Glen Rosa

Glorious weather for the 1st long race in this years SHR champs. Starts and finishes behind Brodick Castle with 13 miles and 5500' of ascent in between. Route sort of undulates upwards and takes in 4 tops, Beinn Chliabhain, Cir Mhor, North Goat Fell and Goat Fell.

After a nice sail across from Ardrossan, with race registration on board, 122 set off for the 2 flattish mile run through the forest into Glen Rosa. You have a choice of routes to the summit of Beinn Chliabhain, I started climbing up beside Garbh Alt to get onto the ridge early. A lot of runners continue along the glen for a shorter steeper climb. Jog walk the ridge, its a tough race and you need to pace yourself.

Leaving BC you drop steeply down into Coire Daingean and contour round below the A' Chir ridge then run up Fionn Choire towards Cir Mhor, top No 2. From there you have to return to Fionn Choire then contour under Cir Mhor to the Saddle, to avoid the route along the top which is a difficult rock climb.

A gravelly path takes you up from the Saddle to North Goat Fell where you are faced with the choices and trickery of the Stacach to get to Goat Fell. My route choice better than some stuck up on the crags, there are a couple of sneaky paths to help you avoid having to rock climb.

I had dropped behind a few runners on the way up from the Saddle, however I caught most of them with a great run off Goat Fell, knowing there was no more ups to come. Stopped for a refreshing wash in the stream just before re-entering the forest. The first part of the forest is a bit up and down before turning downhill to the finish through fields behind Brodick Castle.

Finished just under 3 hrs 47, 80th out of 115 finishers, great race, scenery to die for, took a few pictures before during and after, here's a link.