There were changes at the front of the field on day three of the 2024 Cape Wrath Ultra. Although regarded as the toughest stage, in the women’s race Elsa Morgan ate up the 68km and over 2,300m of ascent from Kinloch Hourn to Achnashellach.
She now holds a six-minute lead over former leader Bridget Glaister, with the USA’s Erin Smith moving up into third. Lewis Taylor continued to set the pace in the men’s race and has a lead of almost 50 minutes over Ludwig Antilli, with the UK’s Jason Leaf now in third place.
After another intense day, Lewis Taylor commented: “The middle 25km was tough. It was really sunny and I was trying to keep focussed going through a bad patch. I had some people in front of me, so I would catch them up and run with them for a bit before going on my way which was quite nice. Going up from the bottom of the Falls of Glomach I felt really good – I was just cruising along.”
He expressed his gratitude for the camaraderie among the participants. “Bridget (Glaister) was my savior. I developed a blister on my big toe just before the Falls of Glomach. We were passing each other back and forth, and she noticed my discomfort. Without hesitation, she passed me some tape. I owe her more than just a pint!”
For some, it was a day of struggle, with the unexpected heat posing a significant challenge. Out of the 172 starters, only 89 participants remain in the full race. However, the spirit of the event lives on as an additional 65 runners have chosen to continue with the shorter Cape Wrath Explorer option.
After day three of the 2024 Cape Wrath Ultra, the leading runners are:
Men:
1. Lewis Taylor – 20:20:48
2. Ludwig Antilli – 21:09:54
3. Jason Leaf – 21:34:07
Women
1. Elsa Morgan – 23:55:01
2. Bridget Glaister – 24:01:18
3. Erin Smith – 25:15:19.
A roundup of the day’s action is available on the event website: Day three of the 2024 Cape Wrath Ultra. A challenging day sees a shakeup in the women’s field—Cape Wrath Ultra®.