5 Mile Handicap

Club handicap race, 6 of us set off in reverse order, started 3rd of 6, finished 4th of 6 in just over 37 minutes, a bit slower than last year but ok on the day. .

Mamore hill run

Staying in Glen Nevis campsite for a few days, to get to my run on Saturday morning cycled up the glen to the lower falls car park for a loop round a few hills. Mullach Nan Coirean to start accessed via forest roads and trails winding up to the NE ridge, the ridge steep and boggy to start, the gradient eases for a while and a couple of walkers ahead gave me a target to maintain effort as the views open up all round, passed the first walker before the steep rocky climb to the summit the second just before the cairn. Next the undulating traverse to Stob Ban, a few more walkers coming towards me, keep to the top of the crest avoiding the worst of the boulder fields, the final climb slow up through glistening quartzite which contrasts with the red granite of the Mullach. Changed into a thermal base layer to combat the cool breeze and slow pace along the rocky ridges, with some food as well I soon perked up leaving behind ideas of cutting the run short and continued past the wee lochain on the way to Stob Choire a' Mhail and the Devils Ridge to Sgurr a' Mhaim, another quartzite capped hill, plodding up the zig zag stalkers path from the lochain the ridge looked busy with a few small groups of walkers, by the time I got to the ridge it was clear and I had the narrow path to myself. Soon on top of Sgurr a'Mham, stopped for a brief refuel then down the steep NW ridge, a fun descent to start, a twisting scree covered path, the scree fades too soon leaving more bouldery ground, a good workout for the quads, the cycle back to Glen Nevis Campsite thankfully mostly downhill.

Mellantee, Half Way Lochain and the Ben from Mullach Nan Coirean

Ridge to Stob Ban from the Mullach

The Devils Ridge and Sgurr a'Mhaim from Stob Ban

Mullach Nan Coirean from Stob Ban

Lochain Coire Nam Miseach

Stob Ban from the Devils Ridge

Glen Nevis from Sgurr a'Mhaim

Ben Bowie

Ran local today, mixture of trails and hills, Killoeter, Ben Bowie and Stoneymollan via 3LW, JMT and Hel n Back trails. Started up Stoneymollan road, turning onto the Hel n Back route in reverse past the Black Third Farm, had to climb the locked gate to get on to the trail to Killoeter, Crossed the 3 Lochs Way to get to Ben Bowie, dropped on to the John Muir Trail back to the Stoney, along the muirs to the Fort and home past the Radiomast.

Crianlarich Hills from Stoneymollan

Shepherds pool from Killoeter

Tree felling on Killoeter opens up the views along Carman and Bromley muirs

Low tide at Carman reservoir

Luss Loop

Another blue sky morning, I was going to run my local hills, too good a day, cycled to Luss and ran the loop round Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, coming back over Coillie Eughain Hill and the Paps. Beinn Dubh runnable, Coillie Eughain Hill trudgeable. Cycled back after a seat in the Fairy Pools to cool off, waters getting colder!

Luss Tups

Conic Hill from Beinn Dubh

The Cobbler over Tullich Hill (Glen Douglas) from Mid Hill

Crianlarich Hills from Mid Hill

Luss and Loch Lomond from the Paps

Nevis Race Weekend

Fort William for the weekend, another go at the Ben race, lucky with the weather, strong gusts of wind eased on Saturday morning, a wee bit warm was the worst you could say. A lap round the games field and off up the road towards the tourist path, steady running until windy corner, slow to a walk as the gradient picks up, walked from here until the summit plateau where a slow jog resumed picking the pace up where possible. Turned at the top, gloves on for the descent,  across the plateau and as the gradient increased cramp took over, took a couple of electrolyte tablets and it gradually eased, pattern repeated every 15 or so minutes meant a steadier than usual descent, reached the road a the end of the tourist path just over 2 hours 51, new I had to get a move on to break 3 hours, only 1 1/2 minutes left when I reached the games field, max effort to finish 4 seconds inside 3 hours. Sunday saw  a run over Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean, lost my phone on the way up, luckily it was returned to me the next morning. On the way home on Monday, blus sky day meant I had to stop in Glencoe for a wee run over a munro I had still to do on Buchailletive Beag, Stob Coire Raineach.

Bidean Nam Bian and The Three Sisters from Stob Coire Raineach

Ben Nevis and the Mamores from Stob Coire Raineach

Buchaille Etive Mor from Stob Coire Raineach

Stob Dubh from Stob Coire Raineach

The Anonach Eacgach from Stob Coire Raineach

Stob Coire Raineach from the col between that and Stob Dubh

River tumbling into Lairig Gartain from the col

The Cobbler and Narnain

Longer version today, turned out to be a fine day the weather better than forecast as rain and clouds skirted round. Ran from Ardgarten going up the Cobbler via the race route, steep once your on the hill going up to An t Sron, paths not easy to see with long grass and rushes on the way up to the ridge. Easy running from there to the base of the climb to the Cobblers summit. Another short steep pull to the top. Easy run off towards Bealach a'Mhaim and up Narnains back steps, running where I could. Chose the Spearhead descent from Narnain to the forest track back to Ardgarten.

The Cobbler from An t Sron

Ben Lomond from The Cobbler

The Cobbler from Narnain

Ime from Narnain

Lui munros from Narnain

Ted Baker

Club hill race, the Ted Baker, running from Dalmonach road to Pappert Well and back. 7 of us set off in reverse order. Started too quick, took me until the "stile" to get my breathing sorted, up through the forest, a mixture of mud and overgrown paths, round the trig point to a fire break for the mostly down hill run back, a short climb up Hillbank St finishing down hill in Dalmonach road, a wee thunderstorm and monsoon chased us all the way back from the trig.

  

Luss Lollipop

2nd go at this tough medium hill race with over 3000' of ascent in 7 miles. Familiar hills as I run here every few weeks. Lollipop shaped route with 2 climbs up Beinn Dubh, the second one a tough 1000' in less than half a mile. 10am start and cloud cover evaporated as we set off  up Beinn Dubh, run the first half then walk / run the second, running again round to Mid Hill and the steep drop into Glen Striddle, should have sat in the stream here before the climb back to the top of Beinn Dubh, good fun on the descent back to Luss.

  

Moray Coastal Trail

On holiday at Silver Sands, an out and back run along the Moray Coastal trail from Covesea to the Dinosaur Footprints at Hopeman. Beach for the first and last mile 5 miles of undulating clifftop trails in between. 

Dinosaur Footprints

 

Ben Rinnes

Another go at the 5 Tops Hill race from Dufftown Highland Games. The 5 tops are Little Conval, Meikle Conval, then Ben Rinnes, returning over the Convals. A lap of the games field to start and finish. About 80 runners. Race started at mid day, and the temperature climbed as we ran. A mixture of run and walk over the Convals, Slow jog up Rinnes then a fast walk as the trail steepens towards the top, Going well until just before Rinnes summit then the wheels come off and in to survival mode, just pleased to finish the race probably lost 15 or 20 minutes on the way back.

Hammer Run

 Run over The Cobbler and Narnain via the walkers paths, It's called the Hammer run as the Strava trace is shaped like a claw hammer (or ice axe in winter!). Steady run through the 2 sets of zig zags, gradient eases as you come out the trees along past the Narnain Boulders to Bealach a'Mhaim, pointed a few walkers in the right direction for the Cobbler, limited views today in the mist. Cobbler first then Narnain, returned to Succoth past the Boulders and zig zags.

Narnain from Bealach a'Mhaim

Narnain's Trig point

Clach Thoull loop

Port Appin for a few days, short trail run round the Clach Thoul loop. 

Arrochar run

Another run over The Cobbler and Narnain, different ascent and descent from last week, avoiding most of the walkers, went up the Cobbler via An t Sron. Steep climb to start then a runnable ascent along the ridge with a short steep climb to the top of The Cobbler to finish. Followed the walkers paths down into Bealach a'Mhaim and up to Narnains flat top. Descent off Narnain through the Spearhead, more walkers than usual coming up here today.

The Brack from An t Sron

Eyes of the Needle

The Cobbler from Narnain

The Cobbler and Narnain

Too nice a day not to run up a hill. Stuck to the trails in Arrochar, through 2 sets of zig zags then undulating up past the Narnain Boulders. Brisk walk up the back stairs to the Cobbler plateau and central top, easy run back to Bealach a'Mhaim, another briskish walk to the top of Narnain, easy running back to Succoth. Nice and peaceful at that time on a Friday, maybe saw 10 or 12 others instead of the usual 100.

Ben Lomond

Ben Donich, left, Beinn an Lochain, right from The Cobbler

The Brack from The Cobbler 

Ime and Vane from The Cobbler

 

  

Ben Bowie

Club trail race from Upper Stoneymollan Road to Ben Bowie and back. 5 Set off up the initial climb on a warm evening, gradually spreading out as the trail flattens after the gate, went from 2nd to 4th place between there and Ben Bowie, gained one place on the way back.

Ben Lomond

From the most easterly Munro to the most Southerly, hadn't been to Ben Lomond since Dec 2019. Overcast and showery as expected for an Arrochar Alps race weekend. Arrived before 9 to a busy car park, The lower paths have been much improved for walkers over the last few years, smooth hardcore paths with steps and drains built in to minimise erosion, think I preferred it just a little rougher. Lots of walkers out today and a couple of other runners. Kept a slow, steady jog all the way up, the sun almost came out once. Cold wind towards the top, a visit to the trig then set off back down, steadier pace today, only stopping once for a picture as I dropped below the clouds.