Club training reports…
Nav training
Pippa set a great wee navigation score course for a bit of orienteering training. It took in Caerketton and the North side of Allermuir plus a bit of Woodhouselee. Large Map
Lying in the sun at the start was very pleasant and with blue skies and views to Ben Ledi, it wasn’t going to be too tricky. After being turned down buddying up with either Ina or Morag I let them head off before choosing an CW direction to avoid an uphill finish. It was t shirt weather so after 2 checkpoints I opted for the direct line from the Erraid Wood kissing gate to the top of Caerketton via the steep East Face. This got a sweat on.
At the top I came across Gio MacDonald wandering in the heather so we buddied up and headed to Woodhouselee discussing how the accurate setting of a map, understanding contours coupled with a blade of grass as a pointer, was just a effective as a compass.
Nice bog, trods, climbs and descents took us to the finish meeting others on the way. My line was just over 8km, others a bit further. The ski centre cafe provided coffee and cake in the sun to finish.
Mark Hartree
Wednesday Night Club Run
We had a fun social outing tonight as 22, sometimes 23, and sometimes 21, runners and 2 dogs enjoyed a mixed route with trail, trod, woods, open hill, a few fences to cross and not too much mud. Starting in Morrisons Car Park was a new one for many of the runners, but this is where I start most of my runs.
Taking the Squirrel Woods trail and crossing around the back of the barracks, we enjoyed grassy trod and woodland ridgeline climb from Dreghorn up to White Hill, followed by a lovely downhill trail blast to the woods on the Bonaly side. A climb up Scaeletrix to the north west corner of Bonaly reservoir woods, then a quick trod up Harbour, over the fence and a wind assisted summit of Capelaw, before crossing the stile to the Allermuir massif. A smashing descent down to Green Craig, past Todhole Knowe and along to Shearie Knowe had lots of smiles on faces. A return via Covenanter’s Wood brought the group back to back end of Morrisons car park. As most runners disappeared into the mist, a few of us retired to the Hunter’s Tryst pub to enjoy a (cheap) pint where Amber and Barra were looked after exceptionally well.
The forecast rain never arrived and the breeze wasn’t too bad. Magic.
Peter Macdonald
Beer, Mist & Mutiny Wed Social Run
Mark invited us to another run in the hills; a treat for those living south of the town. Having left Hillend and contoured through Erraid Wood, we encountered the run’s novelty obstacle, a quad bike bridge, which no-one told me you weren’t supposed to walk over. Some took a more cautious approach on all fours, apart from Amber, who chose to go straight over the barb wire fence – much to Gordon’s consternation. Fortunately she survived unscathed.
Normal running service resumed as we wove our way to Woodhouselee, where there was a small divergence of opinion, and runners, as the top got visited by a breakaway faction. Having re-grouped, we noticed head torches coming our way. Lo, another group of Carnethys. Assuming there was about to be a bit of “Hail fellow, well met”, it’s not clear if we dissed them or vice-versa, but greetings were not exchanged. Instead we ascended into the Allermuir mist. Not exactly what Mark had had in mind, but it did avoid the large-stone nightmare surface Mike says is now the army road round to Green Craig.
It was about now that “nae working headtorch Mike” was rescued by Mark’s exemplary run leadership skills – viz the supply of a spare light dug out from his backpack. Erm, perhaps there is some correlation between the megalumen light output provided by rechargeables and their propensity to turn themselves off just as things get properly dark.
Coming to the top of Allermuir, several of us wondered who’d nicked the vista plaque & pillar. Then we realised it was on the other side of the gate. Re-oriented, there was a short discussion about what next. Divergence part 2 occured as a majority of the group, who shall not be named, but included everyone except Mark & I, and the list of runners is available on Google spreadsheets, missed out on a very nice trod Mark has found that starts at the base of the Caerketton scree. The select few two completed the circuit with a trip through the pines by the side of Hillend. Nice and quiet, with a track of pine needles, and only a few trip hazards.
Rehydration in the The Steading
For the first time in several years, a post run beer was included where Barra and Amber continued their love-struck teenagers act. Thanks to Mark for organising another entertaining and interesting run with just the right amount of mud.
Tour of Caerketton with a few top diversions: 5 miles, 1hr 20 m
Pete Cain
Wednesday social report: A Night for Mackerel and Moonlight
Mark’s promise of a new, CCW (cunningly circular & wintery) route got 16 runners & 2 dogs out to Flotterstone. We were greeted with stern warnings about what might happen if we got stuck in a cold and windy spot, without adequate clothing. After Monday night’s Winter Talk of thumbs being lost to frostbite & replaced with toes (the image is still in my head), it was a subject to be taken seriously. Especially so since we found a layer of snow half way round, and plenty of wind.
Waymarkers included the monument to erstwhile occupants of Woodhouseless House, the Boghall handicap Broken Sink and the infamous Gorse Barrier. As we caught our breath at mile 3, we were treated with the cloud formation in the photo; an indication of atmospheric waves and changeable weather.
The CCW route. The 1 hour estimate turned out to be a bit like our forthcoming heating bills; we got 50% extra. Thanks to Mark for organising the run. The 5.7 miles was a good mix of trods, mud and track.
Pete Cain
Tour de Castlelaw
An excellent turn out for the Slower group with 16 folk and 2 dogs. Driving to Flotterstone in the rain and snow didn’t bode well with a healthy breeze. Thankfully is was dry for the run and started again as we drove home.
After a route brief and reminder to carry winter gear we headed past the filter beds then up to the Castlelaw Range. We passed the fasties going the opposite direction to us. Turning rightwards after Castlelaw carpark, we followed green paths to the monument then crossed the burn by the new steps and decking. Woodhouselee was ascended till the trod to ravine and the broken sink. We followed the track to the drove road which we crossed to take the higher quad bike track the traverses and then descends on the North side of Castlelaw towards Glencorse. A trot along the road and back past the filter beds gave a nice 9km circuit.
Mark Hartree
Weds slow run
14 turned out with two dogs on a mild Wednesday night with a bit of drizzle. A loop of Turnhouse took the trods to the Carnethy and Turnhouse col. After that we traversed to the North ridge of Carnethy then descended to the old bridge. The traverse trod on the side of Turnhouse above Glencorse took us back around returning to Flotterstone. An nice 5 miler. All runnable.
Mark Hartree