YC ran the Ben Nevis Race on Saturday. It's a 10 mile out and back route from Fort William up Britain's highest peak (4406 feet). The route takes the tourist path on the first section, then heads straight up the side of the Red Burn on the upper section eschewing the usual zig zags (just visible on the screes in the photo upper middle). It took YC 1 hours 28 mins to the top, then a leg-rattling 40 minutes to descend. YC was swapping places with Dave Atkinson from Northumberland Fell Runners (NFR) until Dave got ahead on the final road section, and here they are at the finish. YC finished in2 hours 8 mins, 149th out of about 450 runners.
The evening prize giving was preceded by the Lochaber Schools Pipe Band who warmed up the presentation with numbers such as Mairi's Wedding, The Old Rustic Bridge, and Highland Cathedral. Naturally, YC didn't enjoy this at all and definitely did not sing along.
After that, NFR decamped to the Ben Nevis Inn where there were 3 bonuses: a free ceilidh, Red Macgregor (an individual of 4.0% character), and a late licence. A quiet night ensued...
All runners received a certificate for completing the race. YC appreciates that his sartorial style might not be bang up to date. But he hastens to reassure readers that he is not pictured in the certificate.
There's another account and some more photos at www.northumberlandfellrunners.co.uk from Old Cheviot (a close relative of YC).