Bella Ben Venue

Sat 3rd Oct and a new race starting off the road to Loch Katrine running up Gleann Riabhach on forrest roads and paths. Once out the forrest the route was to run up the shoulder of Ben Venue then along the ridge over its two tops, drop down to a Beallach then back up onto Creag a' Bhealach before plunging back down into the forrest for a roller coaster run back to the start.

That was the plan, the weather had other ideas, Mountain Rescue advised they couldn't stand up on the ridge and the race was cut back from 8 miles/3000 FOA to an out and back to the Beallach, 6 1/2 miles & 1800 FOA. It was no more than breezy at the start & off we went.

The first 2 1/2 miles through the forrest climbing about 1100' but runnable. Once out the forrest the fun started, the Ben Venue hill walkers route is a bit of a swamp on a good day and with 600' of ascent in under 3/4 of a mile hard work all the way.

As we turned the corner approaching the turning point the wind hit, running hard with no forward movement, knocked sideways then backwards, maybe the MR team got it right! Clawed my way to the cairn in 46 mins and turned for home, good fun with the wind at your back.

The run down to the forrest was fast but tricky through the bogs with some steep rocky sections to test your brakes, took a few plunges into gunky brown muck but only one fall crossing a stream.

Back into the forrest on rubber legs after the hard descent off the hill, lean forward and give it a go, a few streams to jump and the odd short sharp uphill to break your rhythm. 26 minute descent to finish in 47th place.

Tea, coffee, sandwiches and loads of cakes after, another reason Hill Runners do it with a smile, super race which the Bella H say will be run again next year, hopefully the full route.

Results, pictures and more pictures.

SHR Write up.