Ben Venue Hill Race

Small field, 25 today, beautiful Autumn day, stopped on the way to photograph a glass like Loch Achray.

First and last two miles on trails, middle 4 on the hill. Started out 2nd last, gradually worked my way past 8 or 9 by the end of the trail, two passed me on the way to Venue's summit, stayed in the same place to the end. Warm run up through the forest, slight breeze on the hill, the ridge run rocky in places, not too boggy in others. The descent back towards the forest, different as usual, the path to the forest road becoming very overgrown. Two miles of trail went by pretty quick, only the last couple of wee ups causing any stress. Great wee race, finished 18th inside 1:57 to sandwiches, cakes n coffee. More pictures here.

Trossachs run

Chose three separate hills rather than commit to a bigger single run, Ben A'an, Ben Venue and Ben Ledi about 16 miles and 6500' of ascent, meant I could pull out without a long escape. Ben Venue car park to start the alternative Ben A'an as the usual route was closed due to forest ops. 3 miles with 1500' mostly runnable apart from the crowds of walkers. A bit rough with kindly placed ropes to help with the muddy bits.

 Scotlands answer to via ferrata.

Great views for a little hill. Up and down in an hour, change of shoes and shirt for Ben Venue, 8 miles and 2500'. First and last 2 miles on trail, middle bit on the hill. More forest ops made for better views with trees either side of the trail cleared. Onto the hill, avoided the walkers by taking the south west ridge from the edge of the forest. views open up with height.

Loch Achray and Loch Venacher from Ben Venue, Ben Ledi to the left

Short break beside the summit cairn starting back the same way but turning south east, meant a trudge through brashing but cut off some of the trail, up and down in 2 1/2 hours, probably a mile shorter with the direct line taken off the hill. Into the car for Calendar, some fruit and flapjacks from Tesco express then off to Ben Ledi, 5 miles and 2500'. Tracksters and Helly on, a bit cooler here on the east side of Ben Ledi in the shade. Ran the first few hundred yards up the steep trail then settle into a steady walk with more than a few rest stops. Traversing below the crags moving too slow and jacket on to combat the cool breeze. Onto the ridge, into the sun, a last 30 minutes of up. Ledi a cruel hill, up and down two wee steep false summits before a final up, its a double summit, one with a large cross on it the other the trig point and summit cairn.

Sat for a few minutes sheltering behind the cairn taking in the evening views. Arrochar Alps, Ben Lui, the Stuc all beckoning in the hazy sunshine. Gloves on as I was cooling down quickly. Set off for an easy run down, legs complaining at first, gradually loosen off and enjoy the technical trail run, finished in 2 hours 10. All in 5 hours 40 of movement, 15 or 16 miles and 6500' of ascent. More pictures here.

Ben Venue

A relatively new race first run in 2009, short course run due to bad weather, 2010 the original planned course, since then a slightly longer course. About 90 set off today, first faller 20 yards up the road with a chunk out his knee, ouch. The first couple of miles on trails and forest roads, undulating up of course. Steep trudge up Ben Venue's shoulder to the top for a rocky boggy ridge run down past Creag a' Bheallach then back up the ridge on narrow trods, a few route choices especially in the mist. Steep grassy drop to get off the hill, a mixture of run, fall and slide, onto forest roads and tracks for 2 miles of undulating downhill finishing the 8 1/2 miles and 2800' in 1 hour 50. Good running today, cool, sunny, not much wind, a small shower to cool me down at just the right time. Tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes stacked in the race marquee made for a pleasant finish. Sunday 5 mile cool down run over Carman Muir.

Ben Venue

3 Millies took part within the 101 starters, weather couldn't have been better, clear blue skies, almost no wind. Off we went, a longer run up the forest roads this year as the trees are being chopped down. We followed the usual return route on the way out then hung a right behind the remnants of the forest to to pick up the ascent ridge of Ben Venue, Stevie C away ahead and when Bo passed me before BV summit it gave me a wee lift and I upped the effort to regain a few of the places lost on the climb. Took a few pictures on the way up, working too hard to care after that. Picked my way along the rocky run off BV running where possible. After the cairn the track follows a fenceline, undulating upwards, boggy in parts with a couple of deep pools to wade, reached the 2nd summit checkpoint looking for some respite, thankfully its all down hill from here. Picked a good line down to start the descent, a runnable gulley better than the usual slither and slide, only went to ground once. Near the bottom ferns give a bit of grip and I gradually reel in a couple of runners in front. Keep it steady along the narrow undualting track to the forest roads then try to relax into a faster pace, doesn't really work and the runner in front edges ahead without getting away, he's looking back and that usually gives me a boost, nothing extra left, probably used it all up along the ridge between the summits. Passed the old finish line in 2 hours, another 5 minutes to the finish and tea and cakes before a wash in Loch Achray, just managed to resist the urge to dive in.

Ben Venue

Run for a mug, the last race in this years SHR Champs, 7 1/2 miles with 3000 feet of up and down. Lots of runners today, warm and wet, forecast was to clear but didn't happen. Same course as last year with an extra bit, finishing at the end of the track as it enters the BV car park, a steep tricky muddy finish.

Off we went at  1 o'clock, ran most of the forest tracks reaching the bottom of the hill in 29 mins, into walk mode into the  mist up Ben Venue's steep Southish ridge, a series of upward undulations, even managed to pass a few folk. Reached a murky summit in about 55 mins.

Super ridge run follows, rocky at first dropping down to Bealach na h-Imriche, hill runners certainly are. Follow the fenceline, the marshalls suggested, taking a different line from last years off ridge path we gradually worked our way up to the 3rd checkpoint crossing a number of swamps and streams.

Its more or less downhill from here, steep trackless descent towards the forest, a bit of fun falling, bumsliding, cursing, blame the shoes, lose a few places, get running again over ferns, through the deer fence and grab them back before we hit the forest tracks.

Steady running, not too fast as its about three miles to the finish, I let go on the steeper sections, working hard on the last few uphills, all too soon I reach the bridge over the Achray Water river in spate, not quite Musi o Tunya but still impresssive. Reach the end of the short road section in 1:45 and some, within a few seconds of my finish time last year, undulating extra bit to the finish and the guy behind overtakes on the first up and moves ahead, I try to catch him on the downhill stretch to the finish, close to within a couple of feet but the paths too narrow and twisty to get past, can't make the last turn and slide through the finish funnel tape on my back stopping my watch just under 1 hour 50.

Bella Road Runners put on a good show with juice, tea, sandwiches and cake at the finish, Loch Achray washes most of the mud off.