Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc

25th/26th August 2006
Website  |  Results  |  Photos  |  Official Photo Site  |  More Photos
The race was won in 21 hours 6 minutes 6 seconds by 58-year old Italian Marco Olmo.
First lady was French Lafuma-sponsored athlete Karine Herry in 25 hours 22 minutes 20 seconds.
Youngest lady to finish was 22-year old Alice Garnier who I climbed Triglav with in September 2005.
My race was a bit of a disaster. I had to drop out almost immediately with excrutiating lower back pain, and only made it as far as Les Contamines, which couldn't arrive soon enough given how much my back was hurting. Arriving in Les Contamines was exactly like a Tour de France mountain stage where the riders enter a parting sea of thousands of people making an unbelievable level of noise. Unfortunately I was in no fit state to enjoy the occasion, and was only interested in catching the first bus back to Chamonix.

Photos from Murdo McEwan:

Lowsy Point, Barrow-in-Furness

Sunset at Lowsy Point near Barrow-in-Furness, looking across Duddon Sands to Black Combe.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival

12th August 2006
Tartan Heart
Nothing to do with hills or hill racing.

Abernethy 10-mile Road Race

12th August 2006
Results  |  Photos
Simon Pride (Speyside Way record holder) romped away with an easy win at Abernethy 10-mile road race, finishing in 53:49 - more than 4 minues clear of second placed Doug Ross of Mansfield Harriers (57:59).
The ladies race was won by Julia Henderson of Helensburgh in 66:29.
I finished 10th in 62:25, my slowest ever 10-mile road race.

Some of the photos courtesy of Forres Harriers

Helensburgh Half Marathon

6th August 2006
Results
Pretty tired after getting back late last night from Les Deux Alpes in France. Just about kept awake to finish the mainly flat course in 1:25:40. The race was won by Allan Adams of Clydesdale. Second was David Millar of Irvine, and 3rd was Alastair Morrison of Dumbarton. The ladies race was won by Julia Henderson of Helensburgh. Second was Dhavala Stott of Sri Chinmoy, and 3rd was Alison Winship of Garscube.

Defi de l'Oisans

30th July to 4th August 2006, Les Deux Alpes, France
200km, 12,000m+
Results  |  SMAG Website
The Defi de l'Oisans is a 200km jog round the Ecrins National Park, almost entirely along the GR54 hiking trail. The Equipe d'Ecosse consisted of 8 runners this year. Es Tresidder finished highest in 2nd place behind Benoit Laval. Es took 3 stage wins out of 6 race stages, and broke the course record in each case. Next was Damon Rodwell in 4th place, 47 seconds ahead of Manny Gorman after 18 hours 51 minutes of racing. I finished 6th a further 8 minutes behind in 18:59, and was first V1 (V40). Trevor Richens was next in 13th place, then Steffen Gorgas, Dave Rogers and Catriona Miller. Cat finished as 2nd lady behind Alexandra Roussett, having lead for the first 3 stages.
This was the 2nd "Grand Randonée" of my 3GR Challenge. Next stop is the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc on August 25th.