Bonnie Scotland

Well it has been a while since I last posted. I was planning on taking a bit of time off from running but to be honest that has not happened and it has again been non-stop.

I arrived back in Scotland on Tuesday 18^th and was away up north on the Wednesday. The weather was kind to me as I ran up and down Ben Lawers with only the summit being pretty windy. I managed to summit in 1hr 10mins and was back at the car 30 mins later , then the following day I went and ran Schiehallion , This time I was a little quicker being just under an hour to summit and again 30 mins back to car. These were two Munros I had never done so thought I had might as well go get them done and there was no way I was just going to go for a plod. Where is the fun in that!

Looking back from just below Lawers Summit

The way back to the car

Summit up in the Cloud

Schiehallion Summit with the typical Scottish View

Great descent path

Friday I went a long run around the hills of Largs in glorious sunshine. I have this amazing two and a half hour jaunt I go on up over the moors following some farm tracks but mostly it is all off road. I then join the seafront and run along the promenade back to my home. It is a stunning run and has great views out over the west coast of Scotland.

Never come across anybody ever when I have run up here

Largs Below

At the sundial after mistakingly thinking the puddle I was running in was going to be small

Then on Saturday I was feeling good when I woke up so drove up to Arrochar and ran up and over The Cobbler and then Beinn Narnain on another cracking day and was happy with 1hr 58mins for the round trip.

Cobbler Summit

Heading down Narnain

The weather then decided to turn and the rest of my time at home was spent catching up with friends , having a bit of a drink and I finally managed a little 10km road run the night before I drove back to Cham.

So I am now back in Chamonix and start work tomorrow. I managed a 1hr trail run today and as good as Scotland is it just cannot come close to Cham for trail running. So now begins the off season and I have never been here this time of year , it is very quiet around town but we have lots to do at the shop for the next month and I will just been spending my days off Climbing and Running as much as possible to stay in shape for what hopefully will be an epic winter ahead. I must admit I would quite like to do another race before the year is out as the next big one is not until May 2013 which is a long long way off.

The Balcon Sud Trail thats on my doorstep

 

Rockhoppin'

 

Simply the greatest Trails I have ever run. After all these years they still impress.

It sure is good to be Home though.