Whinny Hill Trail Race

Club Trail race, starts/finishes at the castle in Balloch Park, a loop round the grassy slopes in front of the castle followed by a run out to Whinny Hill and back to the Castle, about a 1/4 of a mile shorter than usual as the top of Whinny Hill out of bounds due to forestry work. Ground dry made for fast running, started out in 3rd place, got into 2nd and stayed there to the end, just over a minute behind the winner. 9 of us ran, hopefully get the full route next time.

Whinny Hill Trail Race

5 of us for tonight's trail race, a lap of Balloch Park to start then up Fairy Glen and out round the Whinny Hill lollipop route, on the way back follow a path through trees behind the park coming out at the castle. A couple of minutes slower than last year on this trail race that used to be a cross country before the hardcore paths were built. Started in third place, made it into second at the seat and kept that until the end.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last race in this years club grand prix, 7 of us set off for 3 laps round Balloch Park, about 4 1/2 miles all in. Started in 5th place, finished 4th, caught one runner at the start of the third lap. Managed to run a fairly even pace, all three laps within 13 seconds of each other

Roon the Vale

Decided to run local as the forecast was for gales on the hills. A 17 mile anti clockwise route round the Vale of Leven, taking in Pappert Well, Whinny Hill and Bromley Muir. Pappert Well first, across Bonhill Bridge over the river Leven, a gradual climb beside houses to start then grassy and muddy paths to the Pappert Well Trig. Sunny with a cool breeze, kept moving and just warm enough without gloves or jacket, great day to be out. Looped past the Well down a muddy fire break before turning through fields towards Whinny Hill  More houses and tarmac to the back of Balloch Park, straight up more fields to the Whinny Hill trail loop and back to Balloch Park. Another mile or so of tarmac to get to Upper Stoneymollan road. Last 5 miles off road, legs starting to suffer but felt better buoyed by the lack of tarmac to come. Three Lochs Way to start then the walkers paths over Bromley Muir to the Carman Fort. Last mile and a half mostly down hill on paths and though fields.

Pappert Well Trig

Upper Stoneymollan

The Ben and Loch Lomond

Mount Malow cairn, Carman Reservoir & Dumbarton Castle

Autumn

 

Whinny Hill

Ran from home today, an out and back through the local Parks, Christie, Argyle and Balloch onto the Whinny Hill trail with its newly sanitised hardcore path, gone are most of the muddy bits, the last bit, Stable Woods soon to be lost to to Mountain Bike trails if the latest proposal goes through. Plenty of colour on the trees made for pleasant running.

 

Roon the Vale

Longer run this week, Stoneymollan, Ben Bowie, Whinny Hill and Pappert Well. Idea was to walk the steeper hills and run the rest aiming for about 5 hours. Kind of mizzly morning but not much of a breeze which is ok for a long run. Jog walked up to the Fort and Trig then ran to Ben Bowie, a walk on the last climb to the twin tops. Ran most of the way to Whinny Hill except a couple of short sections through the forest. Back down the trail then across fields past Robin House through the Haldane housing estate leaving via tinkers loan up the road towards the dump, a track leads across behind the golf course meaning only one muddy field to cross to reach the Whinny Hill trail, a bit of a mud bath, down the fire break back onto the trail and home via Bonhill Bridge and the Magic Roundabout. Finished in just over 5 hours.

Ben Bowie summit cairn

River Leven bhouys

Apprentice rowers on Loch Lomond

Burn of Balloch in Fairy Glen

Whinny Hill trig

SA Virtual Challenge and Balloch Park

Another Scottish Athletics virtual race, 5 miles instead of the usual 8km, used the clubs 5 mile handicap route in reverse. Took a few seconds off my mile splits compared to the last virtual run but Strava added 16 seconds to my total. Followed this with an easy run in the opposite direction adding in a loop round Balloch Park

SM BB K WH PW

Monthly long long run this weekend, Mount Mallow to start via the track behind Carman Reservoir.

Carman Reservoir and Dumbarton from Mount Mallow

Last hill, Whinny Hill from the first hill, Mount Mallow

Along past the Trig Point to the top of the Stoneymollan track, along the John Muir Trail until it starts to descend towards Glen Fruin then a short steep climb up through trees to Ben Bowie.

Helensburgh from Killoeter

A frozen Shepherds Pool

Killoeter next then onto the Red Road up past the Black Third and Shepherds pool, down the Stoney trail to Balloch.

Fairy Glen 

Into the bottom of the park along to the Fairy Glen trail up to the loop round Whinny Hill trail, back in to Balloch, up through the Haldane and followed track and trails that pass between the Golf Course and dump to Whinny Hill.

First hill, Mount Mallow from last hill, Whinny Hill

A lot of the paths were as hard as the roads, frozen solid with ruts and lumps, tough on my feet in fell shoes with their thin soles. Covered over 20 miles and nearly 4000 of ascent, walked the steeper up hills and stopped every 1 to 2 hours for some food, flapjacks were good except nearly frozen and brain freeze quickly followed each drink of juice.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last race in this years club championship, three laps round the park, start and finish up at the castle, round the grassy slopes, over muddy paths and a couple of undulations. Good turn out with 7 of us setting off, started out in third, soon up to second then back to third half way round the second lap, stayed there to the end, finishing outside 37 mins, good fun with enough mud to call it a cross country.

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.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Great morning for the first of the Club Cross Country races, pity my effort didn't match the day. Nineteen runners in all, three laps for most, a few two & one lappers as well. The Spaniels providing moving hurdles when you weren't looking. Took the first lap nice n steady then got slower and slower, it was a nice day for a run. Team Millie out in full with cups of tea and coffee to finish, there was soup, a fry up and mulled wine if it took your fancy.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Good turnout for the last race in the Millies 25th Anniversary Championship, 3 laps of Balloch Park, great conditions for the run, cool, no wind and nice and soft underfoot. 25 set off just after 10. Started out in 8th place for the first lap and a half then dropped to 9th and stayed there till the end finishing in 39:49. Millie breakfast of soup and mulled wine after.

Easy weekend

Short runs, two of them, the first Saturday afternoon, a steady jog round Stoneymollan, a nice breeze, clouds scudding around the blue sky, Luss Hills, Ben Lomond and beyond, all crying out for attention in the sun, stick to the plan, recovery from the past few hard weeks. Sunday an evening run through the three parks, Chrsitie, Argyll and Balloch, careful not to stand on sleeping ducks, as dusk falls.