Ben Rinnes 5 Tops Hill Race

Another Scottish championship race, my third of the year. Run  from the Dufftown Highland Games, a long one at 14 miles and 4900' for the out and back route over Little Conval, Meikle Conval, Ben Rinnes. A scorcher of a day and 150 of us set off round the games field. The first mile is on undulating farm tracks then we cross Dufftown Golf Course and onto Little Conval. Decided to run conservatively in the heat and see how it went. Reached the top of LC in 35 minutes, took the descent steady rather than the usual all out, still managed to overtake a few then lost a few places going up Meikle Conval,  this see saw of places would repeat all the way until the last descent. Reached the road crossing in 61 minutes, the same as last year. The marshalls had barrels of water here and drank a pint before the climb up Ben Rinnes. The climb is in four parts, Round Hill, Roy's Hill, Black Banks and Scurrah of Lochterlandoch. Felt good and power walked the zig zag track up Round Hill, ran between each of the climbs and kept a steady trudge up the steep bits. Through the summit Tor, grab some sweets then off down the rocky path, plenty of encouragement with the other runners. Reached the road crossing in 2 hours 6, stopped for another pint before a gasping climb to start Meikle Conval, the slope soon eases and back into jog walk up the narrow paths through the heather, over the top and running down the rough track to the start of the last climb up Little Conval. Head down, working hard now, a runner comes past and I dig in trying desparately to hang on, I focus on their heels as we grind out the last few hundred feet of climbing. A glance at the watch shows 2 hours 50 at the top with just over two miles to go. Brakes off and I run as fast as I can on the rough heathery paths, over the Golf Course, the undulating farm tracks tough on my legs and feet. A lap round the games field to finish in just under 3 hours 8. Some photos here.

Ben Rinnes Sat 31st July

Went up to Lossie a day early so that I could run the Ben Rinnes 5 Tops Hill Race again, 14 miles and 5000' of ascent, an out and back to Ben Rinnes taking in the tops of Little Conval and Meikle Conval, some more race info here.

The race starts and finishes with a lap round the field typical of Highland games hill races. 60 or so runners took part. The first mile or two is on farm tracks and over a golf course before the gradient increases onto the hillside. No real drive in my legs and just kept it steady over the first two hills reaching the road crossing in 61 mins. Stopped for a drink and some jelly babies before a reasonable run up Ben Rinnes, slowed towards the top where we were greeted by a squally shower.

Climbed through the summit Tor and set off back towards the road, a bit of a struggle rather than the usual downhill wheeee. Another drink and some sweets before the steep climb up Meile Conval, had to stop every 10 yards or so, made it to the flag but being passed by several others and stopped to try and refuel. Painful plod but gradually imporved and over the top of MC managed to claw a couple of places back.

The climb up Little Conval thankfully short and managed a reasonable pace for the 2 or 3 mile run down to finish in 3 hours 22 not quite a PW but felt like it. Had a lie down at the side of the games field to contemplate and recover before the traditional cold shower. Only the fast runners get a hot shower. Race winner, Joe Symmonds, finished in 1 hr 54 breaking his brothers record from last year by a couple of minutes. They come from hill racing stock, read the book.