Luss Lollipop

Not too much time today to squeeze in a run, went for the Luss Lollipop race route, plenty of bang for your buck, 7 miles with 3300'+ of ascent. Slow jog up Beinn Dubh, quicker round the corries to Mid Hill and about a third of the way down towards Glen Luss, tuning off the path dropping down steep tussocky slopes to the bottom of Glen Striddle, across the stream for the short sharp climb back up to the top of Beinn Dubh, about 1000' in half a mile, fondly known as the wee beastie. Probably stopped more than I wanted to on this climb, taking in the views was my excuse. From the top its an easy 2 miles down grassy slopes.

Beinn Dubh from Mid Hill

Doune Hills twin tops from Mid Hill

Beinn Eich and Beinn an Lochain from Mid Hill

 

Luss Lollipop

This years race had been cancelled, good enough reason to go out and run round the route. Started up Beinn Dubh into the cloud just after half way, windy and raining, good day for a hill run. Round the two corries to Mid Hill and a short descent then across the glen to start the Wee Beastie climb. Back on top of Beinn Dubh and the cloud starts to clear and some sun appears, good running, maybe the race will be back on next year.

Luss Lollipop

2nd go at this tough medium hill race with over 3000' of ascent in 7 miles. Familiar hills as I run here every few weeks. Lollipop shaped route with 2 climbs up Beinn Dubh, the second one a tough 1000' in less than half a mile. 10am start and cloud cover evaporated as we set off  up Beinn Dubh, run the first half then walk / run the second, running again round to Mid Hill and the steep drop into Glen Striddle, should have sat in the stream here before the climb back to the top of Beinn Dubh, good fun on the descent back to Luss.

  

Luss Lollipop

New race, about 7 miles and 3300' of ascent, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill then Beinn Dubh again, 69 runners set off in low cloud but warm with little wind. Route marked due to the low cloud meant I lost the benefit of my local knowledge although I did make up 20 yards on the guys in front cutting the corner at the peat bog. Lost a bit of ground on the top half of the climb back up Beinn Dubh, good descent to finish in 50th place inside 1 hour 48, a couple of minutes inside my target time.

At the finish