Author Archives: Rob

Mountain marathons are a huge challenge for me (my first was with Julian Hall in 2009 – B course LAMM) as they are two day events and can cover 40-80 kms (with 2000 – 4000m elevation gain), depending on what … Continue reading →

A new race for me – the Eildons Trail Race – and at 16.4kms (540m climb) a nice wee race to keep the training up for the looming longer races that are not that far away!!! 11 Harriers escaped the … Continue reading →

The DB relay is becoming a bit of annual fest of many many hill runners now. With a 148 teams of 6 runners each, that was a lot of runners this year – especially when they invade Falkland. Honestly, I … Continue reading →

Described as Fast and Furious, this is certainly a quick race for some sections as a third of the route is gravel track (flat or downhill!). Of course, after the first 3km sprint, the steep climb up out of Tillicoultry … Continue reading →

Hating to go to races on my own, and of course infinitely preferring some friendly competition, I want to highlight the available Scottish hill racing competitions – specifically focusing on the Long Classic Series in the hope that I can … Continue reading →

The Merrick, at 873 masl, is the highest mountain in the Southern Uplands and after our last attempt at this race in 2013 where poor weather (understatement!) shortened the race (see link below), it was high time to get this … Continue reading →

Duncan and I are trying to run at least 5 of the Long Classic Series (to get a final ranking). The Ochil 2000s was his 5th but only my 3rd. Still The Breweries and Skyline to go. As mentioned in … Continue reading →

The Ochil 2000s is the next Long Series hill race (Aug 27th). It is longer than the Skyline (31.2kms), but has less height gain with ~1200m. More details at: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0203 http://www.ochilhillrunners.org.uk/static.aspx?id=o2000R If you want to enter, online registration is here: … Continue reading →

The backstory – Alan (Gilly’s better half :-)) had a back operation and his place for the Spartan was up for grabs. After an online gurning contest between me and Yan, I won – obviously the ugliest – me that … Continue reading →

It has taken me four years to gently persuade Andrea to run a mountain marathon (MM) and the final Highlander seemed like a good opportunity. As Andrea’s first, and my second (I ran the LAMM B-course in 2009 with Julian … Continue reading →

A DOUBLE REPORT FROM DUNC AND ROB Rob’s bit  Torridon is one of my favourite regions of the Scottish Highlands and I cannot believe I have waited this long to finally run the Slioch Hill Race. Slioch is a beast … Continue reading →

I have googled the meaning of “Stuc a` Chroin” and there appears to be two definitions bouncing around the inter-web. Peak of the little sheepfold Peak of harm or danger For anyone who has ever run this race, I think … Continue reading →

A new race (only since 2015), Ben Gullipen is a rather runnable out-and-back race of 13.5kms with 350m of ascent. The route is entirely track (a lot of forest road – you could drive it in a car) and is … Continue reading →

Way back in the dim and distant past on a cool but fairly mild day in January, 12 intrepid Harriers burdened themselves with a jolly through the Lomonds of Fife. Apologies that it has taken me so long to put … Continue reading →

It was a dark time and war was raging in the West, but all could be saved if the magical Harrier’s vest could be carried from the peaceful Vale of Tranquil Traquair to a battle torn Broughton.   Three Penicuik … Continue reading →