Hill Run Report – Sunday 18th November – Glen Vale, near Gateside

Hill Run Report – Sunday 18th November -  Glen Vale, near Gateside at 9:30am.

Yes this was the map and compass session.  No pre-planned route, so no cheating possible. I arrived promptly to secure my place in a small carpark.  Just as well as a huge group of other hill folk turned up at the same time – all walkers, no runners…

 Surprising really as previous hill runs had been very popular.  Had all the runners fallen at the first hurdle and not been able to navigate to the hill run start?  Never mind.  I wasn’t going to let a misty morning and the potential of a downpour stop me.  Set off with compass and map to hand.

Pace was good (for me anyway), and route was interesting, not sure where it was taking me, but ran up Glen Vale and considered a route through the mist up Bishop Hill.  Then thought “where might other hardy hill folk be?”.  Never considered that they might be at the festive forest recce.  Hill runners wouldn’t prefer cross country style course to the hills would they?  Thought again and decided I knew where I could say hello to one Carnegie hill runner, so adjusted my course up West Lomond.  Thick mist on top made for a wonderfully eerie day, and ensured no one thought “who is that daft lass talking to the mist?”.  Still had a cheery chat with a very decent guy, who probably knows West Lomond really well now.  Took my bearings for the descent, whether needed or not, and safely returned to Glen Vale, to meet the huge party of walkers from the car park.  There is always something really satisfying when walkers look at a runner and make comments such as “have you been to the top already?”.  Even in my slow state, I am much faster than a walker!  Yippee.

 See you next run

 Lynne Bennet