Luss hills for a long run this week, left it until the afternoon to catch better weather, cloud level gradually lifted during the run. Planned loop starting on Beinn Dubh, crossing Glen Luss and on to the top of Glen Finlas, finishing down Cruach Dubh, the hill the Luss Highland Games race is run over. Good paths over Dubh/Mid hills then rougher ground on the Finlas side. Climbed Beinn Dubh, running the flatter bits and walking the steep. Warm on the way up the sun threatening to break through took a layer off, passed a few walking groups and into the cloud towards the top. Stopped for a drink at the top, rain started, jacket and hat on for the run round the corries to Mid Hill. Dropped out the wind down Mid Hill, warmer again. Ran up to the end of the Glen road then across fields to a small bridge over Luss Water and the trudge up Coille Eughain hill. From the top ran and walked up the ridge to Creag an Leinibh over looking Glens Luss and Finlas. From the top turned back toward Loch Lomond along the ridge to Beinn Ruisg then through peat hags to Creagan Hill overlooking Loch Lomond. About 3 miles from here to the finish over Cruach Dubh, pathless and tussocky to start, aimed for Ben Lomond until a quad bike track appears, take that until about half way down, cut off as it turns away, more tussocks and faint sheep tracks until a better path forms for the last climb up Cruach Dubh, a tussocky traverse across the top to the Games Hill race route, finishing past the Luss Water Fairy Pool.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Beinn Dubh to Cruach Dubh the short way
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Riverbank 5k
Club race from behind Cameron House, through Lomond Shores, cycle path to the Vale Academy. Nine of us running this year. Tried to take it easy at the start and not go with the faster runners, happy to finish 4th, with reasonably even mile splits with a slight improvement over the last mile or so.
Saturday, March 08, 2025
Narnain & The Cobbler the quiet way
First time in Arrochar for a few months, morning run, low cloud, but warm and dry, straight up Narnain from Succoth, busier than usual and caught and passed a few groups of walkers. Summit plateau to myself for a few minutes then down to Bealach a'Mhaim and a trudge up to the top of The Cobbler, saw no-one but could hear a few voices in the mist. Ran down the An t'Sron ridge then across to the Buttermilk Burn and down the argo track to Succoth. Good to be back out on some bigger hillls.
Saturday, March 01, 2025
Pappert Cross Country
5 started this 3 lap cross country course behind the Pappert Housing Estate, 3rd time we've ran this race, an undulating course with plenty of mud and ditches to cross and a couple of fallen trees to negotiate, good Cross Country. First lap went well apart from going the wrong way round one of the fallen trees, slightly quicker in the second lap despite a stop for a lace re-tie, third lap slightly quicker again, finished 2nd and happy to improve on my previous times by about 90 seconds.