Water weekend of running

New ground today, started at the back of Duntocher and ran a lollipop route up to Jaw reservoir, along past Cochno loch to Cochno Hill, past Greenside reservoir to the Slacks, past loch Humphrey to Duncolm,

From Duncolm we ran along towards then round Kilmannan reservoir, a wander through forestry eventually popping out behind Black Loch, round Black Loch and Jaw reservoir for the run back down to Duntocher. About 12 miles and 2000' of undulations, a mixture of nice grassy paths, forest roads and some boggy stuff. All runnable apart from some forestry bits where we had to clamber through fallen trees, newly cut stumps and ditches. Low cloud most of the way so only hints that the views are worth catching. Finished in just over three hours including a detour to the Three Graves. Some pictures here. Easy Sunday run, took the trail behind Carman reservoir and up through the Quarry to the Fort, race route back to the house, 5 miles and 1000'.

Luss and a double Dumgoyne

Set off on Saturday for a run round and over Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille Eughain Hill, 9 miles and 3700' of ascent. Didn't quite turn out that way. Beinn Dubh first, climbing up, jog walk for the first half, then mainly walk, into the clouds and then snow with a cold wind whistling around. Stopped in a wee sheltered spot just short of the summit to put on a second jacket, head scarf and fleecy gloves.

On past the summit cairn snow a bit deeper now, not easy to run in places, slow plod round towards Mid Hill, dropping below cloud base level then back up through drifting snow a couple of feet deep in places. The wind whipping snow off the ground, good for the complexion.

Reached the cairn at the top of Mid Hill and turned back retracing my tracks, by the time I started up Beinn Dubh wind blown snow had covered them up.

As I ran down towards Luss all change within a couple of hundred yards, I dropped out the clouds with patches of sunshine around. Finished just over two hours, 8 miles and 2500' of ascent. Pictures here.

Sunday, sunny but cold and a run over Dumgoyne to the Earls seat and back was planned. A bit sluggish on the initial climb but it was a good day to be out.

From the top of Dumgoyne views to Loch Lomond and snow capped mountains all around. A lot of the boggy ground was frozen, combined with Sealskinz meant reasonably warm  (not frozen) feet. Slow jog walk up Garloch Hill before a breezy run to the Earls Seat. Although only a couple of hundred feet lower than Luss there was no snow only a freezing wind so didn't stop long at the trig. Managed to run all the way back until the last steep wee climb.

Over Dumgoyne again, an easy walk on the short steep climb up the back and a run down the front for the first time, usually take the easy way round instead of over. Loads of walkers out now. Finished in about 2 hours 20, 7 miles and 2700' of ascent. Pictures here.

Hats off to Doune Hill

First Luss hill run for weeks. Low cloud and drizzle greeted us as we started at the top of the Glen. Slow jog and walk up Beinn Eich, into the mist about half way up, patches of snow still around. The wind kicked in as we crested the summit, no longer sheltered from the strong Westerly. Ok at first as we dropped down the back. It was a struggle to jog up Beinn Lochain more sideways than forwards, not far to Doune Hill from there so on we went turning North to get to the areas highest top. A brief stop on the small summit plateau saw my hat fly off in the direction of Glen Mollochan. We turned for home concentrating on keeping the paths in sight in the mist, the wind helping now blowing us about as we ran down and up over Beinn Lochain. A slow trudge back up Beinn Eich. Wind blew us down towards Edentaggart farm, only sheep for company today, good run once it was over, about 8 miles, 3200' in 2 hours 30. Sunday and another late start, short recovery run through fields, across the Carman and up the path behind the reservoir and the short run up to the Fort through the quarry, down past the radio mast and home, about 1000', 5 miles, just under the hour.

Carnethy 5 and Stoneymollan

3 of us set off to join 500 other runners for the season starting C5 Hill Race. Five Hills, 2500' of ascent, this years flavour, mud n snow. A cool half hours contemplation once we were bussed to the start. Finally the junior race set off and then us. Run, boghop, run, boghop and onto the first climb up Scald Law, the odd elbow to contend with towards the back of the pack as we slipped and slithered our way up.

Scald Law back right, South Black Hill, back left, from the bus queue.

Undulating mud and snow trail across South Black Hill, East and West Kip, running down to the Howe, tip toe, slip slide, run past the snowman. Took the middle route along the muddy trail to the Howe, one fall as I tried to steal a few yards and overtake by running along a ditch. I think we all sat down and slid the last 50 feet or so to the bottom. Faffed about with my bag to dig out some Jelly Babies on the way up towards Carnethy's gully hoping they would somehow make it easier, not as fearsome as it used to be and I'm soon running again towards the last climb to Carnethy's summit, round the cairn and push for the finish, we hit the scree early, no marshalls about to chase us off, it's easier to run down than the gritty heathery trail. One last effort as we boghop, run, boghop, run to the finish in just over 85 minutes.

Carnethy

Links to results and pictures here.

Short run on Sunday, up behind the reservoir and along the trails up past the quarry and along to the trig point, a couple of pictures then about turn and back via the club Stoneymollan race route, 7 miles and 1300' in 80 minutes.

Sunday afternoon and an easy cycle along the cycle path to Balloch and on to Duck Bay. Stop for a few pictures. 

The Ben with its head in the clouds.

About turn and ride through Cameron House grounds, Lomond Shores and back along the cycle path to the Vale.

Arrochar Trails, Killoeter and Ben Bowie

Hoped to get a hill run in this morning, weather outside didn't match the one on the telly and we drove past Luss for Succoth, ran along the lower track to Ardgarten and up to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful.

Just about the only view today, The Cobbler disappearing into the clouds from across Glen Croe.

Pouring all the way apart from a 5 minute respite. OK on the way up, sheltered by the trees, more exposed on the run down the newly tarred old road, got off the road and back on to the trail towards Succoth at the bridge, good short climb past Ardgarten. A bit quicker this week, 14 miles, 2800' in 2 1/2 hours. Local run Sunday, along the bypass and up Stoneymollan, ran across the top past Black Third Farm and down towards Cardross. Trudge up onto Killoeter via a break in the trees close to where Darleith road meets the Red road. Ran up the ridge, easier than it used to be as there's a good quad bike track alongside the newly planted conifers, ran off Killoeter across the 3LW and up Ben Bowie. Cold on top.

Ran back to the Vale via the 3LW, some work needed through the forest, muddy, slippy and poorly marked, 11 miles, 2000', 2 hours 45.

Whinney Hill and Glen Loin

Club Cross Country, round and out the back of Balloch Park. Woke up to a cool calm morning, perfect for running, pity the wind and rain blew in by the time 14 of us set off round a muddy park and onto the Whinney Hill trail. We marked the top part of the course Fri PM and had an idea it was muddy, marked the park on Sat before the race, it was worse not a lot of traction for my trainers with an inch or two of slipperiness on top. Its about a mile round the park before you get onto the WH trail which undulates up through a couple of muddy forests. The run back, mostly downhill, brought three of us together by the time we reached Balloch Park, good fun as we finished within a couple of seconds of each other. Post race tea, coffee and sugar sheltering from the elements in the castle rest rooms. Sunday's forecast poor, managed to get up reasonably early, went to Arrochar for a run round Glen Loin, anticlockwise then the out and back to Ardgarten, similar to last week but too wintery to chance a detour over the Beallach. Thought about sitting in the car until the monsoon eased, just got on with it and no respite for the first half hour. Cleared up for 20 minutes or so until I was lured into the upper reaches of the glen where it was not so pleasant for a mile or so each side of the ford, slushy snow underfoot with howling sleety rain.

Good test for my gear, and with a change of gloves the only problem was cold toes. Met a few mountain bikers sliding uphill as I ran back towards Succoth and slush free trails. Toes gradually warming up as I ran the out and back to Ardgarten, out on the lower trial, back on the upper trail from Honeymoon Bridge, about 17 miles, 3000' in 3 hours 10. No camera today, only a few phone pictures here.

Trailing undulations

Arrochar trails beckoned in the low cloud and rain. Plan was to stat at Succoth up onto the trail to Ardgarten and back followed by a loop round Glen Loin, if the weather cleared on the way back to Glen Loin go up the Cobbler trail to Bealach a'Mhaim and come back through Glen Loin. Drizzly to start then lashing as I ran along the high trail to Honeymoon Car Park just past Ardgarten.

Looked like today's pictures would be the waterfalls along the way, did manage to snap a couple of hazy pictures of The Brack and Ben Donich through the gloom.

Started back up the lower trail keen to get back into the shelter of the trees, looking back the Cobbler's SW top above Glen Croe was clear.

The rain and wind eased so I went up the Cobbler trail, its a good climb reaching 2000' in 3 or 4 miles. Past the Narnain Boulders any sheltered spot was covered in snow. The weather closed in again on the approach to the Bealach, hail instead of rain.

The run across to the Bealach fun as I found a few ditches and streams hidden under a smooth layer of snow. Big detour to avoid the swamp at the exit from the Bealach, happy to drop down into the shelter of the Glen, nice new fence to hold onto down the steep slippy ground.

Took the rougher path to the right of Alt Coiregrogain to avoid crossing the swollen river further down. Hail had turned to rain for a soaking steady run down the Glen back to Succoth, 16 miles, 3500', 3 1/2 hours.A few more pictures here. Sunday we had a recce round next weeks Whinney Hill race route from the Moss O'Balloch, rain pouring down as we started, gradually cleared and dried up with some blue skies as we finished, underfoot went from wet to muddy to wet to muddy.

Good fun despite the weather. A squidgy 6 miles in 1 1/2 hours.

Local runs

First club race of the year, Polaroid Cross Country, 17 starters and 16 finished. 2 Laps, just over 2  miles per lap. Started out in third place, gradually dropped back to fifth and stayed there till the end, slowed in the second lap. Sunday, another lazy late start, a run round Whinney Hill, our next club race in a couple of weeks. Plenty of mud and a few fallen trees look set to make it an interesting run. Low cloud so no views of the Luss Hills from the Seat.

Cold Toes

Woke up late today hoping for bad weather but it was to clear skies. Got my gear together and set off for Luss. Arrived at the bottom of the glen under a dark cloud emptying out sleety rain. Sat for a few minutes, didn't fancy being up on the ridges in this and set off for Arrochar for a trail run instead. The skies cleared within a mile or so and I returned to Glen Luss for the planned run over 4 hills, about 13 miles and 5000'.

Today's route, left to right, Beinn Eich, Doune Hill, Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh,

Ran up the glen to start, snow dusted hills all round. Ran and walked up Beinn Eich, into the snow about half way up. Reached the top, great views, ran along to Doune Hill into the teeth of a freezing cold wind over the minor top of Beinn Lochain. Stopped for a few pics on top of Doune Hill, a trifle cold to hang about. Pleasant run into Sith Mor, in the sun most of the way down and sheltered from the wind.

On the slow trudge up Mid Hill my feet start to freeze, worse a squall approached as I arrived at the top luckily it passed by, the wind helping send it off down Glen Douglas.

Ran along to Beinn Dubh, legs tiring and happy to reach the cairn for the 2 mile run down to the foot of the glen, finishing in about 3 hours 50. Some more pictures here.

Sunday and we met for a run round next weeks Cross Country route, luckily the flooding from the Leven is starting to subside and we could get all the way round with dry feet. Disturbed a Heron on the small pool, it hung around long enough to watch our vain attempts to photograph it. Followed the trail back round to the bridge and from there we decided to go for a run over Stoneymollan including a new trail through the quarry up to the fort. Good run along Overton and Bromley Muir's except for my icy feet, no Sealskinz today. 10 miles, 1200' in just over two hours.

Arrochar Trails and Ben Lomond

Set off for Arrochar for a run round some undulating trails, starting in Succoth, along to Ardgarten, a nice run on the trail to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful, back down towards Ardgarten on the new tarmac surface on the old road before taking the upper trail back to Succoth. About 14 miles and 2800' in just over three hours.

Clouds just above the tops, most of the them snow covered, we were lucky and got it dry. Some more pictures here.

Sunday's run, Ben Lomond, we set out early to beat the forecast wind and rain. Pleasant running up the lower slopes, dry and not too windy. On the climb up to the plateau the wind picked up, time for wooly hats, into the cloud with the first snow on the ground. The snow got deeper as we went along the plateau, but the wind dropped so not too cold. Had a go at climbing up to the summit ridge, ok but didn't fancy coming back down so I waited at the end of the plateau while my companion went on up to the summit ridge, not quite topping out, too icy. Waiting for him to come back I put on my spare fleece, jacket and overtrousers, only my feet suffering from the cold, even with Sealskinz.

Easy run back down, snow and ice along the plateau, nice slippy rocks for the rest of the way. Came back out of the clouds as we left the plateau, wind reduced to a gentle breeze, jacket, overtrousers, hat and gloves all had to come off, it was too warm, some contrast to the arctic world a 1000' feet above.

We ran about 7 miles with 2800' of ascent in 2 1/2 hours including my 15 minute wait.

Back to Back to Back

This year I've had a few back to back weekends, running both Saturday and Sunday, two not so long long runs, it seems to have worked ok, improving endurance and I'm not as tired. This weekend I added the Monday in as well.

Saturday, we ran up Doughnot Hilll from Milton. I've been up the Crags before but never made it to Doughnot Hill.

A bit of road to start and finish, in between a mixture of grassy single track, muddy paths and forest road, 7 miles and 1300' in 90 minutes.

Sunday, Luss, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and back down the glen, another 7 miles and 1400' in just under 2 hours.

A lot of snow and slush on the climb and along the top made for frozen feet. The Sealskinz socks helped, although it still took a couple of hours for my toes to thaw.

Monday, trail run with a couple of miles on the road. Starting from Succoth, up to the lower trail to Ardgarten, round the Cat Craig Loop back to Ardgarten.

Ran back to Succouth via the higher trail, 13 miles, 2500' in 2 hours 20. A few more pictures here.

Windy Luss

9 miles and 3700 feet of up and down, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille Eughain Hlill, windy today, ok for the first half hour then a struggle to keep upright as the wind bit, Run along the ridge ok,slippy on the drop back down to the glen, sheltered on the climb up CE Hill, run off the top worse than Beinn Dubh, stinging rain peppered my face. Nice view, sunrise over Loch Lomond, on the first climb :), 2 hours 50.

Beinn Dubh, a burst bladder, GU5MRR, a Cobbler and his wife

Forecast was ok for today, cold but not too windy, I set off for a circuit of Glen Luss just as the sun rose.

My backpack was a bit damp at the bottom and I stopped to fix it and empty some water out, maybe too full, leaving about a pint in, somehow it managed to drip itself empty by the top.

Over and under trousers soaked, a biting wind at the top and I gave up on the days run and ran back down, 4 miles, 2000' inside 90 mins. Dried my gear out, re-fuelled and set off for the Glasgow Uni 5 mile road race in the afternoon, good for a road race, a few undulations, I last ran it in 2008. Not as many runners as there used to be, about 160 start, I finish 99th in 36:37.

Sunday and we set off for Arrochar, not quite sure where to go, we decide on the Cobbler and Narnain. Perfect day, cool, sunny with a few clouds about to spice up the views. We zig zag slowly up the tourist path, a bit warm at first then a nice gentle breeze as we clear the treeline on the way towards the Narnain boulders. Thankfully the gradient eases a bit and its a nice run past the Cobbler, we turn up the steppy path at the back, soon slow to a jog walk up the steep steps, its only a few minutes and I'm running again to the beallach between the first two tops. We plod over greasy rocks to the middle top through a flickering mist revealing a faint Brocken Spectre below.

We spend a few minutes taking in the views in the warm sun before running back down and up the airy first top, I stay in the middle away from the precipitous drops, a fogbow sits between us and Narnain.

A few minutes here then we plunge back down beside the steps and up a muddy path to Narnain. Again we come out the clouds near the top, great views all around, mountains popping in and out as the clouds shift around while we take a short rest and photo stop.

Back down Narnain we go towards Beallach A' Mhaim, turning left to pick up the track beside the Allt a' Bhalachain, we take it easy down the twisty trail on tired legs. Super run today, 12 miles, about 5300' in just under 3 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Sealskinz, Microspikes and Stoneymollan

Saturday morning run over Ben Vane and Ime, started up Glen Loin to Coirgrogain, great morning for a run, cool, with no wind and blues skies above.

Onto the the Ben Vane path ground frozen lower down instead of the usual bog didn't test my new Sealskinz socks out, feet dry and not frozen. Into the snow about 2500' a few icy patches which my microspikes coped with ok. The snow was deeper and mixed with icy rocks over the last few lumps and needed careful route choice. Met one other walker out in full winter gear, crampons and ice axe, showed him an easier route down. Took about 20 minutes longer than usual to get to the top, well worth the effort for the views.

Ran further than usual along the ridge on gentle slopes before dropping in to a cloud filled Lag Uaine. Usual ridge up towards Glas Bhealach then the snowy north facing ridge up Ime.

Patchy snow at first then smooth compacted and frozen hard when exposed to the wind. No chance my microspikes were good enough.

What I learnt, Sealskinz are good and worth the money. Microspikes only good for low level snowy and icy trails. To continue on the Scottish mountains through winter would need an upgrade to proper crampons, ice axe and learn how to use the axe.

Sunday's run over Stoneymollan rewarded with a variety of cloud inversions in the valleys. Frozen underfoot helped keep the feet reasonably dry. Stopped for a few photos.

More pictures, from Saturday here, Sunday here.

Tinto and Ben Narnain

White topped hills greeted us to the borders for Tinto hill race, 200 plus runners set off up the trail, 2 miles up and 2 miles down, set off trying to run all the way up, managed it apart form the last climb in single file on slippy snowy ground. As I ran up other runners would run past then slow to a walk, so I would pass them, this pattern continued all the way to the top, jog stagger round the summit cairn and set off down the heathery slopes beside the path, managed to pass a few on the way down with some good tussles on the stoney path, the last few hundred yards tough as the trail leveled off, finished inside 47 minutes, then back to Symington village hall for soup revival and my 2013 SHR mug. Forecast for Sunday was good, a late start after a late night, Ben Narnain was the target, clear blue skies and snowy tops made for busy mountains. Ran up to the Narnain Boulders and into the snow.

Ran past the Cobbler and up Narnains NW shoulder, a slow trudge in the snow, the views got better and the snow got deeper as I climbed up, a clear day and I could see from Ailsa Craig to Ben Nevis.

The breeze picked up towards the top, nothing a light jacket and gloves didn't solve, as the gradient eased towards the top the crust froze and supported your weight, good for running and the snow filled gaps made the boulder field easy to cross.

Snowy mountains for miles from the top.

Fun descent going on to soft fresh snow to the right of the steeper walkers path I took on the way up, all too soon I was back down at Bealach a Mhaim and turning for Succoth on the path between Narnain and the Cobbler. 2 hours 50 runtime for 11 or 12 miles and 3800', more pictures here. Great hill run in perfect winter conditions.

Dumyat Dash and Stoneymollan

My third go at this race, from Menstrie, 5 or 6 miles and 1800' of ascent. Starting at 11 along with the rain we set off from the village green along the road for a hundred yards or so to a turn onto a mixture of farm track and trail zig zagging its way up and round the side of Myreton Hill, working too hard to bother about jacket or gloves then the trail levels off and we traverse round into the Glen dipping down and up over the First and Second Inchra Burns, gloves on, the next down is on muddy fern covered ground, somehow manage to keep my feet, at the bottom we cross the Third Inchra Burn then the Menstrie Burn before a run walk up the NE Flank of Dumyat, cold, wet n windy, jacket on, head down and follow the guy in front, grind out the last 300', steep! Round the summit trig and judder down steep tussocky ground, pick up pace as the gradient eases before slowing for the last few muddy feet at the Menstrie burn. Trail turns SE and follows a muddy path alongside the burn. A few slips but no falls and we're back on the outward route for a fast half mile, pleased to finish inside 72 minutes. Sunday and another late start, set off for Stoneymollan, up the trail behind the reservoir through the quarry and along the moor to the top of the Stoneymollan, detour on the way down, turning along a faint trod behind the trees towards the radio mast, the path fades in and out, gradually rougher and I bale out down hill past the Paintball woods and through Overton farm, 8 miles and 1300' in two hours. A few pictures here.

5k

11th of 12 races in this years club competition, another good turnout, 16 club members and 2 guests, starting in groups roughly in pace order helps to keep the effort level up as you gradually catch and pass a few. Nice night for running, cool, clear with only a light breeze. Set off on 6:40 pace, probably lost 10 seconds to that by the end and finished 4th just under 21 minutes.

Luss and the 3LW

Took a while to get moving, after lunch before I got out the door and drove to Luss. Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille eughain hill, 9 miles or so.

Looking over Inchlonaig to Conic Hill

Slippy in places on the way up and wet n windy on top, chilly with only a light jacket on today, time to layer up. Nice run around the corries to Mid hill, descent slippy at the bottom. Slow trudge up CE Hill, didn't hang around once on top as the rain stung my face. Managed to avoid the worst of the sludge at the bottom of the Paps, slow one today, 2 hours 50. Sunday, layered up, leggings, thermal, real jacket, gloves, the lot, went for a run over the first part of the Three Lochs Way from the Vale to Helensburgh, Stoneymollan to start then some muddy track through the forest, sneaked over Killoeter on a nice path before a swampy detour up Ben Bowie wind swept and wet.

View from Ben Bowie, Helensburgh is somewhere down there.

Well made track once we left Ben Bowie wound its way down into the back of Craigendoran, ran along East Clyde St then up Colquhoun St, picked up a lift back to the Vale from the top of Helensburgh, about 12 miles today. Saturday's pictures here, Sunday's misty offering here.

10 Mile Handicap

Change of scene this weekend, 10th race in this years club GP an undulating 10 mile handicap road race round the Horseshoe, good turn out, 28 runners all in, 22 of us club members. Set off in reverse order to your predicted time, ranging from 2 hours to just over 1 hour. Started too fast as usual settling down with a wee rest after a couple of miles. Catching people who started earlier from two miles, not caught by those behind until about 7 miles when some of the faster runners came past. Finished in 76 minutes  my fastest for a few years.

Ben Ime

Clear blue sky for today's run up Ben Ime from Succoth, 10 miles and 4000' of ascent. Tee shirt and shorts to start up the gradual zig zags, across the forest road and more zig zags, a bit steeper, still running, past the Narnain Boulders up to Bealach a'Mhaim, still running, up the boggy SE ridge and on to the summit ridge, still running, reached the top with only a few stops, 2500' to put on my Helly and a few pictures on the way. Superb views to the Clyde estuary and Ben Nevis.

Easy run back to Succoth, finished inside 2 1/2 hours. Sunday cool down round Balloch Park and the out and back to Whinney Hill, nice n easy and a few more pictures.

More pictures from Saturday here, pictures from Sunday here.