The Great Glen Ultra

We are just back from the Great Glen Ultra, a 72 mile running race from Banavie near Fort William to Inverness. Organised by the intrepid duo Bill and Mike (BAM racing )and a host of volunteers, it was as always an excellent event. Helen was running whilst I was in the car .
The start was one o clock in the morning so after seeing Helen off I was able to go home and get a couple of hours sleep before driving to meet her at Fort Augustus.
 We had feared that it would be too hot but instead it was very wet with some torrential rain in the middle of the day. Running through a glen even a great one sounds easy but the Great Glen Way takes in a lot of hills.This is the price of an extremely scenic route, Many of runners ( including Helen) took the alternative high route in error.
 To avoid congestion on the minor roads supporters were only allowed to meet their runners at Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit. I was relieved to find Helen looking  well and happy if  a little bedraggled at each of these points. .Happily the rain eased in the afternoon and she finished in sunshine.
Mike Raffan repeated last years triumph by winning the race. For Antonia Johnson (last year's first lady) the 72 miles was not enough. She ran from Inverness to the start then ran the race back to Inverness!

Very quick sketch from the Fort Augustus checkpoint