Weekend in Glen Nevis to take in the race, my 19th, 400+ runners set off on a good day, warm and dry at the bottom, cool and breezy on top. A lap of the football pitch and a mile of road to start, tourist path to halfway, running at first, took the first short cut then into a steady walk round windy corner, running again beside half way lochan to the Red Burn, I had finished my first bottle of water & electrolytes, filled my 2nd bottle already primed with electrolytes and set off up the Red Burn Screes. I had picked up a couple of the free energy gels at registration, took one about half way up, and half my electrolyte and water. Pleased to reach the top a few minutes inside 2 hours, no need to push the descent as I had plenty of time on the 3 1/2 hour finish cut off. Finished my electrolytes and water on the way down to the Red Burn, didn't pick a very good line down the scree, probably lost a few minutes trying to get back on track. Took a risk in not refilling my bottle with water and electrolytes, relying on the packet of Salt Stick Fast Chews if cramp hit. Easier running from the Red Burn past the Lochan then tougher running down the rocky steps, stopped to retie my laces and cramp licked in, Took a couple of chews as I walked to try and shake it off, wasn't working, tried a couple more chews, 4 or 5 runners had passed as the cramp slowly eased, Took it easy round windy corner and back down the short cut, took another gel and tried to pick up the pace and chase down the runners who had passed when I cramped, feeling better now, onto the road for the last mile, another couple of chews in case cramp wanted to return, managing to pass a few more and a couple in the return lap round the pitch finishing about 20 minutes inside the cut off.
