Author Archives: Jan Dawson

Greenmantle Dash 2026 Race Report

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Jan Dawson

In a slight deviation from its usual 2nd January slot, the conditions for Greenmantle Dash on 3rd January couldn’t have been better. Clear skies, firm underfoot conditions and not too much ice on the tarmac sections. In another deviation from … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 2 Comments

Cateran 55 Trail Ultramarathon

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Jan Dawson

10th May 2025 This time last year I was recovering from my first round of chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. I had been training hard for the Race Across Scotland (215 miles along the Southern Upland Way) when I discovered the … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 2 Comments

Devil’s Burdens 2024

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Jan Dawson

Saturday 3rd February 2024 For the uninitiated, Devil’s Burdens is a popular hill relay race run from the pretty village of Falkland, Fife. Teams of six runners take on four legs, with legs 2 and 3 run in pairs. The … Continue reading →

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St Cuthbert’s Way Race Against the Tide

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Jan Dawson

Friday 23 July 2023 Distance 100k, elevation 8000 feet I first did this race in the East to West direction back in 2017, from Holy Island to Melrose. When the race organisers (Trail Outlaws) decided to switch directions to ‘race … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 3 Comments

Deuchary Hill Canter 2021

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Jan Dawson

Distance: 18 km Elevation: 800 m I signed up for Deuchary at the last minute in a desperate attempt to test my hill-racing fitness ahead of the Two Breweries later in September. It had been rescheduled from its usual April … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 4 Comments

The purple and the white: running in the time of coronavirus

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Jan Dawson

And now for something completely different. Not a race report, but a no-race report. Yes, there have been virtual events (I’ll come to those later), but with the last event that was clinging to my race calendar cancelled and switched … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | 8 Comments

Altra Virtual West Highland Way Race 2020

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Jan Dawson
Posted in Race Reports | 3 Comments

Wooler Marathon, 16 November 2019

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Jan Dawson

Mark persuaded me to run this race, spurred on by a notification in September from Trail Outlaws that there were only 30 places left for the full marathon, and that the half marathon (running the next day) had sold out. … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 4 Comments

Jedburgh 3 Peaks, Saturday 26th October 2019

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Jan Dawson

2 relay teams and 8 solo runners took on this year’s Jedburgh 3 Peaks ultra and relay. Conditions were brilliant weather-wise, if a little muddy underfoot! As ever, the race was full of well-kent faces, both runners and marshals alike. … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 4 Comments

West Highland Way Race 2019

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Jan Dawson

95 miles, through four counties, with 14,000 feet of climb and a 35-hour cut off. It’s a lot to take in, and it’s only just settling in my mind three days later. So much preparation, training, and planning went into … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 16 Comments

Kielder Dark Skies 26.5

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Jan Dawson

Saturday 23 March 2019 I entered this race as a practice night run ahead of this year’s big one, the West Highland Way Race. The race is organised by Trail Outlaws, who always put on a fantastic event, with an … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 4 Comments

Glencoe Marathon Gathering 2018

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Jan Dawson

Mark had run this event in 2016 and had praised it highly, so when Sarah Burthe offered her place to a fellow harrier in the event of her withdrawal due to injury (hope you’re on the mend soon, Sarah) I … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 10 Comments

Highland Fling 2018

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Jan Dawson

Saturday 28 April, 2018 Ten hardy (or just plain crazy) harriers gathered on the start line of the 13th Highland Fling Race, a 53 mile ultra along the first half of the West Highland Way, from Milngavie to Tyndrum. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Club Members, Race Reports | 11 Comments

St Cuthberts Way 100k

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Jan Dawson

100k… Two and a half marathons. 10 x 10k. 20 x 5k. However you break it down, 100k is a LONG WAY. Not being satisfied with running a 50k, a 33 mile race and two marathons in 12 months, my … Continue reading →

Posted in Club Members, Race Reports | 9 Comments

Inaugural Stirling Marathon 2017 – a view from the front by an old timer!

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Jan Dawson

When I finished the Boston marathon, I wasn’t sure how I felt about doing another one so soon afterwards. I was more mentally unready than physically unready, as I had recovered pretty well from Boston thanks to a thorough sports … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports | 10 Comments