Club - Farmyards Run

A new run for Millies tonight, our first run since the clocks changed and we stretched the boundaries a bit. Jimmy suggested we run over the Carman moor to Cardross and back over the Stonymollan Rd which was a good idea but he wanted to run a good bit on road and I suggested I lead them on a route that I had finally worked out after failing to connect some trails previously, resulting in electrocution (twice) and a fright from a bull. A long story previously related about July last year!
A fair pack left the club and ran along to Renton and turned up the Cardross Rd and along Upper Carman Rd, where the footpath led us round the back of the reservoir and over the moor road picking up the quarry road that leads to the trig point. However we turned left through a farm gate and after following the farm road past three farms and fording the burn, that led us to the west side of Cardross Golf Club and through the top of the village, although some managed to deduce a shortcut. Up Darleith Rd and left along a private road, much used by walkers and horseriders, through Drumhead and linking onto the Red Road. A sharp right immediately took us onto a particularily steep road where Steph and young Peter took off leaving us older guys to plod on to the best of our ability.By this time everyone knew where the road led! Straight uphill, through the final farmyard at Blackthird Farm, over the Stonymollan Road, where most of the pack saw for the first time the extent of the tree harvesting, and back down the hill into Balloch. Those of you who know the A82 will have passed the steep hill off the big roundabout at Balloch,the one with the crazy geese "artwork". That was where we re-appeared, although some would have continued down the footpath to Old Luss Road. Steph had decided to finish the run by following the A82 on the footpath on the town side of the carraigeway and finishing by taking a path into Christie Park and running along Middleton St to finish. A tiny bit short of 12 miles by G-Map the link to the route here. Just short of 2 hours and a well deserved shower to follow.
Thursday night is the club's first hill race, over the Stonymollan 5 miles and 1060 feet of climbing, a veritable sprint. Don't know if I can run it as I'm tied up during the day with my wife's car and may be pushed to get to the club in time. If I'm late I'll maybe climb the hill from Cardross and take a few pics for the website, the views from the top are spectacular.
My new trail shoes came today but they're still pristine as I wore my poor old road shoes tonight, and they are headed for a bath for the third time in a week. Tonight's run was pretty muddy in places, but generally firm. The worst bit being Jimmy's part of the route!

Inspiration....... from a 4 yr old

After posting Fridays episode I set off on a local run in the village, achieved by running about 1200 metres in village streets in a 5 mile run:-). That remark aimed at a reader who got dizzy running round the village streets. Out of the house, up the Carman road, through St Peter's College and the golf course, round past the primary, up Darleith Road, through Drumhead, down Red Rd to the A814 and back along to my house. Plenty of options to extend it without crossing my path or using the same street twice! Suffering a bit of pain around my Achilles; possibly from last weeks walk.
No running on Saturday due to domestic duties in preparation for some visitors in the afternoon. My sister Anne, neice Sarah Jane, nephew Ally and Sarah Jane's two sons Jack (6) and Darren (4). My son Andrew is a casual leisure assistant in the Meadow Centre, in Dumbarton and regularly works with disabled kids through a group called Shining Stars. Darren has special needs and we thought that it would be agood idea to bring him up from Irvine to see how he got on at the group. The Saturday sessions are set up so that other family members can participate so we all went along. Jack soon found himself in 6 yr old heaven with someone paid to play football with him, but Darren was brilliant, absolutely loving being on the huge, bouncy castle-type, agility aparatus. I will admit to getting the shoes off and trying it with him, but he alone could climb the ladder to the top of the slide.(I don't think the steps are designed for 6'1" 14 1/2 stone adults. He had a ball and when Andrew took him on the trampoline it made his day. Darren has overcome a lot; even to walk has taken a lot of practice and patience, building muscles and getting coordinated enough to put one foot in front of another. He also has communication problems,although he is more than capable of getting his way!
The whole day was magical and makes me realise how lucky I am to be capable of training for the events I tackle.
Some time ago his parents were asked to pay a lot of money for the specially designed tricycle (in the picture above) to aid him in developing his leg muscles. Either that or wait a long time for funding, which would have delayed the progress he has made. They were about to start some fund-raising, when a mystery benefactor stepped in to pay, for which they are very grateful. However, I reckon that I could take the opportunity to do some fund-raising when I'm running the Fling and the WHW race, in order that, if they are in that situation again, they would have the money available. So add that to my goals. One problem will be that I can't use Just-giving or similar sites as I'm not raising for a registered charity. It'll just have to be the old fashioned sponsor sheets then!

Run today also affected by their visit. Tidying up! Then, of course, I was obliged to sit and watch the Old Firm match, and how boring was that? Saw Everton's first goal before setting off on an easy paced run which turned into a 10 miler, although it finished with the run(and walk!) over the Carman Hill road from the Renton side. Back in time to see the players shake hands and thought that would start off John Kynaston's week nicely. Pity Derby couldn't do the business! By the way, the Derby v Man U game was on Sky channel 993 (ITV London). Too late now, but maybe you'll remember for the 6th round!
Plan for this week involves a long run tomorrow and an attempt to do another on the WHW on Saturday.