Jura Fell Race

Got a late entry just before Slioch, holiday booked, set off with car boot full of camping gear and bike. Free Bunnahabhain 12 and 18 year old on the ferry to Islay, glorious sun, and a few dolphins made for a good start.

 
Short hop on the Jura ferry and a slow cycle to Craighouse, home for the weekend. 

 Usual feast of pizza, rolls and cakes in the distillery all weekend. 

 Sat morning, easy kit check and running for 10:30, three pips first, inside the cut offs, climbing the first Pap, Beinn a'Chaolais, slowed down to a crawl, stepping aside every 50 yards or so to let those behind pass on the narrow trods. 
 

Reached the top, CP 4 still inside the cutoffs and decided not to continue, showed the next two runners the route off and down to the saddle before Beinn an Oir and pointed out the onward route. Cut down to 3 Arch bridge via a swim in the boathouse lochan and the delightful 3 miles of road to the finish, still out for over 5 hours despite missing the last three climbs. A swim in the sea to cool off and spent the rest of the day rehydrating and mulling over the run. Sunday cycle back to the Feolin ferry to Port Askaig and on to Kennacraig, calm waters, sunny sky, but no Dolphins or Bunnahabahain on the way back. 

 

 
Stopped at Inverary to capture the Castle on film and bagged a Heron as well!

Kilpatricks Hill Race

First run since Slioch, took it easy on the road then easier up the hill, started running once through the zig zags up onto the heathery moor and across to the track. Off track again and down towards the lochside, managed to avoid the nasty looking fence post remnants, walked the first part of the slacks until I caught the cyclist then managed to run to the top, steady run across to the zig zag descent back to the road, managed to pass a few, ran into finish just over 67 mins.

Slioch Horseshoe Hillrace

Weekend based in Sands campsite just north of Gairloch. Travelled up on Friday, nice evening then rain set in later on. Wet again Saturday morning, sounded heavier inside the tent. Registration in Kinlochewe then a mile or so warm up walk to the start at Incheril. Quick race brief around the bad weather route avoiding a swollen burn and 60 plus runners set off for 5k of undulating trail to the foot of Slioch. The start not too steep, wet muddy rocky, the tourist trail towards Slioch, struggling all the way contemplated turning back several times as most of the field spread out in front. A couple of jelly babies and a marshall taking pictures just about kept me going, left the path for the ascent/assault of Sgurr Dubh steep heathery and rocky.

Felt better here, no quicker just made being slow good enough a reason to keep trying. Followed the ridge off Sgurr Dubh past the lochans onto the ridge to Sliochs multiple tops, wasted some energy going over the first one instead of round it then an undulating run over the two true summits. Turned back for the lochans to pick up the tourist trail into Sliochs White Corrie, more wet muddy rocky trail, care and attention more important than pace, thankfully no runners in sight on the way back to tempt me in to a chase. Reached the bottom no falls, no cramp, just the 5k undulating trail to finish just inside 4 hours. Mixture of homemade energy food and fruit at the finish then a good feed back at registration, hot veggy stew, coffee and cakes. Just missed the prize giving, everyone went home with a beer.

Back to Sands campsite, weather now glorious!

Arrochar undulations

Very sunny today, a fresh breeze meant keep moving. Ran up the Glen Loin trail to Coirgrogain and decided to go Vane, Ime instead of Vorlich Vane, took the path to Vane at the second wee bridge, ground dry for a change. Took it steady passing a few walkers on the way, reached the top a couple of hours after leaving Arrochar.

 Lui Munro's from Vane

Ran off along the west ridge to avoid the worst of the crags before dropping into the glen. Walked up the ridge through the cliffs heading up towards the summit just before the beallach. Short break to re fuel at the top, easy run down to Beallach a Mhaim, avoiding temptation to run up Narnain or the Cobbler.

Narnain from Ime

Kept off path as much as possible through the glen on the way back to Arrochar. About 4 1/2 hours, a bit quicker than the last snowy run. A few more pictures here.

Dumyat

Usual rush to get there in time for the 7 pm start, big field 340 or so, perfect night, sunny, cool breeze. Chip timing as well. Usual charge up the road and rest at the hole in the wa, undulating track and road before we get off road, through the forest, dry underfoot so no slipping on the steep bank. Try to keep running instead of jog/walk many others are doing. Onto the open hillside and keep it going, the leaders came back a bit sooner than hoped. Round the summit cairn and let go the brakes dodging those still ascending. A couple overtake as the gradient eases, back into the forest and grab the places back plus a couple more, hang on along the undulating track, ease the pace back up on the last down hill to finish in about 54 mins.

Ben Lomond

Race up and down the Ben, good day for it, top clear. Warm at the start, cool breeze once clear of the trees. Couple of slight route changes this year, more off trail on the way up swapping a steeper rocky path section for some tussocks and the ridge access/egress by the same way meant you got to see everyone in the race as you navigated up and down the summit ridge. Steady run walk on the way up, not losing too many places once the race settled down, probably taking it a bit too easy. Good run off the grassy bank from the summit ridge, steady down the plateau, gradually reeled in a couple on the lower grassy and rocky sections. Careful on the rocky path at the bottom to finish in 1 hour 54, swim in the loch at the end, a good day.

Whangie Whizz

Damp evening for the Whangie Whizz, over 100 started. Felt cold before the start, didn't take long to warm up, after the initial climb settled into a steady trot along the rocky muddy trail, through the Whangie and up to the ridge picking up the pace down towards the track, lost a couple of places on the track. Back up the ridge to the trig point kept a steady jog going, losing a place near the top, down hill not steep enough but still managed to overtake a couple. Finished just over 46 mins.