Pentland Skyline

Unbelievable. I burst my left ankle on the way up the first hill – Caerketton. Not the best start to a hellish long race. All my descents from here on were cautious to say the least.

I kept the pace steady all the way and my climbing was strong. The wind between Turnhouse and and Carnethy was unbelievable. Everyone was running at a a 45° angle. Hard going but kept picking off bodies on the climbs. From the water stop at Castle Law road section no one passed me. Well pleased. More wild winds over Scald Law and out to South Black Hill. Blasted sideways and blown to a halt on a few occasions. It was great to turn and have the wind behind.

Underfoot was very wet and muddy for much of the low lying path. The deep heather leading to and off Black Hill was hard going but I was able to jump between burnt sections which helped a lot. I bagged my last place here bypasing a Boggie. The last five hills from Bells Hill to Caerketton was lovely running – if you had anything left.

I was catching another couple of runners near the end and was watching a body from behind making an effort at me but everyone was eyeballs out at this stage and I would have needed another few hills to catch them. I was racing the clock near the end to beat 3 hours and I did by a few minutes with a good final descent off Caerketton, and no more burst ankles thankfully. I nearly but not quite caught Martin Laing (Fife vet). He was suffering cramp but recovered enough to hold me off. Glad to beat Ronnie in but he was only out for a jog afer 3rd place at Manor Water yesterday.

1. Jamie Stevenson Dark Peak 2.25.22

20. Manny Gorman Westies 2.58.13

22. Ronnie Gallagher Westies 3.02.24

34. Steven Bell Westies 3.10.16

61. Pete Baxter Westies 3.27.56

63. Charlie Campbell Westies 3.30.31