Although not a Munro at just 840m, Ben Ledi sits alone towering over Callendar so the chance to take part in a mountain ‘run’ just over an hour from Edinburgh was quite enticing. This was the 4th Ben Ledi race organised by Skidaddle, http://skidaddle.org/events/ben-ledi-ascent-2016/ , a local non for profit social enterprise to encourage outdoor sports in the Trossachs and was well marshalled and set out. There were 5 Carnethies that I could see among the 83 competitors which given the many other races on this weekend was a reasonable turnout with many local clubs represented. The weather was benign – dry, overcast, light wind though to the midges liking as well. The race started near the Strathyre log cabins just off the sustrans cycle route and lured you into a false sense of ease with a fast blast along wide forest trails before hitting the unrelenting uphill tourist trail to the summit, which having climbed 700m in under 5k I was glad to reach after about 42mins. Unfortunately there was little time to appreciate the fantastic panoramic views over the Trossachs before hurtling down the aptly named Stank Glen as the race took on a more technical and boggy feel before finishing jelly legged on some tree root laden single tracks.
Graham Gristwood broke Prasad’s record with a time of 51.23 – 3 mins ahead of Richard Simpson, ruining everyone else’s SHR percentages. Liam Brady was 5th and best placed Carnethy in a very respectable 58.12. I came 15th in 1.05.06 and surprised myself by being the first V40 in my first competitive outing in this category though was over 2mins behind Daniel Theaker, the V50 winner! Fanni Gristwood made it family double celebration winning the ladies race by an even more emphatic 7 mins in a 1.03.33.
All in all, a well organised race on a very accessible mountain that a offered a good variety of terrain and scenery.
Full results here http://skidaddle.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ben-Ledi-Results.pdf
Steve Best