Jura has many tales to tell over the years I am sure. Various reports said that the hills are a respite from the bog, while others say the bog is a respite from the hills, and yet others saying the road at the end is the real killer. 28km, 7 tops, 2370m ascent, sound just the race for me!
Logistics make it all the more fun in getting there. It tried a bit of eco-minded thinking – sharing lifts and hoping to avoid driving. That all fell apart when my South Edinburgh prospective car sharers all bailed out from work or injuries, and a change of work email seemed to block a send to-all-email hoping for someone else to share with. Then my car broke down in Inveraray, I missed my ferry booking, and the Gamble-Boyd’s plus a plea to Nicol on the Jura Passenger Ferryman saved the day, and we arrived with the JPF full of running hero’s (and me) to a glorious weather with mist covered Paps in the distance.
Jura seems more like a big re-union than most other races with people coming back year on year and being captive for the weekend makes for plenty of time to make and renew acquaintances. There were plenty of familiar faces (and lift options) and other folk arriving by bike from Islay.
For the race – well, it was hot, sunny, boggy in places, very boggy in other places, quite long, some great climbs, some very steep descents, with enough loose rock, scree and stone fall to keep you on your toes. I strongly disagreed with Hilary from Fife when she replied ‘they can’t help it’. I had just shouted some abuse to the folk above me who careless released of 3-4 breeze blocks in my direction which missed me and another guy by a few meters. I really thought they could ‘help it’ if the tried harder! Poor Harry Gilmore, suffered cramp early on and I gave him some encouragement to press on. Lisa Gamble overtook me while I experienced terrible cramps in both legs for the first time in a race on the 3rd Pap and then again on the last hill. All the folk I had managed to pass wandered past as well, Pooh. A salty chai based bar helped avoid cramp on the descents thankfully and I overtook Lisa while she swore over a pranged ankle. I stopped long enough see she wasn’t broken, then got a photo of her pained face, and ran on to take my advantage while I could. We both finished well on the dreaded road less than a minute apart, but the wrong side of 5 hrs.
T shirts, fluids, cakes, beers, cakes, cakes, midges, cakes, beers, prizes, beers, ceilidh, midges, beers, cakes, more midges, banter, banter, stories, cakes, beers, swim, recovery run, cakes. Ferry, rescue car, ice-creams, then home eventually after a diversion via Crianlarich after some problem along Loch Lomondside. Great weekend.
Finlay Wild won, Andy Fallas was 3rd boy, Jasmin Paris, was first girl, Carnethy sneaked the team prize from HBT. Results are somewhere and there will be photos and other stories.
Results : http://www.artxraykishorn.co.uk/juraaspnet/results.aspx
Mark Hartree