Sunday, July 26, 2009

Luss Highland Games, Sun 26th July

After yesterday perfect weather woke up to low cloud and rain not the best for the two hill races at Luss Highland Games. The local race goes about half way up and down Cruach Dhubh, the open race all the way up and down.

First the Local race, five runners appeared, one from the club, one real runner, me and two others. Set off in third or fourth place reaching the turning point in third. Soon caught the guy in front who then tried a short cut through head high ferns, wrong decision. Couldn't see him so kept the gas on as I ran round the same ferns, managed to gain a hundred or so yards advantage by the time I caught sight of him again.

Steady run through the maze of paths back towards the games field to finish, just over 20 minutes, a comfortable second and £15.

The Open race a couple of hours later usually attracts a much bigger field of 15 plus runners, this year only seven runners and Tommy the Greenock fundraising clown. The weather probably to blame although the sun was making an effort to break through by race time.

Set off near the back the first five pulling away round the games field. Onto the hill and nothing for it but head down and push, ran where I could. No paths on the upper half of the hill through deep tussocks and more ferns, just under 25 minutes to the top.

Turned with a big gap in front and behind, cut the gap in front to about 30 yards as we came off the hill but then lost about 50 in the flat run in to finish sixth in just over 35 mins.

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