...... was cancelled due to sheet ice on the lower paths but that did not stop about 15 of us completing the course anyway as is the tradition. In fact if you could get yourself over the first 100 metres of ice the conditions underfoot were amongst the best I have ever experienced with hard packed snow changing to deeper snow once you got above the tree line. So fuelled up with mince pies provided by the organisers Shiela and Alastair off we set. Spikes were the only viable foot wear and I soon found myself leading the pack AGAIN (argh!!!) as those without spikes went nowhere fast. This was supposed to be an easy, social run but the truth is there is no relaxed way to get up The Crags so best to just keep the pace going and get the climb over with! Surprisingly I ran all the way to the top without stopping in just under 15 minutes which was about 3 to 4 minutes slower than at race pace. The view from the top was spectacular as we huddled around the cairn sheltering from the fierce wind. Continuing over the top onto the descent was an exercise in blind running as the wind whipped the snow straight into my eyes but the deep snow made the under foot conditions more grippy than usual and guaranteed a soft landing if you got it wrong. The middle part of the descent is on a steep, single track tarmac road but that was also under snow and was a pleasure to run down before the final ascent/descent through the woods to the finish and another mince pie. It was good to see everyone finish with smiles on their faces and also to see local hill running star Prassad Prassad waiting at the finish having missed the start. His excuse was he had just been up Ben Ledi in the morning.........
Happy New Year!
Alan
1 comment:
i know it wasn't a race but well done on your win!
G.
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