Dumyat Dash

My first race for a while, the short sharp apt Dumyat Dash. 120 plus runners for the 3 miles and 1300' of climb. Different route again this year with a wee diversion to go through some scree and then Castle Law 's summit before Dumyat. Uphill's mostly walking, running the undulations in between, steady run off the back of Dumyat to finish just inside 58 minutes. Collected my SHR Mug for completing 4 of the 6 selected races, Birnam, Ben Lomond, Slioch and Durisdeer, in this year's championship.

Dumyat Dash

New shorter route for this Autumnal race up and down Dumyat from Menstrie. We set off going back towards Striling, after a few minutes steep single file track we are on to a wider trail traversing along the Southern flank of this popular wee hill losing most of the hard fought height already gained before turning up a deep gulley attacking Dumyat from the South. Steep at first then eases off allowing a steady trudge, pop out the gulley and head for the top joining the usual Dumyat Hill Race route for the last 50 yards. Straight over the top and down the back, a grassy trail takes us to the same narrow wee trod we started on. About 47 minutes for 3 miles with 1500' of up and down. Good day for my first race for a couple of months, sunny with a cool breeze, super views from the top of Dumyat.

Dumyat Dash and Stoneymollan

My third go at this race, from Menstrie, 5 or 6 miles and 1800' of ascent. Starting at 11 along with the rain we set off from the village green along the road for a hundred yards or so to a turn onto a mixture of farm track and trail zig zagging its way up and round the side of Myreton Hill, working too hard to bother about jacket or gloves then the trail levels off and we traverse round into the Glen dipping down and up over the First and Second Inchra Burns, gloves on, the next down is on muddy fern covered ground, somehow manage to keep my feet, at the bottom we cross the Third Inchra Burn then the Menstrie Burn before a run walk up the NE Flank of Dumyat, cold, wet n windy, jacket on, head down and follow the guy in front, grind out the last 300', steep! Round the summit trig and judder down steep tussocky ground, pick up pace as the gradient eases before slowing for the last few muddy feet at the Menstrie burn. Trail turns SE and follows a muddy path alongside the burn. A few slips but no falls and we're back on the outward route for a fast half mile, pleased to finish inside 72 minutes. Sunday and another late start, set off for Stoneymollan, up the trail behind the reservoir through the quarry and along the moor to the top of the Stoneymollan, detour on the way down, turning along a faint trod behind the trees towards the radio mast, the path fades in and out, gradually rougher and I bale out down hill past the Paintball woods and through Overton farm, 8 miles and 1300' in two hours. A few pictures here.

Dumyat Dash

Back for a second go at this short race, 5 or 6  miles and 1800' of ascent. Another good day, clear skies, cool with little or no breeze. As I approached Drymen snow covered Campsies came in to view which reminded me I had left my race shoes at home, oops, a double back from Drymen to collect them took half an hour and now I was pushed for time hopefully I missed the speedtrap on the Stirling Straights. The race starts and nearly 100 of us set off from Menstrie village green, a short section of road then a couple of miles of farm track undulating up as it winds its way into the Ochils behind Dumyat. Off road and a short drop into the Glen and through the Menstrie Burn before a jog walk up the back of Dumyat the leaders come tumbling by as I trudge up the tussocky ascent. 51 Minutes and I'm running round the summit cairn, superb views all round. I take a while to get into a rhythm on the way back down and only manage to catch a couple of runners in front by the bottom of the glen. From here the return route takes a muddy undulating trail beside the Menstrie Burn, a couple of steep inclines keep the pace in check then I get a second wind and ease past three runners in quick succession thankful for the grippy shoes I went back for. Soon we rejoin the farm track for a quick run down into Menstrie, I can't catch the two runners just in front until they bypass one of the steep tricky shortcuts I go for it, stumble down and come out in front. Steady effort for a couple of hundred yards keeps me ahead and I'm back running along the road to finish on the village green in 76 minutes, a minute or so quicker than last year. Tea and biscuits in the village hall, showers too if you want.

Dumyat Dash

Race start and finish, in Menstrie Park, with Dumyat behind.

83 runners set off, misty start but we soon broke into the sun as we climbed about half way up Myreton Hill on the mostly runnable zig zag farm track, I jog walk. The gradient eases as we contour round over the first two Inchna Burns. A sharp left turn and we plunge down steep grassy hillside to cross the 3rd Inchna Burn, slippy bridge or cold stream, I opt for the stream. A few yards further and we cross the Menstrie Burn, this bridge is even worse but I manage to rock hop across using the bridge as a hand rail. A climb up the rear of Dumyat folllows, apart from the first and last parts pretty much runnable, I jog walk, the leaders passing on their way back encourage a bit of effort. Reach the top of Dumyat in 51 minutes, round the cairn and back down to cross over Menstrie and 3rd Inchna burns before running down the glen on a narrow track beside the Menstrie Burn. Re-join the farm track just above the zig zags for a downhill run to the finish in just over 77 minutes. The mist had ceared by the time we finished. The race offers much for a small race, trail, hill and cross country running, very friendly, low key with tea n cakes after £5 entry and you get a £5 Sweatshop voucher.  I'll try this one again, 5 1/2 miles and 1800' of ascent, a bit of an effort should get me closer to 70 minutes as long as I make better use of some of the short cuts on the zig zags.