Went up to Lossie a day early so that I could run the Ben Rinnes 5 Tops Hill Race again, 14 miles and 5000' of ascent, an out and back to Ben Rinnes taking in the tops of Little Conval and Meikle Conval, some more race info here.
The race starts and finishes with a lap round the field typical of Highland games hill races. 60 or so runners took part. The first mile or two is on farm tracks and over a golf course before the gradient increases onto the hillside. No real drive in my legs and just kept it steady over the first two hills reaching the road crossing in 61 mins. Stopped for a drink and some jelly babies before a reasonable run up Ben Rinnes, slowed towards the top where we were greeted by a squally shower.
Climbed through the summit Tor and set off back towards the road, a bit of a struggle rather than the usual downhill wheeee. Another drink and some sweets before the steep climb up Meile Conval, had to stop every 10 yards or so, made it to the flag but being passed by several others and stopped to try and refuel. Painful plod but gradually imporved and over the top of MC managed to claw a couple of places back.
The climb up Little Conval thankfully short and managed a reasonable pace for the 2 or 3 mile run down to finish in 3 hours 22 not quite a PW but felt like it. Had a lie down at the side of the games field to contemplate and recover before the traditional cold shower. Only the fast runners get a hot shower. Race winner, Joe Symmonds, finished in 1 hr 54 breaking his brothers record from last year by a couple of minutes. They come from hill racing stock, read the book.
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