Balloch Park Cross Country

Last race in this years club GP, a three lap run round the grassy bit of Balloch Park. 10 of us took part this year including a couple of walkers who set off early. A bit of sleet and snow around, good for cross country and underfoot a bit easier than usual, not much mud. Pleased to finish 3rd inside 40 minutes.

Ted Baker Pappert Well Race

Club race, just over 5 miles and about 800' of climb from Bonhill out and back with a loop past Pappert Well. Road , hardcore path then muddy trail round the loop. Good run to finish inside 50 minutes.

5 Mile Handicap

Only three of us tonight, handicap based on last weeks 5k times. Set off 2nd 3 minutes behind/ahead of the others. Beat my handicap by a couple of minutes and finished 1st inside 36 1/2 minutes.

Riverbank 5k race

8 of us set off from the rear entrance to Cameron House in reverse order. Through Lomond Shores to the trail that joins the cycle path. Follow the cycle path to St Michaels. Cool evening, good for running, good race, finished 5th in 22:19.

Milburn 10k race

Another club race this week, a 10k based on one of the old routes used by the Polaroid 10k. 4 of us started, a fifth started later running in the opposite direction. Finished in 48:45, my first 10k in 4 years and my fastest in over 10 years.

Stoneymollan Race

First club race for a while, the usual descent from Mount Mallow was overgrown so changed the route to start behind the pedestrian bridge behind Renton, running up the track behind Carman reservoir, through the quarry to Mount Mallow then followed the usual race route in reverse finishing at the top of the tarmac road up Stoneymollan, just over 4 miles and about 900' of ascent. Handicap race, 3 start times, 0, 10 and 15 mins, went off in the last group. caught the two runners in the second group after they took a wrong turn, finished 5th out of 7 in 41:20.

Whinny Hill Cross Country

Perfect day for cross country but there was more spectators than runners. Slight route change taking us to the bottom of Fairy Glen to start the climb, the muddier trail making up for the smooth hardcore path up through the trees. Ground part frozen should have made for faster running. Great views to Glen Finlas snd Luss from the seat, mostly down hill on the way back with one wee climb through the trees, managed to pick up the pace towrds the end to finish insude 50 minutes. Good day, great wee race.

Polaroid Cross Country

First club race of the year, 2 laps of the industrial estate. Still in flu recovery mode and took it easy, good conditions, not too cold and plenty of mud when we left the riverside path. Finished in 6th place out of 6 in about 44 mins.