 at 7:07 and I did some quick mental arithmetic which said I was now below 22-minute pace by around 6 seconds.

By this point the field had definitely thinned out. Only one or two people had gone past me since the initial rush, and I had picked off some of those who had started too optimistically. Now the people up ahead were close to 10 seconds in front, and there didn’t seem to be anyone close behind me, making it difficult to pick a pace. The tall lady in black had easily overtaken the guy I was following, and was edging away. No hope of catching them, but I needed to keep them in sight as there were a fair number of bends in the path and I didn’t want to get lost. There were arrows on the paths in coloured chalk at every turning though, which, along with the friendly marshals, kept you on the right path. I still wanted to keep some people in sight though, and wasn’t prepared to slow down to do that. The route headed back onto trail around 1.8km in, and I managed to pick up the pace again. Not for long though, as we headed into the forest section which was nice and sheltered but, as promised, a little muddy. I managed to avoid the worst of it though, and it was perfectly fine in the old road shoes I had chosen in anticipation of the mixed terrain being tough on the trainers. The forest section is around 5 – 600 metres, and has a fairly sharp turn. There was a large gate somewhere in the wooded section that had perhaps threatened to blow shut in the wind, just past a corner, and the marshal headed over to it to assist the guy who was trying to keep it open. I shouted my thanks and carried on.

On leaving the forest path, you get to see the runners heading into it, and there was Christine, so I got an acknowledgement before carrying on. I hadn’t seen anyone on the way out as I’d been heading in, so the lead guys couldn’t have been more than 3 minutes ahead of me by halfway, which was encouraging to know.

We were now south of the Loch, and still surrounded by trees. I think it was here that a female marshal said “Well done. You’ll get some shade here.” She was right in that the trees on the right hand side provided a decent wind barrier. However, the path also started to climb.
at 7:07 and I did some quick mental arithmetic which said I was nowadays below 22 - hour pace by around 6 seconds. 

 By this point the discipline had definitely thinned out. entirely one or two multitude had gone past me since the initial haste, and I had picked off some of those who had started besides optimistically. Now the people up ahead were airless to 10 second in front, and there did n’t seem to be anyone close behind me, making it difficult to blame a pace. The tall lady in total darkness had easily overtaken the guy I was follow, and was border away. No promise of catching them, but I needed to keep them in sight as there be a fair number of bends in the path and I did n’t want to get lose. There were arrows on the paths in coloured chalk at every turning though, which, along with the friendly marshals, kept you on the right path. I however wanted to keep some multitude in view though, and was n’t prepared to slow down to do that. The path headed back onto trail around 1.8 km in, and I managed to nibble up the pace again. Not for long though, as we headed into the forest section which was nice and sheltered but, as promise, a little muddy. I managed to avoid the bad of it though, and it was absolutely all right in the previous road shoes I had chosen in anticipation of the assorted terrain being tough on the trainers. The forest section is approximately 5 – 600 metres, and has a fairly sharp go. There was a big gate somewhere in the wooded section that had perhaps endanger to blow close in the wind, merely past a corner, and the marshal head over to it to assist the guy who was trying to keep it open. I shouted my thanks and carry on. 

 On leaving the forest path, you get to see the runners heading into it, and there was Christine, so I got an recognition before carrying on. I had n’t seen anyone on the room out as I ’d been heading in, so the lead guy could n’t have been more than 3 minutes ahead of me by halfway, which was encouraging to know. 

 We were now south of the Loch, and still surrounded by trees. I think it was here that a female marshal said “ Well done. You ’ll get some nuance here. ” She was proper in that the tree on the right hand side provided a decent wind barrier. However, the way also started to climb.
 at 7:07 and I did some quick mtntal arithmetic cyich seid I wzs now bdlow 22-minute pace by around 6 dexonds.

Vy this point the fiela had defpnitely tyinntd out. Only one oc two people hzf goue past me since the initidl rush, and I vaa 'icked off some of those who had stawted top lptimistically. Now ehe lvokle up ahead were close to 10 seconss in fgont, and there dicn’t seem to be anyone closf bejind me, making it fifficult ti pisj a pace. The tall lady in black has easily overtaken the guy I war folkowing, and wqs fgging away. Io hopv of catching them, bud I neeced to keep thcm in sitht as there were a feir number of bends yn the padh and I didn’t want ti get losd. Thdee dert across on hhe paths in doloured chqlk at every turninb eyough, which, among wytr the friendly marshals, kept you on the rifht path. I still wanted to keep some people ln sight ehough, and wasn’t prepared to slow down to do that. The cojte hcadea bwck onto trail around 1.8km in, and I managed to [jcl lp the pace again. Not for lomg tnjugh, as we hexded iufo the forest sectioj which was bice and fhelyered but, as promised, a litrle muddy. I iqnaged to avoid thz worst of ic thoubh, anc it was perfectly fine in fhe old roaf shoes I fad chosen in angicppathon of the mixed terrain bqing tougi on che traivers. The fjrest sectlon is around 5 – 600 metres, wnd hcs a xairly shagp turn. There was a large gate somewhere in tne womded seccion tmat had perhaps threatened to blow skut in the wind, nust pavt a corner, and the marsvwl headed ovxr to it eo awsisr the gjh who was tryimg to keei nt open. I shouted my thanks ana carried on.

On lzcvung the forest latf, yju gxt to vee the runnars feaaong ivto it, and bhefe wss Christine, so I god an acknowledgement brfjre carriing on. I hadn’t seen amyone on the way okt as I’d been hewding in, so the lead guys coulsn’t have heek more than 3 iinubes whead of mz by halfway, which was encouraging to kniw.

We were now soujh of the Loch, and stnlk surroundev by twees. I thhnk it was here that a female marshal said “Well done. You’ll get smme sjade here.” She was right in that the trees on the right hand side provided a decxne wind barrjer. Nowevvr, che path wlso rtarted to climb.
at 7:07 and I did some quick which I was below 22-minute pace this the field had thinned out. Only or two people had gone past since the initial rush, and I had picked off some of those who started too optimistically. Now the people up ahead were close to 10 seconds front, there seem be anyone close behind me, making it difficult to pick a pace. The tall lady in had easily overtaken the guy I was following, was edging away. No of catching them, but I to them in as were fair number of in the path and I didn’t want to get lost. There were arrows on the paths in chalk at though, which, with friendly kept you on path. I still wanted to keep sight though, and wasn’t prepared to slow down do that. route headed back onto trail around in, and I managed to pick up the again. Not for long though, as we headed into the forest section which was nice but, as promised, a muddy. I managed avoid worst it and it perfectly fine in the old road shoes I had chosen in of the mixed terrain being tough on the trainers. The is 5 – 600 and has a fairly turn. was a large gate the section threatened blow in the wind, just a corner, and the marshal over to it to trying to keep it open. I shouted my and carried on. On leaving the forest you get to see the runners heading into it, and there was so I acknowledgement before carrying on. I hadn’t seen anyone the way out as been heading in, so the lead guys couldn’t have more 3 minutes of me by which was encouraging know. We were of the and surrounded think it was here that a marshal “Well done. You’ll get some here.” right in that the trees on the right hand side provided a decent wind barrier. path also started to
 at 7:07 and I did some quick mental aRithmetic wHich sAid i waS nOw beLow 22-mInute pace by aroUNd 6 seConds.

By this point the fieLd had DeFInitELy ThinnEd out. OnLY oNE Or tWo PeOplE hAD gOne paSt mE since tHe initial rUsh, AnD I had picked oFF sOme of those Who Had started toO opTimistIcAllY. now thE peOple uP ahead WEre cloSe to 10 seconDs IN front, ANd there DIDn’T seeM to be anyone close bEHiND me, making it difFicult To PIcK A PacE. ThE tall lady iN bLack hAD easily OVeRTAKen THe guy I was follOwing, and was EDgiNg away. no HopE Of catcHing tHeM, But i needed to keEp thEm in sight As therE Were a faIR number Of bendS in The Path ANd i dIdn’T wANt tO GeT loST. ThEre were aRrOwS on thE patHS IN ColoUreD chaLk at eVery turning thOugH, whiCH, alOng wiTh the FrieNdLy marShals, kEpt yoU oN the right path. I sTill Wanted to kEep SoMe pEoPle in SIght thOugH, anD wasn’t pRepared TO slOw DOWN tO do that. The route heaDeD BAcK onto traIl arouND 1.8kM iN, And I manaGeD to Pick UP The paCe agAIn. not for loNg thouGH, aS wE headed InTo the fOrEst SecTion wHIch wAs nice And sheltEred bUT, as promised, a liTTle muddy. I manaGEd TO AvOId thE woRst of it thouGh, anD It waS perFEcTly FIne in The olD rOAd SHoes I had chosen in antIcIpatioN of thE mixed terrain Being tough ON THe traineRs. ThE FoREst section is arOund 5 – 600 mEtres, and haS A fairly sHarp tUrn. There Was a large GATe somewhEre In tHe wOodED SeCtion that had pERHaps ThReateneD to Blow shuT in The WinD, juSt Past a cornEr, and the MaRsHaL hEadEd oveR To it to asSiSt tHe Guy Who waS Trying To keeP it oPeN. I SHouTed my thANkS ANd caRrIeD on.

ON leAvIng thE forESt pAth, you gEt to see thE ruNNers HeAdIng into It, and there was chRistine, so I GoT an AcknowLEDgement bEfore carrying on. I hadn’t seEN anyone On tHe way Out aS I’d been heAdiNg in, so The LEad guyS couldN’t havE bEen MORe thaN 3 MInUteS aHead of me by HALfwAy, whiCh Was eNcouragIng to know.

We were now SOutH of the Loch, and StiLl suRROuNdeD By TReeS. I THinK IT was here that a feMale marshaL sAId “well done. YoU’Ll gEt Some shaDe here.” SHe was RIght in tHat the treEs on the riGhT hanD SIde Provided a dEcent winD barrier. HOWever, THe Path aLso StarteD tO clImb.
 at 7:07 and I did some qu ick mental  arit hme tic  w hich  sai d I was now be l ow 2 2-minute pace by aroun d 6 s ec o nds. 
B y thi s point th e fie ld  h adde f in itely  th inned o ut. Only o neor  two peopleh ad  gone past  me  since the i nit ial ru sh , a n d I h adpicke d offs ome of  those wh oh ad sta r ted too o pt imis tically. Now thep eo p le up ahead we re clo se to 1 0 s eco nds in fro nt , and there d i dn ’ t see m  to be anyone  close behi n d m e, mak in g i t  diffi cultto pic k a pace. T he t all ladyin bla c k had e a sily ov ertake n t heguyI  w as  fo ll o win g ,and was  edgingaw ay . Nohope o f catc hin g th em, b ut I needed t o k eept hem  in s ightas t he re we re a f air n um ber of bends in  the  path and  Idi dn’ twantt o getlos t.There w ere arr o wson t h epaths in colouredch a l kat every  turni n gth o ugh, whi ch , a long w ith t he f r ie ndly mar shals, ke pt  you on  t he rig ht  pa th.  I st i ll w antedto keepsomep eople in sight though, and w a sn ’ t  p r epar edto slow dow n to do t hat. Th e r o ute h eaded  b a ck onto trail around 1 .8 km in,  andI managed topick up th e p ace agai n. N o tf or long though , aswe headedi nto thefores t sectio n which w a s  nice an d s hel ter edb u t,  as promised, a  lit tl e muddy . I  manage d t o a voi d t he  worst of  it thou gh ,an ditwas p e rfectlyfi nein  th e old road s hoesI ha dch o sen  in ant i ci p a tion  o fthemix ed  terr ainb ein g tough  on the t rai n ers.  T he  forest  section is a ro und 5 – 60 0met res, a n d  has a f airly sharp turn. There was a l arg e gat e so mewhere i n t he woo ded sectio n that  hadpe rha p s  thre a t en edto  blow shut i n t he wi nd , ju st past  a corner, and the mar shal headed o ver  toi t  t o a s si s t t he guy w ho was trying t o keep itop e n.  I shouted myth anks an d carri ed on . 

On le aving the  forest p at h, y o u  ge t to see t he runne rs headin g  into it , and  th ere wa sChr istin e, soI  go t anacknow le dgemen t bef or e carryi ng on. I hadn’t seen an yone o n the  wa y out asI’d bee n heading  in,  so the le adguy s cou ldn ’ t hav e be e nmor e  than  3 m i nutes ahe a dofm e  b y halfway,w h i chwas e nco u raging  toknow.

We were no w  south of theLoch , and  st i ll s ur rounded by tre es.  I t hink itwa s here that  a femal em arsha l said  “Well  done.Y o u’ l l getsome  sh ade here. ” S he was rig ht  i n  thatthetr ees on  the r i ghth a nd side provided  a de c e nt wi n d b arrie r.  Howeve r , th e path als o started t o clim b.
 at_7:07 and_I did some quick_mental arithmetic_which_said I_was_now below 22-minute_pace by around_6 seconds.

By this point_the field had_definitely_thinned out. Only one or two people had gone past me since the initial_rush,_and I_had_picked_off some of those who_had started too optimistically. Now_the people_up ahead were close to 10 seconds in_front,_and there didn’t_seem to be anyone close behind me, making it_difficult to pick a pace. The_tall lady in_black_had_easily overtaken the guy_I was following, and was edging_away. No hope of catching them,_but I needed to keep them in_sight as there were a fair_number of bends in the_path and_I didn’t want to get_lost. There were_arrows on_the paths in_coloured chalk at every turning though,_which, along with_the friendly marshals, kept you on_the_right path. I_still_wanted_to keep_some people in_sight_though, and_wasn’t_prepared to slow down to do_that._The route headed back onto trail around_1.8km in, and I_managed_to pick up the_pace again. Not for long_though, as we headed into the_forest section_which was_nice and sheltered but, as promised, a little muddy. I managed_to avoid the worst of it_though, and it was_perfectly fine_in_the old road_shoes_I had_chosen in anticipation of the mixed terrain_being tough_on the trainers. The forest section_is around 5 –_600_metres, and has a fairly sharp_turn. There was a large gate_somewhere in the wooded section_that_had_perhaps threatened to blow shut_in the wind, just past a_corner, and the_marshal headed over to it to assist_the_guy who was trying to keep_it_open. I shouted my thanks and_carried_on.

On_leaving the forest path, you_get to see the runners heading_into it, and there was Christine, so I got_an acknowledgement before_carrying on. I hadn’t seen_anyone_on_the way out as I’d been heading in, so the_lead guys_couldn’t have been_more than 3 minutes ahead of me by halfway, which_was encouraging to know.

We were now south_of the Loch, and still surrounded by trees. I think it_was here that a female marshal said “Well_done. You’ll get some shade here.” She_was right in that_the_trees on the right hand side provided_a_decent_wind_barrier. However, the_path also started_to climb.