Ben Lomond

SHR and SAL Championship race this year, after the organisers brief on how it is important to be nice to hill walkers no matter what I set off with nearly 200 runners to tackle this rocky lump. Beautiful day with the promise of a breeze further up. Climbed up through whats left of the forest running as much as possible and picking out the best route for the return. Through the gate and onto the open hillside jog walking to our groups beat. No breeze yet, directed off path after the second gate, going well until I lost concentration for a couple of minutes and a few came past. You rejoin the tourist path at the top of the shoulder, breeze at last,  and run most of this plateau section. Round the last curving climb befor the summit dome you have to dodge the leaders as they hurtle past. Off track again a diagonal up towards the summit ridge, 10 minutes of toil and you pop up on the narrow ridge and slide past the runners coming back. Grab a drink of water from the marshal at the top, gloves on and push off for the helter skelter descent. Run back along the ridge gradually picking up speed, there's a group of 5 or 6 in front and get snagged in them on the first steep drop from the top, pass 3 at the bottom with a wee jump or two. The top of the plateau full of twists and rocks, foot placement the key to a safe journey. As it levels off I try to keep it steady and pick off the runners in front one by one. Just before the drop down the grassy bank the guy in front of me goes down, check he is ok then off again. Take the first section steady then let go and work hard until through the gate. A short section of path then off into the bog and heather, 3 pass me here including the guy who fell, tuck in behind them, foot off the breaks nearer the bottom, now I concentrate on picking the right line for each little obstacle, recover a couple of places then past a couple of the walking wounded, well one was being carried! Through the bottom gate and it takes maximum effort to maintain anything but a steady jog on the flat sections. Cruise down to the end of the tourist track and encourage a toiling runner on the way past. Finish in just over 1 hour 40, 68 1/2 mins up, 32 down. Trad swim in the loch then soup n a roll and a pint in the sun watching the prize giving. New sub 66 min record for the winner, the last runners just over 2 hrs 28. Link to results and slide show/photos here.