Sunday morning long run after yesterdays race. Planned an out and back over Killoeter, it was such a nice morning took in Ben Bowie as well. Quite a few walkers out and a couple of runners and mountain bikers.
New Club race, traditional cross country, grass, mud, ditches, undulations, 3 laps just under 2 miles per lap, 7 of us set off, a couple took a wrong turn on lap 2 and decided to stop after 2 laps, 1 dropped out half way round lap 2. We had reccied it the week before but race day was much colder, ground frost had dried out the worst of the mud and bogs making for good running, stunning views up Loch Lomond to Glen Finlas in the early morning sun.
Arrochar run, planned route, Ime, Narnain and the Cobbler, easier version by sticking to the main walkers paths. Two sets of zig zags to start, out the trees towards the Narnain Boulders, no views again with the low cloud. Trudged slowly up Ime from the Bealach, reaching the top almost above the clouds, blue sky flickering above in hazy sunshine. Wasted a few minutes to see if it would clear. Easy run down to the Bealach and up Narnain. A few more walkers about now, still no views. Down to the Bealach again and up the Cobblers back stairs, a crow for company at the top! Back down to Succoth past the Narnain Boulders, always nice running down beside the Buttermilk Burn.
Easier run today, out and back mostly on trails to Ben Bowie, misty morning so not much to see, a few other runners and walkers about.
Local long run this week, Carman Fort, Stoneymollan, out to Killoeter on the 3LW straight back down the Stoneymollan trail. Didn't quite work out, on the way down Killoeter realised my backpack was open and contents had spilled out somewhere. Hats, buff and gloves. Turned back up Killoeter hoping to find them. Back over to Carman Fort, found the buff at the side of Overton cemetery, 2 hats on Overton road about 100 yards from my house, no sign of the gloves!
First race in this years club championship, 2 laps mainly on paths beside the river Leven and the perimeter fence of the Polaroid Industrial Estate. 7 of us set off, clear and sunny morning, perfect weather for running, a few deep muddy patches through the trees after the start the rest of the course pretty dry, made for good times, managed to avoid too many scrapes on the way round.
I had planned this run for a few weeks but didn't have the energy or time to try it, a horseshoe over the north side of Glen Luss. Went out on Friday as I had a day out Saturday at the National Whisky Festival of Scotland in SWG3, great decision as the weather was blue sky perfect on Friday with ;little wind. Parked at the bottom of Glen Luss and ran a couple of miles up the road turning off for a steep trudge up Beinn Eich, the top few hundred feet covered in snow. Stayed above the snowline along the ridge over Beinn Lochain to Doune Hill, slow going but worth it for the views. Dropped down into the glen and Sith Mor before an even slower trudge up the back of Mid Hill, into the snow again near the top. A few icy patches on the flat bog sections on the way to Beinn Dubh. Easy run from the top to the foot of the glen. Took a bit longer than usual with the snow, ice and picture stops.
Loop round Glen Luss/Glen Striddle, started in the sun , soon gave way to a few squally rain and snow showers. Beinn Dubh first, jog walked, some of the steeper parts a bit slippy and walked to save energy and a face plant. Layered up with height gain, jacket then hat, buff and gloves, goggles would have been handy along the ridge to Mid Hill into the driving snow. Easy run down Mid Hill careful to stay upright. Slow plod up Coillie Eughian Hill then a nice down hill run back to the bottom of the glen. Not many out today, only a few walkers on Beinn Dubh, after that only sheep and deer.
First long run of the year, Ben Bowie via Carman Reservoir and Stoneymollen, just under 12 miles.
Along to Renton and up the path behind the reservoir to start then across the Carman and the trail that goes past the quarry, startled by a shotgun going off, a small group beside the path had shot some bird, their dogs retrieved it, still flapping! Path across the bog to the trig, boggy, even the bits that weren't part of the bog.
Down to the John Muir/3LW Trail for the loop over Ben Bowie, a few walkers out today and a few runners as well.
Christmas eve late afternoon run, Started up the Stoneymollan trail and onto the Hel n Back route in reverse, down past the Black Third Farm and over towards Helensburgh, at the top of the climb a walkers path leads up over Killoeter through a forest break, head torch on at the summit, crossed the 3LW then up onto Ben Bowie. Dropped off the Loch Lomond side and back home via the 3LW and John Muir Trail.
Hoped for snow and blue skies, got a cloudy cold run with a few bright spots. Route was up Beinn Dubh round the ridge to Mid Hill, then back the same way. Ground frozen meant dry and reasonably warm feet. A few well wrapped walkers about.
First longer run for a couple of weeks, out and back to Ben Bowie, a bit cloudy on the Loch Lomond side, could see thee sun shining over the hill and rewarded with a fine view over Ardmore Point and the Clyde. Good to be out on the trails again!
Weather window on Saturday morning promising a gentle breeze decided to drive up to Arrochar for the first time in about 6 weeks for a run in the Alps. Stuck to the walkers paths and trails, initially up past the Narnain Boulders to Bealach a'Mhaim, from there Narnain, back to the Bealach then The Cobbler turning back to the Bealach again and back down the path beside the Buttermilk burn and the Narnain Boulders. Pleased to be out even though a bit damp and no views with the low cloud.
Two from the club ran this short race in the borders, just over 4 miles and 1600' of ascent, started in the rain and finished in the sun just over 50 minutes later. Soup and a roll to finish back at Damn Delicious.
10th race in this years club GP series, 6 of us set off, warm and breezy, showers on and off all the way round. Hard work today, just managed to hold my place, pleased to finish!
Ran from home today, an out and back through the local Parks, Christie, Argyle and Balloch onto the Whinny Hill trail with its newly sanitised hardcore path, gone are most of the muddy bits, the last bit, Stable Woods soon to be lost to to Mountain Bike trails if the latest proposal goes through. Plenty of colour on the trees made for pleasant running.
Shorter long run this week, out and back to Ben Bowie with a wee loop at the top, up the Loch Lomond side, down the Helensburgh side. Sun, cloud and Autumn colours made for good views.
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. .
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.
