Glamaig Hill Race

This race is said to be one of the toughest and most technical races to complete in Scottish hill running! It is described as a category A race.

The race is a total of 4.5 miles (7km), with a climb of 775 meters (2,500 feet). It is held on the 6th June each year, normally starting around 2/3pm.

The Glamaig hill race starts at Sligihan hotel on the Isle of Skye. You then run along the main road for sometime, before cutting of and running across the moorlands towards the hill. You then climb the hill which is pictured in the photo above. It was so steep I had to go onto my hands and knees and climb up like that for most of the hill.

The next part was the scree there was so much scree when coming down you could just stand there and slide down! But I remember the first year I completed the race. When I was going up the hill there was boulders being moved by the runners in front so you had to always be aware of what was falling down from above you. Someone was badly hurt coming down the scree and had to get air lifted of the mountain.

Because I was only 17 years old when I first did the race I was told I had to do it at my own risk and they would not be responsible if anything was to happen. As in the rules you had to be over 18 years to take part.

I do remember thinking to myself half way up the hill: what am I doing here and why did I think this was a good idea?! But looking back I am glad I did do it and would do it again.

I finished the race in just over two hours. I got roughly the same times both years I did the race.

The first year I did this race it was raining and misty. Running over the moorlands there where so many bogs that I was soaked and covered in mud by the end of it. Because of the mist, when I got to the top of the hill I could not see anything so had to be extra careful coming back down and did take a wrong turning taking me longer to get back to the start.

The second time I did the race the weather was not as bad and I got a good view from the top of the mountain.