A later than usual start ...

With RG continuing rehab (on the ski slopes…) from his career-threatening ankle injury, and RK maintaining an admirable loyalty to his coffee shop training routine (oh, and the daily visits to the gym!!), the average age was halved as R and A took to the Cavehill.

A later than usual start ensured that, despite the "great stretch in the evenings" these days, head torches and reflective gear were essential as the young pups started out for the snow-capped peak.

Ambitious goals were set for the night - the main one being to remain upright at all times, on a track that in numerous spots resembled parts of the Total Wipeout course! (Minus those enormous greasy spheres that every contestant comes a cropper on - obviously….)

Job interviews, R's new wheels and bank holiday training runs covered, the conversation tailed off with the increasing gradient. Once above the tree line and past the caves, the push was on to the stile, R leading the way with his usual consummate ease. The formation of a new gravel track (sacrilege to some!) helped in the pursuit of an historic first - for us anyway! - continuous running from carpark to summit. From there it was off to the stile - the "recovery route" in reverse. But for the crazy rabbits and some even crazier mountain bikers the track would have been invisible, and with each stride into snow and ice-cold water the feet became more and more numb. A fast descent from the stile back down the gravel path took us to the caves from where, in the faint head torch light we could just make out our next monstrous challenge - the Black Run…. Uphill.

It started at a run, slowed to a jog and for A, at least, quickly became a painful walk with calf explosion imminent.  R seemed to skip, nay dance to the summit, later admitting that he "may have walked in a couple of spots".  In any case McArt's fort was once again reached and stunning views across the city enjoyed briefly before the descent began.

Down the red we went with Mudclaws and Talons working overtime to keep their respective owners upright on a treacherous descent - "the worst yet" R was heard to cry (quite a claim!).  R managed to stay upright despite resembling a contestant on Dancing on Ice at times, while A lost it on one bend.  Full face plant looked on the cards but somehow was avoided with a "knee slide" that bore an uncanny resemblance to a certain post-goal celebration Steven Gerard……….

The carpark was reached without further incident and a new descent record (for some of us!) of 17mins set.

Great night, great craic and, thanks to the wonders of hot water, limbs and feet have finally thawed!!

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