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.
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