round to the end of the path at the outflow from the loch. Pathless descent, NNE, into the glen, across the river and some more tussocks to join the walkers path towards CMD, a steady climb about 3000 in 3 miles, on the way up the cloud rolled in over CMD and the Arete. The sun did pop out now and then, still stunning scenery whatever the weather. Only saw 4 other people from half way lochan, up over Carn Dearg Meadhonach to Carn Mor Dearg, a few Brocken Spectres appeared but always seemed to fade before I could get a picture, saw one more guy ahead on the chicken run path along the Arete, soon caught and passed him, one more, another runner, going in the opposite direction. From the cairn at the col a short steep rocky climb up the Ben, eventually found one of the metal posts and a bit of a path before the crowds appear at the top. Easy run down, took the race route rather than the zig zag path, a few walkers followed but soon gave up and returned to the path, Slow going from the Red Burn to Heart Attack Hill giving way to the hordes now climbing in the increasing heat. Soon back at the campsite, pleased to finish before 12 under a now cloudless sky.