Another go at this classic, 10 miles with 4400' of ascent and descent, straight up and straight down, no fuss or detours just a blast from start to finish.
After a slower run last year hoped to get under 2 1/2 hours, slow by race standards, and my aim was to get to the Red Burn, 2200', in as near to 50 mins as possible then 48 mins to the summit, anything under 52 to the finish would get me in under 2 1/2.
Set off on the usual charge round the sports field and onto achintee road for about a mile leading to the tourist path proper. The route climbs steeper as it winds its way up Glen Nevis on "Melantee" before contouring up and round towards the Red Burn, the only puzzle was which of the many short cuts to take.
For a change reached the Red Burn without feeling as if I needed to lie down until I looked at the watch, just over 53 mins, a bit of a blow but still worth a push to the top. From the Red Burn its straight up the steep rock and scree slopes and it doesn't seem long before the leaders are flying back down.
As you approach the summit more and more runners come past, difficult to avoid as they jump and stumble their chaotic way down.
Reached the top in just over 1 hour 40 mins having clawed back some of the time lost in the first half. To put it in perspective, the 1st 10 were back at the finish before I reached the top.
Handed in my tag to the summit marshalls and headed back over the rocky top at a steady jog, pace increasing as the ground gets steeper through the Field of Cairns, managing to get past a few steady runners before it gets really steep as you pick up the Red Burn.
A new experience this year was being overtaken by a runner doing a somersault on the steepest rockiest part, he spins past and on down the mountain taking out the runner below/in front, a surreal experience in what seems like slow motion, somehow manage to keep my balance, eyes on where my feet could grip as well as the acrobatics.
Luckily both ok and aftere a quick nod took off down hill towards the Green Wall of Death, just as steep but muddy, rock and scree filled grass, a mixture of bumsliding, running, jumping & generally just hope for the best for the last 800' back down to the Tourist Path on Melantee.
Although downhill the Tourist Path is not the best place to run, boulder steps set into the ground to minimise path erosion, greasy, grit covered rocks with more steady runners in front to overtake and walkers climbing up to avoid. Push on as hard as possible on the down slope and soon past the rockiest part with the help of a short cut or two.
To keep the momentum going I try to pick off a few more runners in front for the last 1/2 mile or so of the Tourist Path before the "murder mile" of tarmac called Achintee Road.
Reach the road in 2:22 and some seconds, took me 9 minutes at the start but give it a go and reach Claggan Park with just under a minute under 2 1/2 hours. No way there was going to be a heroic sprint but pushing hard all the way round the park to the finish in 23 seconds over 2 1/2 hours, a PB by some 40 seconds.
Adventure Show TV Cameras there again this year so maybe another 5 seconds of fame!
Next years race is to be part of the Buff Skyrunner Series so entries will be scarce - miss it at your peril.
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