Whinny Hill Cross Country

Perfect day for cross country but there was more spectators than runners. Slight route change taking us to the bottom of Fairy Glen to start the climb, the muddier trail making up for the smooth hardcore path up through the trees. Ground part frozen should have made for faster running. Great views to Glen Finlas snd Luss from the seat, mostly down hill on the way back with one wee climb through the trees, managed to pick up the pace towrds the end to finish insude 50 minutes. Good day, great wee race.

Luss Hills

Easy run up snowy Beinn Dubh to Mid Hill and back. Plenty of stops for pictures and to catch my breath on the way up Beinn Dubh.

Surrounding hills looking great. A few walkers about. Ground still partially frozen on top. Ran along the ridge, hard work at the coll, a lot of snow, nearly turned back, slow trudge up towards the unnamed tops. Nice views.

Great running back down to the coll, slowed a bit on the up to Beinn Dubhs cairn. Easy running back to the bottom, finished in about 2 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Carnethy 5 Hill Race

Good season opener, 500 of us bussed to the start from Beeslack High School in Penicuik to run over 5 Pentland hills. Still not free from flu took it as easy as possible.

Starting at the back across the bogs to the climb up Scald Law. The next part of the race makes for steady running as the route undulates over three small climbs, South Black Hill and the 2 Kips, followed by faster running down a steep grassy decent and along to the Howe. The final climb undulates up the back of Carnethy, just about runnable if you havn't put in much of an effort before. Great organisation and a big marshall prescence on the Hill encouraging you all the way, happy to finish just over 96 minutes for a cup of tea in the marquee before catching the bus back to school for a hot shower and a school dinner. More pictures here.

Polaroid Cross Country

First club race of the year, 2 laps of the industrial estate. Still in flu recovery mode and took it easy, good conditions, not too cold and plenty of mud when we left the riverside path. Finished in 6th place out of 6 in about 44 mins.

Conic Hill

Out and back from Garadhban to the top of Conic. Ran along the West Highland Way past loads of walkers. Up onto the top of Conic busy place, great views.

Ran along the top of Conic dropping down the ridge to rejoin the outward track. Steady run back finising under 2 hours. More pictures here.

Luss

Lots of snow above 1500', set off for Luss to try an out and back over Beinn Eich to Doune Hill. Ground nearly freozen at the start kept my feet reasonably dry through the lower boggy sections. I could see a couple of walkers about half way up, I would catch them just before the top. Took it nice and steady, trying to run all the way so a few stationary rests / photo stops. Not long before the wind picks up and require jacket, hat and ski-gloves.

Up into the snow, easy running at first then a few drifts make it a bit stop start, the frozen crust supports my weight then gives. Pass the walkers who had stopped for a rest.

Onto the top for a few picutres then set off down the back, snow much deeper, two or three feet, makes for slow going and Beinn an Lochian and Doune Hill look similar.

Stop for a few pictures then turn back and meet the walkers at Beinn Eichs top. Good fun running down in the snow, hat and gloves off once out the wind. Decide to try Mid Hill as well, only problem is having to run past where the car is parked and not give in to temptation to drive home to a warm house. Loads of people coming down Mid Hill, use them as the excuse not to start walking. Back up into the snow again, not as much wind now, sun beginning to set. Round the corrie from Mid Hill to the un named top, the walkers have all taken a more direct line and follow this through 2 or 3 feet deep drifts.

 Soon on top for stunning views to Arrochar and beyond, Ben Lomond dull in the shade, hang about for 5 or 10 minutes and the sun gradually spreads across a pure white top. One of those days you want to stay forever.

 Reluctantly turn back towards Mid Hill, picking off the walkers passed on the way up. One couple stopped just below the snow line sitting to watch the sunset on a gloious still winters afternoon.

Finished in about 3 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Beinn Narnain

Solo run in the snow, ascent via trail beside the Buttermilk Burn and the Narnan Boulders, only time for one top today, the Cobbler too steep, Ime further/higher/more snow, Narnain seemed to be the easier option. Managed to run all the way to Bealach a'Mhaim without spikes, put them on at the bottom of the climb up Narnains NW shoulder, new man made blocked path to about half way up then move across Northwards for a plod up through the snow covered boulders.

On top views appearing and dissappearing every few minutes as the clouds scudded around. Too cold to wait for better views and set off for the Bealach, good fun in the shallow snow.

Steady run back to Succouth, finished just over 3 hours,, more pictures here.

Conic Hill

Pre christmas double Conic, up the tourist path from Balmaha onto the highest top.

Continued along the next two tops before following the ridge off the back down the path to the bridge. Turned back up the tourist path over the shoulder and down to Balmaha, just over an hour. More pictures here.

Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh

Same run as last week, just more snow. Up Beinn Dubh along to Mid Hill and back, clearer skies this week, great views.

Finished in about 2 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill

Short wintery run over these hills, cool, clear, running on snow and ice. The last 50 yards of road before the one parking place at the top of Glen Luss was covered in ice. Reversed about 1/4 of a mile before I could get turned and drove back to the foot of the glen to park and set off for a similar run to last week, similar but shorter, up Dubh with an out and back to Mid Hill. A few walkers about today.

Great views all round with a bank of cloud over the Arrochar Alps, finished just over 2 hours, more pictues here.

Luss horseshoe

Afternoon run, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Coille Eughain Hill, about 8 miles and 3200' of ascent. Starting to thaw, frozen ground but soft on top, perfect for running.

Cool breeze on top meant hat and gloves on but no jacket as long as you kept moving.

Round the corries and back into the glen before the last climb up CE Hill.

Rough run down over the Paps finishing inside 3 hours just as the sun was setting, more pictures here.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Club race in Balloch Park, 3 undulating laps, only 3 of us this year. Soon realised i should have stayed at home. Trundled round in just over 40 mins.

Tinto Hill Race

5 of us took part in this years Tinto, 4 and a bit miles up and down with about 1500' of climb. Nearly 250 started, ran up the trail then through the mud at the bottom of the climb and ran and walked to the top, recovery jog on the stoney trail round the cairn then brakes off for a quick as possible descent. Finished in 115th place in just over 47 minutes, great day for it, cool, not much of a breeze and clear blue skies overhead.

Ben Bowie

Shorter run today, out and back along the 3LW trail with a short detour up to Ben Bowies double summit. Sunny with a cool breeze made for pleasant running and a busy 3LW trail.

Interesting tree through the forrest. Great views to the Clyde Estuary, Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills.

Easy run back to finish inside 2 hours. A few more pictures here.

The Cobbler an Ben Narnain

Weather looked better than forecast and set off under blue skies for Arrochar. From the car park dark clouds over the hills and rain began to fall. Only lasted about 20 minutes so jacket off the breeze kicked in climbing up the back steps to the Cobbler. Running up by the Buttermilk burn a rainbow brightened up the view.

Climbing the Cobblers back steps a squally hail shower blows through. Didn't hang about at the top. Soon going up Narnain and the sky clears only for it to cloud in just before the top.

Down through the spearhead and sky clears again to finish under blus skies in about 3 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Beinn Dubh

Late afternoon run up and down. Set off after half three, steady running to about half way where the wind picked up. Stuggled to run from there, keeping upright good enough. Round the cairn and blown straight back down. Wind eased from about half way down, finished in about an hour and a half.

Beinn Ime

Wet and windy all weekend, Sunday long run, start late morning as wind meant to subside through the day. Left Succoth before midday up the zig zags then alongside Buttermilk Burn past the Narnain Boulders, the usual wind tunnel effect from the Boulders to Bealach A Mhaim made for hard going. Soggy climb up from Bealach a'Mhaim to Ime's claggy summit, at least there was some shelter from the wind.

Couple of photos of mist at the top then back down Ime's soggy terraces and across the Bealach to meet the Buttermilk Burn path.

Clouds clearing as I run back down to finish in just over 3 hours. A few more pictures here.

Beinn Eich

Short run up and down Beinn Eich, top hidden in cloud and wind increasing with height then dissapears on the summit.

Didnt hang about on top and soon back into the wind and under the cloud, nice view down to loch Lomond.

Finished in about 80 mins.

Pentland Skyline Hill Race

Signed up for this to complete my 4th race from the Long Classics series. About 16 miles and 6000' of ascent over 16 hills. Started at the back and took it easier than usual, 9 hills on mainly grassy trails on the way out to the Drove Road water station, 7 hills on the way back, the first 4 on heathery boggy stuff just when your looking to take it steady then back on to grassy trails for the last three, a good test in judgement of pace and effort. Cool at the start, soon heats up under clear sunny skies on the way out, not much of a breeze. Walked more than last year. Reached the Drove Road comfortable and set off for the rougher run back. Ease back through heather and bog keeping cramp away ss long as possible. Jog and walk to the last two tops then push on to finish in 4 hours 10. A great run.

Carn Mor Dearg and the Ben

Glen Nevis weekend plan to run a few Mamore hills, slept in as it was a bit wet, change of plan to CMD and the Ben, a bit shorter and busier start and finish. Ran from Glen Nevis youth hostel up heart atTack hill onto the tourist path to half way Lochain, took the path into Coire Leis crossed the river and up steep heathery bouldery slopes until the path to Carn Mor Dearg gradually made its way onto the top of the ridge.

Getting cold, leggings, gloves and headgear on, pushed the pace towards CMD summit to generate a bit of heat then taking the chicken run path just off the top where possible.

Picked my way carefully along to the climb up Nevis, missed the posts for a while, a bit too bouldery and starting to snow , back on track and summit cairn and shelter appear out the mist, sounded like a party in the shelter.

Familiar ground now, steady run down the tourist path and down heart attack hill to the youth hostel, just over 5 hours. Good fun, more pictures here.