Kilpatrick Hill Race

Recovery race after Jura, set off near the back, took it easy up the road, jog walk up the zig zags running more towards the top. Single file across the heather pick up the effort once onto the farm road. Managed to.overtake a few.  Back on heathery stuff then the awkward run alongside Greenside reservoir, better marking of the spikes this year and onto the last climb up the slacks, undulating start to the descent then down towards the zig zags, manage to pass a couple before the last half mile on the road to finish in about 65 mins.

Jura Fells Race

Getting there part of the fun, a couple of hours in the car to Kennacraig, another couple on a boat to Islay, plenty of time for a feed, short ferry journey to Jura then an hour by bike to Craighouse home for the weekend. Tent up and into the Cooperage, race HQ, as well as food central, pizza, sandwiches, cakes, cakes and cakes, a couple of laps sampling the food on offer then off to the Antlers bistro for tea, carbo loading I think its called. Early night not too comfy in my tiny Vango Banshee with only a thin rollmat. Cereal and coffee for breakfast then off to the Cooperage for second breakfast. Warm with a threat of thunder and lightning meant route might have to change at any time during the race getting marshals off the tops and running a low level alternative route. Everyone accepts and soon we are set off up the track towards the Pips, 3 small hills that spreads the field out before the Paps.

Checkpoint 1, arriving in about 55 mins, the cut off is 70. CP2 and 3 are gained easily in good visibilty followed by the steep rough drop into and acrosss Gleann Astaile.

Steeper stuff now, felt fine up the 1st Pap, the run off good fun especially down whats left of the scree at the bottom. Not feeling so fresh going up Pap 2, very warm, drenched o
In sweat, take on some electrolyte fluids and hope for the best.

Third Pap and Corra Bhein beyond from top of 2nd Pap.

Cross to the third Pap, feeling better and keep a steady trudge going, find a new path, good foot holes on grass rather than boulders until the last wee climb to the top. The run off the 3rd Pap starts across boulders then scree and more boulders.

Struggled to get down quickly, stop start trying to avoid the worst of the boulders and stay upright. Couldn't find the small path I found a couple of years ago. Running up Corra Bhein, the last hill cramp invades, more electrolytes help reach the top in a minute under 5 hours. Drink the last of my electrolytes and set off towards three arch bridge as fast as I can go cross the Corran river and along the swampy track, cramp creeping back, slow down and work through to the bridge, the last three and a bit miles on the road, thirty one minutes to get to the finish, make it in thirty to finish a minute inside 6 hours. Staggered into the sea to start recovery sanwiches cakes and beer. A few more pictures here.

Goat Fell hill race

A day out to Arran for the third race in the Scottish Hill Runners Championship also the Scottish Athletics Championship Race.

Forecast was for cloud and some rain, cloudy on the way over from Ardrossan then cleared up through the day. Second breakfast on the boat from Ardrossan. Race started at 12 with a run along the road towards Brodick Castle turning up the tourist path from the grounds. Runnable path undulates up through the trees single file in a few narrow parts. Out the trees and the gradient eases for a while then rockier and steeper, can't bear to watch the leaders as they career past on their way back down, keep running until the final steep pull up to the top, hands on knees and rock get me there. The summit is covered in huge blocks and missed the view into Glen Rosa watching where I put my feet. Tricky descent, demands concentration navigating the rocks and runners coming up. Gradually pick up the pace, although a couple of runners get past me I would catch them on the road. Difficult overtaking, make it past a few with a bit of patience and some short quick bursts. Through the deer fence and down the last few rocky steps and relax at bit back on smoother trails. Still managing to catch and pass one or two then it's onto the road for a steady mile or so to the finish. Catch a few more on the run in, one gets me back just before the lap round the pitch to finish.

Swim in the sea and coffee and cakes sitting in the sun watching the prize giving before the crusie back to Ardrossan in the sun.

Finished inside 1:56, more pictures here.

Ben Vorlich

Set off for an easy out and back to Vorlich from the Arrochar Car Parks running up through Glen Loin. Low cloud and a bit of light rain but thankfully no wind.

Slow trudge up Vorlichs steep winding path into the clouds. A few rest breaks as I don't have much energy after the last week or so running and racing. Jacket on just before reaching the summit ridge. Running again past ghostly crag and rock along to the cairn, a short break then return past the trig point and back down the path to Glen Loin. Finished just under 4 hours. A few more pictures here.

Whangie hill race

Arrived nice and early, walked to the start and a short warm up jog. A quick head count and we were off along the track without any ffurther fuss. Up the hill and onto the undulating trail to the Whangie, settled into a steady pace working my way past runner's in front when I can, the Whangie is always further away than you think, past a few climbers on our way through. Jump out and run up towards the trig point for the first time. Downhill now towards the track at Burncrooks and Kilmannan reservoirs​. Short recovery then back up the ridge, working hard to catch those ahead. Back at the trig and a clubmate comes past, dig in and stay just behind through a shallow down and up, overtake at the top and run as hard as I can for the next few hundred yards and the short steep drop back to the outward track, swerve round a couple of spectators on the way back to finish inside 43 mins, a bit quicker than last year the dry ground helps except it's a bit harder on your feet and legs.

The Cobbler

Beautiful sunny evening, home sharp and chance for a run up the Cobbler. Minimal kit required, off up the tourist path winding up through the trees. Breezy on the run between Narnain and the Cobbler. Short rest before running up the back steps, another couple of short rests on the way. Jog the track to the last steep climb, aim for a large rock about half way up then give in and walk.

Great views in calm conditions on the top, just a bit hazy. Ran back the same way, finished in about 2 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Stuc a'Chroin hill race

A British and Scottish championship race made for a big field in this tough long race.

Gone is the two mile forest track at the start and finish replaced by a rougher series of narrow trods and an old peat track. The 9 miles in between just as tough. Beautiful sunny day, back to traditional Stuc weather instead of some of the recent years with hypothermic conditions. Field well strung out by the time we pop out the forest for the run to Meall Mor where we drop down into Glen Ample keeping it nice and easy wary of the hard work to come.

Beinn Each's climb as steep as ever, about 1500' in just over a mile, it's a 2 mile ridge from here to the Stuc's summit, the first one mostly downhill the second one​ undulates 1000' up. The front runners are coming back, the fastest will finish before I reach the top of the Stuc. Steady climb doesn't feel too bad probably not trying hard enough. The gradient eases before one last rocky climb to the summit cairn.

Pause for a photo then steady running down the Stuc and the undulating ridge back to bealach nan cabar. Each short uphill gets harder. From the bealach we drop halfway down Glen Ample then a descending traverse before trying to climb out the other side. Half a pint of electrolyte fluid as I walk across the bog to start this tough wee climb, cramp invades my legs then as those behind catch up the electrolytes kick in, cramp eases and I steadily work my way up, a short walk at the top to recover then running back towards the forest. Stagger along the tussocky boggy track keeping a jog going as much as possible. About a mile left I cross a stream and stop to cool off, feel much better and set off in a happier state. The track gradually​ improves for easier running and soon back on a forest track, a short climb before a pleasant trail run down to the finish 291st/343 finishers just inside 4 hours.

Dumyat hill race

Dumyat hill race, one of the most popular hill races in Scotland with entries for the past few years of over 300. Warm evening, dry underfoot, bluebells on show through the woods. Free running tee shirt this year as well but no chip timing. Quick start hoping for a rest queing up at the hole in the wall, not much of a rest this year, easy run along the track before the climb started, took it as easy as possible but not letting too many people past. Turned at the top and picked up the effort and pace for the drop down to the bog, over the fence and eased back mindful of Saturdays Stuc a'Chroin. Back into the bluebell woods and they let us run down the rocks for a change, probably as it was so dry. Bounced off a couple of trees on the steep drop before the road providing a laugh for those watching. Short undulating run back to the finish in about 50 minutes, fastest for a few years.