Stuc a Chroin 5000

Another go at the Stuc, forecast was for cool , damp conditions, turned out fine, a bit warm with a nice cooling breeze higher up. 150+ entered, less than half of last years British Champs race. First 4 miles went well, on the forest road, Meall Mor, the drop into Glen Ample and the first half of the Ben Each climb I gained about 4 minutes on last year, after that I lost time all the way to the finish. Over Ben Each and ran along the ridge to the crossover, well inside the cut-off, undulated up to the top of the Stuc, most of the field ahead and passed me on their way back. Around the cairn and set off for the cross over before the steep tussocky drop into Glen Ample, across a stream and the descending traverse along the glen, took a refuelling break before the climb out of Glen Ample, didn't help as I had to stop for some cramp relief as the gradient increased. Soon going again and not long until I made it over the top, 3 undulating miles back down to the finish, moorland at first then a mixture of forest tracks and roads, passed a few runners on the way back, tried to catch one more on the last climb before the drop to the finish, good progress until cramp reappeared, slowed to a walk then slowly jogged into the finish.

The Cobbler

Short long run this week, fine weather , ran up the forest track from Honeymoon Bridge car park, about a mile to where the Cobbler hill race starts from. The first of a series of old white wooden posts mark the path that climbs up through trees to the open hillside to An t Sron, fairly boggy in patches, steep climb on faint paths up to the ridge then mostly runnable to the base of the Cobbler summit crags. Short trudge up pathless tussocky ground to the summit, busy summit, great views with a partial inversion,  though a bit hazy. Took in the views and watched someone thread the needle before the run back down, slow at first as the path picks a way through bouldery ground, then easy running on grassy paths to An t Sron then a steep drop through tussocks, trees and bogs with an easy mile on forestry track to finish.

   

Stoneymollan

 Club handicap hill race, 8 of us turned up, nice sunny evening, pretty wet and boggy over the hill, still suffering after Saturdays run and didn't expect too much, finished 6th in the handicap and 3rd by time, happy to finish inside 50 minutes but about 3 minutes slower than last year.

Luss Hill Run

One of those runs where you could use some miles and ascent, can't make up your mind where to go and pick an out and back 10 miler. Ben Dubh and Mid Hill then down to Glen Luss, turn round and go back the same way. 10 miles and 4000'+ of ascent, ran the first half of Beinn Dubh, then jog/walked to the top, ran round the Corries to Mid Hill and down to the glen road, on the way back ran the first half of Mid Hill then walked to the top, back round the Corries and down to finish at the foot of the hill. Bit of a struggle today I usually run more of the hills, but good to be out.

Bromley Muir

Local hill run this week, Carman Fort and Trig then along to the Three Lochs Way for a mile or so before taking to the ridge over Killoeter then back up to Ben Bowie, hilly but runnable, after Ben Bowie returned over Bromley Muir past the Trig and Fort, very wet and muddy over Bromley Muir all the ditches and flat sections flooded. A bit more Spring like, plenty of wild Primroses along the trails.

Fruin reservoir loop

Back running, heel appears to be recovering, went for a shortish run on the hills surrounding Auchengaich reservoir in Glen Fruin, same route from 6 weeks ago except in reverse. Snowy on top with low cloud which cleared as I went round so got a few good views. Auchengaich hill first, walked up this steep tussocky hillside to the sound of gunfire from the nearby military firing range, ran the quad bike track from the ridge to Beinn Tharsuin and jog/walk to Chaorach beyond. Ran on the path beside the fence into the glen, drops steeply, slowly, at first in the snow, then lower down soggy from meltwater. Another fence to walk beside to the top of A'Mhanaich, from there an easy down hill run to Maol am Fheidh and The Strone, gunfire again ringing out from the now much closer range, didn't hang about to look at the views.  

Reservoir with A Mhanaich behind

Deer at the top of Auchengaich Hill

Rime Ice on Chaorach

A Mhanaich ascent beside the gulley on the left

View from A Mhanaich to Chaorach and reservoir, Ardmore point in the distance

Path from A Mhanaich towards the Strone

Another Saturday cycle

Resisting the urge to run, a longer cycle planned for today, 35 or so miles, up Loch Lomond side to Inverbeg, up into Glen Dougles, across to the Loch Long side back via The Three Lochs Way to Glen Fruin, Cross Keys, Arden and back home. Read up on cycling The Three Lochs Way, some of it requiring a Mountain Bike and ability to cope with tricky ground. Ride went well until a couple of miles after Glen Douglas, down progressively rougher forest tracks taking a wee detour due to missing sign then down a rutted single track, quickly decided I wasn't up to 5 miles of this and turned back the way I came, finished up 43 or so miles, a bit extra but a good ride. Might try it again as other people told me the trail improved after a mile or so, or I could just put up with a bit of hike a bike.

Saturday cycle

No running as I'm suffering with a heel injury, trying to maintain some fitness on the bike, 20 mile loop, through Balloch Park round the Horseshoe from Ballagan to Auchencarroch Sawmill, turned round and back the same way with a wee loop round Balloch Park, good views up to Glen Finlas hills where I would rather be!

Glen Finlas from Auchencarroch Road

Arrochar Alps hill run

First run in Arrochar for a while, planned route was Glen Loin to start then up and over Ben Vane an Beinn Ime, returning via Bealach a Mhaim and the Buttermilk Burn path, forecast was low cloud/fog to start clearing around mid day. The info I had on snow cover was not much left. Started up the Glen Loin trail, no one else on that route until I joined the road from Inveruglas which was busy with walkers. Turned up Ben Vane just after Coirgrogain, good to see a few groups of walkers ahead I could use as a target to help maintain my effort. Cold gusty wind picked up with height, quite damp once I got into the mist, a few easily avoidable patches of snow and ice. The rocky scramble thankfully clear and dry. Reached the top, pretty cold, didn't hang about, set off for Ime, straight into a large snowbank, thick fog as well, couldn't see much at all, white on all sides, above and below, returned to the top, had a digital compass, got that out, the bearing I take from Vanes summit is 280 degrees, my compass was like a spinning top, no way to take a bearing. Didn't fancy trying my luck, it's easy to end up in completely the wrong place. Turned back going down the way I came up, path busy with walkers, probably encouraged by the good forecast. Reaching the Glen Loin trail, I decided to continue the loop instead of straight back, it's about 5 years since I last ran the complete loop.

Vane from Glen Loin

Misty on top

Loch Lomond, Arklet and Katrine from Vane

Disappearing stream in Glen Loin

Pappert Cross Country

Longest and toughest and best of our cross country races, 3 laps, about 6 miles with over 800' of ascent all in, 5 started, 4 finished, one stopping after taking a tumble in the swamp section on lap 2. Got slower each lap, eventually finished second couple of minutes slower than last year.

 

Fruin Rerservoir Loop

Weather window forecast for Saturday morning, and with my local hills clear of snow decided to try a hill run round the Fruin reservoir (Auchengaich), started up The Strone, soon into the clouds, good paths to follow so no  navigation required, detour out to MAF then A'Mhanaich, from here a fenceline into the glen then up Chaorach, pathless to start took a rising traverse in the general direction of a fence and trod which I met about a third of the way up. A wee bit of snow nearer the top but easily avoided or crossed. Along the ridge to the trig, now running into the wind, gloves on, didn't hang about, not long until I reached Tharsuin a short climb to the stoney cairn, cold drizzly rain blowing through and decided to give Balcnoc a miss, left the fenceline now on a quad bike track, took my time a few icy patches to negotiate on the way to Auchengaich hilll, turn right at the top down pathless tussocky hillside to finish just as the rain started.

Maoll Am Fheidh

Rock on the way to Beinn A'Mhanaich

Beinn A'Mhanaich

Stream on the way up Beinn Chaorach

Beinn Chaorach trig

Beinn Chaorach cairn

Beinn Tharsuinn

Pappert XC recce

Next Club race is the Pappert Cross Country, some new runners so we had a recce, couple of laps then I ran up to the Pappert Trig, cold, ground partially frozen and drier than normal, great views up Loch Lomond and surrounding hillls.

 

Bromley Muir

Ben Bowie and Killoeter, this time via Bromley Muir, tops suitable covered in mist, not many views but good running, took the by pass path onto Killoeters ridge, along the ridge and down towards Helensburgh, up towards Ben Bowie on the 3LW cut off for the soft ground to B Bowies summit, 3LW back to the Vale.

Carman Fort

Bromley Muir Trig

Killoeters stick

Ben Bowies cairn

Luss Hill Run

Forecast cold and windy with higher, Munro's, covered in snow so I went to Luss for a loop round Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille Eughain Hill. No sign of wind when I set off from the foot of the glen, picked up as I cleared the trees, it was cold, thankful of my double thermal base layers, fleece and Goretex jacket, thermal tights, waterproof socks, wooly hat and thermal waterproof gloves to keep me comfortable. Not many others out, one hill walker came down Beinn Dubh as I climbed, then two walkers passed as I ran along the plateau to Mid Hill. Didn't stop too often on the top or along the ridge, a short break in the glen before I trudged up Coille Eughain, back into the mist at the top before the 2 mile descent back to Luss.