Westies Sunday Run

SUNDAY 22 FEB 2009

Myself, Moira, Andy and Murdo enjoyed fine, if breezy conditions for a nice 3hr/1200 metres plod in the Campsies. A wee warm-up along the track from the Blanefield Monument to start with; a steep walk up to Slackdhu; upsy and downsy to Dumfoyne; and then a steady plod up to Earl's Seat; a quick turnaround and then nicely downhill and up and down Dumgoyne; before a slow plod back along the WH Way. Some soup and shandy in the pub afterwards freshened us up.

Photos

Carnethy Hill Race & Musselburgh Audax Cycle

SAT/SUN 14/15 FEB 2009

My 20th finish of this brilliant race in the Pentlands, organised expertly by Carnethy Hill Runners. The snow on the course made it all lots of fun, if rather hard work, especially on the steep descents. I paced myself OK, pulling in quite a few places on the last killer climb up to Carnethy summit, including Murdo, but I let Stevie Bell go for glory through the boggy marsh at the end. I finished in just over 71mins, and 152nd of 499 finishers - top third, so chuffed with that. Rob Jebb won in 53mins, and everyone reckoned the conditions added about 5mins on to "usual" times.

Results
Photos

Stayed over at the luxurious Carberry Tower to do the Musselburgh 70 mile Audax cycle on Sunday. Managed to get in a good bunch, including Carnethy Andy Spenceley, for the first 20 or so miles barreling along at 19mph average before they put their pedals to the metal and left me for dead. Soldiered on on my own to Dunbar for a tea and cake stop, before the last 30 miles back via Haddington into a headwind and mostly on my own. Was pleased to finish feeling strong, in a cycling time of 4hrs 15mins and an average of @16.6mph.

New Lanark Lunchtime Walk

MON 9 FEB 2009

A wander round the Falls of Clyde at New Lanark, experimenting with my digital SLR and just enjoying the winter wonderland.

Westies Ochils Run

SAT 7 FEB 2009

A cracking trundle in the deep snow. Starting from Dollar, myself, Moira, Stuart and Andy headed up Dollar Glen to Castle Campbell. We then took the snowy trail on the right of way through Glen Quey, hanging a left at the end of the reservoir on to the ridge. Deep snow made it hard going up to Innerdownie and Whitewisp, breaking through the crust alternating with falls into deep snow and trotting easily on icy patches. From Whitewisp we made a beeline for the Castle and back down Dollar Glen, for lunch in Castle Campbell Hotel.3hrs 8mins and about 12 miles and 920 metres ascent. A classic day out.

Christmas Cracker Sportif

SUNDAY 1 FEB 2009

Travelled down to the Lakes for this re-arranged 56 mile cycle. Enjoyed a nice wander on the Sat up to Red Tarn below Helvellyn. The weather on Sun was just the right side of freezing and not very windy as we headed off from Grasmere at 9.30. It was a cracking route over to Elterwater down the east side of Coniston Water and down to Flookburgh and Cartmel for a short tea and scone stop. Headed back up through Grizedale and Hawkshead. Started to feel pretty good towards the end and managed to hammer ot at full pelt for the last hour or so to finish in 3h 45m, about half an hour behind the fastest and 35th of 140 starters. Pretty chuffed and a great day out with lovely cycling roads and views. Just made it in time to avoid the snow as well!