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

 

Stuc a Chroin 5000

This was my 17th go at the Stuc, and my first long hill race for a couple of years. 200+ started with a few drop outs along the way. The first couple of miles undulate up on forest roads and grassy tracks to reach open hillside, across the moor beside Meall Mor before a steep drop into Glen Ample, not so easy on the way back, steep climb up Beinn Each, 1500' in under a mile, heather and a rusty old fence helping on the steeper parts. from Each to the Stuc its about 2 miles along a rough undulating ridge, dropping 500' and climbing 1000' a mixture of running, walking and scrambling gets you there, from the cross over at Bealach nan Cabar you have to avoid the runners in front on their way back as you grind up to the Stucs summit. No time to take in the views running back along the rocky ridge, there's a few ups and downs  but most of the climbing is done for the day, apart from Glen Ample. From the cross over drop down steep pathless grassy slopes to a stream crossing where a faint ankle trashing path takes you back along the glen to the start of the climb out, a slow jog at first then everyone slows to a painful trudge as the 600' in half a mile climb sucks the energy from your legs. From the exit from Glen Ample its a 3 1/2 mile run to the finish, across the moor then grass track and forest road, mostly down hill with just enough rough ground to keep you working hard all the way to the finish, 167th out of 196 finishers.

 

Stuc A Chroin

Stuc race back on this year, over 250 entered, forecast was for rain to increase throughout the afternoon, morning was fine, high cloud, maybe it would be ok. Rain came in shortly before the start. Set off at 1pm, a piper sounding the charge. A couple of miles on forest roads and grassy forest paths before the open hillside is reached, A mile of undulating up past Meall Mor before the steep drop into Glen Ample, Beinn Each next, 1500' in just under a mile, you pull yourself up a series of steep ramps using a mixture of heather and old fence posts, the gradient eases for a short traverse then kicked up again into the mist to Eachs summit and cheery marshals. A steep rocky path off the back on to an undulating ridge for a couple of miles to the top of the Stuc, hat blew off, another cheery marshal retrieved under penalty of 15 laps round the summit cairn. A mile and a half back along the ridge is Bealach nan Cabar where we dropped back into Glen Ample traversing along narrow paths to meet the outward trail. The climb out Glen (cr)Ample always fun, about 600' in less than half a mile, cramp offset by a handful of raisins and cranberries, very affective, cramps dissipating in a minute or two enabling an energetic stomp to the top. Just over three miles remain over moorland then forest paths and roads, pushed on free from cramp until the last 100 yards when it came back with a vengeance, hobbled over the line in 3 hrs 44, a couple of minutes slower than 2019. Well organised race, fully marked with taped stakes every 20 or 30 yards, it would be difficult to get lost. Even post covid a huge number of marshals along the course keeps everyone fuelled up with water and jelly babies.

Start and finish area, Strathyre

Beinn Each across Glen Ample

Stuc a Chroin Hill Race

Back for another go at the Stuc, hoping to do better than last year when I was timed out at the crossover, albeit when they reduced the cut off time due to bad weather.

Gathering at the start

Nearly 180 starters this year, the cold wind blowing around when I arrived in Strahyre thankfully eased through the day. Two miles of undulating up forest track to start. The next couple of miles a marrow trod through forest and the open hill across Meall Mor to the drop into Glen Ample.

 View across Glen Ample to Beinn Each, the Stuc peaking out behind

Beinn Each ascent

Beinn Each ascent

The next mile climbs about 1500' up to the top of Beinn Each, the first part requires some all fours work using old fence posts and wire and heather to aid the ascent, thankfully the gradient eases about two thirds of the way up where it gets a bit cooler as the wind kicks in. Over the top and onto the 2 mile ridge to the Stuc reaching the Bealach nam Cabar crossover a bit quicker than last year.

Ridge to the Stuc, back right

Jog walking now as the ridge undulates up towards the Stuc with a few short steep sections along the way.

Approaching the Stuc summit

Round the summit cairn and back along the ridge to the crossover, again a few short steep ups and downs along the way. Just past the crossover and realised I have lost my GoPro, turned back, thankfull to find it about 30 yards back up the hill.

Glen Ample checkpoint

On my way down into Glen Ample for the traverse along to the Glen checkpoint before the last big climb out the Glen, only 500 to 600 feet, probably about 15 mins of grind, feels like more, aided by some cramp reducing electrolyte fluids. Working harder now to keep a reasonable pace going over the moor and through the forest before the last two miles on forest roads to finish just over 3 hours 42, 122nd out of 168 finishers.

Stuc a Chroin 5000 Hill Race

Back for another go at this race, 174 started, 160 finished, a few, including me, timed out at the crossover point Bealach Nam Cabar, arriving 10 minutes before the cut off they told me it had been brought forward due to the poor weather, disappointing and had to take the return route missing out the out and back to the Stuc, made worse as I got sunburn on the run back to the finish.

Slight route change as the path through the forest waterlogged so more forest road at the start and finish. Usual cheery race marshals with water, jelly babies and chocolate at many points along the course. Started off with a steady run on the forest road, jog walked across Meall Mor and the steep drop into Glen Ample. Didn't push too hard up Beinn Eich, left the summit for the undulating ridge run to the Stuc. Arrived at the crossover about 5 or 10 mins slower than  last year but inside the cutoff, a marshal standing in the dip indicating they would pull me but I could go on on my own. Reached the group of marshals beyond who said that I was being timed out, the cut off had been brought forward due to the bad weather and lessons learned from previous years (one year near arctic conditions at the top meant a few runners and marshals had to be helped off suffering from hypothermia). None too happy but didn't argue with the marshal and turned back onto the route to the finish, arriving there just over an hour later, the climb out Glen Ample feeling much easier than usual without the out and back to the Stuc. Finished just over three hours.