Isle of Jura fell race (28kms/2370mtrs) 42nd/254 overall, 4th MV40

I love Jura, the whole weekend and travel is great fun and all part of the experience. Crossing by wee boat to the island and then pitch up the tent in front of the distillery and hotel! This year arriving in scorchio weather but unfortunately it wasn't to hold and race day was awful conditions and poor vis.

Nicol's infamous ferry!

The Paps

Myself and Walter Henderson

I had quite a good sleep Friday night in the tent and felt quite fresh on race morning for a change. I usually don't sleep well before a race.
I ran well from the off and made quite a few places on the first section of bog and onto the hills..
I was constantly picking off places all the way round the course.

The Paps were barely recognisable in low cloud and mist. You could have been anywhere which is a shame as this is one of the most spectacular races for views!

Some good running and some flailing around in the mist following various folk and taking quite a few wrong lines.

Tim Ripper and myself

I felt much stronger on the road than I did last year and I knew I was going well but I couldn't actually remember my time last year. It wasn't until Dave Kerr saw me at the finish and told me I'd smashed it and that last year my time was 4hr 40! So I was very happy to finish in 4hrs 6 mins this year!

Just missed out on a sub 4 hour time but delighted with a 30 minute PB here and 4th MV40!!
Love this race, very hard with a good mixture of terrain. The road at the end, jeeeez!!

Javier, Alan, Ally, Dave, Graham and myself

Usual Saturday night ensued at the pub. I gate crashed the HHR crew once again for a slap up meal then a few beers! Rude not to..  Shabba! xx

LSD reps and some arse sledging!

My trusty LSD route at Glen Muick. It's a 27k/1800mtr scrambly route taking in Black Spout on Lochnagar, Stuic Butress on the Stuic and Central Gully on Creag an Dubh Loch. 

With remnants of winter still lurking Black Spout was out so I sneaked in a quick blast up to Meikle Pap before heading for Cac Carn Beag on the Gar stucking to the main path. The Stuic looked Ok so made my way across.

Lochnagar corrie and Black Spout at the far side still snowed up

The Stuic was fine and I enjoyed a good hard power hike up through the rock and onto the plateau.

 I love the run from here over to Dubh Loch, surprisingly runnable off grid through heather and bog. 

Dubh Loch from the bottom of Central Gully (Creag an Dubh Loch)

The Gully looked fine and I thought I'd get up no problem however the further I got the more snow I could see at the top of the Gully. I kept going as far as I could.

Looking up Central Gully

Unfortunately the very top was blocked with hard neve and my Inov8 X-Talons really weren't up to the job of acting like crampons. I used a couple of sharp pointy rocks to move out a few mtrs kicking steps but it was just too dodgy! I had to retreat back down, it was the only safe option.

Almost the top of Central Gully

Looking back down Central Gully, quite steep.

On a positive note I notched up another 500mtr ascent having to go back down and back up to Broadcairn.

Finally onto Broadcairn Plateau

Once I descended down to Loch Muick from Broadcairn the usual route is just plod back to the carpark round the Loch but I was here for the climbs so back up to Lochnagar I went via the Glas Allt Sheil path. I also repped Meikle Pap for the 2nd time and then finally back down to the carpark. Beast of a route and great training for the what's to come this year!

Total route 40km/2500mtrs.

Loch Treig munros

Beast of a route this one! Myself and Rob wanted to bag this round for a while. We started on the Steve Fallon route on the West side of the loch but continued round the south end of the loch to tick Beinn na Lap before crossing over to Chno Dearg and Sgriodain.

Ridge between Stob a Choire Mheadhoin and Easain

Rob flying

 We ran through some rough weather to begin with on the West side of Loch Treig but we also had some great spells of blue sky and sun.

Loch Treig

Need to get back here sometime to swim this one, would be aswome with a big run thrown in too! Check that back drop!

Looooon!

From Sgriodain.. spine tingling moment here! PURE!!

Absolute gem of a day with Sinco on this route! Hard running with great banter and the most PURE situations.. I love summer days but these moody days can be just as spectacular!

Total route 40kms/3300mtrs