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.   

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.