Running race 4:30:55 [5] 16.12 mi (16:48 / mi)
ahr:165 max:192 shoes: Red Inov-8 Mudlaws
If Jura's the ultimate hill race, this is the connoisseur's choice; long, steep rough nearly all the way, almost absurdly low-key with only 33 people toeing the line.
A scorcher of a day - 24 degrees at the start. I'd been feeling a bit off all week (busy at work, a few bad night's sleep etc.) so decided to do run a conservative race from the beginning. Stayed disciplined with a gel/water every 20 mins and wetting my hat in every stream I passed.
6km trail run - No problem.
Ben Vorlich - Took the path on the way up, ran & chatted with Michael Reid for most of the way. I lost him & Jill Stephen on the ridiculously steep descent to Sloy dam.
Ben Vane - A slog of a climb, mostly on my own with Mike & Jill often insight ahead. Even on the tops it was seriously hot and I was tapps off for the whole race (partly because I dropped my vest at some point on this ascent!).
Ben Ime - Lost a place to Iain Stewart on the descent to the coll. At the coll I found myself completely alone, couldn't see a single soul for miles around, had to take out my map to work out which one of the hills I was meant to be slogging up. It was hard going in the heat and I was still erring on the side of caution with the pacing.
Ben Narnain - This was a tough one. On the ascent the heat started to catch up with me, a sore stomach and slight feeling of dizziness. Cooled down thanks to a breeze on the top. I took the 'short-cut' on the way down but this just meant a slog through a mile of rough moorland, more walking than running. Luke Arnott passed me here and I had nothing to answer with - what little fire I had had disappeared. The final trod through the woods was a scratchy, twisty pain in the neck, I was so over this race.
I completely fucked up at the end of the woods, mistaking the track up to Loch Sloy for the track down to Arrochar and ran half a mile in the wrong fucking direction (the Morgan Donnelly manouver?). On the run back to the right track I had to stop to wretch a bit.
When I crossed the line, I flopped in to the burn and lay down for 20 mins to cool down. A PW by 12 mins!
It wasn't my best day, at no point did I have my 'race head' on given the conditions, it was always going to be a slow one. That being said I paced it well and avoided cramp at any point and finished knackered but still in control. Type 2 fun for sure.