Scotland Coast to Coast - Loch Ness to Ballaculish

Muddy and tired, midway through Day 2

We woke up for our second day of racing achy and cold and (after a tea and some breakfast), raring to go again! This time, the first leg of the day was 16 miles off-road cycling. 

The most enjoyable part of the whole race for me, we got thoroughly covered in mud, as we wound up and down a series of hilly trails, passing hoards of unlucky racers who suffered from punctures or simply couldn't get up the hills!

In sight of the finish line

Next came 17 miles of road cycling, less windy than the previous day but no less hard as our muscles began to seize up. I hit a real mental and physical wall during the next part of the race, a 14 mile hill run. Cold and wet, I shivered the whole way, but struggled to move anywhere near as fast as I can usually run, prevented mainly by my raw blisters from the previous day and sore muscles! We finally made it over the massive hill though, and kayaked across the last stretch  to the finish just as it began to hail - a dramatic way to make it to the end!

Finally done! Whisky o'clock?!

The pint, soup and fair few whisky once we had showered were well deserved! What a fantastic way to discover a stunning country. I'll be going back for sure!