Lairig Ghru 2005
Photo Report
| The
race, starting in Braemar and finishing 28 miles away in the centre
of Aviemore, runs through the wild and spectacular mountain country
of the Cairngorms National Park. The first and last miles are
on tarmac road but the middle 22 follow the Lairig Ghru on
a highly runnable track (apart from the tricky boulder field at
the Pools of Dee). The race leaves the tarmac road at Mar Lodge
and follows the path to Derry Lodge, an old hunting lodge that
is no longer in use. Soon after, it crosses the river Luibeg (wading
required unless you use the bridge higher up!) and the path begins
to turn north. Here, the Devil's Point comes into view, a magnificent
peak guarding the entrance to the steep-sided valley between Braeriach
and Ben Macdhui.The track climbs to the Pools of Dee, 838m, the
source of the River Dee, where some boulder-hopping breaks the
steady rhythm of the run. On the way down the vista opens up and the
green of Rothiemurchus Forest beckons, although Aviemore is still
some 10 miles away. The cameraderie of the runners and the low key, unpretentious nature of the event make it a race many return to. |
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) Mind the bus please! |
) Gillian Godfree with a spring in her stride |
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) Kate chats up another bloke |
) Mar Lodge and the end of the tarmac road |
) My support team dash off to the other side via the Lecht |
) And here's the view from the other side! |
) Meanwhile some of us have time for a picnic |
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) Tom is good company |
) In front the leaders are flying |
) The eventual winner |
) Shades were the order of the day |
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) Kate and a camouflaged Ben |
) It was Alan Smith's 3rd race of the weekend |
) 'This way' |
) The girls had their 'escorts' |
) That man is still following Gillian |
) Jokers, from start to finish! |
) Somewhere Stewart lost an arm |
) A sprint to the finish |
) Prizegiving in tropical Aviemore |
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