Cort Ma Law

First run in this race since 2019, renowned for its bogs, 70 plus runners set off, warm evening thankfully with a breeze when the sun came out, run and walk up the steep starting slope, into a steady run as the gradient eases, keep running all the way to CML summit, the bogs reasonably dry so far, that didn't last, there's usually a few bogs from CML to The Leckett this year they seemed to have joined together for long stretches of strength sapping tussock hopping , hoping, to avoid the mushy bogs, hard work all the way to The Leckett, short downhill into the gulley then a short climb and trudge towards the final pit of doom bog, managed to cling to the fence at the side and avoid a swim, try to pick up the pace as the route undulates down then a mad dash steeply down to the finish in 51st place.

Club races

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.

Pappert Cross Country

Longest and toughest and best of our cross country races, 3 laps, about 6 miles with over 800' of ascent all in, 5 started, 4 finished, one stopping after taking a tumble in the swamp section on lap 2. Got slower each lap, eventually finished second couple of minutes slower than last year.

 

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.

Polaroid and the Fort

Recce of next weeks club cross country round the Polaroid Industrial Estate, route is fine the landscaping work appears to be finished, couple of laps then home via Carman reservoir and the Fort Fine morning for a run.

  

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last Club race of the year, 4 of us set off from in front of Balloch Castle for a 3 lap 4.7 mile Cross Country, stayed in 2nd place all the way, perfect conditions, drizzly, no wind plenty of mud, finished just outside 40 mins, about 30 seconds quicker than last year, good fun.

10 mile handicap

2nd last Club race of the season, 6 of us set off on a hilly loop round the Horseshoe, run as a virtual handicap as everyone tends to set off when it suits them rather than the usual reverse order, makes working out the handicap results a bit harder and not as much fun chasing those in front down , or being chased down. Wet and windy to start, running into the wind for the first mile or so, the next 2 or 3 miles undulate up, then 3 undulating miles before 3 miles of downish, strangely the down hills were the worst, last mile or so flat with a wee kick up just before the finish, finished 2nd on time, first on handicap a few minutes quicker than last year. 

Duathlon

Club Duathlon, 4 mile run and a 12 mile bike, wet and windy, only two of us today. Had a good run, about a minute quicker than last year then lost a minute in transition, struggling to get my gloves on over wet hands and knocked one lens out of my cycling glasses, didn't waste time refitting and it probably helped as the other one was fairly blurry. Its a hilly route with plenty of corners not much chance to settle in to a steady effort, couple of issues catching my laces in the chain, front cog at first then back cog after I flipped it to the outside of my shoe, tucked it in my shoe and solved the problem, a few seconds quicker than last year.

5 mile handicap

Club race, 5 mile road race, 7 off us set off in "virtual" reverse order, finished  2nd over the line and second on run time beating my handicap by a few seconds.

Ted Baker - Doughnot Hill Race

Club race, the Ted Baker, a new route over Doughnot Hill, starting and finishing at Overton House. Just under 5 miles with about 1000' of ascent. Mostly trail with a short section of open hill up and over Doughnot Hill. Just over 2 miles undulating up to the top of Doughnot Hill, started in 1st place, dropped into 2nd on the short hill section to the top and stayed in 2nd to the end. Over the top and down to the Black Linn reservoir, trail form here to the finish, a couple of short uphills but mostly downhill all the way back to Overton House. Post race club sprint and doughnuts to finish, nice addition to the club race calendar

Whinny Hill Trail Race

Club Trail race, starts/finishes at the castle in Balloch Park, a loop round the grassy slopes in front of the castle followed by a run out to Whinny Hill and back to the Castle, about a 1/4 of a mile shorter than usual as the top of Whinny Hill out of bounds due to forestry work. Ground dry made for fast running, started out in 3rd place, got into 2nd and stayed there to the end, just over a minute behind the winner. 9 of us ran, hopefully get the full route next time.

Club 10k

The latest race in this years club race series, 10k road race, route based on the old Polaroid 10k route that finished in the Christie Park. 6 of us tonight, good conditions, warm and sunny with a breeze, soon fell into 3rd place and stayed there to the finish, pleased to finish a couple of minutes faster than last year.

Fairy Glen Trail Race

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.

Ben Bowie Trail Race

Back to the original route after some kind  lumberjack cleared the trees and remade the path. 6 of us set off, some a bit earlier than others. Tried not to go too hard up the initial climb then pushed on towards the top. Hard work going up through the forest on the remade path and up to the ponds, after that mostly downhill with only the odd short climb. Kept a steady pace on the way back eased back through the woods on the new path and again towards the bottom on the rocky path down Stoney.

Stoneymollan Hill Race

Club Hill Race, just under 5 miles with 1200' of ascent, 9 of us this year, started in reverse order, lack of patience meant the later starters went early and gave the handicapper (me) some maths to work out who won, not me. Pleased to get round a bit quicker this year, about 3 mins off last years time but another couple required to get to pre covid times. Great night, ground reasonable dry with a bit of give.

Riverbank 5k

Club race from behind Cameron House, through Lomond Shores, cycle path to the Vale Academy. Nine of us running this year. Tried to take it easy at the start and not go with the faster runners, happy to finish 4th, with reasonably even mile splits with a slight improvement over the last mile or so.

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.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last race in this tears club series, 3 laps round Balloch Park, 8 of us set off, took the 1st 2 laps steady and if I had maintained the pace would have been under 40 mins, not fast but ok, slowed a bit on the third until the climb back up to to the castle, ran better after the climb but still lost 30 or 40 seconds, finished 3rd.    

Duathlon

Club Duathlon, a 4 mile run round the Vale followed by a 12 mile cycle round the Horseshoe with a loop through Gartocharn. Only 4 of us this year, a bit chilly but a dry road, no ice and not much wind. Last on the run section, managed to pass a couple on the bike, new recycled Carrera Srixus 2 encouraged a more aggressive ride, Good fun!