Beautiful pictures
I know everybody's different, but I've never understood the rush to get up a hill. I'm a slow walker on steep ground anyway, but I go out to enjoy a day in the mountains, not to see how many I can knock off before breakfast
I'm an inveterate stravaiger - I'm out there to explore, to look at things, to admire, to just
be - 9 hours is an average day out for me, so you're by no means alone!
My only advice would be: always carry a headtorch, and if you don't already have it, get a little experience of being out at night (maybe on a safe hill you already know). That way you won't worry about being slow. I'm not saying you should
plan to be out there at midnight, but it does mean that you don't panic if it looks as though you'll be coming back down as the light's fading.
I kinda like to be coming off the hill as the sun's setting, because the light is often spectacular and the photo opportunities are great!