The Ben Nevis Race

[Pyrenees Haven]

Did Finley win again?

Be some sore legs at the Green Welly & Tebay services. (my 2 favourite stops)

Finlay Wild won again for the 8th consecutive year. For us the big story is the man that came second, our very good friend Brice Delsouiller, an Ariege high altitude shepherd. Brice lives for 6 months of the year in the mountains surrounding Pyrenees Haven in a bothy without electricity or running water. He looks after over 500 cows and Merens horses, he has shepherding dogs but no motorised vehicles. Everytime he needs to return to 'civilisation' he has to descend over 1000m to get to his car.

Debbie
www.pyrenees-haven.com

[ghost]

What a fantastic story!

[Pyrenees Haven]

What a fantastic story!

He is currently drinking a mug of Yorkshire tea in our front room nursing 'ben legs' before having a return to his bothy/cabane.

Debbie
www.pyrenees-haven.com

[Stagger]

Well done Brice.
Will he return next year Debbie?

[RaceTheSweeper]

MrRTS really enjoyed that! After a bit of advice from a few on here previous to the race especially tindersticks he made sure to drink lots of water / fuel to stave off the jelly legs at the end and .... it worked. He finished strong and made sure to keep HR below Lactate Threshold on the way up :-) He is really happy with that. Weather was AMAZING!!! Some super running from class athletes. Huge well done to all that ran.
489 finishers
MrRTS 203rd in 02:21:51
Full results here http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/pdf/Be...17_Results.pdf
Super story on the chap that came second! Now that is what I call a training ground ;-)

[anthonykay]

Has there been a lengthening of the course at some stage? I am just wondering why my finishing time in 168th position in 1986 would have got me 30th place this year (and a top 50 place in each of the previous 4 years).
If the course has been lengthened, then Kenny Stuart's 1984 record may truly be unbeatable.

[Stagger]

The grass bank from Red burn on the decent is OUT of BOUNDS now.
That started in the 2016 race.

That's all I know about route change.

How do the winners times compare?

[Old Whippet]

[
If the course has been lengthened, then Kenny Stuart's 1984 record may truly be unbeatable.[/QUOTE]

Well... I reckon the ban on descending the grassy bank probably adds a minute. There were some fences changing the line of decent in the last fifth too. It's also been suggested that the change in the nature of the screes on the top half (more bouldery)over the years has also made descending this part slower.
What we need is someone to really challenge Finlay all the way up and down. I'd love to see that.
Looking at past results, I think Kenny's record only beats the previous by one second. With the likes of Kilian Jornet in this world I reckon It'll be history before too long.

[Pyrenees Haven]

Well done Brice.
Will he return next year Debbie?

Both Brice and Gary hope to go next year.

Debbie
www.pyrenees-haven.com

[Free Ian Brown]

There were 489 finishers, but 600 entries...what happened to the other 111?

I'm assuming that, with there being a waiting list, it's generally a full complement on the start line?

Do runners get turned back / DNF?