Borders XC, Peebles, 4 December 2011

There was some snow in Penicuik when we left but the weather in Peebles was relatively balmy by comparison, well until about halfway through the race when the snow started.   It was round about that time that I thought that I was holding off the last person in the race: it turned out later that the chap that I thought I was holding off was the sweeper.   Fortunately I made a few places in the second half of the race when we hit some downhill, and I didn’t see the sweeper again.   The other runners from the Harriers all ran much better than me.   Duncan Ball in 38th place was only 4 minutes behind the winner; Sarah Blake was 46th, Mike Brooks 55th, Chris Downie 126th, Jane Hart 128th, Rachael Campbell 149th, Gilly Marshall 161st, and Bill Bennet 182nd.   It was alovely run up the Tweed, a bit muddy, but not as muddy as Gala.   It’s an even lovelier run in the summer when the mud has dried.   You should try the run from Peebles up the Tweed to Barns in February; there are thousands of snowdrops which are absolutely gorgeous.   Full results can be found at www.bordersxc.com .