Uists part 1- Beinn Lee

Visited the Hebrides at the weekend to take in a couple of races. Bit hectic as I only got home at midnight on Friday and left before 7am for the Uig Ferry to North Uist…..I need to get some brownie points back as now seriously in the red…..I travelled with Davie Duncan and his partner Christine and we met up with Colin and Joan Wilson in Uig. The race starts with transporting all participants by boat from Lochmaddy to the start with about 25 runners and double that number of walkers (who start up to an hour earlier).
Also visiting the island for race purposes were Davie Rodgers of Lochaber, Kate Jenkins and her soon-to-be husband Craig Mattock of HBT and Tony Stapley, international man of mystery from Portobello…..plus Debbie McDonald of HBT who actually has a house on the island. Boat trip over and seaweed safely negotiated the race is off……relieved to find I can actually run after the nightmare heat of Ben Rinnes…..and route well marked to top of hill……load of unattached and local runners who fade badly by half way up ….and by top I’m just behind DD and 50 m behind Colin W….keep close to Davie until end of ridge and then get past him on steep descent to edge of the moor…..then DD gets past and for next 2 miles the gaps between runners just extend before we at long last reach the road where it’s another 2 miles to the finish, rather low key, at the hotel in Lochmaddy …..winner was Davie Rodgers, 2nd Craig Mattock and 3rd/1st Lady was Kate J……I was 8th behind DD with Colin W ahead of him. Good features of the race were the boat trip, the burgers etc at the finish plus closeness to pub, and the combination with a walking event which meant you were always catching up on people during the race which always gives you a lift. A great wee race although having to sleep in DDs van overnight as hostel was full wasn’t ideal