Ben Lomond

Photos – James Callender

My first attempt at the Ben either walking or racing.  A braw day out.  Sunburnt shoulders despite an hour before the race not actually being able to see the hill from the bottom due to the low cloud and rain.  Unfortunately the only thing I consistently excell in is overestimating my capabilities beforehand and this race was no exception.  My pre-race target of 1:30 was quickly oot the windae and I had revised this to 1:45 on the first haul up the tourist path.  I didn’t even manage this eventually but what can you do?  It is what it is.  Couldn’t have squeezed another ten seconds out of it anywhere!  The descent was enjoyable for me up until the last third when legs turned to jelly and the trail turned very technical.  A Westie of more mature years offered encouragement in the form of “catch that half-naked man ahead” No idea who he was but he had been warning other runners on the way up “don’t you dare overtake that Westie”.

Thanks Chris for organising, Helen for helping Declan at the junior sign on, and all the others who gave up their race to stand on the hill.

A wee break from running for me for a few weeks while we eagerly await arrival of sprog number 3.  Hopefully see some of you at Whangie on Wednesday and then fingers crossed i’ll be back mixing it up at the rear of the field at Dollar :-)