ANOTHER busy week for running and jogging group Ron's Runners saw members once again enter various events.

Trail running seems to be gaining in popularity within the club and fields at most venues also seem to be on the up-and-up.

In summer with no cross-country events on offer trail running provides a choice between out-and-out road running and the more difficult and hazardous hill running although trail running can provide some steep and potential dangerous hills nevertheless.

One such is the Milngavie Trail run - now in its third year, and based around the wild and beautiful trails of the West Highland Way and Mugdock Country Park.

It starts and finishes at the Headquarters of the 1st Milngavie Scout Group and takes runners out through some scenic and challenging terrain. Some 233 runners lined up for the start in sunny if breezy, warm weather. The first few miles takes runners from the park through the pedestrian precinct and on to the West Highland Way and within a mile the first testing climb soon faced the runners and Carrol Finlay began to rue her lack of hill running recently.

At the two-mile mark,the route then heads up into Mugdock Park to tackle the second and more difficult of the 2 big climbs reaching the highest point of the race at the 2.5 mile mark. Gemma Davidson, who had left Carrol in her wake was delighted to have overcome the climbs and relaxed for the remaining miles. Through forest tracks and along a short stretch of tarmac road the route undulates to the half way stage where it re-joins the West Highland Way. During a rocky downhill section Carrol made up a few places and put away her disappointment of the climbs but disaster was looming.

With two miles to the end of the downhill forest section Carrol lost her footing taking a crashing fall but miraculously avoiding the rocks and serious injury.

With confidence shattered those last two miles were a real struggle for her to keep moving but determined to finish ahead of the runners passed earlier forged painfully on and to great relief. With the race over finishers received a bottle of beer and a medal, and tea and delicious home baking awaited in the Scout Hall.

David Ridout was the sole male representative from the club, and with his regular attendance at hill and trail runs this year made his experience tell reporting no serious mishaps this week and with plenty of marshals along the route, scenic views and a well organised event finished well content with his performance. David’s time was 1hr 19 mins and 56 seconds for 127th position just missing out on a top-half finish Gemma in her second race in two days recorded 1:27:25 while Carrol, considering her fall, rightly declared herself “over the moon” with her 1:33:58 almost three-and-a-half minutes faster than last year.

All three praised the event and hope to return next year.

Killearn 10k was another trail run held this week and the club had six on the start line having been piped from registration. A very popular scenic route starting downhill on the road from the village then turns onto the pipe track a trail of mostly hard-packed gravel or stony tracks in the countryside with sheep all around. Quite undulating out to the 5k turning point the trail takes runners over almost 1k of grass before following a tarmac road back to the finish.

On the final 2k it is mostly downhill back into town before a small incline leads to a level finishing straight where the welcome sound of the pipes playing greeted every finisher. Andy Stewart with his time of 42:46 finished 16th from a field of 204 and claimed the trophy for first over 50 to finish.

Following Andy was John Owens 44:56 and inform Neil Kyle took 46:09.

Sylvia Mulholland - despite a nasty fall on tarmac giving a bloodied look at the finish - returned first of the three girls entered timing 52:09 Gemma Davidson - in her first of back to back races - recorded 63:18 while a good result for Dayle Burnside saw 78:51.

Wednesday night saw more action when Mark Garton notched up his 50th appearance in the weekly Glasgow Quays 5k held within Glasgow Green. On this occasion and on the usual flat course Mark recorded 23:20 and on Thursday also in a Glasgow park, John Owens also ran in the Rouken Glen 10k John Owens on a wet and driech night timed 45:50. As the starting gun went so the rain began in earnest once again drenching all taking part. The course was contained within the confines of the park and after a fast start the incline met at 5k led to a dramatic dropping of pace. John reported that the last kilometre was by far the toughest of an enjoyable night of running despite the adverse weather.

In the local park 5k this week with the Kilmarnock ‘Roon the Toon’ in the offing there were still a few members who opted to enter.

Taking the honours of first home Cameron Miller 19:40 followed by John Owens 25:16, Neil Kyle 25:24 Ian Walterson must have been delighted with 25:47 Margaret Craig was next over the finish line with 31:00 before Eric Pearson took 32:24. Mary Huggan 34:38 was ahead of her sister Ann Hay 36:02, running with her daughter Carol Rome posted 36:24 to Kirsty’s 36:18.

Run with company and enjoy running more and in greater safety. Runners of all kinds especially those wishing to start are welcome to join training sessions at 6pm in Eglinton Park on Tuesdays and the same time on Thursday from the asda end of the mall. For more details contact jogalong2010@hotmail.com.