Top 10 Adventures – for 2024.
ARC 2024 Photo David Miller
A slight improvement on
2023 with a few races completed but the ongoing theme of enjoying some time out
in the hills and wild space. As always report written in date order, but the
top 10 list is as follows -
2. NAV4 Tour De Helvellyn
3. Bruce's Crown Race
4. Trail Des Cedres, Morocco
5. Sea to Summit of Sveti Jure, Croatia
6. Cairnsmore Hill Race
7. Highland High Points with Trail Running Scotland
8. Salomon Buttermere Skyline
9. Braemar – Cape Wrath / Dragons Back reunion!
10. Moffat Chase Hill race
26th January 2024 – Arc of Attrition 100 Miles
Ranking 1 – Unfinished business from last year! And my first ever buckle!
Shortly after
last year’s aborted attempt to complete the Arc, Colin and I rebooked for 2024.
Early in the year, I felt completing the race might be a stretch. But as the
year progressed, I gained confidence in my training and set two simple goals:
- Goal B: Get past Land’s End.
- Goal A: Finish!
The weather was
perfect—sunny with just enough wind to keep it cool. The race began at 12 noon
on Friday.
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| Waves crashing in! |
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| Sunset before the long dark night! |
I tried to
enjoy the night despite my struggles. The waves crashing in, illuminated by the
moonlight, created a breathtaking scene.
When I finally
reached the Land’s End checkpoint, I was miserable. Coffee, sugar, and chicken
soup didn’t help much, though the soup had been delicious last year. Sara
Fabien, who I’d crewed for at the WHW, came in and said, “Alasdair, what are
you doing still here?” which made me even more miserable!
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| That David Miller again! Not feeling well!😢 |
I started
running well again, overtaking runners and enjoying the trail. My appetite
returned, though I had to ration my limited food supply and rely on the Arc
Angels for support.
The section
from Land’s End to St Ives was tough. At one point, I was moving at a painfully
slow 40 minutes per mile, but I eventually made it to the checkpoint. With
“only” a marathon left, I felt like I had cracked it but there was a long day
still ahead!
By now, I was
running/walking in a shuffle. My initial goal was just to finish, but I
realized sub-30 hours would earn a gold buckle. Doing the maths, I needed to
maintain at least 3 miles per hour, which in my poor state, seemed manageable.
The final 20
miles were challenging but lacked the brutally technical terrain of earlier
sections. However, the soles of my feet were on fire, and I discovered later
I’d developed large blisters, likely due to the steep steps and downhills.
When I reached
Portreath, around mile 98, I mistakenly thought I was near the finish at
Porthtowan. Discovering I had another 6 tough miles of coastal path to go was a
blow.
Finally, I
reached Porthtowan and climbed to the finish with another runner I’d chatted
with the previous night. My “secret” target of finishing in daylight was
achieved - I didn’t need my headtorch again.
At the finish,
I felt relief rather than elation. Before Land’s End, I thought I was headed
for another DNF. But after being sick there, I was determined to finish.
Setting the simple goal of just getting past Land’s End had made all the
difference.
Looking back,
I’m convinced I made the right call pulling out in 2023.
.jpg) |
| My All time favourite running picture - Credit David Miller |
For those
wondering how tough the Arc is: imagine the WHW lochside and Conic Hill on repeat for
104 miles, with added mud, cliff edges, and long stretches in darkness.
The support on
the course was incredible, from the well-stocked checkpoints to the mobile Arc
Angels and even crews who shared water—thank you!
It’s an amazing
event with a stunning route, made even better by the fantastic weather. The
pictures don’t do it justice.
I was also
thrilled to stay awake long enough to see Colin Anderson finish just after 10
pm.
What an
event—and I love my new buckle!
Official Time: 28:58:56
80th overall, 7th V50
Ranking: 3rd Overall – A Tough Route in Really Rough Weather
The Bruce’s
Crown Race, held in the rugged Galloway Hills, has been brought back to life by
Nicky Spinks. Teams of four navigate through the southern peaks of Lamachan to
Cairngarroch, then traverse the Rhinns of Kells, before crossing to the
northern end of the Range of the Awful Hand and finishing on Merrick, the
highest peak, with a descent to the finish. The "perfect" route
measures 46 miles with 4,600m of ascent—a slightly shorter version of the Ring
of Fire route.
The rules were
simple: stick together as a team of four (myself, Alasdair McCallum, Mark
Smith, and Mark Caldwell) and navigate using only a map and compass.
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| The first ascent! |
That wasn’t to
be. By the time we reached Curleywee, we were battling fierce winds and
struggling to stay upright. A poor route choice off Curleywee didn’t help
matters, but we managed to summit Millfire and Cairngarroch just before
nightfall. The terrain off Cairngarroch was awful, and staying too high made
life unnecessarily difficult for us. Eventually, we reached the treeline and
descended to the forest track, where Galloway Mountain Rescue manned the first
checkpoint—offering excellent support.
The next
summit, Darrou, eluded us. Looking at our Strava data later, we realized we’d
been right beside it, but in the cloud and darkness, we couldn’t find the
indistinct summit. Pressing on, we picked up Little Millyea and Meikle Millyea,
where navigation became easier. By this time, the weather had deteriorated
significantly, though fortunately, it was largely at our backs. Huddling behind
a wall, we layered up (double waterproof jackets—a game-changer!) and continued
along the Rhinns of Kells without major issues.
Sticking
together as a team was challenging. Even though we were roughly the same pace,
the weather meant someone was always struggling. The last summit in this
section, Coran of Portmark, offered a direct descent route, but we opted for a
slightly longer path, reaching the relative shelter of the forest track. The
first ladies' team, who’d taken the direct line, emerged just ahead of us.
At Loch Doon,
the second checkpoint, we refueled, warmed up, and lingered longer than usual.
The next section was a tedious forest road climb, which felt endless. We
trudged along, occasionally breaking into a run when we could.
Reaching the
climb to Shiel Hill, we knew the weather would worsen, so we layered up
further. By this point, I had on a T-shirt, two base layers, a synthetic down
jacket, two waterproof jackets, and almost no spares left in my bag. As dawn
broke, we summited Shiel Hill and Craigmasheenie without major drama, still
relatively sheltered.
Approaching
Shalloch, Nicky’s team passed us, moving in tight formation. We watched them
disappear to the summit, only to see them get battered by the wind. We knew we
were next.
By this stage,
we were all struggling, and maintaining the same pace was increasingly
difficult. Those moving faster would go ahead, find shelter, and wait for the
rest—a pattern we repeated. At one point, a gust lifted me off my feet and blew
me a few meters. Luckily, I kept my balance and avoided the surrounding rocks—a
stark reminder of the risks.
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| Little Spear ascent to Merrick |
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| Not sure where!🤣 |
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| Looking down onto Loch Enoch |
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| Heading off the Merrick |
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| Bruce's Stone - still with a few layers on! |
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| Breaking into a trot for the finish! |
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We finished in 18:19:11, placing 3rd overall and 1st male team home. More than anything, we were relieved to be off the hills safely!
Big kudos to
the other finishers:
- Girls Night Out: 14:46:05 (an incredible
achievement, completing the route unsighted!)
- The Four Tussockteers: 15:55:31
- Merrick Muppets: 20:04:16
Four other
teams made the wise decision to retire.
As I always say
about training in the Galloways: Galloway miles count double!
Bruce’s Crown
2025, anyone?
Trail desCèdres, Morocco – 31st May, 1st and 2nd June
Ranking: 4th Overall – Way Outside My Comfort Zone Running in the Heat,
but an Amazing Adventure with Great Pals
Somehow, I
found myself signed up for a three-day stage race in the high mountains of
Morocco: 42 km, 32 km, and 26 km over three days. The event is held in Ifrane,
Morocco’s equivalent of the Kenyan training camp at Iten. For someone who
dislikes running in the heat and suffers badly from cramp, this was going to be
a serious challenge.
In preparation,
I added 20 to 40 minute sauna sessions to my training and even visited the
extreme heat lab at the University of the West of Scotland. Those sessions, set
at 35°C with an altitude of 3,500 meters (13.5% oxygen), were tough! During a
sweat test, I lost 1.8 kg of weight in an hour, even after drinking 1 litre of
fluid. Without that litre, my total fluid loss would’ve been 2.8 litres—an
eye-opener!
Having "fun" in the heat lab! 
Making running hard!
The sauna
training seemed to help. I tested myself at the Ben Lomond hill race on a hot
day and managed well with the heat, so I felt as prepared as I could be.
Arrival in Morocco
Landing in Fez,
I stepped off the plane into what felt like an oven. How on earth was I going
to run in this heat?
Our hotel was a renowned training hub for runners, with a history of Marathon des Sables winners. On Thursday, we went for a short run from the hotel.
Shake out run!
Moving felt good,
but the heat and altitude were a real shock to the system. Later that
afternoon, we registered for the race—a slow process requiring a doctor’s
certificate and cash payment. While we waited, local monkeys provided
entertainment.
Day 1: 42 km
The race
started at 9 a.m. My plan was simple: take it easy, survive the heat, and save
energy for Days 2 and 3.
The route was
marked with painted stones, making navigation relatively easy. The terrain was
hard-packed and stony, with plenty of jaggy plants. The landscape was
reminiscent of Rothiemurchus Estate in Aviemore, but hotter! The trees provided
occasional relief from the heat.
Our team!
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| Follow the blue rocks! |
Checkpoints
were roughly every 10 km, offering bananas, oranges, dates, and nuts. I lived
off the dates—they were unbelievably fresh. I quickly learned to fill both my
bottles (1 litre total) and carry an extra 0.5litre bottle to make it to the
next station.
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| Wide open plain - looking forward to some shade in the trees |
I finished Day
1 with sore legs from the cramps and tough terrain but was relieved to be back
at camp. On finishing, we were handed 2.5 litre bottle of water—a lifesaver.
The traditional tents were surprisingly cool, and mint tea was always
available, though asking for tea without sugar caused some confusion!
The medical
team was excellent, and physios were on hand. One of our group developed a
urinary infection but received all necessary medication from the medics.
Day 2: 32 km
Day 2’s route
was slightly lower at 5,600 feet, with a couple of high sections over and just
under 2,000 metres. Much of the route wound through forests, offering some
respite from the heat.
I was stiff and
sore from Day 1 but managed to keep moving well. However, I made the mistake of
not carrying extra water from a checkpoint, leaving me worried I’d run out
before the finish. Thankfully, there was an unexpected extra checkpoint at the
start of the final big climb. After refueling, I enjoyed the long descent back
to camp.
Day 3: 26 km
By Day 3, I
felt more confident about managing the heat. I think I was finally acclimating
to the conditions. This was the shortest stage, so I didn’t have to hold
anything back for the following day.
The loops began
to feel familiar, with sections overlapping from previous days. Each day was
marked by different-coloured rocks, but I realized they’d simply flipped some
of the rocks to display a new colour!
With no major
dramas, I finished the race before the worst of the day’s heat set in.
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| Enjoying the heat! |
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| The food was amazing! |
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| Prize giving area! |
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| Relaxing in the cool tent - mint tea on tap! |
Reflections
Running in the
heat was well outside my comfort zone, but I was thrilled to finish the race.
The organization was excellent, with great routes, attentive marshalling, and a
vibrant atmosphere. The traditional camp setup, music, and mint tea after each
stage were wonderful touches. The food on camp was healthy and plentiful,
though by the end of the week, a few of us were craving something “unhealthy.”
The
prize-giving was special, and while I never checked the final results, I’m
claiming 1st Scot home! English-speaking participants were rare, with
only a handful of Americans in the mix.
The running
vibe at the camp, hotel, and surrounding area was incredible. This was an
experience I’d love to repeat, especially with a group of like-minded pals.
Sea to Summit of Sveti Jure, Croatia – 16th June 2024
Ranking: 5 – Not a Race, but a Wee Adventure!
This adventure
began with a simple question: how do you get up there? Gazing at the mountain
range, knowing that Croatia’s second-highest summit, Sveti Jure (1,762 m), sat
behind the initial cliff like mountain which sat just back from the beach. The
terrain looked impossibly steep but undeterred, I did some research, checked
the Strava heat map, and plotted a circular route that would (hopefully) take
in Sveti Jure, Vošac (1,421 m), and Štrbina (1,338 m).
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| Imposing route with Sventi Jure summit in the distance! |
I set off at 8
am, promising to be back by 2 pm (🤞) with 3.5 litres of water, some food,
a waterproof, and a Garmin inReach, which I’d forgotten to charge. The climb
was steep from the outset, passing through the last village on the road before
working its way up terrain that initially looked impassable. Thankfully, the
path snaked through the rugged west-facing slopes, which were still shaded in
the morning.
The
"trail" was barely recognizable, weaving over jagged rocks and
through sharp plants, making navigation tricky. At one point, my watch
estimated an ETA of 4:30 pm—not exactly comforting given my promised return
time! Eventually, I reached the road leading to the summit and decided to
shortcut the zigzags, cutting straight up the hill.
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| Interesting terrain! |
A quick stop at
the mountain café for another 2.5 litres of water and a can of beer gave me the
energy to tackle the descent. I dropped rapidly down the road before cutting
onto a path that led to the final summit. After that, it was a long, steep
descent back to the sea, where I arrived for a refreshing dip exactly at
2 p.m.
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| The Summit |
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| Refreshments! |
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| Safely on beach - time to re hydrate! |
Moffat Chase
Hill Race – 27th June 2024
Ranking: 10 – A great hill race, but I probably enjoyed the recce day
the weekend before more due to cramps!
The Moffat
Chase was a new hill race put on by Hartfell Running Club, covering
approximately 20 miles and 6,500 feet of elevation. I thought it would be great
training for the Skyline race, and I even attended the recce the weekend
before, which was fantastic. Unfortunately, race day itself didn’t go as
smoothly.
The weather was
warm, and I started experiencing cramps early on – the dreaded inner-thigh
cramps. My go-to remedy, sachets of "CrampFix," had been effective in
the past, so I carried four with me. One was already used during the descent of
Peat Hill, leaving me with three. The first sachet didn’t help, the second
allowed me to cover about 10 yards before the cramps returned, and the third –
though it tasted vile – was my last hope.
Despite the
challenges, it was a fantastic race with a tough route. I’d have enjoyed it far
more without the cramps!
Result: 75th finisher – 4:56:48 (4th V50).
Ranking: 7 – An amazing week of running with fantastic new friends,
slightly marred by the infamous Scottish “summer” weather!
After enjoying a trip with Trail
Running Scotland last year, I eagerly rebooked for their new Highland High
Points adventure. With Joe and Abel as our driver and guide, we were a small
group of four: Agie, Christine, Tom, and me.
The weather was a mixed bag – we had
some decent conditions on Days 1 and 5, but Days 2, 3, and 4 brought relentless
wind and rain. Despite the weather, it was an excellent week. As with last
year, it was wonderful to get out in the hills, meet new people, and share
great meals and good company each evening.
Day 1 - Ben Macdui route, Cairngorms - nice weather to start!
Day 2 - Creag Meagaidh circuit - cut short slightly due to the weather!
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| Getting blown off the ridge! |
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| The sun came out for the last descent! |
Day 3 - Glen Affric ridges - another wet and wild day!
Salomon Buttermere Skyline – 14th September 2024
Ranking: 8 – Too sore to enjoy it! On a nice day, this would be an
incredible route.
Well, that didn’t go to plan.
Race camp on a driecht day!
About 6 miles into the race, I saw
someone slide about 20 meters down a grassy slope. He got up and continued
running but left his poles behind near where I was. As I moved to pick them up,
I heard shouting. I thought it was because he had lost his poles, but it turned
out to be a warning – someone had dislodged a large rock that smashed into the
side of my left foot.
Race start - surprise meet up!
At the Honister Pass checkpoint, I
grabbed some food and (probably unwisely) decided to push on to the next
checkpoint. The pain in my foot grew worse, and navigating the difficult
terrain was becoming unbearable. Alasdair McCallum briefly kept me company
before leaving me to my slower pace and grumbling. Thankfully, a kind runner
lent me a set of poles – if you’re reading this, thank you, and I hope you got
them back!
At Buttermere checkpoint, I made
another poor decision: to push through the final 3 miles. The route went up
Rannerdale Knotts and then descended steeply to Crummock Water. The cramps
persisted, and the steep descent on my injured foot was a grueling challenge.
Several times, I had to stop and wonder if I could even continue. Big thanks to
everyone who checked in on me – I lied and said I was fine, but your concern
meant a lot!
Painful hobble to the finish
I eventually reached the flat road,
which ironically was just as painful for my foot as the steep sections, and I
eventually made the painful walk to the finish. The medic at the end was
helpful but couldn’t diagnose much without an X-ray.
Nice bling! 
the Damage
Thanks to Colin Anderson, who helped me
and my bike get back to the van. He even sorted me out with ice and a
much-needed roast dinner at the local pub. I spent most of the night in the van
wondering how I’d drive home the next day.
An X-ray on Monday didn’t reveal a
fracture, but the doctor ominously said, “It doesn’t look right.” I was
referred to a consultant, and after a few weeks of light activity, I was
fortunately back to running. The foot was sore for a while, but the pain has
since faded, and no serious harm was done!
Braemar – CapeWrath / Dragon’s Back Reunion – 19th–20th October 2024
Ranking: 9 – A great, relaxed running weekend with some fantastic
running pals!
Mark Smith
kindly organized a weekend at the National Trust bunkhouse just outside Braemar
for a Cape Wrath / Dragon’s Back reunion. I’d been concerned my foot might not
recover in time, but after successfully completing the Carnethy Skyloop Hill
Race on 13th October with no major issues, I was looking forward to the
weekend.
The weather
forecast wasn’t great (a recurring theme this year), but Mark had planned a
route from the bunkhouse up Carn a’ Mhaim, Ben Macdui, with an optional detour
to Derry Cairngorm. Our group stuck together well, enjoying the camaraderie and
catching up. Surprisingly, the weather held for most of the day. While the rest
of the group opted to skip Derry Cairngorm, I convinced Glenn to join me for
the extra summit. The weather even improved as we ran along the ridge. Just to
tease Mark “Strava Stalker” Smith, we hit every minor summit along the way,
purely for the fun of it! We were both a little disappointed when the ridge
ended and we descended back down to Derry Lodge for the trudge back out via the
forest road.
On Sunday, with
Storm Ashley looming, we opted for a low-level route. After some wandering
(mostly in the wrong places), we finally found the secret hawf and managed to
avoid the worst of the storm, enjoying a decent day out.
It was a
fantastic weekend catching up with running pals. I even managed to add solo
hill days on Friday and Monday, making it a solid weekend of running – though
as usual, in typically rubbish weather (rain and wind!).
Cairnsmore Hill Race – 14th December 2024
Ranking: 6 – Only ranking this high because I won a wee prize!
The Cairnsmore
Hill Race used to be an out-and-back event, but under new race director Nicky
Spinks, it’s now an 11-mile loop. The route heads east along a Land Rover track
before transitioning to a narrow, boggy trail through heather. It then ascends
the Knee of Cairnsmore and Cairnsmore of Fleet before descending via the usual
hill race route. Another change this year was the start and finish at the farm,
so the total descent from the summit is now almost 4 miles long!
As expected for
this year, the weather was miserable, with worsening wind, rain, and clag as
the day progressed. Despite the conditions, I felt like I was moving well and
enjoyed the long descent. My grip was fine on the rocky sections, but as the
path became grassier, I started to struggle a bit.
A pleasant
surprise awaited at the finish: prizes for the top three in each category! I
was thrilled to take 2nd V50 and receive a Terry’s Chocolate Orange from Nicky
Spinks – a lovely touch.
I thought the
new route was fantastic and really enjoyed the race. These low-key hill races
are my absolute favorite!
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| Nice cakes! |
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| Receiving my chocolate orange from Nicky! |
Result: 16th place – 1:57:08 (2nd V50).
Ranking: 2 – The first time in a long while that I’ve felt I’m moving
efficiently in the hills.
The last “race”
of the year, and apparently I enjoyed it enough last year to come back! The
forecast was grim – strong to gale-force winds with rain later in the day. The
high passes on the route would be interesting, though much of the route stays
low. Mark Caldwell was running too, and we planned for a 7:30am start (the
event allows staggered starts from 7:00am to 9:30am after kit checks and
tracker fitting). We left at 7:49am, slightly later than planned, but perfectly
timed as it was just getting light – no head torch needed.
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| Race start with Mark Caldwell |
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| Refreshed at the end! |
The first major
climb to Boredale Hause brought the full force of the wind, but we quickly
dropped down to Side Farm and the first excellent aid station. The route then
ascends Glenridding. At the zigzags above the Youth Hostel, I took the straight
line while Mark opted for the zigzags, leaving me ahead. I plodded on,
expecting him to catch up, especially on the windy crossing of Sticks Pass, but
we never saw each other till the finish.
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| Grisedale Tarn |
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| Refuelling at Side farm |
The soup and
cake at the finish were fantastic, and the atmosphere in the hall was brilliant
as runners returned from a wild day in the hills.
Result: 46th place – 8:37:48 (over an hour
faster than 2023!).
Reflections on 2024
This year, I’ve
continued to struggle with hip issues, so I’ve been selective with races,
avoiding longer ones except for the ARC. While my hips have generally been
manageable, they need careful attention to prevent pain.
I’m unsure if
Lyme disease is completely out of my system. As in 2023, recovery after hard
training or races still feels slow – though perhaps it’s all in my head! To
manage this, I’ve generally limited myself to running three times a week,
supplementing with strength and flexibility work on other days.
One persistent
challenge has been severe cramps, especially on the inner thighs. These are
excruciating and debilitating for both ascending and descending. The question
nags at me: am I undertraining? Running too little? My “secret weapon” of
CrampFix usually helps but has failed on occasion. A new trick – eating
Precision Hydration 1500 tablets – worked perfectly at the Tour de Helvellyn,
so I’ll be keeping them in my kit.
Heat training
proved very effective before Morocco, so I’d incorporate that into any plan for
a long summer event. It works, and the adaptation is surprisingly quick!
Looking Ahead to 2025
No major plans
for 2025 – just a mix of running and getting out into the hills. I’ve got two
multi-stage adventures lined up, which will be my main focus.
I’m also
continuing to work through my Donalds (which should be renamed “b**stard hills
with no discernible summits”). So far, I’ve completed 52/89 Donalds and 17/52
Donald tops – plenty more bogs and fence lines to follow next year!
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| Summit of Hudderstone (626 m) |
If you’ve made
it this far – well done, and thank you!
If you want to reach out - I still sort off use X @ameldrum7
or alasdairmeldrum@outlook.com
Keep enjoying your running!
Happy face at the West Districts X Country - photo by Bobby Gavin!
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