Ben Venue

A relatively new race first run in 2009, short course run due to bad weather, 2010 the original planned course, since then a slightly longer course. About 90 set off today, first faller 20 yards up the road with a chunk out his knee, ouch. The first couple of miles on trails and forest roads, undulating up of course. Steep trudge up Ben Venue's shoulder to the top for a rocky boggy ridge run down past Creag a' Bheallach then back up the ridge on narrow trods, a few route choices especially in the mist. Steep grassy drop to get off the hill, a mixture of run, fall and slide, onto forest roads and tracks for 2 miles of undulating downhill finishing the 8 1/2 miles and 2800' in 1 hour 50. Good running today, cool, sunny, not much wind, a small shower to cool me down at just the right time. Tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes stacked in the race marquee made for a pleasant finish. Sunday 5 mile cool down run over Carman Muir.