Glen Lyon Trail Race

Grey sky, light rain and light winds for the start of the 2026 Glen Lyon Trail race. Apart from the sky, the wind and rain got much worse. The race starts on the small tarred road where you have the dam behind you. Bill Heirs shares a wee pre run joke which we can't share here as there are no age checks on this site. A short section on the flat before the main climb of the day starts. By people were shedding the rain jackets and warm layers as the climb took it's toll. These items were put back on later.

After the up and down of the start hill the route settles into a traditional undulating course on a Landrover style track. Generally this is good quality but we did find a couple of slippy bits due to mud. The race goes anti-clockwise around the loch. This is an exposed route so in 2026 we start to notice the odd shower coming in and the wind picking up. After it was heavy rain and a strong head wind. Life choices were being considered.

One of the selling points for this race is the river crossings. Sounds good and interesting, but in 2026 some of those crossings were deep with a strong flow of water. This is not a wet feet route it is more of a wet shorts route. View the pictures. To be honest with the driving rain in the face the river crossings didn't add much to the overall wetness of the run.

In 2026 running the north side of the route wasn't the best experience. At around you are at the other end of the loch and that's where the photographer is. I suspect they are also there to ensure you don't drown in yet another crossing. At you arrive at the water station and some encouraging chat from the marshals (thank you guys). Bill at the start tells you this station is halfway round, but it is a bit further on than half way. This section has the second and last of the main climbs.

The south loch return is very undulating, perhaps due more to tired legs rather than the actual elevation. There are still river crossings on this section but generally these are less deep and narrower than those on the north side. In 2026 the wind was now on our back along with the rain so not to complain.

The dam appears (through the rain) but does seem an age before you actually get within striking distance of it. Onto the top of the dam then a run across it which is rather impressive and here is where the unplanned fun can start. At the end of the dam you have to get yourself over a small wooden fence. Easy you might think, but with in the legs it can be a worrying maneuver. From here there is short, steep grassy descent back to the tarred road. We did see people fall onto the soft grass and sorry to report we did have a chuckle.

Once back to the tarred road then it is only a short section to the finish line which was a start line when you were dry. Great marshals and a wooden medal to show you managed it.

To all those fellow runners in 2026 - what a shift you put in - never again until the next time :-)