5k

11th of 12 races in this years club competition, another good turnout, 16 club members and 2 guests, starting in groups roughly in pace order helps to keep the effort level up as you gradually catch and pass a few. Nice night for running, cool, clear with only a light breeze. Set off on 6:40 pace, probably lost 10 seconds to that by the end and finished 4th just under 21 minutes.

10 Mile Handicap

Change of scene this weekend, 10th race in this years club GP an undulating 10 mile handicap road race round the Horseshoe, good turn out, 28 runners all in, 22 of us club members. Set off in reverse order to your predicted time, ranging from 2 hours to just over 1 hour. Started too fast as usual settling down with a wee rest after a couple of miles. Catching people who started earlier from two miles, not caught by those behind until about 7 miles when some of the faster runners came past. Finished in 76 minutes  my fastest for a few years.

5 Mile Handicap

19 started out in reverse order for the 9th Club race of the year, started in 13th place, finished in 33:40, 6th over the line, but only 7th fastest. My fastest go at this since 2010, back to the old route this year, probably nearer 4.75 miles, last years had been increased to nearer 5.

Duathlon

Club Duathlon today, ten took part this year including three non club members. Everyone set off in reverse order handicapped against last years winning time of 55 minutes. Starts with a run based on our club time trial route, just over 4 miles, just over 28 mins for me. The cycle route is an out and back up Auchencarroch to the 2nd turn off for Gartocharn, 34 minutes for me for the 8+ undulating miles. Second over the line, 4th fastest and 39 seconds inside my handicap time.

Ted Baker Pappert Well Hill Race

Club hill race, about 5 miles with 1000' of ascent, 3/4 of a mile on road to start and finish, some trail in between, the run up to and away from the trig a bit rougher going. 14 of us set off in reverse order, took it easy for the first couple of hundred yards then pushed on a bit up the side of Pappert Estate and onto the trail, the first part a hardcore path too smooth for my liking, I preferred the old roots and rocks, relaxed after the style where the gradient eases a bit and enjoyed the run through pine trees popping out for the short run to the trig point. The way back starts up and over a wee climb too close to the trees so you have to run at a bit of an angle. Muddy bit follows back down to the style for the hardcore path and finally 3/4 mile of pavement to the finish. good run this year 6th over the line, 3rd on time. Pete and Mo, great hosts as ever, put on a lovely spread of cakes and tablet.

Fairy Glen

4th out of 15 Starters and 13 finishers in this 3 mile, 3 lap race in Balloch Park. Splits, 7:34, 8:05, 7:54, faster than I expected. Each lap follows a grassy downhill path twisting down to a flat trail on the lochside along to the bottom of Fairy Glen where a lumpy wee path runs up beside a stream, turning onto a tarmac path to the top for a brief run across flat grassy parkland, repeat times 2.

Dumyat and a 10k, Midweek racing

After last weeks stormy Stuc a calm Wednesday evening race up an down Dumyat, it was the 40th aniversary of the race, 250 plus set off, over 100 less than last year. My target was to finish inside 50 minutes. No queues at the hole in the wa' this year and no Bluebells in the woods either. Kept to a steady slow jog on the way up including where I usually walk, only walking up two rocky bits, wheeled round the trig in 32 minutes something, concentration required on the way down to avoid runners coming up and in trying to keep the intensity high, its too easy to relax and cruise down thinking this is as fast as I can go. Soon I'm crossing the style onto the muddy path twisting and sliding through the woods, feet slapping down the tarmac hill before the short wee stress inducing uphill track towards the back of the uni grounds before a welcome gradual descent to finish in 50:22. Thursday night was the Club 10k, following the old Vale 10k route except starting and finishing at the LC. Numbers slightly down this year, 14 against 18 probably due to the proximity of the Kintyre Way race on Satrurday. Three groups set off, 60 mins+, 45-60mins, sub 45 mins, I chose the last one, not that I would break 45 mins tonight, my target was to beat last nights time. The rest of my group drifted away off in front and I tried to keep a steady pace, quads a bit tender. Round Lomond Shores and into Balloch Park my group disappeared off ahead but I started to catch the earlier group giving me something to chase. Picked off a few on the way through Jamestown to the Bonhill bridge. Finished just over 49 mins in 6th place.

Stoneymollan

21 of us set off from the bottom of Lower Stoneymollan Road for the 5 mile/1000' annual club Hill Race, the fourth in this years Club GP. There's a nice trophy in memory of Alex Robertson for the winner, and the race is run as a handicap to give everyone a chance. On a run up the last hill the day before to do the obligatory gorse bush trimming the ground was very dry after the snow and ice. Luckily there was some rain on the day to soften it  up a bit. Good fun chasing down those in front, that and the fear of being passed by those behind keeps you on your toes the whole way round. A good run tonight finishing just over 43 1/2 minutes, about 3 minutes quicker than last year, 4th over the line and 3rd on time. A few pictures here.

Lomond 1/2

35 runners for the 3rd race in thus years GP, 11 from the club and 24 guests. A hilly half, round the Horseshoe, through Balloch Park, Balloch, Lomond Shores then onto the cycle path to the Vale returning to the club round the Vale Academy. Staggered start and I went with the last group and watched them run off into the distance before catching a few on the way round. Good run for a road race, finished in about 1:49. Some pictures here and here.

Whinney Hill

A wintery day for the last Club Cross Country of the season, the only record broken today was the number of runners, 23. A lap of a soggy Balloch Park to start then we exit on the narrow path to Boturich road. Into Whinney Hill then across the road, nice path to start soon deteriorates into a slippy muddy root strewn path up the hill. No respite when at the top with ankle deep mud until come out the other side. Similar to Polaroid, the first three away and clear I'm in the second group of three, we swap places a few times along the way. Through the deer fence and I plod my way up the top section towards the seat and back into the mud,. From the seat its downhill and slippy for a while then a wee rest before turning up into the forest and the mud fest again, gradually pick up pace along the top before a tricky run down to the road crossing. The path back down to the park easy to run on then a twisting turning muddy path back to finish at Balloch Castle in just under 48 mins and a Team Millie Soup kitchen in full flow.

Polaroid Industrial Estate

First club race of the year, 2 laps of the Industrial Estate. The trail had been cleared since last week, the track dug out and fallen trees removed, combined with the low temperatures drying the ground out made for a faster run. 19 of us set off over the tussocky field through the woods and one of the two remaining muddy bits down to the path beside the river Leven, the first couple of hundred yards had been dug out, ok for walking, not so good for running. The front three stretched away ahead and I stayed in the next group of three before we split up after one and a half laps and I dropped behind. The second part of each lap goes through more trees and mud as the river turns away from the course, through some fields with a short up and down and some rougher ground before the run down the grass verge to the finish, then we do it again. First lap just over 18 mins, second lap nearer 19. Cooled down collecting the markers in, a good day for a run.