Dumyat hill race

Dumyat hill race, one of the most popular hill races in Scotland with entries for the past few years of over 300. Warm evening, dry underfoot, bluebells on show through the woods. Free running tee shirt this year as well but no chip timing. Quick start hoping for a rest queing up at the hole in the wall, not much of a rest this year, easy run along the track before the climb started, took it as easy as possible but not letting too many people past. Turned at the top and picked up the effort and pace for the drop down to the bog, over the fence and eased back mindful of Saturdays Stuc a'Chroin. Back into the bluebell woods and they let us run down the rocks for a change, probably as it was so dry. Bounced off a couple of trees on the steep drop before the road providing a laugh for those watching. Short undulating run back to the finish in about 50 minutes, fastest for a few years.

Dumyat

Usual rush to get there in time for the 7 pm start, big field 340 or so, perfect night, sunny, cool breeze. Chip timing as well. Usual charge up the road and rest at the hole in the wa, undulating track and road before we get off road, through the forest, dry underfoot so no slipping on the steep bank. Try to keep running instead of jog/walk many others are doing. Onto the open hillside and keep it going, the leaders came back a bit sooner than hoped. Round the summit cairn and let go the brakes dodging those still ascending. A couple overtake as the gradient eases, back into the forest and grab the places back plus a couple more, hang on along the undulating track, ease the pace back up on the last down hill to finish in about 54 mins.

Dumyat

Runnable bog n burn race, 7pm start outside the Gannochy sports centre at Striling Uni, calf recovering and tested with a wee run over Stoneymollan last night. Pre-entry this year and a chipped finish, nearly 300 runners, a lot for a short, 5 mile with 1250' of ascent, race. Charge up the road first rest as we funnel through the narrow gap in the wall, doesn't last long enough, running again along the track, a short road climb then into the woods, didn't notice any blue bells this year! Keep running where I can and gradually yoyo past a few run walkers, a final wheeze up round the summit cairn then freewheeling down, gasping for breath, arms windmilling for balance, dodging those still plodding up. Push past others on every steep down, struggling on flats and any short ups. Back in the forest, route change, slightly longer, to avoid the bad step, tree pinball on the mudslide only a couple of minutes left now, relax and run, gradually increase the effort but don't get much faster, finish in 52 1/2 minutes, 166th out of nearly 300, the winner 35 minutes, last 1 hour 51!

Dumyat and a 10k

Another 300 plus runners set out on this nice midweek blast up and down from the grounds of Stirling Uni. The first and last couple of hundred yards on road, in between, a twisty forest path and an undulating hill path, runnable apart from a few rocky parts and the odd bog. Good night for running dry overhead, damp underfoot, Mudclaw's with better grip than my Swoops but a bit harder on my feet. Reached the top just over 32 mins, and ran to finish just under 51 minutes. Thursday night and the next club GP race, our road 10k, 21 runners, ran as a recovery run to stretch the legs after Dumyat, finished in 55 mins.

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.

Midweek Races

Ran the Club 10k race on Tuesday and felt as if I was running on someone else's wibbly wobbly legs, the race started and finished at Balloch Castle and followed the old Polaroid 10k route. Within a couple of hundred yards I new it wasn't going to be fast. I settled into a steady pace and watched the rest of my start group go off into the distance. It was Luss Road before I caught and passed anyone else. Felt good on the short downhill stretch into Lomond Shores then slowed down again on the flat run through the complex. Eased up the hill into the Park to finish just over 54 mins.

Last night was Dumyat hill race, 5 miles and 1200', I wasn't looking forward to it after Tuesday's struggle. Arrived just in time to register for the 7 pm start, big field again, turned out to be about 380 runners. No time or desire to warm up before we were off and running. Road and farm track to start, gently climbing, felt ok, legs much better off than last night, I felt I could run again. The track soon undulates up through the forest with a few bottlenecks where everyone queued and I could gasp a few extra breaths. Onto the open hill and ran where I could, the leaders start to come back down sooner than I hoped. Avoid the worst of the bog then a last push for the top. Start the run down freewheeling until I gain some sort of breathing control pushing hard on the downs but unable to keep it going on the short flats in between. Reach the bottom for the run back along the track to the Uni, slight uphill at first and loose a few places, able to relax for the closing few hundred yards as they are downhill, accelerate through the finish in 53:24.