Last weekend i spent a great time away with family in the wonderful Glencoe.
The plan last year was to train hard and run the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace for the second time but sadly due to a knee injury, this was not to be the case.
With my brother having booked accommodation, it would have been a waste not to come up for the weekend and make the most of it.
I missed spectating for the VK and Ring Of Steall events but headed out on the Sunday to cheer on the runners of the Glencoe Skyline.
The weather had turned for the worst so a shortened route was on the cards for them all but still a substantial amount of climbing and distance to tackle including curved ridge on the Buachaille Etive Mor.
I was torn to the best spot to take some pictures but due to the volume of traffic and people all along the check point parking spots i decided to head up the Devils Staircase where there is an incredible view point looking back across to the Buachaille, A82 and surrounding hills.
After a short hike up the Devils Staircase i found a nice big boulder to shelter beside and decided this was a good spot to settle and watch the weather unfold as i awaited the first runners heading up from Kinlochleven.
There was so much drama in the sky as squally showers rattled through but thankfully the wind wasn't too cold.
My two Collies snuggled beside me and i practiced with a few camera tips that i had read about including focusing on a point and snapping away as a runner reached this point so to get them in focus.
You always know when a runner is coming on these events as you can hear the distant cowbells which in turn sets my wee dog off into a barking fit! :-)
I snapped away for the next few hours enjoying watching all the happy faces as they ran by from the mountain running legends that are Kilian Jornet and Jasmin Paris to name a few to those that were running this height and distance for the first time.
A truly inspirational experience to watch the joy and determination in faces running by and a nice reminder why we all love to run in the mountains!
Here are my pictures from the event, feel free to share with others.