With the travel/childcare logistics being too tricky for a weekend LAMMing on Harris, Matt and I plumped for the Trotternish Ridge Race instead. I was watching the weather forecast anxiously before the weekend, as it cycled through varying forms of horribleness (thunderstorms? No thanks! Fog-bound cliff edges? Nuh-uh!) but in the end we were treated to glorious sunshine all day (and regretted leaving the suncream at home).
It was VERY hot and VERY dry, and even with two waterstations it was a struggle to stay hydrated, but the views were spectacular. After a steep climb up the Quiraing, we were treated to an “undulating” 16ish miles of peaks, precipices, and pinnacles. Navigation was easy enough (especially as I was running with the “Matt-nav” 😉 ) and despite a slightly daunting race briefing (in which we had been darkly warned of potentially fatal wrong turns) I managed to stay vertigo-free.
The final mile or so of the race was back down on road/tarmac, with a sadistically unnecessary crossing of the Loch Leathan dam(n) bridge.
The race was incredibly well organised and outstanding value for money! For our £15 we got shuttled to the start and back from the finish, huge mounds of sandwiches, soup, cake etc at the finish line, plus another (delicious) meal at the Camanachd Club in the evening. And with it being a small field this year, there was a good chance of bagging a prize (I got a bottle of Talisker for being second (not very fast) female).
Results here: http://www.theskyetimes.co.uk/index.php/3250-trotternish-ridge-race-2018-full-results
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/agtlyg5UZnw2GnGq1
Mary Lye