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.
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.
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.
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.
