I met Ayron before he completed the The Long Classic Series. He fantastically offered to tell us about his experiences. The tales and words of the blog are complimented by stunning photos of beautiful views that surround us in the hills. Brew up, sit down for this absolute gem of a blog from Ayron.
What is the Long Classic series?
The Scottish Long Classic Series is a handful of hill races selected because of their longer distance, ascent and difficulty compared to some of the other races in the SHR calendar. These races are category AL meaning they are at least 50mtrs per Km of ascent (A) and longer than 20km in distance (L). The courses range from lower level rolling grassy hills to rocky, technical mountain ridges.
The routes are unmarked but do have checkpoints you need to make so navigation needs to be good. You are self-sufficient carrying your own food/water and the minimum safety kit required – Full body cover (waterproof jacket and trousers), hat, gloves, map, compass, whistle, emergency food and sometimes depending on weather a bivvy bag.
To have a final ranking in this series you need to have completed at least 4 races. Only 52 runners completed 4 or more of the 9 races this year.
The races were (in date order) –
Stuc a Chroin (13.6miles/4900ft)
Jura (17.3miles/7775ft)
Trotternish Ridge (16miles/6560ft)
Arrochar Alps (16miles/7847ft)
Ben Rinnes (14miles/5000ft)
Glenshee 9 (20.5miles/5900ft)
Ochills 2000 (20miles/4000ft)
2 Breweries (18.5miles/4900ft)
Pentland Skyline (16.5miles/6000ft)
Pea soup on Stuc a Chroin
This year was my second year competing in the Long Classics. I managed to complete 6 races last year and the main reason I entered them was to increase mileage and ascent training for my then 2017 goal – the Ring of StealI Skyrace (part of the Salomon Skyline Scotland series based in Kinlochleven) 18miles/8000ft of some of the finest mountain running to be found in Scotland. I managed to finish Ring of Steall 2nd M40 and just missed out in the sought-after sub 5hr time by 1 minute but I was really happy with the result.
Ring of Steall 2017
I couldn’t help thinking though that the race I should have entered was the next day’s Glencoe Skyline 32miles/ 15000ft which includes an ascent of Curved Ridge and Anoch Eagach ridge and involves Grade 3 scrambling! That was when I knew what one of the 2018 goals would be!
The other goal was a clean sweep of all the Long Classics in 1 season which can be quite tricky, not only due to clash of events, family commitments, staying injury free but getting a place in some races isn’t guaranteed. Jura is very popular and has a massive entry, so it’s balloted. Luckily, I got a place first try this year so I knew there was a chance of a clean sweep as it’s the hardest to get a place for.
Which was your favourite and why?
Probably Jura (17.3miles/7775ft). I hadn’t done it before and I’d heard the stories about how good it was. It’s a weekend event where you cross to the island by small boat on the Friday and you’re dropped off at the campsite right in front of the Jura distillery and local pub (how convenient!). The running was outstanding with a bit of everything underfoot including high speed scree surfing! The scenery is just stunning!! Then there’s the Saturday night party in the pub and ceilidh to top off the perfect running/social package! The only down side is the hangover and boat ride back to the mainland on the Sunday! lol
The Paps of Jura from the boat
Beinn a Chaolais, Jura
Hardest Long Classic
Jura was tough but I think for the 2nd year in a row I’d have to say Arrochar Alps (16miles/7847ft). The route takes in 4 Munroe’s and it’s mostly off grid running pulling up through steep heather, rock gullies and ridges. It also has one of the steepest descents in hill racing coming down off Ben Vorlich! A proper sadists’ race. This year was in record high temps as well which added to the pain!
What was the most memorable experience?
It would have to be the double weekends of Jura and Trotternish Ridge (16.1miles/6560ft) in Skye. I had done Trotternish last year, so I was more than happy to be back again. The route takes you over some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland if not the world including the spectacular Quiraing! The night out in Portree after the race is always good craic too (can you see a theme here!) but the added bonus was the next day on my way home I stopped past the Cuillin for my back to back run and did some of the ridge including Sguur Dearg adding in some airy scrambling in the most incredible visibility, sweating beer! Another crazy weekend running and one that really stuck out.
Trotternish Ridge, Skye
The Cuillin, Skye
When the going gets tough whats your mantra to continue?
“You’re not going to die!” Haha
How does this compare to other events and runs you have completed?
The Long Classics are a bit harder than the usual hill races not just the distance, but the ascent can be up to almost 8000ft so training for that takes a bit of doing and then because you’re running for longer getting nutrition right is another battle.
Training 2018
I have to say that some of this year’s training runs were as good if not better than the races!
As I mentioned, this year’s A-Race for me was Glencoe Skyline so the long weekend mountain training runs had taken on an added element of scrambling and moving as fast as possible over technical, exposed rock which Glencoe Skyline was full of. Luckily, I had 2 willing training partners that didn’t suffer vertigo issues, Steve Ord and Rob Sinclair both club mates of several years at Garioch and ITRC. Rob was also training for Glencoe and the Lakes Sky Ultra, (which he went onto win).
Forefingers Pinnacle, Shelterstone, Cairngorms
NE ridge Angels Peak, Cairngorms (Rob Sinclair)
Fiachaille ridge, Cairngorms (Steve Ord)
Looking down into Lairig Ghru from Braeriach Cairngorms
I also entered Scafell Skyrace (25miles/9000ft) part of the Lake District Sky Trails which was a great test as it was half way through the season and a good marker to see how well I was going. It was the closest I’d get to Glencoe in terms of distance. I managed to finish 38th/200 overall in 6hrs 56mins in a world class field.
Scafell Skyrace 2018
The only person to complete the Long Classic series – how does that feel?
Yeah I was chuffed especially when everything seemed to be conspiring against me in the last few weeks leading up to Pentland Skyline (last race)! I picked up a soleus/calf niggle most probably on Ben Nevis hill race but managed to run through it at Glencoe and 2 Breweries hill race and it was getting worse! Then I somehow missed the entry for Pentland and the race was full!! Eejit! After a Facebook plea I managed to find someone that could no longer make the race so I got a last minute substitute. With some sound physio advice and some strengthening tips from you (James) I managed to not only get round Pentland giving me the clean sweep but even managed to beat last years’ time by 5 mins! J
I finished the series 15th/52 and 4th M40 and the only runner to get the clean sweep.
Glencoe A-race
Unfortunately, Glencoe Skyline although a great experience was a bit of a disappointment! The race organisers cut the route short due to bad weather (reduced to 20miles/9000ft). It wasn’t a total loss though; Curved ridge was still included which was great but Anoch Eagach was out due to high wind! I have to admit I was absolutely gutted not to get the whole route especially thinking of the effort I put into the year’s training but saying that the journey building up to it was nuts and definitely the best year’s running I’ve had!
Glencoe Skyline
The queue on Curved ridge
Glencoe Skyline finish
What got you into running?
My dad was a bit of an outdoor maverick and adventurer back in his day and introduced me to the outdoors at an early age. His stories of hiking, climbing and kayaking rubbed off on me, so I’ve been visiting the hills ever since.
I only really started running though in the last 15 years or so although sporadically. In the beginning, I was only doing it to cover more ground quickly whilst hiking. I joined Cosmic Hillbashers around 2005 and entered a handful of races but nothing serious. Around this time kayaking and rock climbing had a bigger hold on me so running went onto the back burner until more recently when I had a second running wind.
I joined Garioch in 2014 and started training more seriously and racing again. At the beginning of last year I moved over to ITRC until very recently when I decided to move on to Deeside runners.
For me it’s all about being in the hills particularly mountains. All my running and racing is purely in the hills. To this day I’ve still not competed in a road race. I’ve got nothing against road running, it’s just that I only run so I can be in the hills.
Spanish Corner Collieston
Garbh Allt, Balmoral
Top Tip for hill / Fell / Trail runners out there?
If you’re looking to get into longer hill racing then brush up on your nav, get your nutrition sorted and get training in the mountains, it’s your duty living in Scotland! I can highly recommend entering a few Long Classics to see what it’s all about.
Nutrition
I’ve tried everything over the years but I was lucky enough to be introduced to Mountain Fuel this year which is really working for me. https://www.mountainfuel.co.uk.
Whats next for Ayron?
I’ll probably do a few Long Classics again, particularly the more mountainous ones – Stuc a Chroin and Arrochar Alps because they’re so nails and I’ll definitely try and get into Jura and Trotternish again as the post-race nights out are so good!
I need to do Glencoe Skyline again and I’m also looking at a few Skyraces abroad.
I’ve done the odd triathlon here and there so I’d like to maybe pursue this further and try some harder, longer ones.
Mainly I’m looking forward to more crazy mountain training days with my running buddies and my 10-year-old lad Harris who is an up and coming mountain goat!
Black Spout Lochnagar (Harris Comber)
Thanks to Ayron for a lovely piece and for brightening up the dreich Friday. The pictures make you want to lace up and get out there. Brilliant piece and fantastic read. Good luck with the next season Ayron.
Thanks for reading.
Run Long and Prosper.
James
