Sunshine in Luss

Three of us jogged up the Glen road for Beinn Eich, Doune Hill, Mid Hill, Beinn Dubh, 12 miles, 4900' of ascent. The two others ran past me and up to the top of Beinn Eich, I jog walked, didn't keep them waiting too long. From the top of BE we could see walkers on all the surrounding tops, it was a good day for the hills.

View down the Glen from ascent of Beinn Eich.

Steady run up and over Doune Hill before a nice run down into Sith Mor, good steady plod up Mid Hill, hard work done we ran along the ridge over Beinn Dubh and back to Luss, finished just under 4 hours.

Fairy Glen

4th out of 15 Starters and 13 finishers in this 3 mile, 3 lap race in Balloch Park. Splits, 7:34, 8:05, 7:54, faster than I expected. Each lap follows a grassy downhill path twisting down to a flat trail on the lochside along to the bottom of Fairy Glen where a lumpy wee path runs up beside a stream, turning onto a tarmac path to the top for a brief run across flat grassy parkland, repeat times 2.

The Mamores, an even Hillier Weekend

Traveled up to Fort William on Friday after work and set up in Glen Nevis campsite for the weekend. Having run roon the mamores twice, I was hopeful this would be third time lucky, round the tops instead of the bottom. Parked at Achriabhach, the lower falls car park and just after nine started up Mullach Nan Coirean, the first in a chain of 10 Munro's with a couple of minor tops thrown in. From the Mullach's summit most of the rest are on an undulating ridge which snakes its way high above Kinlochleven to the far end of Loch Eilde Mor before crossing back towards Glen Nevis for the last of the tops, Sgurr Eilde Mor and Binnein Beag. The three out and backs along the ridge are tough, Sgurr a Mhaim, An Gearanach and Binnein Mor. The round is twenty something miles and 12000' of up and down. Low point, traverse from An Garbhanach to Na Gruagaichean, high point, fresh fruit salad on the top of Na Gruagaichean. Took nearly 4 litres of water, sandwiches, flapjacks and sweets, used snow on my head and down my back to cool me down on Binnein Mor and picked up a welcome extra litre of water in the Alt Coire a Bheinnein. Finished in 12 hours 14, it would have been nice to get under 12 but a poor choice off the last hill into Glen Nevis probably made the difference. Weather superb, mixture of sun and shade with a gently cooling breeze most of the way. Not easy ground to run over, lots of rocks, even the grassy bits were rocky. Watched an Eagle dive bomb a herd of deer on a ridge high above as I crossed from Sgurr Eilde Mor to Binnein Beag. Slow drive home today stopping at Glencoe Village for a quick up and down the Pap to stretch my legs, stunning views.

Cort Ma Law

A classic Bog n Burn race tonight, 6 miles with 1700' of ascent, starting across the road from Campsie Glen Car Park, a breezy evening meant no midgies. 65 runners set off up the steep climb to start, managed to run most of it with only a couple of short walks, the trail levels off within the first mile and pain subsides as the trail  undulates a runnable up for the next two miles where the luminous green bogs between Cort Ma Law and Lecket Hill trap the unwary. Fast running into the gulley from Lecket, slow plod back out, gradually start running again along towards the stile, the last bog claims a couple of victims, over the fence across the moor and my legs begin to wobble with the effort, plunge down the last half mile to a happy finish just over 64 mins.

Hilly Weekend

A new race on Saturday, Ben Ledi, 6 miles with 2400' of ascent, organised by Skidaddle incorpoarated a sponsored walk. About 60 runners set off along forest roads to the usual ascent path. Ran most of the way to the ridge, suffered a bit and eased back till the heart rate and breathing calmed down, I was looking forward to the views from the top, last time I was up here it was cloudy, as I approached the top over a few false summits, into the mist, no views again, reached the top in 50 minutes, ran along the ridge and down to the entry into Stanks Glen, managed to pass a few folk here before the trail flattened out, one person passed me then lost their shoe so I got past again. A mixture of forest road and rootsy path to finish in just under 75 mins. Re-fuelled on cakes and tea set off for the Gargunnock Show with its hill cum trial race, about 5 miles and 1000' of ascent. A mixture of road, fields, hill and trails, 24 mins to the top and 20 mins back down, a couple of minutes slower than last time, June 2009, a nice village agricultural show, walked around in the sun looking at the animals and tractors. Pictures from Saturday here. Sunday and found time late afternoon to fit in another run, a circuit of Glen Douglas hills, Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich Hill, 6 miles and 3400' of ascent, nice sunny breezy run, great views to Loch Lomond, Arrochar Alps and beyond, Disturbed a herd of deer grazing near the ridge off Tullich Hill, just over 2 1/2 hours to get back to my bottle of Peroni cooling hidden in the stream. Some photos here.

Kilpatricks

Kilpatrick Hill race tonight, 6 miles with 1400' of ascent, 125 runners, their biggest field yet. Set off up the road trying not to lose too much distance on the rest. Onto the hill and decided to try to run the whole route rather than mix walking and running. Ran nice n easy up the hill, keeping my breathing in check, yo yoing the jog walkers, onto the moor feeling fine for the steady run past loch Humphrey and over moorland to the tricky wee path along Greenside reservoir, eased up the Slacks, steep at first then not so steep, good fun jogging past gasping walkers, passed the Trig point in 51 minutes, brakes off for the run back down the Kilpatrick Braes to finish inside 63 minutes.

Jura

Managed to secure a late entry, the 33rd running, the 40th anniversary of the first race and the 30th anniversary of its resurrection  in 1983, buy the book by Donald Booth, any profits will go to the Jura care home.

Getting there,

home for the weekend,

race sequence,

homeward bound,

More pictures here.

My third attempt at this fascinating race, I finished in 172nd place in 5 hours 52, about 215 started with 205 finishers, the first was 3 hours 19 the last was probably about 7 hours, results will appear here on the race website.

More cakes than you can shake a stick at on a fine weekend with time to relax, run and enjoy island life.

Goat Fell

200 plus runners in the third race in this year's SHR Championship, a medium at 8 miles with 2900' of ascent. Started in Brodick on roads going towards Brodick Castle Estate, turning into the grounds of the Estate, onto the hill path after 1 1/2 miles. The path runnable as it undulates up through forest, a bit too warm with thermal top and vest. Soon enough we pop out the trees onto the rocky mountain path winding its way across towards GF's eastern shoulder, we turn west, walking and scrambling now as the ground gets a bit steeper, more exposed, wind, rain and the runners in front bombing past complicate the climb up the slabby ridge. Round the trig point, no views today, running back down, carefully at first down the steep bouldery ground. Pick up speed as the gradient eases the runner in front holds me up for a few minutes, too risky to pass as we negotiate the rough boulders, ease past down a wider slab then I can relax and pick up the pace again, its a fun full concentration descent as you cross back towards the forest track, eyes constantly scanning the boulders ahead for your next foot placement, only glancing up to pick a line past a runner or hillwalker. Good fast running through the forest then its 1 1/2 miles on the road back to Brodick finishing in 129th place in 1 hour 58 to tea, sandwiches and cakes before the Calmac ferry back to Ardrossan. Loads of pictures, here, here, here & here.

Luss

Heart is willing but the legs are week. Thought about a few hills in Arrochar this morning, thankfully I changed my mind and went to Luss instead. Plan was for a run up Beinn Dubh along to Mid Hill across Glen Luss up Coille-eughain hill returning to the foot of the glen down the Paps. It took longer to reach Beinn Dubh's summit today than to get up and down in last weeks race. Skylarks on the way up, cold and wet on top, good run along the ridge and over Mid Hill, on the way down I left the wind and rain behind and it didin't take too much thought to give CE Hill a miss, easy jog down the road to finish 7 or 8 miles with 2400' of ascent in just under 2 hours.

Ben Lomond

New start and finish this year, apparently Stirling Council no longer allow us to run along the road, health and safety? Short run along the track then straight up the tourist path, tried to keep a nice steady tempo jogging up the track walking some of the steeper and rocky parts. Kept this going until we are directed off path after the 2nd gate, quick walk mode and not losing any places which is good, even passed a couple on the upper part before rejoining the path and back into jog mode. Jacket on as we plod up in damp and windy conditions. Walk the climb up to the summit ridge then jog the ridge and up the last wee steep turning round the trig in just under 70 mins. Run back along the ridge to the drop off avoiding the tourist path down a steep grassy bank, slows me down a bit and I'm overtaken at the bottom, onto the path easy running, round the first corner another guy comes past, tuck in and follow him down to the next grassy sections where he pulls away a couple of hundred yards, off the grass and back on to the path and my legs feel done. Run down towards the bad step and I start to pick up speed again, tiptoe through then run hard reeling in the two in front down the rocky helter skelter towards the finish. Cross the line inside 1:44.

Dumyat and a 10k, Midweek racing

After last weeks stormy Stuc a calm Wednesday evening race up an down Dumyat, it was the 40th aniversary of the race, 250 plus set off, over 100 less than last year. My target was to finish inside 50 minutes. No queues at the hole in the wa' this year and no Bluebells in the woods either. Kept to a steady slow jog on the way up including where I usually walk, only walking up two rocky bits, wheeled round the trig in 32 minutes something, concentration required on the way down to avoid runners coming up and in trying to keep the intensity high, its too easy to relax and cruise down thinking this is as fast as I can go. Soon I'm crossing the style onto the muddy path twisting and sliding through the woods, feet slapping down the tarmac hill before the short wee stress inducing uphill track towards the back of the uni grounds before a welcome gradual descent to finish in 50:22. Thursday night was the Club 10k, following the old Vale 10k route except starting and finishing at the LC. Numbers slightly down this year, 14 against 18 probably due to the proximity of the Kintyre Way race on Satrurday. Three groups set off, 60 mins+, 45-60mins, sub 45 mins, I chose the last one, not that I would break 45 mins tonight, my target was to beat last nights time. The rest of my group drifted away off in front and I tried to keep a steady pace, quads a bit tender. Round Lomond Shores and into Balloch Park my group disappeared off ahead but I started to catch the earlier group giving me something to chase. Picked off a few on the way through Jamestown to the Bonhill bridge. Finished just over 49 mins in 6th place.

Stuc A'Chroin 5000

2nd race in this years SHR championship and the SAL Championship Hill Race as well. The Stuc 14 miles and 5000' of ascent over rough mountain tracks. 206 set off from Strathyre only 193 finished today. The rain started as we were on the two mile run up the forest track towards the hill and stayed for most of the race reinforced by the wind as we climbed each of the ups that help make this race a tough classic. The marshals were stars assisting troubled runners and handing out water, jelly baby's and encouragement in testing conditions. The warm up continues through the forest onto the hill and the traverse towards Glen Ample, a boggy delight. A couple of hundred yards behind a running friend, just up for a run, not the race, fell and broke his wrist as he jogged along, a trip to the Vale Fracture Unit for us after the race. The drop into GA reverts to its usual straight down one this year, across the marshy valley to Beinn Each's climb, starts with a series of steep ups with a few 10 yard flattish sections to break it up. Up we go on a narrow overgrown trod beside an old fence,  Heather and fence posts are all used to help pull me up. We pass a few marshals before and after a short traverse across some cliffs then its onto the upper part, more exposed to the wind, jacket and gloves on to keep me safe and comfortable. Really wet and windy at the top, more marshals with water and sweets. Hesitant on the run down onto the ridge to the Stuc, unfamiliar and slippy in the mist. The ridge is two miles of rock hopping, the first mile undulating, the second undulates a bit more, up a thousand feet. The front runners pass on their way back down.Its survival stuff now, freezing, gale force winds, a mixture of driving rain and sleet, must buy a decent pair of gloves. A hypothermic runner passes me being helped off by two others, a bit more focus on taking care today means I don't notice the uphills so much, through a series of climbs and I'm soon at the last steep rocky section, someone takes a tumble coming back down, thankfully only superficial damage and they get up able to continue. Round the cairn and turn for the relative calm of Bealach nan Cabar, can't seem to push as hard as I would like and tiptoe down the muddy, rocky and snow covered ridge. A slight slip and the resultant blow of rock on shin slows me down for a while, happily the Bealach soon comes in to view and with it the drop back down Glen Ample's grassy slopes. Good fun along the narrow muddy track in the rain with only the short slippy drop to the valley floor to hold back on. Steady walk out Glen Ample's steep slope then running again across the boggy moor. Drop down in to the forest and a poor route choice, the wrong side of a tree, puts me in a deep bog, pull myself out, shoes still on and run through the forest to the track for the last two miles back down to finish in 3 hours 48. A big thanks goes to the 40 or 50 marshals who looked after us runners for hours in the freezing rain, all of them cheery and supportive. This was the 25th anniversary of the Stuc, my 10th, here's hoping for a few more.

Glen Douglas

Set out for Glen Douglas this morning and a run over the three 2000' hills to the North of the Glen road. Stiff climb up from Invergroin to Beinn Bhreac, muddy path to start then dries out above the forest. A number of blind summits try my enthusiasm, rather windy at the top, I drop a few feet down on the Loch Lomond side to shelter. The next couple of miles take me along to Ben Reoch into the teeth of a gale with some rain and hail thrown in to cool me down. Seriously windy again so another shelter on the LL side. Back over the top and I drop down towards Tulloch Hill, the wind funnels through Ant-Sreang and I'm getting cold. Find shelter and get my extra thermal and thicker gloves on, that and a couple of sweets makes all the difference, happy again and  I trot off down the hill before the last climb up Tullich Hill. On the way up the Sun starts to break through and I climb up on to the ridge earlier than planned. Tullich has three summits and I visit the highest two. I can see the next wintery squall is on its way and run back down to Invergroin before it hits. Just under two hours 50 for the 6 or so miles with 3400' of ascent. A few pictures here.

Arrochar

First run over the Arrochar tops for some time, Glen Loin, Ben Vane, Ben Ime returning via the path between Narnain and the Cobbler, 14 miles and 5700' of ascent.

Easy run up Glen Loin then a steady plod up Vane, jackets and wooly hats on for the cold wind and snow at the top, cloud above the tops meant views to savour all round. Careful run off Vane, picking a good line past the crags down into Lag Uaine. The climb up Ime too snowy to take direct so we traversed across above Glas Bhealach to avoid the worst of it.

Super steady snowy walk up, views to Jura, Arran and Ailsa Craig from the top. Run off easy at first over snow then we found a nice dry trod to left of the main path. Finished off with a helter skelter run down the  man made path between Narnain and the Cobbler. Out for just over 4 1/2 hours.

A few more pictures here.

Beinn Dubh

A new race in place of the Whangie, 4 miles and 2000' of ascent. I have run up here often, times ranging from 46 minutes to over an hour to get to the top. My pre-race target was up in 40, down in 20 and finish under the hour. The race starts in a field just across the A82 from Luss. 91 of us set off, I start at the back and jogged up, losing ground through the first field then gradually picking people off as the hill bit into their enthusiasm. Kept the jog going past half way, walked some boggy parts and again as it gets steeper towards the top before managing to run the last few hundred yards reaching the top in just over 38 minutes, round the cairn and freewheeling back down, I pass a couple then two others pass me on the steep drop towards half way down, I work hard along the flat closing the gap ahead and overtake a few as the path drops down again, can't catch the guy who passed me near the top, I clatter down the rocky path and into the slippy field at the bottom to finish 64th just inside 53 minutes.

Dumgoyne

Had to go to Glasgow this morning, came back via Strathblane and took in a wee recovery run over Dumgoyne to the Earl's Seat. There's three parts to this run, how far you can run up Dumgoyne before walking, time to the top, run all the way from the top to the Earl's Seat. Managed to run a good way up to two large boulders one either side of the path, then 27 mins to the top on tired legs was ok but a bit stiff legged coming down the other side.

Ground out the initial run up Garloch Hill into the cloud then along the not as bad as they look undulations to the Earl's Seat,  managed to run all the way. By the time I got there the cloud had lifted giving a good view of the way back.

Cool breeze on the top at the Earl's Seat Trig Point, didn't wait long. Trotted along avoiding the bogs as best I could but still ended up with freezing toes. By the time I got back to Garloch Hill.the cloud was lifting revealing the Loch Lomond Hills in the distance.

Toyed with the idea of running back over Dumgoyne but my quads didn't fancy the extra few hundred feet of steep downhill. Finished in 1 hour 50, about 7 miles with 2400' of ascent.

Ben More Hill Race

I ran this in 2010 when it was the Mull Monsterette, this years version was shorter a straight up an down Ben More. A mile shorter than Ben Lomond but the same amount of ascent and generally up all the way, no wee flat bits to have a rest. I set off at the back of the small field of 36 runners, double the number of three years ago, and slowly ground my way past a few on the short track section before the hill. Kept the same run where I could approach which kept me in sight of the runners in front. About half way up it gets a bit steeper and I have to walk. A strong wind pushes us around as we zig zag up Ben More's North Western shoulder. We go through some scree then running again as the gradient eases towards the top. Two of us turn at the summit cairn in 64 minutes just as the winner finishes. The run down is a constant downhill only the terrain changing from scree to tussocks to stoney path and stream. We change places all the way down passing five other runners on the way, eventually I lose out by three seconds, its the same runner who beat me by a second at Screel. Finished in 1:32 the same time as my number 132! A few pictures from the race area, Loch Na Keal and Ben More here. Race pictures here.

Roots, Rock, Running

Screel Hill Race, I ran this in 2004, slight route change due to forestry ops with a few feet less down and up. Just over 60 runners set off, sunny but not too hot. The first half mile winds up on a forest road before heading onto a rocky root covered walkers path twisting and turning up through the forest, we cross another forest road then more rocks and roots, not too steep and I managed to keep running most of the way with only the odd rocky outcrop to scramble over. The path steepens up as we leave the forest, sweating a bit now and more walk than jog. We're soon up on the ridge and running again along a boggy path, a couple get past me on the way down and up to the second top. We drop off the back and traverse back along a heathery path below the summit ridge, I've let a 50 yard gap develop and try to work to get it back. The path kicks back up to the ridge before plunging down a rocky path and back into the forest for a helter skelter run on the same rocky root strewn paths we ran on the way up, I catch only occasional glimpses of those in front, I pick off a couple but can't quite close on the guy who passed me at the top finishing about a second behind in 41 1/2 minutes. Some pictures here, thankfully I managed to beat the guy in full army kit and rucksack.

Stoneymollan

21 of us set off from the bottom of Lower Stoneymollan Road for the 5 mile/1000' annual club Hill Race, the fourth in this years Club GP. There's a nice trophy in memory of Alex Robertson for the winner, and the race is run as a handicap to give everyone a chance. On a run up the last hill the day before to do the obligatory gorse bush trimming the ground was very dry after the snow and ice. Luckily there was some rain on the day to soften it  up a bit. Good fun chasing down those in front, that and the fear of being passed by those behind keeps you on your toes the whole way round. A good run tonight finishing just over 43 1/2 minutes, about 3 minutes quicker than last year, 4th over the line and 3rd on time. A few pictures here.

Luss Lomond

Double run today, Luss this morning and Ben Lomond this afternoon, about 16 miles and 7000' overall. Luss run was Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Coille-eughain Hill finishing down the paps. Set off in bright sunshine, little wind until near the top of Beinn Dubh. A glass like Loch Lomond shimmered below. Passed a few walkers on the way up, made the mistake of running past them which meant we had to keep running. Wheezed our way to the top in 52 minutes, easy running along the ridge and down mid hill before the stiff 1000' in just under a mile of Coille-eughain Hill. Good running down the Paps, a lot easier than their Jura equivalents. Home for some food, then itchy feet, such a nice day I set off for Rowardennan for an easy run up Ben Lomond, maybe even get to use my micro spikes. Lots of walkers out so had to keep running again. Managed to run most of the way to the last steep bit before the plateau where I had a wee recovery walk before a steady jog up the plateau, towards the end the track was pretty snowy so on with the micro spikes for the run up to the summit ridge.

The spikes are easy to put on and worked well, confident on snow and mud up and down hill. It was a bit breezy at the top with cornices to the glens at the back, didn't stay long just stopping a few minutes for some photos, views to Arran and Jura.