Goat Fell

200 plus runners in the third race in this year's SHR Championship, a medium at 8 miles with 2900' of ascent. Started in Brodick on roads going towards Brodick Castle Estate, turning into the grounds of the Estate, onto the hill path after 1 1/2 miles. The path runnable as it undulates up through forest, a bit too warm with thermal top and vest. Soon enough we pop out the trees onto the rocky mountain path winding its way across towards GF's eastern shoulder, we turn west, walking and scrambling now as the ground gets a bit steeper, more exposed, wind, rain and the runners in front bombing past complicate the climb up the slabby ridge. Round the trig point, no views today, running back down, carefully at first down the steep bouldery ground. Pick up speed as the gradient eases the runner in front holds me up for a few minutes, too risky to pass as we negotiate the rough boulders, ease past down a wider slab then I can relax and pick up the pace again, its a fun full concentration descent as you cross back towards the forest track, eyes constantly scanning the boulders ahead for your next foot placement, only glancing up to pick a line past a runner or hillwalker. Good fast running through the forest then its 1 1/2 miles on the road back to Brodick finishing in 129th place in 1 hour 58 to tea, sandwiches and cakes before the Calmac ferry back to Ardrossan. Loads of pictures, here, here, here & here.