The Cobbler Hill Race

Another go at this short n steep race, in aid of funds for Arrochar Mountain rescue, there was 50 entered but only 32 turned up on the day. Shame as its a good wee race. Steep climb to start on to the An t Sron ridge, once you get there you can run, a bit, to the bottom of the crags up to the summit, they divert you on a loop up a grassy bank to the top then down a rocky track rejoining the outward route about half way down the crags. Once clear of the crags push on down An t Sron on mostly grassy paths, the steep drop at the end of the ridge takes you down a tussocky/grassy trod then mussier through the forest, happy to finish about a minute slower than 2 years ago.

 

Not The Cobbler Hill Race

This years Cobbler Hill Race was cancelled, with a fine forecast decided to run it anyway and add some hills on as it is a bit short. Parked at Honeymoon Bridge Car Park in Glen Croe and took the forestry track to the race start point, an old walkers path about a mile from the car park, beautiful day, clear blue skies and a cold wind. Onto the race route, steep trudge up through the forest to the open hill and a faint path to An t Sron, undulates up from here, more runnable. Reached the top in about the same time as I am up and down in the race. Only one other person on top. A couple of pictures and a re-fuel then ran off the top towards Bealach a'Mhaim for the climb up Ime, a few walkers about now. Brisk walk most of the way up, with a few short jogs on the flatter parts. Great views from the top, mountains for miles, Jura, Ben Nevis easy to see. A quick re-fuel in the bitter wind then back down to the Bealach, numbers of walkers increasing through the morning, straight across the Bealach to the Narnain path, another trudge/jog and up through the boulder field to the summit plateau. A bit warmer now. Back to the Bealach for the third time and the last climb back up to the top of The Cobbler, walkers streaming by as I climbed. Busy top, another re-fuel then off down the race route, thankfully not many go up or down here.

The Brack and Ben Donich from An t Sron

Ime from An t Sron

Narnain from The Cobbler

Lui Munros with views all the way to Ben Nevis and CMD

View from Ime to Ben Lomond over Narnain/A Chrois

Hills of Glen Douglas, Luss, Fruin & Finlas from Narnain

  

The Cobbler Hill Race

Third go at this hill race, turned out to be my slowest. a Championship race this year, about 200 runners, ladies off first , 15 minutes later the men. Dry and calm until about 15 mins before the ladies set off , wind and rain set in, forecast just about spot on. Through a fire break to start, walking up steep muddy ground, exit the trees, walking up steep tussocky hillside to the An t Sron checkpoint, ran and walked form here to the rocks and last steep climb to the top, the strong winds justifying more walking than usual, some hail, weak sunshine and cheery Arrochar MRT Marshals at the top, set off down the rocky trail passed two or three, couldn't see anyone else in front, finally caught a couple nearer the bottom then back into the trees, slid and slipped down the firebreak now a muddy swamp, finish with a short run on the forest road.

Ladies Start

The Cobbler Hill Race

Perfect weather again for the second running of this hill race. 90+ turned up , double last years runners. Set off near the back, not sure how this would go, a couple of minutes running then next 20 minutes are a hands on knees trudge, single file on a muddy then narrow tussocky path, no running just grind your way up. Managed a couple of overtakes as the people in front were slightly slower, onto the ridge and a run, shuffle, walk. Hands on knees again for the last couple of hundred yards to the top. On the descent slowly down a rocky path to start, I've a short cut that gained me a couple of places which I soon lost then stuck in traffic through the rest of the boulders, gathered a bit of pace along the ridge then slower down the steep tussocky, muddy path through the forest to finish a few minutes slower than last year.

 

Cobbler from the trail to the start

Clubmate finishing

The Brack across Glen Croe

The Cobbler Hill Race

First time this race has been run, I had been looking forward for quite some time as the race had been cancelled for the last two years. Registration in the Ardgarten Hotel then a 40 minute stroll to the start. 50 runners today and chip timing, 50 yards of running on forest road then a fast walk up through the trees to the An t Sron ridge, running again along the ridge for about a mile before another hard walk up to the Needle. Slow start to the descent through rocks then brakes off back along the ridge finishing with a steep plunge through the forest, weather perfect today, clear and cool, dry underfoot.

View down Loch Long from the Ardgarten Hotel

Finish Line

Clubmate Stevie finishing