Stuc a'Chroin

160 plus runners in this years Stuc, better weather than last years freezing wet hell. Tighter safety rules and checks at registration. Trotted along the two mile forest trail and onto the hill through forest. Across the moor to Meall Mor and in to Glen Ample. Work my way up the Beinn Each climb in stages, three steep heathery sections then a rocky traverse onto a steep eroded path, a few minutes and the gradient eases as we climb towards BE's top. Sharp left down onto the ridge to the Stuc pass a couple of tentative descender's. The ridge twists and turns and undulates, reach the crossover at Bealach nan Cabar in 1 hour 40, the next ridge section to Beallach Glas longer than I remembered then its up up up to the top of the Stuc. Turn the cairn in 2 hours 24. Pass the last few runners on their way up as I stagger my way back along the ridge to Beallach nan Cabar, more down than up. Good trail marked into Glen Ample and I'm soon traversing along to the crossover. Jog walk across the bottom of Glen Ample then trudge up to Meall Mor, a weary trundle back across to the forest and down the trail to the finish and soup at Strathyre, 4 hours 7 this year. Another good Stuc, water, sweets and support from plenty of marshalls all over the route, every turning point manned on the fully marked route.