Whinny Hill Trail Race

Club race, starts and finishes from the Castle in Balloch Park, bit different this year, run in the dark. We all started at different times, a couple went off early enough to finish in the daylight, the rest of us started in the light, finishing in the dark. A few minutes slower than usual, a bit hesitant to push the pace, maybe a better head torch would help. All of us had a couple of route mishaps, not too much a few seconds here and there, good fun and we'll need to try another one! 

Narnain and The Cobbler The Quiet Way

Great forecast, blue skies, no wind, early start in Arrochar for about 8. Plan was Narnain, Ime and The Cobbler, started up Narnain and soon realised last Thursdays hill rep session was still very much in my legs, get to the top of Narnain and see how I felt. Brisk walk most of the way up, a wee jog just before the Spearhead, happy to reach the top about 15 minutes slower than usual, took in the views for some time wandering about the rocky plateau, on the run off decision time, took a left for The Cobbler, Ime could wait for another day. Steady plod up The Cobblers back steps then up to the Needle, another break to refuel and take in the views, descent via the ridge to An t Sron then dropped down to the tourist path for a few yards, to avoid the zig zags took the argo track back to Succoth, a fine morning.

   

Beinn Dubh

Plan was for a run up Beinn Dubh then round to Mid Hill, in the end cut it short at the top of Beinn Dubh, ran back down chased by a rainbow. Set off up Beinn Dubh in the rain, kept a slow jog going, rain eased after half an hour and the wind picked up with height making it a bit awkward to run, by the top I was getting a bit cold and could see the next shower coming so turned round for an easy run back down.

  

Glen Finlas

Glen Finlas run, starting from the layby at the entrance to the glen, up and down the dam access road with a loop round the hills in between. Took the rough track on the north side of the reservoir, The track has deteriorated over the years, overgrown, a couple of landslips and much of it under water. Just past a stream/gulley past the end of the reservoir follow an old broken fence line to the top, there's a bit of a path if you can find it. Once you get onto the ridge, there's a good path, followed it anti clockwise over Beinn Ruisg, Creag an Leinibh and Balcnock's two tops, aim was to descend North to the dam to avoid the worst of the tussocks and ditches over Craperoch, left the path 1.5 miles after Balcnock's second top, too soon, had to traverse along tussocky ground for another half mile then down to the dam and a run back down beside the access road to finish. Disturbed 3 raptors feeding on a sheep on the climb up to the ridge and a stag as I ran along the ridge.

5 Mile Handicap

Club road race, 5 runners tonight, run as a virtual handicap, good evening for a run, cool with a bit of a breeze, 39 minutes, about a minute slower than last year 

Fruin Reservoir Loop

Glen Fruin hills today, high winds forecast and these hills are a bit lower , turned out fine. Strone to start, a steep mile, brief respite out n back to Maol am Fheidh then more up to Beinn a'Mhainaich. Dropped down into the glen by the fenceline, a few deer ran off towards Glen Luss. Slow trudge up Chaorach, easier ground now running over Tharsuin a wee shower on the way down via Auchengaich. Ground quite boggy today, glad to have my waterproof socks.

    

Ted Baker - Doughnut Hill Trail Race

 2nd year with the new route, a loop over Doughnut Hill, start and finish the Totem Pole behind Overton House, mostly trails with a wee bit of hill in the middle, just over 1000' of ascent in 4.6 miles, its a virtual handicap race as people start when it suits them and we all finish roughly together, good evening for a run, 6 of us made the start, I finished last by handicap but was the quickest on the night by a few seconds, in second place on the way up to Doughnut Hill managing to get past the runner in front just before dropping onto the hill and managed to stay in front taking the win by 30 seconds about a minute slower than last year. Finished off with a Doughnut and a Tesla Disco!

Hel n Back

Trail race run by Helensburgh Athletic Club, back on the fixture list after the forestry work cleared the path. Always missed this due to the Ben or Merrick, decided to have a go with one other of our club members. 70 odd entered, 60 odd turned up. The route starts/finishes at the new Hermitage Academy, running up the Three lochs Way until it reaches the forest road that leads over to The Red Road, at the Red Road turn left and run up past The Black Third Farm to pick up The Three Lochs way again, this time towards Helensburgh, one more wee climb then a 2 1/2 mile down hill trail to the finish.

Ben Nevis Hill Race

Weekend in Fort William, Glen Nevis campsite, for the Ben race, a damp weekend, luckily the best day was Saturday, dry and sunny in the morning, overcast afternoon, race started at 1pm, fairly humid until we got to windy corner, thankfully a breeze, reached the Red Burn seconds inside 1 hour, straight up from there, into the clouds at about 3000', breezy and wet, getting my gloves and wooly hat on as I cooled down certainly helped, reached the top in about 1 hr 54, good climb, turned for the descent, took it steady I'm not as quick as I used to be on the way down, 2 or 3 local runners went past, they picked good lines so I followed until they disappear into the mist, let another couple past before the Red Burn, easy running by half way lochan then the cramp inducing steps round windy corner to my preferred short cut, very muddy by the time I got there, easier running again down to the Ben Nevis Inn and the last mile or so on the road and a run round the football pitch to finish, 1 second slower than last year. Carried more electrolytes to offset cramp this year didn't help that the small packets were difficult to open probably cost me a couple of minutes but they do work.

The Ben from Glen Nevis

Sgurr a'Mhaim and Stob Bhan from Glen Nevis

Melantee from Glen Nevis

Passing the BN Inn, nearly finished

Double Dumgoyne and The Earls Seat

Looking for an easier run this week, picked Dumgoyne, a steep start then runnable for the rest. A few walkers about on the way up Dumgoyne. Off the other side and took it easy along the undulating ridge to The Earls Seat, nice day but hazy so views limited.

 

Club 10k

Club 10k road race, after last weeks tempo run hoped I could get inside 50 minutes, just made it by about a minute, need to try some faster runs so that I can run faster. 2nd out of 5.

Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain

Looking for a run with plenty of ascent and a steep rough descent, decided on Arrochar, Beinn Ime then Narnain. Arrived before 9 to a full car park and set off up the two sets of zig zags to clear the trees. Surprisingly few people going up compared to the number of cars, a few coming down must have had an early start to beat the car park charges which start at 9. Cool breeze on the path up to Bealach a'Mhaim, eased as I gained height and I settled into a fast walk for most of the rest of the climb to the top. Short refuel and straight back down to the Bealach and the short steep climb to Narnians' plateau summit. Down through the spearhead to finish, slowly at first through the crags then a bit quicker as the terrain eased, quite a few walkers coming up now, finished in warm midday sunshine. Good views, the more distant hills a bit hazy.

Holiday runs

A couple of weeks away, Galloway for the first week then Camusdarach and Port Appin the second. In Galloway Stayed at Sandyhills Holiday Park, ran an out n back from the beach to Castle Point, 7 miles of undulating coastal path with a tougher than expected 2000' of elevation. Camusdarach, ran a 5 mile out n back to Traigh beach on coastal footpath and beach as the tide was out, more sedate run with less than 300' of elevation. A wee race to finish off, the Beinn Donn hill race at the Appin Show, finished a whole 2 seconds quicker than last year.

Castle Point

Camusdarach

Beinn Donn

Luss Loop

Luss hill run, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, across the glen and back via Coille Eughain Hill. Bright and breezy, the Beinn Dubh bogs fairly dry. A slow and steady run up Beinn Dubh, easy running round to Mid Hill and down into the glen. Trudged up Coillie Eughain Hill, always a tough wee climb ran down to the Paps and into the ferns and tussocks reminding me why I don't do this route in the summer.