Sunday Long Run

In an attempt to get used to the idea of getting up early for runs in preparation for the arrival of bambino Consani, I decided to get up for my long run at quarter to six in the morning.  Okay compared to some people thats not early but for my Sunday run it was early enough.  The thing is I wasn't very prepared for the early start and wasted most of my early rise by not being ready until 7am. My route today was from my house, onto the Balloch horseshoe and then onto the number 7 bike route which joins the West Highland Way about 2 miles short of Drymen.  Then I would follow the Way to Sallochy Bay where Debbie had offered to pick me up from.  A rough calculation had the route at about 21 to 23 miles.

The Balloch horseshoe was pitch black.  Within 5 minutes I had nearly fallen over a pot hole.  I should have brought my head torch I was thinking but soon I was able to make out the road and the run got easier.  I was going to listen to Jeff Waynes War of the Worlds today but out in the pitch black I decided not too.  I would end up freaking myself out and running at race pace.

 

Before long I was crossing the bridge just before the No 7 Cycle route joins the WHW.  I have always wanted to take a photo of it so I stopped and did.  The beauty of racing the day before a long run is you don't feel guilty stopping and enjoying yourself.

I went past Drymen and then text Debbie on the way through Garadhban Forest.  She was doing me a big favour picking me up and I was feeling guilty at waking her up first thing this morning.

Now it was on to my favourite part of the West Highland Way before Loch Lomond.  Conic Hill.  It was starting to snow now and getting cold.  I was so glad that I had brought my woolly hat.  I also felt safe enough to listen to War of the Worlds now.

The way down from the top of Conic was very slippy and wet today and I had to take a lot of care on it but I felt great as I ran into Balmaha and straight into a gathering of runners.  It was one of the Glee Club runs and Ian had joined them too.  I stopped for some photos and decided to run the rest of my run with them.  I was really glad of the company.  They were all asking how Debbie was and I think they were slightly surprised when I said they should ask themselves when we reach Sallochy.  They then freaked me out with talk of changing girls nappies and other horrors.  I then kept them all amused when I tried to cross a river and ended up nearly waste deep in what I can only describe as quicksand.

Then it was the end of my run.  I reached Sallochy Bay and Debbie was there waiting for me.  I was quite tired now and glad not to be going any further.  The Glee runners still had 20 odd miles to go and I knew that the weather was meant to be changing later.

My GPS recorded 22 miles but it was more than that because I had stopped it and forgot to start it again.  No doubt I will do it again though so I can record it then.