2 Club trail races this week, Tuesday Fairy Glen, Thursday Ben Bowie. Fairy Glen is short, 3 off 1 mile laps, with a short down and up to keep it interesting. 6 of us set off, a couple of us had started earlier. Ran in second place all the way to the finish. Ben Bowie, an out and back from the end of the tarmac up Stoneymollan to Ben Bowies double top, only two of us made the start, same second place again. Slower than last year in both races but an improvement on Ben Bowie.
7 of us set off for this short 3 lap/almost 3 mile trail race, nice evening, sunny with a breeze to keep the midgies away, ran in second place all the way, finished 30 odd seconds down on the winner, and was a few seconds slower each lap but quicker overall than last year.
Short trail race in the club chamionship, 3 laps, just under a mile per lap with a steep climb at the end of each lap. Midgies in feast mode as 6 of us set off, settled into second place and stayed there without too much trouble, gradually moving ahead of 3rd while slipping behind 1st, too dry underfoot for the downhill at the start of each lap, about a minute quicker than last year.
The latest race in the club grand prix, a short trail race, 3 laps round Fairy Glen at the end of Balloch Park, just under a mile a lap, 8 of us set off in early evening sunshine. Not an evening to push the pace, took it steady, time a bit slow, good fun.
Short Club race in Balloch Park, 3 * 1 mile laps round Fairy Glen, only 5 there tonight, first lap ok, slowed a bit on the 2nd lap and 3rd lap looking for recovery which wasn't there.
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.
Latest Club race in the annual Club GP, 3 laps round the bottom of Fairy Glen and up Heart Attack hill in Balloch Park, just under a mile a lap, only 5 of us tonight, started off in 3rd place, made up one place on the second lap, finished just outside my target of 24 mins about 25 secs behind 1st, good fun on a tough wee race.
Next club race, 3 lap trail race, just under 3 miles packing in over 400' of ascent, 7 of us took part, settled into 2nd place and managed to hold on to finish just over 24 1/2 mins.
