The week-end of April 21-22 proved to be a busy one, especially for SLRC member, James Stephenson. As well as taking part in the club run across the Trotternish Ridge – which didn’t quite work out as planned – the following day he headed off for the Glen Affric Duathlon. Here’s his side of the week-end.

“Saturday saw about a dozen souls meeting at Portree High School at 9:30am. We then headed out to the Storr car park, dumped the minibus and all but Wendy Donnelly and I ran back on the road. Wendy & I went up the Storr, via the path through the forest and out through Corrie Scamadal, then back to Portree via Ben Dearg, end of the Achachork road, down to Peter Black’s house at Kiltaraglen and in the track from there. Weather was choice, wet, windy & clagged in from start to about 5 mins from the end of Achachork! But, we both survived and in the process worked up an appetite and a thirst for that night’s club social!

Sunday was an early start and off to Glen Affric for the Duathlon. First time I’ve done it. It’s a really good event run in some cracking scenery. The first run is a 7.5 mile hill run (also Scottish miles!) which after a wee bit on tarmac climbs steadily (v. runable) for 2 miles on a landrover track. Then it goes level for about a mile and half, level sounds OK but it’s very squelchy, tiring stuff! Then it’s across a river where Kintail Mountain Rescue provide a rope for safe crossing, a bit sissie that bit but they’re pretty keen that everybody holds on to the rope! After the river you’re back on a good landrover track which climbs steadily until for a mile or so till you are over looking Affric Lodge (fantastic view) then it’s a fast downhill to the lodge and back on the road to the change over.

The MTB section is pretty nice, first 4 or 5 miles down the public road (closed) to Dog Falls, fairly big climb up from there then you traverse round a hill, some ups and fast downs for 4 or 5 miles then a long hill, not very steep but it goes on & on, once your over that there’s a quick down hill and then it’s follows the shore round Loch Beinn a Bhien back to change over for a 2.5mile run back up the road and round a 1 km riverside footpath loop and back down the road.

All in all a good event, it was my first go and I was using it as a training day for the SIPR so wasn’t ‘racing’ so I really enjoyed it. I want to do it again next year and have a bash at getting a good time now that I know what’s in store.