Ben Nevis Hill Race

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.

Ben Nevis Hill Race

Roasted on the hot rocks of Melantee and the Ben. The sun shone for this years Ben Nevis race, with no wind even on the top meant for furnace like conditions. Set off hoping for at least a breeze on windy corner, ran up the road past the Ben Nevis Inn, dropped to a run/walk on the walkers path then walk/trudge round windy corner, barely a breath, finished my water by the red burn, stopped for a refill and cool down, from here its straight up the screes, decided to ration my water which didn't really help, felt like hard work and lost a big chunk of minutes, as I drank more my energy returned a bit, moving better on the steep rock covered slopes, the gradient eased and managed a few short jogs but it was slow going, turned for the descent and started to pass a few runners, I think only one got past me, a couple of others did but soon got past them again. The descent down the screes steep and fun as usual, go as fast as you dare finding loose scree to slide down and use the larger rocks as brakes, back onto the tourist path at the Red Burn, the first part around Melantee Lochan ok as its wide and a not too steep descent, onto the steps, good rhythm at first then cramp kicks in, stop for some elctrolyte drink and salt tablets to shift it, round windy corner and down to the Ben Nevis Inn there's a lot of walkers, tricky rocky sections and a few fallen runners to negotiate, after the muddy short cut picked up the pace for a short while then eased back keeping it a bit safer, past the Inn, as usual a couple of minutes slower than hoped for, usually give it everything from here, just kept it steady today, the heat had tempered my will.

Claggan Park before the start

Approaching half way up at the Red Burn

Looking over the Field of Cairns on the way down

Ben Nevis

Another year at the Ben Race, my 17th, staying in our fav Glen Nevis Campsite for a couple of nights. Woke up to clearing skies, it would be a warm race. Cycled down to the start, enjoying the atmosphere as 450 runners and many more friends gathered for the 1pm start in Claggan Park. A mile of undulating up road to start joining the tourist path at the Nevis Inn. Slight route change this year, we had to stay on the tourist path from the Inn to the Red Burn on the way up and the way down, avoiding the Red Burn Short Cut due to concerns over erosion and land slips, although this added about 3/4 of a mile it only seemed to add about 5 or 6 minutes to my time. The path is a lot smoother. From the Red Burn its straight up over scree and boulders. Towards the top the gradient eases and some shuffle running enjoyed over the shattered rocky path, one of my favourite sounds. Electronic timing at the top this year saw me there in 2 hours. Gloves on for the descent in case of a tumble, luckily they weren't needed. Stopped a couple of times to assist cramping runners as I had some extra electrolytes after bad cramp last year. Back on the Red Burn screes bring a smile to my face and overtake a few more timid runners, tourist path again from the Red Burn, the rocky steps and multitude of hill walkers keep the pace sensible. The last mile on the road, thankfully mostly downhill with a trot round Claggan Park to finish in just over 3 hours.

The Ben from Glen Nevis

Claggan Park