Jura Fell Race

Weekend away to this engaging Inner Hebridean Island hill race, the journey is part of the experience, car to Kennacraig, Calmac ferry to Port Askaig on Islay, Eilean Dhuira ferry to Feolin on Jura, cycle to Craighouse.

Blue skies and cool breeze on the Friday. Set up camp in front of the hotel and avoided beer.

Dinner then an early night, the weather forecast for race day worsening. Woke to a grey day, as race start approached the rain came on and the last two hills disappeared into the mist.

Through kit check and registration by the 10:15 muster and we were off at 10:30. The first three hills (Pips) and checkpoints are over heathery moorland, a bit boggy at first, drying out as height is gained, each summit area bouldery, a flavour of the bigger Paps to come. No navigation issues with the first checkpoint, we are all pretty much in a line,

Easy running between CP1 and 2

Looming out the mist between CP1 and 2

1st to 2nd ok if you remember where to turn, we came up pretty good, about 30 yards left of the ideal line.

Approaching CP2

The middle section of 2nd to 3rd seemed more vague than I remembered but no problem reaching the CP,

CP2 to CP3

Down into Gleanne Astaile before the first Pap,  a few boggy tussocky patches but still running easy.

Drop into Gleann Astaile

The first Pap, up and across and up and across a few times picking the grassiest way up the scree covered flanks, lost a few places on the last up before the rocky summit dome.

Pap 1 summit

Across the top and down the ridge, steep gravel at first then scree which has drifted towards the bottom over the years. Short run across the coll, stopped to empty the gravel out my shoes before the climb up Pap #2, climbed well until I reached the ridge where cramp decided to visit quads and calves, drank some of the electrolyte fluids I was carrying which took a few minutes to kick in.

 The road along Pap 2 summit ridge

Descending off Pap 2 in the mist

Not much visibility on the run down to the next coll, slightly off line concentrating on keeping my still stiff legs moving as easily as I could, got back on line on the run across to Pap #3. I had started with my jacket on and stopped here to put bottoms on. Climbing ok until cramp kicked in again, more electrolytes, they took a few minutes longer to work this time.

Pap 3 Summit

Along the bouldery top past the CP turned for the descent, thought about a new line to try to pick up my usual second scree chute a bit higher up and save the Talus traverse. Decided against it and went with the usual twisting gritty path that gradually becomes a nice scree chute, had to dodge one large spinning medicine ball sized boulder thankful the runner behind had listened to the race brief instructions on warnings.

Overtaking down the scree chute

 Having a wee seat on the way down the scree chute

Talus traverse

Reached the end of the first scree chute and traversed across the Talus to the next one, followed it down and eventually picked up the traversing path towards the last hill Corra Bheinn. Across the lochan covered coll to start the short steep climb, cramp immediately brought me to a halt, more electrolytes helped at first but I didn't take enough as I was trying to keep some for the top and Three Arch Bridge, stopped again for some more.

The last climb, Corra Bheinn

Soon moving up more easily again, catching a couple of the places I had lost and I still had some electrolyte left for 3AB. Marshalls were hiding behind the summit out of the wind, had to work out a slightly different line to pick up the rough descent path. Passed a few coming up here who had taken a wrong turn off the third Pap, ouch, that would have hurt.

Half an hour of grassy, boggy descent to 3AB

Kept as high a pace as I could down towards 3AB, across the stream and hit some deep bogs, cramp came screaming back and the last of the electrolyte came to the rescue, a few minutes and I was at the road, waterproof bottoms off and set off on a steady 3 mile run to the finish in just over 6 1/4 hours.

Can I go round again?

This was 21 seconds quicker than my first Jura in 2010 run in similarly misty conditions.

I carried my GoPro camera in a chest harness and set it to take a picture every minute, I saved this in youtube as a time lapse video, just over 7 minutes long, link.

Jura weekend

Set off on Friday for a travelling and eating trip to Jura via Kennacraig, Port Askaig on Islay, across the short ferry to Jura and a few miles cycling to  Craighouse. Great weather if a bit hot.

Usual Friday evening photographic wander more eating and keeping away from the pub.

Celebrity starter!

Race day started overcast but the clouds would soon burn off. Set off with 250 others at 10:30.

The Paps of Jura with Corra Bheinn behind, shame that I would only get up the first one.

The steady run over the first three hills felt fine, dropped down into Glen Astille and across to the first Pap, a bit slow but ok to start, got slower and slower from about half way up cramping before the final bouldery climb to the top and made up my mind to call it a day. Still inside the cut off but not moving well. Worked my way down to the next col then walked in with one of the marshals on what is the Scottish Island 3 Peaks race route. Reached the finish in about 5 1/2 hours, not much faster than my usual race time. Cooled off in the bay then a beer or two from the newly opened bar in the camping field. Sunday cycled along to catch the early ferry from Port Askaig and the journey home. More pictures here. 

Jura Fells Race

Getting there part of the fun, a couple of hours in the car to Kennacraig, another couple on a boat to Islay, plenty of time for a feed, short ferry journey to Jura then an hour by bike to Craighouse home for the weekend. Tent up and into the Cooperage, race HQ, as well as food central, pizza, sandwiches, cakes, cakes and cakes, a couple of laps sampling the food on offer then off to the Antlers bistro for tea, carbo loading I think its called. Early night not too comfy in my tiny Vango Banshee with only a thin rollmat. Cereal and coffee for breakfast then off to the Cooperage for second breakfast. Warm with a threat of thunder and lightning meant route might have to change at any time during the race getting marshals off the tops and running a low level alternative route. Everyone accepts and soon we are set off up the track towards the Pips, 3 small hills that spreads the field out before the Paps.

Checkpoint 1, arriving in about 55 mins, the cut off is 70. CP2 and 3 are gained easily in good visibilty followed by the steep rough drop into and acrosss Gleann Astaile.

Steeper stuff now, felt fine up the 1st Pap, the run off good fun especially down whats left of the scree at the bottom. Not feeling so fresh going up Pap 2, very warm, drenched o
In sweat, take on some electrolyte fluids and hope for the best.

Third Pap and Corra Bhein beyond from top of 2nd Pap.

Cross to the third Pap, feeling better and keep a steady trudge going, find a new path, good foot holes on grass rather than boulders until the last wee climb to the top. The run off the 3rd Pap starts across boulders then scree and more boulders.

Struggled to get down quickly, stop start trying to avoid the worst of the boulders and stay upright. Couldn't find the small path I found a couple of years ago. Running up Corra Bhein, the last hill cramp invades, more electrolytes help reach the top in a minute under 5 hours. Drink the last of my electrolytes and set off towards three arch bridge as fast as I can go cross the Corran river and along the swampy track, cramp creeping back, slow down and work through to the bridge, the last three and a bit miles on the road, thirty one minutes to get to the finish, make it in thirty to finish a minute inside 6 hours. Staggered into the sea to start recovery sanwiches cakes and beer. A few more pictures here.

Jura Fell Race

Got a late entry just before Slioch, holiday booked, set off with car boot full of camping gear and bike. Free Bunnahabhain 12 and 18 year old on the ferry to Islay, glorious sun, and a few dolphins made for a good start.

 
Short hop on the Jura ferry and a slow cycle to Craighouse, home for the weekend. 

 Usual feast of pizza, rolls and cakes in the distillery all weekend. 

 Sat morning, easy kit check and running for 10:30, three pips first, inside the cut offs, climbing the first Pap, Beinn a'Chaolais, slowed down to a crawl, stepping aside every 50 yards or so to let those behind pass on the narrow trods. 
 

Reached the top, CP 4 still inside the cutoffs and decided not to continue, showed the next two runners the route off and down to the saddle before Beinn an Oir and pointed out the onward route. Cut down to 3 Arch bridge via a swim in the boathouse lochan and the delightful 3 miles of road to the finish, still out for over 5 hours despite missing the last three climbs. A swim in the sea to cool off and spent the rest of the day rehydrating and mulling over the run. Sunday cycle back to the Feolin ferry to Port Askaig and on to Kennacraig, calm waters, sunny sky, but no Dolphins or Bunnahabahain on the way back. 

 

 
Stopped at Inverary to capture the Castle on film and bagged a Heron as well!

Jura week

A week of running around Scotland's Hills. The plan was Jura, Glen Shiel, a wee rest then the Slioch Hill race. First up was the Jura Fells race, even getting there is fun, drive to Kennacraig, ferries to Islay and the short hop to Jura and with a bit of luck a bus to Craighouse. New showers and toilets at the hotel has brought a small charge for camping. Race day cool, little wind, a bit boggy underfoot, clearish tops, only slight navigational challenge CP 1 to 2. Wheels stayed intact this year, a few creaks going up each pap and a bit of a struggle to push down Corra Bheinn to Three Arch Bridge, the last km a trifle boggier than usual, the road to Craighouse is the road to Craighouse, finished in about 6 hours 25.

View of the Paps on the way home.

Got on the early bus on Sunday to take advantage of the earlier than usual boat back to Kennacraig before the drive up to Shiel Bridge Campsite. Planned to use Monday as a rest day and to recce a route for Tuesday. As Monday's weather improved decided to take advantage and set off from the campsite for the Saddle, handrailling a series of tracks, walls and fences to circumnavigate the tricky Forcan ridge. Soon just below the summit, unsure of the last wee climb turned back as I hoped to climb the Whelk as well, a steep rocky climb took me to the bealach between the Whelk and Sgurr Na Signe, left turn for the Whelk and great views up and down Glen Shiel.

Sgurr Na Signe from the Whelk

Tuesday, ready for some RnR, I drove to Applecross via the 2000' plus Bealach Na Ba, eerie in the mist. A nice day wandering this isolated village. Wednesday set off for Gairloch for a rest stopping in Glen Torridon for a run up Beinn Eighe via Coire Mhic Fearchair, the Triple Buttress Coire. Beinn Eighe means Fire Mountain, not today, wet n windy with sleety hail greeting my approach to the top of Ruadh-stac Mor one of Eighe's two Munro's.

Sail Mor

Didn't hang about dropping back into the coire and the bouldery track back to the car. Spent the rest of the week based in Sands Campsite near Gairloch with a visit to the Redpoint beaches. Saturday's journey home was broken up with a run in the Slioch Hill Race, dreich day, clag down, a slight route change required as a burn crossing at the penultimate checkpoint was a raging torrent, about a mile shorter, still a testing run. Starts and finishes with 2 or 3 miles of riverside trail, all the hilly stuff in between, Sgurr Dubh to start, hands, knees, teeth, heather, rock, mud, its a stiff wee climb. Misty ridge run to Slioch's twin summit checkpoints, runners passing like ghosts on their way back, feel our way along, easy pace to avoid any expensive navigational errors. The route change sent us down the hill walkers path, a muddy, rocky eroded mess, good fun. Finished in 3 hours 40.

Beinn Eighe from Slioch Finish

 Totals for the week, 19 hours running, 50 something miles and 21,000' of ascent. Lots of picture here.

Jura

Returned for my fourth run in the Jura Fells Race.

Arrived on the late boat from Kennacraig, no bus to Craighouse lucky to cadge a lift from a couple who had hired a bus. Race day sunny with a cool breeze, perfect conditions. 200 plus set off at 10:30 fuelled by Cakes from the Cooperage. Steady run over the boggy Pips before crossing Glen Astaile for the Paps.

Trudge up Beinn a'Chaolais, alternating grassy ramps and scree, super views as we reach the top. Fun twisty scree covered descent brings a smile to my face then its back up Beinn an Oir, not as long a climb.

Bumpy run down and we're soon at the spring and a refill of water bottles at the bottom. Beinn Shiantaidh climb develops into a zig zag up a rocky path before the boulder field to the top. The ruin off alternates scree and boulders to the traversing track to Corra Bheinn, short slow climb to the top then a 40 minute run off to Three Arch Bridge and the 5k road run back to Craighouse, finished just inside 6 hours 50. A few more pictures here.

Jura

Managed to secure a late entry, the 33rd running, the 40th anniversary of the first race and the 30th anniversary of its resurrection  in 1983, buy the book by Donald Booth, any profits will go to the Jura care home.

Getting there,

home for the weekend,

race sequence,

homeward bound,

More pictures here.

My third attempt at this fascinating race, I finished in 172nd place in 5 hours 52, about 215 started with 205 finishers, the first was 3 hours 19 the last was probably about 7 hours, results will appear here on the race website.

More cakes than you can shake a stick at on a fine weekend with time to relax, run and enjoy island life.