20/06/2025
Good luck to everyone taking part in the Highland Cross tomorrow. Be sure to follow these handy tips.🚲☀️🏃♀️🚰
A message from our Medical Marshal
Advice for competitors in this year's Highland Cross:
Hello to everyone walking or running the Highland Cross this year. The weather looks lovely for a fishing trip but for our purposes it can pose a few risks. I wanted to give a brief update about the weather expected and what we can all do about it this year. Temperatures on the running route could be between 20 to 23 C with the probability of moderate cloud cover and medium humidity. This still means it will feel quite warm. It will climb as you head east and may be up to 26C in Beauly. There is therefore the risk of some heat illness, more so if certain precautions are not observed.
Please take time to prepare:
- wear a hat (radiation heating of your head from direct sunlight has a significant impact on body temperature).
- wear sunscreen - (sunburnt skin struggles to thermoregulate for a week after injury).
- bring your cup and avail yourselves of the frequent water stops available roughly each 5 miles of the run.
- drink plenty, ideally isotonic fluids. It is possible to overdrink, but this is unlikely if you drink to thirst. Salty snacks can help in this regard and there will be both isotonic and water available on the course.
- If you have recently had diarrhoea or vomiting or are particularly prone to heat illness I would recommend not running this year.
On the course:
- Take time to cool down at hydration stops in the shade provided if you feel at all hot.
- Use the many sources of running water to soak your hat and cool down.
- drink at each stop
- talk to one of the many people volunteering at the event for your safety if you feel unwell.
Apologies for the lecture, have fun!
Dr Kyle D. Murray
Highland Cross Medical Marshal"
