The Leaders Race Away and ITERA Lite Joins In

Day three of ITERA dawned with the leaders surging further into the distance, carving out a commanding gap and leaving much of the expedition field in their wake. Behind them, the race remained a test of grit, resolve, and survival — and at 2pm, a fresh wave of competitors joined the challenge as ITERA Lite began.

The previous night had been one of recovery for most expedition teams. Transition 6 at Foyers became a temporary refuge — a place to sleep, repair, and regroup after the relentless trials of day two and the frigid descent through the canyon. For some, it was the end of the road. Bonaly Racers bowed out, and illness forced Chris Caulfield of Moxie Racers to stop, though his teammates pressed on.

By mid-morning, the race was moving again. Stage 7 beckoned: a ride across the vast and lonely Monadhliath hills. For the first time since the start, summer seemed to arrive — blue skies, bright sun, and not a breath of wind. Some teams opted for the shorter, less punishing route. Others sought out the brutal climb to the Eagle of Glendoe, a solitary sculpture in the high wilds, before descending at speed along sweeping wind farm tracks.

Among them, Team Cymru rolled into Laggan Village Hall — tired, yet brimming with spirit. Strangers at the start line, they had become a unit, bonded by shared suffering and laughter. “We know we’re not a fast team,” said Lowri Morgan. “We can’t win, so we’ve decided to enjoy ourselves and not worry too much if we miss checkpoints.”

From Laggan, the expedition racers launched into their final paddle, while for the freshly-started ITERA Lite competitors it was their first and only one. Starting at Laggan Wolftrax MTB Centre, the pairs ran into town and joined the river Spey, slicing through sparkling waters towards the northeast.

The Lite course mirrors the closing stages of the long race, trading mountains for variety. Ahead lies a landscape of moor, forest, and coastal sand dunes — and a route that threads through the Glenlivet Distillery, Gordonstoun School, and the old RAF Kinloss airbase. Racers will tackle technical foot and mountain bike orienteering, a rope stage, and a daring paddle to reach a castle on an island. The final long bike ride is packed with special stages designed to test mind and muscle alike.

As night fell on day three, Team Leaping Fish still led the expedition race, shadowed closely by Endurancelife. But nothing here is certain. Course planner Tom Gibbs has warned that the coastal orienteering stage could upend the leaderboard entirely.

And in ITERA Lite, Gary Davies and Mark Chryssanthou — both seasoned adventure racers — seized an early lead. Ahead of them, like every team in this race, lies not just a course, but a journey through exhaustion, beauty, and the untamed heart of Scotland.

 

Article courtesy and adapted from Rob Howard, Sleepmonsters.