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.