BEN NEVIS ULTRA
Posted by on 17 September 2018
Robert took part in the Ben Nevis Ultra on Friday 14 Sept with club colleagues Andrew Linsley, Andy Reilly and Graham Macken
What an amazing and spectacular place Scotland is. The Highlands are just jawdropping. Pictures don't do it justice and had an amazing weekend with 4 friends and clubmates. To Finish Ben Nevis Ultra was the aim and that was achieved although it was made a little easier when they enacted the Bad weather course, which meant they took out the really high stuff because of torrential rain all week and high winds they were giving on the day. We were all disappointed but safety has to come 1st. The race went well apart from 2 mishaps with my foot and knee from falls but you just have to pick yourself up and keep going. I started off slowly as we were straight into a climb of 800m and I was conscious of still having to run 50km. On the way up the scenery was breath taking but you couldn't look too much or you would be on your arse or worse. Trail running is all about keeping your eyes on the floor or you could get a serious injury but the buzz you get taking it on far out ways the thought of injury. You have to be fearless Assending, Descending, hopping and skipping the miles just fly by. No 2 steps are the same. The 1st half was eventful with the couple of falls and the step descents which were so much fun with people slipping and sliding all around me trying to get down in the boggy ground.
I met up with Graham Macken around 15km and we stuck together for the whole race flying home in the last 20km passed dozzens of people. Amazing stuff from Graham having done the one of the toughest Ironmans in the world in Wales 4 days previous. He definitely helped me in my low spots and I hope I helped him to. We all finished within a few mins of each other which was pretty amazing considering the standard of the field and over such a long distance. Couldn't have asked for a better weekend with better lads and for us all to finish in the top 200 in the Sky Running World Championships I'll take that. Not a bad debut!! The only way is up and thanks to everyone for all the kind messages and support and especially my better half helping me get to the start line fit and well .
