Ben Lomond

A warm and windless afternoon greeted the runners as we set off at 1 pm for my yearly attempt to get under 1 hour 40. A quick dash along the road then up through whats left of the woods. Came out the woods in a small group and ran as many of the flatter parts as I could. Seemed to work as I didn't lose as much distance as usual on the steep parts. Onto the shoulder at half way and running up into the clouds. At the top they kick you off the track again over rough ground to meet the ridge path, working hard now the up part is nearly over. Reach the top in just over 69 minutes, a quick drink from the summit marshall and off chasing the runners in front. The run off the ridge tricky down the rocky zig zags while trying to overtake as many as possible. The close proximity of other runners means careful foot placement as we all tend to go for similar lines while keeping our chaotic descent upright. The first part of the plateau just as tricky, not as steep but still plenty of rocks to hop over as we try to pick up the pace. Settle into a steady pace as the plateau levels off, towards the end we leave the trail down a steep grassy bank, thunder and lightning overhead helps increase the pace. Through the gate and back on the path then just when you think the routes changed and its path all the way back we are directed onto trackless boggy tussocks for a few hundred yards. Soon we're back on the path again and losing concentration for a second down I go, knees, hip and hands take a battering in a rocky ditch, try to roll out of major impact and get going again without losing any places, although running with a limp for the next two hundred yards slows me down a bit. Knee soon eases and back up to speed for the bad step, tip toe through and down into the forest. Keep working hard, in traffic again, route choice important to keep passing slower descenders. Back on the road and muster a last effort to finish just over 1 hour 41. Pictures from the finish here.