Clachnaben hill race (13.6km/690mtrs)

Always great to catch up with the usual local hoods at local races! Especially with most of my racing not being local I see more Lochaber and HHR folk these days..

I last did Clachnaben in 2017 and finished 16th/98 and 3rd V40 in 1:22 so I was hoping I'd smash that time this year.


I started well accelerating up the landy track into the front of the pack before turning right onto the narrow trail as I knew it would bottleneck then I was able to chill for a bit until the climbing started.

Just as I reached behind me to clench my bum, Dave Kerr did his usual and floated past commenting -"checking your car keys aye!?" And that's exactly what I was doing in a sudden panic, what had I done with my car keys!??

The Odd Monster

I tried to keep up with Dave and did until we cleared the forest and up onto Mount Shade then the inevitable happened and he slowly pulled away not to be seen again until from the top of Clachnaben I could see him way off in the distance descending down into the bog along with my chance of 1st V40 hahaha..

RBBI

I had an awesome race though and felt strong throughout. I remember the last time here the end landy track being a real struggle to keep pace but I was flying this time around and it past quickly. Before I knew it I was crossing the finish 8th/82 overall in 1:17 and a 5 min PB! Ooosh!

Reasonably happy with that, not sure I could've gone any faster, maybe could have started a bit slower which might have given me a few seconds but it's just training at the end of the day for what's coming.

Steve Ord last Km

Steve finished strongly 3rd V50 in 1:25 and 17th overall.

Still some winter flab there!