Ben Lomond

Cracker of a day for this years race. After a bus trip from Rowardennan around 150 set off from the Rowardennan Hotel for the trudge to the top and back. Warm on the lower slopes as the path clambers through the trees. Out of the trees, jogging and walking as the gradient changes. Sent off path up grassy slopes before the plateau, different line this year, we were taken 100 yards further left. Onto the plateau and running again, the leaders coming down a bit sooner than I would have liked. A change to the top section this year, stay on the zig zag path onto the shoulder following the path along to the top in a slow 75 mins. On the way back we are sent down steep grassy slopes half way along the shoulder, easier than I thought it would be, not as steep as it is going up. On the run down the plateau keep going and try to catch those in front. Catch a few down the grassy bank. A short path section then off on the other side down pathless mucky rocky hillside. Back to the path and I have to force it to keep the pace up. Good fun over the lower rocky sections where I manage to catch and pass a few more tentative runners. The dreaded run along the road to the finish, nip past a Westie in the finish funnel, after a slow 35 mins descent. Enjoyed the race but not my time. Soup and rolls and a seat in the sun watching the speedsters get their prizes. Pictures here , here and here as well.