Ben Nevis

Seems like an age since I was lucky enough in Feb to secure an entry for the race up and down the Ben. Arrived on Friday evening for a weekend based at Glen Nevis campsite. An electric pitch this year so two heaters, electric fridge, phone chargers, hair straightners (not mine) and power supply for the laptop, oh dear.

Damp Friday night and Saturday am, drizzly as race time approached with low winds, good for running. One o'clock we start with a charge round Laggan Park and onto the road to the Nevis path, kept the heart rate under control for a change, making steady progress past Heart Attack hill and up the shortcut at Eddies Bench. Hopefully smiled for the photo at the metal bridge, round a not so windy corner and onto the cross country route to the Red Burn, arriving in 55 mins feeling fine although a couple of minutes slower than last year.

The upper half and things steepen up a bit, grassy bit first then onto rock and scree, held my place, even a couple of short bursts of energy where I went past one or two. Over some boulders and the gradient eases, felt good, pushed on, running past several others while dodging the front runners coming back, working hard but feel fine the easy pace at the start paying off arriving at the top in 1:45, 5 minutes quicker than last year.

Gloves on for the descent, passing people straight away, ouch, sore on the feet at the top. Starts to get steep, then steeper, difficult to overtake safely, rocks flying everywhere, picked up a nice? track closer to the Red Burn than usual and soon onto muddy slopes just above the grassy bank.

The grassy bank's a tough section for everyone, stop moaning and just get on with it, go to the left of the trail and manage to stay on my feet a bit more, slightly better grip but people I worked hard to pass on the rocky slopes coming past, slide the last 15 feet into the burn.

Back to the tourist path with its slippy gritty rocks, great, charge, behave, stay upright, it'll be a sore one if you fall. Aware of those just in front and behind, a bit stop start overtaking when I can dodging the walkers and their dogs. Scramble down the first shortcut ok, the second a poor choice as couple of hard won places are lost.

Easier going now, most of the rocks can be jumped, gradually gain back a couple of places and push on for the end of the trail, good to hear a shout from Chris for the Millies, reached the road in 2:29. Tried to chase the guys in front, picked a couple off then spied a Welsh runner closing fast he catches me on the run round the games field. Finished in 2:38:11, best for 4 years, felt better than usual at the end, lost a bit of time on the grassy bank and a minute or so on a poor choice of shortcut, so room for improvement.

Link to lots of pictures and video here.