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.

Stuc A Chroin 5000

Back for another go at the Stuc Hill Race, about 350 runners in for this Scottish and British Championship race, typical Stuc weather, sun and blue skies. Forest road and path to start to Meall Mor, steep drop into Glen Ample, more difficult on the way back. Beinn Each next, a slow single file climb from the Glen to the top of this Corbett, difficult to overtake and probably could have gone a bit quicker. From the top a short steep rocky descent to a ridge that undulates up to the top of the Stuc a couple of miles away, mostly runnable with a few short steep climbs over minor tops, the last half mile a walk. Round the summit cairn and down the rocky ridge, thankfully the route turns into Glen Ample instead of back over Each, easy running down then an ankle straining traversing descent to the bottom of the Glen and everyone's favourite climb out Glen Ample renamed Crample for the next 15 minutes of trudging up the 600' in half a mile climb. 3 miles form here to the finish over Meall Mor and through forest paths and roads, mostly downhill with a few short climbs to keep it interesting, finished 8 minutes quicker than last year, about 1 1/2 minutes outside my target.

Gathering for the start

Forest trail 1 1/2 miles into the race