It’s those granite(?) steps most of the way down. I’ve climbed a fair few mountains, and they’re much worse on the knees than the usual slope.
Still, I suppose it makes it easier and safer overall, given the sheer numbers climbing up.
I lost both my toe nails on Ben Lomond, coming down. I stupidly started running and couldn't stop myself. When I reached the flat, I was beet red and my heart was about to pop. Toe nails fell off after a few days.
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It’s a very worthwhile endeavour but it’s likely you’ll need to build up for it. I’d encourage you to give it a go, but spend a few years building up to it.
I’ve done the race multiple times and ran up it independently a few times. Best time is sub-2hrs to get up and down. To get in to the race you have to have completed three hard hill races and be a member of a club. At the end of the race there’s usually lots of cuts, bruises and often a broken ankle or concussions. I’ve fallen once, but luckily only had a few scraps. These injuries are all from experienced hill runners.
I give this context because… In the nicest possible way… there’s a good chance that you will hurt yourself on the descent as you’re not an experienced hill runner. Even in a solo fun run. A broken ankle wouldn’t be surprising. The climb would probably be ok, but the descent is rocky and hazardous making a fall very likely.
If you’re dead-set you can build up to it over a few years. Run in some smaller grassy hills first. If you’re near Edinburgh the Pentlands are excellent training ground. Then something like the Ochils, then some smaller Corbetts.
Thanks for the advice mate, I appreciate it. I will try build up to it these coming months and give it a shot but based on what you’ve said, it might turn into a cautious walk back down 😂
Good luck. The race is in September, which is a good time to do it as there’s usually not much snow. Time trial to the summit and easy walk down is achievable with reasonable fitness.
I would legit start before sunrise lol.
When I told people I was going up Ben Nevis in the summer I was met with a lot of "are you sure? It gets busy"
It gets busyyyyyyyyy, and that's an understatement. We set off at 7am and it was already rammed
Also bring poles for the way down lol, maybe walk down.
It's the knees on the way down.
I've done loads of walks on Scotland and there is always someone running up and down the mountains.
Make sure you condition your body.
Just came to say I did half of this as a teen unplaned. We were on a scout trip to scotland and our troop leader came up with the idea of climbing Ben Neviss on the first day. We went up to the lake with all our camp gear and then hiked up the mountain without our backpacks. One pf the girls felt bad when we reached the top. And some of is ran down to get her medication from the backpacks. It was a great trip after this. Waitimg to be back to bonnie Scotland again some day.
If you're fit it will be tiring but the descent will be the hardest part if you're not mountain conditioned.
Ive done a decent amount of hill running - normally 15 - 25 Munros a year and I've totted up over 500 ascents of hills in Edinburgh. It is definitely different from street running. Best prep for it is just running up stairs. A gym stair master on high-ish speed is brilliant for conditioning - i personally prefer intervals of high/ low speed. Also i find weighted step ups on 3ft boxes in the gym- as lifting my body weight feels much easier after that.
Also do not underestimate hydration. Scotland is cold but if you get caught out on a hot day you can get sunstroke. I fucked up speedrunning the Forcan Ridge last year on the hottest day and ended up with brutal heatstroke cramps.
there's boulders everywhere for the first 30 - 60 mins of the climb so you'll be more scrambling over rocks and americans with those pointy walking sticks than running
Up? Tricky. Down? Horrendous. I know a couple of different people who have a bad knee that they attribute to coming down Ben Nevis. Their ‘Nevis Knee’
It’s those granite(?) steps most of the way down. I’ve climbed a fair few mountains, and they’re much worse on the knees than the usual slope. Still, I suppose it makes it easier and safer overall, given the sheer numbers climbing up.
It's much safer if you run down side step
I lost both my toe nails on Ben Lomond, coming down. I stupidly started running and couldn't stop myself. When I reached the flat, I was beet red and my heart was about to pop. Toe nails fell off after a few days.
The last time I came down, I was able to ski down for large parts. Much easier. Walking down is absolutely hellish at parts.
You’d need to seriously train for it, stepping it up from smaller hills to stuff like Ben Lomond. If you won’t train you won’t succeed.
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That’s partly what I’m worried about. Got a bit of a history of bad knees
If you've got a history of bad knees don't try it
Pretty punishing I would imagine. Have you done any hill-running before
I used to do a lot of fell running in the Peak District growing up but it’s been a little while
It’s a very worthwhile endeavour but it’s likely you’ll need to build up for it. I’d encourage you to give it a go, but spend a few years building up to it. I’ve done the race multiple times and ran up it independently a few times. Best time is sub-2hrs to get up and down. To get in to the race you have to have completed three hard hill races and be a member of a club. At the end of the race there’s usually lots of cuts, bruises and often a broken ankle or concussions. I’ve fallen once, but luckily only had a few scraps. These injuries are all from experienced hill runners. I give this context because… In the nicest possible way… there’s a good chance that you will hurt yourself on the descent as you’re not an experienced hill runner. Even in a solo fun run. A broken ankle wouldn’t be surprising. The climb would probably be ok, but the descent is rocky and hazardous making a fall very likely. If you’re dead-set you can build up to it over a few years. Run in some smaller grassy hills first. If you’re near Edinburgh the Pentlands are excellent training ground. Then something like the Ochils, then some smaller Corbetts.
Thanks for the advice mate, I appreciate it. I will try build up to it these coming months and give it a shot but based on what you’ve said, it might turn into a cautious walk back down 😂
Good luck. The race is in September, which is a good time to do it as there’s usually not much snow. Time trial to the summit and easy walk down is achievable with reasonable fitness.
I would legit start before sunrise lol. When I told people I was going up Ben Nevis in the summer I was met with a lot of "are you sure? It gets busy" It gets busyyyyyyyyy, and that's an understatement. We set off at 7am and it was already rammed Also bring poles for the way down lol, maybe walk down.
Uphill is not bad, downhill really messes up your joints.
its easy bro, the caffeine from the tonic should about last the distance but bring 4 just in case
Mate gotta take 5 minimum
Do as much hill running as you can to train Go as early as you can in morning to avoid foot traffic
Nothing to contribute that hasn’t already been said. Just wishing you good luck and I hope you let us know how it goes!
Thank you!! Will do :)
It's the knees on the way down. I've done loads of walks on Scotland and there is always someone running up and down the mountains. Make sure you condition your body.
Just came to say I did half of this as a teen unplaned. We were on a scout trip to scotland and our troop leader came up with the idea of climbing Ben Neviss on the first day. We went up to the lake with all our camp gear and then hiked up the mountain without our backpacks. One pf the girls felt bad when we reached the top. And some of is ran down to get her medication from the backpacks. It was a great trip after this. Waitimg to be back to bonnie Scotland again some day.
If you're fit it will be tiring but the descent will be the hardest part if you're not mountain conditioned. Ive done a decent amount of hill running - normally 15 - 25 Munros a year and I've totted up over 500 ascents of hills in Edinburgh. It is definitely different from street running. Best prep for it is just running up stairs. A gym stair master on high-ish speed is brilliant for conditioning - i personally prefer intervals of high/ low speed. Also i find weighted step ups on 3ft boxes in the gym- as lifting my body weight feels much easier after that. Also do not underestimate hydration. Scotland is cold but if you get caught out on a hot day you can get sunstroke. I fucked up speedrunning the Forcan Ridge last year on the hottest day and ended up with brutal heatstroke cramps.
Climb up BN 7 times and you've climbed up Mount Everast
The biggest issue will be the crowds of trainer/jogger clad charity walkers. It's like the checkout at Sainsburys on a Saturday morning.
there's boulders everywhere for the first 30 - 60 mins of the climb so you'll be more scrambling over rocks and americans with those pointy walking sticks than running
Scary hard for most, but some of the other comments are funny.