Triglav 2864m

12th September 2005
Highest mountain in Slovenia and national symbol.
Alice Garnier and I started from the Rudno Polje trailhead at 7.45am. The round trip took nearly 9 hours.
The route climbs steadily through forest to cross the col at Studorski preval, before contouring round the hill to the hut at Vodnikov Dom. After the hut we climbed to a broad col at Konjsko sedlo, before taking a rough steep path to the higher Planika Dom hut at 2400m. By this time it was getting pretty cold and windy with mist blowing in. Above Planika Dom things got more interesting. We did an anticlockwise loop taking in the exciting ridge of Mali Triglav before visiting the main summit. The climb is steep, exposed and airy, but with plenty of wire cable handrails. Luckily when we reached the summit there wasn't a breath of wind. Ideal for a leisurely picnic. The descent needed good concentration. Steep down-climbing with plenty of loose rock showering down. Once back at the Planika Dom hut, the walk-out is long but easy.

Slovenian Alpine Marathon

10th September 2005
50km / +1930m
Results | Photo Gallery | SAM Home Page

An interesting route from Preddvor to Jezersko in the hills north east of Tržič. I was leading the race after the first 2km, but steadily dropped off the pace on the 16km road section with sore calves. Once on the trail proper, the running was very wet, muddy and desperately slippery in places. Especially wearing road shoes.
At the finish, having not seen him for 15km, I managed to catch Klavdij Maraž in the last couple of metres with a mental sprint finish to beat him by 0.4 seconds - not sure if this was good race etiquette - I thought it might be worth it for a V40 podium place, but I finished 4th in category. I was 8th position overall of the 70 starters, and first non-Slovenian.

Lock 27 Time Trial

5th September 2005
2.9 miles / 150ft
Full Lock 27 Results
One of the best Monday night time trials in the area.
Small elite field comprising me, Luke, Alastair, Muffy and Liz.
Captain Charlie worked out the handicaps and recorded the times.
I got round in 17:02, then took a few photos in the cycle home.

Ben Nevis Race

3rd September 2005
10 miles / 4370ft
500 entries, 368 starters, 362 finishers
Results| Photos
A warm day for the Ben Nevis Race, and clear all the way for once. No surprises with the top three:
1. Rob Jebb, 1:29:22
2. Simon Booth, 1:31:59
3. Ian Holmes, 1:34:22
Manny Gorman had a fantastic run to finish 10th in 1:40:08. Next Westie was Nigel Scott in 1:47, then Luke Arnott in 1:51 (who passed me at speed above the Green Wall), then me in 1:53, 10 seconds slower than last year. Murdo McLeod and Dave Rogers were the other Westies running.
Sharon Taylor was first lady in 1:58:15, followed by Karen Davison 2:00:35 and Kate Beaty 2:02:22.
Lochaber runner Neil Arnott finished in 1:57:06 after falling and breaking his nose. Stewart Simpson also fell and badly gashed his knee but still finished in 1:58:54.
Team positions:
1. Bingley 21 points
2. Lochaber 38 points
3. Westerlands 69 points

Photo courtesy of Carnethy Hill Runners