Portrait of a Hill Runner

Despite the Glamaig Hill Race being local for me 2018 was the first time my diary allowed me to cover it.  I chose a good year with both the overall course record and the Women's record being broken.  The race also recorded a record number at the start line and finishers. The course is very simple, starting from Sligachan Hotel it is basically a mile run to the base of Glamaig, 1.25 miles steeply up, turn around, 1.25 miles trying to keep you balance down first scree and then very steep grassy slopes followed by a mile run to the finishing line.  The descent is described by Scottish Hill Racing as probably the roughest and toughest of any Scottish hill race.

I have in this selection chosen some of the close up portraits I tend to take of athletes.  They are from the front through to the back of the field to give an impression of what it takes to be a Scottish Hill Runner.  It is certianly not the crowds.  The race started at 15:00 and at the same time as nearly 20 million were watching a soccer match on TV I counted 5 spectators up on the hill.  I think supporters from both events enjoyed their beer in the evening, but for those at Glamaig it was brewed on the premises; thanks to the Cullin Brewery.

A number of my action images in full clour are in the Skye Times and can be viewed here.

For a larger version of the smaller images just click on them.