Running warm up/down 22:00 [3] 5.0 km (4:24 / km)
shoes: Asics GT2000 #8 - Blue
Leg waker. Felt pretty poor to start off but actually got going by the end.
Running race 2:13:50 [3] 20.3 km (6:36 / km) +1500m 4:49 / km
shoes: VJ iRock #2
Stuc a Chroin 5000', British and Scottish champs counter.
Started very gently, not worried about being held back on the single-track through the woods. Gradually worked my way through though as I was actually finding the pace ok and got to the front as we emerged onto the open hill. Fin and I pulled away on the descent into Glen Ample then he pulled away - never to be seen again - on the steep climb up Beinn Each. Legs feeling OK but not brilliant now, but I would never expect to feel good on a climb as steep as this one.
Andy F and Tom Addison caught me near the top of Each and we formed a little group on the run along the ridge. The longer the ridge went on though the more I realised I didn't have much power in my legs for the climbs and on the final push to the summit they got a clear gap on me. Oh well, to be expected!
Two Keswick runners (Carl Bell and M Lamb) over took me on the descent back into Ample and I just had to let them go, I was very much in cruise mode by now. I caught Tom up on the final climb though and spat him out the back quite easily - think he had gut issues. The Keswick guys were clearly pulling away on the descent back to the woods and I had a clear gap behind me so I settled in for a relaxed cruise back for the last 4km.
That was fine until going through a clearing in the woods I caught a glimpse of the Keswick pair together with Andy not far ahead. Andy must be going backwards! Catching him may well make a difference to the Scottish champs at the end of the season so I upped the pace significantly. That was good until almost at the bottom when my right sartorius started spasming quite unpleasantly and I had to ease off. It turns out Andy wasn't bonking, he'd just missed a turn in the woods (like a number of others) and lost a bit of time. Oh well!
So 5th/3rd. Definitely at the upper end of expectations and I think I was vindicated in doing the 5km last night - not sure I was ever going to seriously challenge Fin today. Looking forward to Trotternish next month which should suit me more.
Torq gel at start and returning through Ample, SiS gels on Each and Stuc. Bit crampy at the end, could do with more electrolyte.