Three of us set off for the Kingdom to try the new route for this medium hill race. The old route was 11 miles and 3400' of ascent. The new one 10 miles and 2500'. The map showed the race used some of the old route, missing out the initial climb of W Lomond and the East West traverse was changed from a landrover track to a sheep track. A different start / finish and a visit to the Bannet Stane. 
Bannet Stane with the bumslide behind.
Blue skies and a cool breeze as we set off up the path onto forest trails and roads winding our way up to the monument, tried to keep a steady pace without going into oxygen debt. Over the deerfence, through the firebreaks to the trail out to East Lomond. Running faster as I recovered along the flattish track before a short sharp climb up to EL summit. We returned along the same track back to the road crossing/water station at Craigmead. A short uphill then across flat moorland to Maiden Castle. Eased back along the rough undulating sheep track towards W Lomond where a rocky gulley took us up from old quarry workings towards WL, a couple more short climbs and then helter skelter down towards the bumslide. Passed 5 runners sitting down, escaped with only minor abraisions and ran past the medics waiting at the bottom to the Bannet Stane. Short cruel climb back up WL on the old route start track, thankfully soon up to the final checkpoint and the descending traverse back to the forest. Heat kicked in and I took it nice and steady, back into the trees and much cooler and I could up the effort level for the last few minutes. Finished in about 2:09. Post race Teas in the Strathmiglo Hall before the drive home. A good day out.
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