Ben Rinnes

Another go at the 5 Tops Hill race from Dufftown Highland Games. The 5 tops are Little Conval, Meikle Conval, then Ben Rinnes, returning over the Convals. A lap of the games field to start and finish. About 80 runners. Race started at mid day, and the temperature climbed as we ran. A mixture of run and walk over the Convals, Slow jog up Rinnes then a fast walk as the trail steepens towards the top, Going well until just before Rinnes summit then the wheels come off and in to survival mode, just pleased to finish the race probably lost 15 or 20 minutes on the way back.

Ben Rinnes Hill Race

About 160 runners for the first long race in the 2018 SHR Championship. Date coincided with the start of our annual Lossiemouth holiday so we went up on the Friday. Change of weather for the race, rain, wind and sleet to keep us cool. Took it easy over the Convals on the way out then tried a steady jog up Ben Rinnes, Kept it going for about 2/3 of the way up then jog walk, the wind alternatively helping and hurting on the zig zags. Through the summit tor and steady run down to the road crossing/water station at Glack Horner before a slow climb back up Meikle Conval, along to the last hill, Little Conval, and tried to push the pace, nothing much there and pleased to get over the top and start running down to finish inside 3 hours 15 with a lap of the games field.

Ben Rinnes hill race

5th go at this race, run from Dufftown Highland games 14 miles and about 5000' of ascent. Out and back over Little and Meikle Conval and Ben Rinnes. About 100 in this years race. Previous times 3:07 to 3:21 or so, always wanted to beat three hours. Race strategy was run where i could, then walk. Ran most of the Convals and the first two parts of Rinnes walked as quickly as i could up the final zig zags. Stuck to the path on the way off Rinnes, a few took short cuts. Steady walk back up the steep rough part of the 1st Conval then slow jog n walk to the top. Running again across the top and down the rough track to the last climb up Little Conval, not so little on the way back. Reach rhe top and push on, quads complaining, a runner goes past, keep working and happy to finish inside 3:02 a 5 min pb