Merrick

25th Anniversary race, my 10th, sponsored by Glenfiddich, a shortened version today of the out and back that's been run the two previous years, winds on Merrick reported to be 80mph, combined with the horizontal rain on the way up a good decision. Short run to start, about 10 yards, jump the burn and plod up the Fell of Eschoncan, running along the top through bogs and trees onto the climb up Bennan, wind and rain kicked in, jacket on, stumbling through more bogs then the rocky traverse round the summit through the bogs to Ben Yellary, wind almost behind on the way up, stopped to pick up someones specs, round the cairn at the top instead of the out and back to the higher top of Merrick running as hard as the terrain would allow, watch out for the boulders strewn across much of the course. Managed to scramble past a few runners on the way back to finish just over 91 mins, hats off to the marshalls for their efforts today in trying conditions, course marked from start to finish, encouragement and smiles all the way too.