Author Archives: duncanb

Applecross Duathlon Sep 2024 Allan and I did this race two years ago, making a weekend of it and tackling the Bealach na Ba from Lochcarron on the Sunday. I had planned a similar trip (minus Allan) this year and … Continue reading →

I happened to notice this race on the SHR website and in a moment of madness signed up. Then I looked at what it might entail and the equipment list (snow spikes, bivvy bag, mobile phone, headtorch, etc.). Er headtorch? … Continue reading →

Website info: 2021 British Athletics Hill & Fell Running Championship Race over a variety of terrain on the edge of the Eden Valley and Pennines. 11km with 900m of climb. Race will start next to the iconic fountain in the … Continue reading →

The forecasts leading up to race day were not great and the race organiser posted a low-level route on the Friday in case of thunderstorms. This was very disappointing as the last time I did this race was in 2016 … Continue reading →

I have had a pretty duff year so far with several colds and heatstroke at the Lairig Ghru, so when my wee brother mentioned he was thinking of running the marathon, I jumped at the chance of a different challenge.As … Continue reading →

Des Drove Stuart and I (and Haggis) down to Kilmarnock via the M8, M74 and M77 on Saturday morning for the annual Scottish Athletics Masters Cross Country Championships. To get there, rather than use phone Sat Navs we old gudgies … Continue reading →

I ‘enjoyed’ this race so much last year that I thought that I would try it again – and as this would be my 4th Long classic of the year, the pressure would be off to complete the Series requirement. … Continue reading →

After missing out on Slioch due to a dodgy ankle, I was looking for another long hill run having suitably recovered from Trotternish Ridge. However, this is one of the hardest in the Scottish Long Classics Series, 15.6 miles four … Continue reading →

This Scottish Long Classic hill run starts at Flodigarry in the north of Skye and follows the Trotternish Ridge all the way to The Storr and finishes at the Storr Lochs Dam. This year it was a mere 17 miles … Continue reading →

I had entered the Glenshee 9 Long Classic Series race months ago partly to bag some munros, but wasn’t sure if I would be on holiday or not. As it panned out, we got back from North Devon at 7pm on … Continue reading →

I hadn’t originally planned to do this race, and wasn’t even aware of it until recently, but it suddenly became a ‘must do’ long classic. Having done Stuc and then Slioch in the last month or so, I was in … Continue reading →

This was definitely the hardest hill run I have ever attempted and in terms of mph, the slowest. However, I can still almost walk today and am quite chuffed at having survived without any permanent damage (so far) and I … Continue reading →

It seemed a good idea at the time and definitely a big challenge. This is a competition concocted in about 2002 by some sadistical Carnethy person (allegedly) and combines the Manor Water (10 miles) and Pentland Skyline (16 miles) hill … Continue reading →

This race has a bit of a reputation and I had experienced it in full last year along with a large dose of cramp. I was determined to avoid cramp at all costs this year and was meticulous in my … Continue reading →

Although marred slightly by politics, this was a grand day out. Several cars turned up at Penicuik Centre just after midday on Saturday, but we managed to sqeeze most Harriers into two cars. It was only half an hour or … Continue reading →