First club hill race of the year, just under 5 miles and 1200' of ascent, 6 of us set off roughly in reverse order, finished a few seconds quicker than last year, ok as it felt pretty heavy going out there tonight, the run up to the trig and down from the fort suffering from bike ruts, the boggy bits boggier than usual made for a good run.
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.
First run in Arrochar for a while, taking the easy route up the walkers paths as they zig zag slowly upwards. Past the Narnain Boulders to decision time at Bealach A'Mhaim. Which way to go, Cobbler, Ime, Narnain or two or all three, I wanted to do all 3. Decided to try Ime on its own as I am not at my fittest and had struggled a bit on the run up. Steady trudge up the path into the clouds, a little snow at first, gradually increasing until about 500' from the top I was in a white bubble, sky merged into ground, I could get my compass out to stay on track or turn back, I was moving a bit slow and getting cold so I turned back, easy run back to the top of the zig zags where I took the path that traverses across the front of Narnain and found an old quad bike track we used to take to avoid the zig zag and block paths, good end to the run with easy running on this grassy track.
Similar route to last week, about 20 minuites longer as I added in a Bromley Muir loop on the way out. Reversed the loop round Killoeter and Ben Bowie for a bit of variety. Wet and windy as I set off , freezing sleety rain over Bromley Muir, happy that I wasn't higher up and thankful for my Sealskinz on the cold and soggy ground. A few glimpses of the snow capped Glen Finlas hills through the clouds. Soon onto the firmer ground of the Three Lochs Way until the path blockage, up and over Killoeters ridge on the way to Ben Bowie, a couple of small detours to avoid the worst of the bogs. Ran down the ridge re-joining the 3LW and Hel n Back routes about half way down, turned off up the walkers path that follows Killoeters ridge. Over Killoeter dropping down to the 3LW and home the short way via Stoneymollan.
Club 5k race, 5 of us set off from Old Luss Road, through Lomond Shores onto the cycle path to St Martins, tried not to start too quick and maintain a steady pace, seemed to work out ok, nearly a minute quicker than last year, finished 4th out of 5.
Lollipop route today, out n back on the Three Lochs Way with a loop round Killoeter and Ben Bowie in between. Stready run to start then a short trudge up the steep slopes onto Killoeters ridge where the 3LW is still blocked with fallen trees. over Killoeter to the Hel n Back route in reverse, half way up cutting off on a walkers path on the ridge to Ben Bowie. Returned over Killoeters ridge avoiding the blocked 3LW. Fine clear day to be out for a run.
New route over familiar hills today, ran up the glen a couple of miles to the end of the road, cutting through fields to avoid the farm at Edentaggart, after the farm continued up the glen for a mile or so on a farm track, found a small bridge to get across Luss Water and followed a quad bike track to the bottom of a nice grassy ridge leading up to Beinn Chaorach. From Chaorach it's an undulating run back to the bottom of the glen over the tops between Glen Luss and Glens Fruin and Finlas. Tharsuin and Balcnoc to start then Creag an Leinibh, turned away from Glen Finlas to drop down Coillie Eughain Hill, you always forget how much slower its peat hags make the run down this ridge, finished with a tussocky run down the paps and back over Luss Water at the Fairy Pools.
Last cross country race for this season, 3 suitably muddy laps round the moorland behind Pappert, managed 3 even paced laps, slightly slower than last year due to a wee route error on lap 2.
Shorter run this week, out and back over Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill, easy running up Beinn Dubh, walked the steeper parts, steady run round to Mid Hill, dropped down a quarter of a mile or so then turned back. Misty morning , not many views, cool breeze on top. Cool down in the Fairy Pools to finish.
Local run today, over the hills round the Vale of Leven, mixture of hill, moorland, trail and roads. Straight up to carman Fort, along Bromley Muir, down Stoneymollan to Balloch, A loop starting through Balloch Park round Whinny Hill, out the back of the Haldane past the local dump and through sodden fields to Pappert Well, legs tired now losing the chance to get round under 4 hours, longest run for a while hopefully spur me on.
Longest run for a couple of months, uncertain forecast, windy with a mix of sun and showers. Plan was to run up to the top of the glen road, run out over Beinns Eich and Lochain to Doune Hill, coming back via Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. 2 miles of tarmac to start, not my favourite surface. Steady plod up Beinn Eich, walking most of the way, the hill keeping much of the cold NW wind away, a small shower blew through clearing just before I reached the top. Set off towards Beinn Lochain into a much stronger wind, ok on the way down, made for hard going back up, walking what is usually a runnable climb to Beinn Lochain. Towards Doune Hill the ridge swings east allowing the wind to help me up the short steep climb to the trig point. Didn't hang about at the top as the sky darkened again, a hail squall blew over me. Soon cleared to leave a pleasant run down into the glen. Another steep climb to Mid Hill, a series of grassy ramps ease the gradient, had to stop a few times to catch my breath and take in the views. Onto the ridge to Mid Hills small cairns. A few hill walkers out now, the first I had passed since the start, a couple of short climbs then a longer gradual descent before a gradual climb back into the wind to Beinn Dubhs cairn. Last couple of miles down to the foot of Glen Luss in pleasantly warm sun, hat and gloves off , jacket and fleece opened.
