Polaroid Cross Country

Managed to get this race on after last weeks cancellation due to ice, 5 of us made it on a good morning for Cross Country, cool and damp, a few mud and bramble patches on the course, brambles got me on the second lap, set off in third place and stayed there, second lap about 10 seconds slower than the first, made my sub 40 minute target, good to be out.

Pappert Cross Country

5 started this 3 lap cross country course behind the Pappert Housing Estate, 3rd time we've ran this race, an undulating course with plenty of mud and ditches to cross and a couple of fallen trees to negotiate, good Cross Country. First lap went well apart from going the wrong way round one of the fallen trees, slightly quicker in the second lap despite a stop for a lace re-tie, third lap slightly quicker again, finished 2nd and happy to improve on my previous times by about 90 seconds. 

Polaroid Cross Country

First race in this years club championship,  4 1/2 mile , 2 lap Cross Country race round the edge of the Polaroid Industrial Estate. A few detours required because of fallen trees, 6 set off, a slow first lap still feeling the effects of New Year lurgy , did try to up the pace on the flat riverside path on the second lap, didn't work just meant I went slower on the two short uphill sections and ended up with even splits for the 2 laps. Got the race dry, hailstones putting the markers out, sleet taking them in, good start to the clubs race series.

Whinny Hill

Last of the Club Cross Country races, only 5 of us today, gorgeous day for running, blue skies, frosty underfoot dried a lot of the muddy parts making it easier to run through them, Finished a couple of minutes slower than last year but a place better.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last Club race of the 2021 race series, 7 of us set off just after 9am, plenty of muddy patches but in between ground firm dry, good for running. 3 laps, each one slightly slower, came home second, first for the club.

Whinny Hill Cross Country

Second race in this years club championship, good conditions, plenty of mud, a cool breeze and the rain stopped just before we set off. A lap of the grassy area in front of the Castle in Balloch Park to start, running along to the bottom of Fairy Glen, slow plod up beside the stream across Boturich road onto the upper trail, up through the woods on the hardcore trail before the muddier top loop, return route similar except missing out the lap of the park, coming back to the castle from behind, inside 50 minutes for the 4 1/2 to 5 mile route.

Whinny hill Cross Country

Final club cross country, starts in front of Balloch castle, finishes behind it. A lap of the park to start then onto the path to the whinny hill trail. Trail sanitised this year, a new hardcore surface up through the woods, only the top loop section wet n muddy. Return by same route until just before the park and off left through trees n mud popping out behind the car park, short dash to the finish. Started in third, dropped to fourth at the bottom of the park, stayed there to finish, 13 runners this year.

Local runs

First club race of the year, Polaroid Cross Country, 17 starters and 16 finished. 2 Laps, just over 2  miles per lap. Started out in third place, gradually dropped back to fifth and stayed there till the end, slowed in the second lap. Sunday, another lazy late start, a run round Whinney Hill, our next club race in a couple of weeks. Plenty of mud and a few fallen trees look set to make it an interesting run. Low cloud so no views of the Luss Hills from the Seat.

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.

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.

Polaroid Cross Country

A lot of effort had been put in to get the race on, a group were out on Friday, clearing branches and working out ways to get past a few bigger trees and bushes that blocked the paths. Sunday morning at 10am 21 runners set off on a 2 lap mud fest round the Polaroid Industrial Estate. We ran across the tussocky field and through a mud bowl in the forest before I settled into a steady pace in 7th place along the riverbank. The runners in front pulling away, the ones behind stayed there. A short climb before the run along the back of the factory then a twisty run through the trees into another field followed by the slippy track round the pond, a quick up and down then into a swampy muddy trail before popping out to run down a grassy verge to finish lap 1, over the fence and round again for lap 2 about a minute and a half slower finishing just over 40 minutes. Another lap as a cool down while the Millie breakfast bar cooked up a sausage storm. Some photos here.

Weekend races

Saturday, to kick start the season, the Carnethy 5. Arrived at Beeslack school without any detours. Registered, changed and off we went. The guy who thought up the race and has run them all wearing No 41.

Wet underfoot with blue sky overhead and a cool breeze. At 2 pm 500 runners set off across a boggy bog, the field soon spread out on the 1st climb up Scald Law, around 22 minutes of puff pant wheeze for me to reach this first top, brief respite to re-oxygenate on the run along to South Black Hill then two sharp intakes of breath that make up the Kips. Steady descent and run along to the Howe before the struggle that is the gulley on Carnethy's western side, the slope eases for a jog then one last push to the top. Round the trig point and downhill all the way, through heather, scree and don't forget the bog to finished 307th in 82 minutes. Lots of pictures.

Sunday, the clubs rescheduled Cross Country, 2 laps round Polaroid Industrial Estate, cloudy and wet although similar underfoot to yesterday. Good field of 13 runners and a few helpers made the effort on this cold and sodden morning. Jogged to the start to help get everything moving again. Felt my way round the first lap looking for the best way round the puddles, usually straight through. Our small group of five runners broke up, one away in front, one off the back and we were down to three by the end of the lap.

Lap 2, slower run along the side of the Leven then back to a steady pace after climbing the steps. Round the pond, eased up the short climb closing in on the runner in front, tucked in until we turned down the road towards the finish where a few short bursts of pace took me clear over the last couple of hundred yards, 4th in 36:18.

Whinney Hill

Late home on Friday and instead of a rest for Sundays race went for a run round the Stoneymollan, at least it was the short version, took it easy and my headtorch for a dark descent. Sunday, Whinney Hill race, cool and dry made for good running. 16 runners, all doing the full route. Pictures here. Set off in 5th position, Number 4 gradually drifting away ahead, no one else near me so it turned into a bit of a time trial. Plenty of energy for the run back from the seat just nothing to drive me on a bit faster. Finished just under 43 mins. Pennance was found on Monday via 4 Stoneymollans, first two in 14:50, second two in 14:20.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Perfect conditions with the sun filtering through the trees before the off. The first of the clubs own cross countries, three laps round Balloch Park. Good mixture of soft and firm ground with a mandatory muddy chute thrown in for fun. 19 runners and plenty of supporters giving encouragement round the undulating course. Set off keen for a steady start and just about managed it, at the end of the first lap I was lying sixth, a slower second lap and nearly overtaken but with a slight gain on the runner in front. Lost a place on the downhill, tucked in behind and was dragged along to the guy in front passing him just before the muddy chute. Took it steady on the up from the chute holding my place until near the top of the last hill, pushed on near the top then eased back along towards the finish at Balloch Castle, the runner behind nearly caught me and I had to kick a bit early which discouraged him enough to give me a few seconds cushion going into the last hundred yards, relaxed then pushed again over the last 50 yards. Good competition on each lap helped me finish under 36 minutes for the first time in 11 attempts.

Polaroid Cross Country Sat 27th

Last Cross Country race for this year re-scheduled from early Jan saw 10 runners take on the two lap 4 miles + course round the Polaroid Industrial Estate.

A bit of everything, tussocks, forest trail, riverside paths, a cheeky wee Heron, some Ducks, Squirrels, a couple of small undulations but sadly with the low temperatures not a lot of mud.

Took the first lap steady pushing on once the last uphill was out the way, this was fine until half way round the second lap and passing under the bridge to Renton where the wheels fell off a bit.

Dug in again towards the end but still dropped about 40 seconds on the second lap. My 10th effort in a row at this good fun club race, could have done with some more competition to help up the effort.

Whinney Hill Sat 30th

15 runners plus Ollie set off on the Club race starting and finishing beside Balloch Castle. The boys start with a lap of the park the rest go in the opposite direction straight out the back.

Overnight frost foiled the course marker as there wasn't too much mud left.

Started at a steady pace trying not to get dragged along with the faster guys and our group gradually broke up until two of us pulled ahead. Just about hung on to the guy in fronts heels until the steeper downhill sections where I got past. Caught the next guy in front as he struggled to follow the markers into the Castle grounds and beat him in a sprint down to the finish.

Pleased to finish in just over 42 minutes a PB by 7 seconds. Stevie beat the course record by a couple of minutes, Ollie beat Ali and Jim beat Jim.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Annual Balloch Park Cross Country, 3 laps round the central bit of the park, about 4 1/2 or so miles. Stormy forecast but lady luck shone down on what was my 10th go in a row at this race. Dry, little wind and not many swampy bits which was a let off given the recent rain.

14 of us set out just after 10, determined not to go off too fast I soon settled into a steady plod then got slower on each lap to finish in just under 38 mins.

Before the off....

Whinney Hill Sat 31st Jan

15 runners took part in this seasons final Club Cross Country race, conditions near perfect, cool, dry & a freezing swamp underfoot for most of the route.

Starts with a lap of Balloch Park leaving at the top of Heart Attack Hill on the new Whinney Hill trail, mud meant you had to concentrate and pick out the best foot placement, a balance between using energy avoiding the sludge or using it up to plough through the middle.

Set off at a steady pace and found myself in a group of one leaving the park, cruised round keeping a good effort going up the hills, recovered quickly once past the seat and pushed on, still no-one in front or behind apart from the odd runner going the wrong/social way.

Finished just outside 44 mins for the five miles.

Polaroid XC Sat 10th Jan

Perfect conditions for the second of our three Club Cross Country races, this one round the outside of the Polaroid Industrial Estate. Setting out the course disturbed some of the local wildlife, a Heron, Rabbits and a Fox.

For an industrial estate the route is relatively scenic, starts in a field where you pick up a narrow trail through some trees to a path alongside the river Leven, the path follows the Leven round a large curve right round the back of the Polaroid factory and then cuts through an open field in front of the adjacent housing estate followed by a short hill and a run through some rougher ground with a short section of grass verge back to the start.

Race started at 10:00 am, 1 lap for the girls, 2 for the boys, each lap about 2.2 or so miles and a great turnout of 22 runners. Tried for a steady run this year with a 17:11 first lap, nobody pushing from behind and drifted to a slower second lap of 17:33. Lack of mud and sludge underfoot meant my time was close to my PB maybe a wee bit more would have beaten it, pleased with what was a more controlled effort than usual and felt fine after.

With the lack of mud it was only 2 or 3 trees and ditches to jump and the wooden stairs to provide some disruption to your pace.

Tea & biscuits after and then home just before the heavens opened for the rest of the weekend.