WHW TRAINING RUN

11/02/10 Drymen to rowerdennan to drymen 30miles

Started off at 07.30 at car park in drymen and headed onto the whw route, weather was very cold but dry and the bonus was that it was light when i started. Managed to run all the way to conic hill, managed to get halfway up conic untill i had to walk, there was a fair bit of ice going up but none going down. At the top of conic came the wonderfull views of loch lomond ahead and of Ben Lomond to the right with snow on top with the morning sunlight streaming down it was well worth the 05.15 start in the morning to get the sleeper train to dalmuir, then the first balloch train at 06.21 then the 309 bus from balloch to drymen so i could start my run at 07.30.

Balmaha to rowerdennan - sun was bright and the underfoot conditions were good, i had forgot that this bit just seems to go up and down the whole way but it was just so scenic that you just stop every so often to get such wonderfull views. Stopped just passed the hotel at rowerdennan as this was the 15mile point just before the turn off point for the youth hostel. It was at this point that i noticed that i forgot my flat coke drink that i was looking forward to and also forgot my mobile so could phone home to let the family know i was ok.

Rowerdennan to balmaha - headed back to balmaha knowing that i had all those hills to look forward too and a bit worried i might not have enough fluid to last to drymen. Stopped at about half way back and took a pain killer and was nearly sick- mental note to myself take more of a drink when trying to swallow paracetamol tablets.

Balmaha to drymen - started past the car park at balmaha and headed to the bottom of conic hill then came to the steps and my legs just couldnt keep going so managed to walk as fast as you can then turned a corner to see the steep grassy slope going up conic at which point i thought i was going to cry! but wasnt till i was on the grass slopes with thighs like lead, back breaking and i wonder how a ex-track runner is doing this (i didnt even like cross country when i was younger). Once i reached the top of conic i managed to break into a stuttering run jog down hill, half way down i met two young girls going up who looked as they were fairly fresh compared to the old git trying to run down. Managed to run all the way through the forrest and arrive at drymen feeling good at getting to my finishing point.
Having just missed the bus by 10 minutes, i went for a pint and sat in front of an open fire till the next bus !

TIMES DURING RUN - 15miles 3hrs 38min 22sec .
30miles 7hrs 27min 41sec.

Total distance 30.35miles in 7hrs 35min 34sec.