At 16kms and 800m of climb, the Lomonds of Fife hill race is a relatively tough mid distance race. This year the route was a little different (highlighted in red) due to logging activities, so the route was a tad longer at 17kms.

http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0196

Lomonds route and slight diversion

Having slightly pulled my right calf at training on Thursday (ironically I had not ran Caerketton so I could rest my legs!), I was in 2 minds whether I should run. In the end, having missed enough races due to pulled calf muscles this year, I decided to “be more dog!”.

Chris D volunteered to drive up and we were joined by Sadie who had already ran Caerketton (Wednesday) AND the Cademuir Rollercoaster the day before. Maybe all those tattoos gives her the feeling of invisibility. Tough as nails that lass!

The start of the race is ca. 2 kms south of Strathmiglo along a tarmac path into the woodland on the lower northern slopes of the Lomonds. The results are not out yet, but there was at least 100 runners, all constrained along a meter wide path. At 1pm when the race should have started, the organisers wanted to count everybody through from 1 upwards, so all that initial jostling to get close to the start line on such a constrained path was completely buggered up. Basically, if you had a larger number (we were in the 130s), you were stuck nearer the back – no matter how good/bad you were.

I think the race finally started around 1.20. The forecast was for showers to come in around 3pm although there was a little drizzle at the beginning. However, overall the weather was very good, very little rain, quite a bit of sun (therefore very warm), but a stiff westerly wind, which really only hit you on the peaks. I was all set – new running shoes (a fox had taken one of my other ones), new lycra shorts to facilitate the descent off West Lomond, 2 muesli bars and half a litre of water.

The first 2 kms is relatively fast forest track, but due to my calf, I decide to go “all sensible” and took it easy. This did not help and my calf started pulling quite early on. Uh ho! I did not want to pull out of yet another race so I battled on being very frustrated at all the places I seemed to be haemorrhaging. Once out onto the open ridge between East and West Lomond, I settled into a steady minor hobble. The climb up East Lomond was really tough – the steep gradient really put a strain on the calf and I was just waiting to hear a snapping sound. However, I somehow made it up and then turned around for the descent. This was perhaps the ONLY enjoyable part of the race for me. The calf did not hurt at all and finally I disengaged gears and brain and flew down the steep slope passing a load of people. On hitting the level track below however, I was back to my rather bizarre hobbling technique. Hopefully I did not look too deformed as I waved to Sadie and Chris who were together at that point.

Once we passed the check point at the remains of Maiden Castle, the path contours along the upper northern slopes of the Lomonds. It is a thin and uneven track but is generally easy running. It was along this section that I started feeling tired. I could not understand this at all. I had only been running for an hour or so – and at a slower pace than normal! Starting to stumble, I managed to get the “bite” in the cliff (Craigen Gaw) where the final ascent up West Lomond begins. This is the steepest part of the race. Not only was I exhausted by this time but my calf was now screaming. I almost went up on my knees – very tempting. Above the cliff, the route flattens out a little over boggy ground before the final ascent. I started chomping on my muesli bars – I should have done this earlier. I was about 1:27 into the race but already felt that my legs were not behaving well at all. However, somehow I did manage to pass a couple of people going up the final ascent – maybe they were suffering as well.

The descent off West Lomond is rather special. Basically, there is a thin grassy shoot between the dolerite cliffs which is very steep – so much so in fact, that it is basically impossible to run down and quicker to slide down on your backside – hence the lycra shorts under my running shorts. This is vital to stop mud, grass etc entering your nether regions. So – I flew down, passing several people again. The problem being that finally my legs gave up and cramped. So here’s me sliding down with my legs bending in all sorts of strange directions and me thinking (between grunts of pain), shit – how do I stop now. Somehow I did come to a stop. I managed to stand but in rather a lot of pain and then had to wait until my legs stabilised – losing those places I had just gained. Finally, I managed to continue my stumbling descent. Awful. Steep uneven terrain with my leg muscles rippling all over the place trying to cramp up again.

Finally, I managed to stagger round the Bannet Stane (wind eroded sandstone lump) and with 3kms to go until the finish I started the final ascent back up the same bloody slope I had just come down – luckily not back to the top. I would not have made it. This was a slow affair. I was busying finishing off my muesli bars and drank the last of my water in the hope that some miniscule amount of energy might enter my legs. Alas not. The route basically takes the lower slopes of the Lomonds back to the start/finish. There are a couple of route options with respect to the rock avalanche below Craigen Gaw. This rock fall occurred in 1928 – creating Craigen Gaw – and one can go down early and traverse across the rocky/gauzy run out zone below, or stay high and traverse the steeper upper slopes. I decided to try the high route this year. I still believe this is the quicker of the two options as you can follow the sheep tracks, but alas with legs that were not behaving, this was a rather stumbling mess. However, I somehow managed to get down to enter the wood for the last 1.5 kms “sprint” to the finish. Unfortunately, the style over the fence did me in and I wasted more time trying to settle my legs after they cramped when climbing over.

The final 1.5kms was a rather uneventful slow jog of managing extremely exhausted legs. I somehow crossed the line, did not stop and grumpily walked back to the village hall where I knew a cup of tea and a scone was waiting. Sorry to Chris and Sadie for not waiting.

So – what on earth happened. I have not cramped in such spectacular style since the early days of me running the Skyline. Here are some ideas:

1. my new shoes may have been on too tight, cutting some circulation off – my left foot did go to sleep fairly early on. This happened when I bought the same pair back at Yetholm however, so not 100% sure this would have been the cause.

2. I definitely ate less than I usually do – perhaps underestimating how hard the race would be. I blame this on Andrea as she is away in Canada and her sandwiches cannot be replicated.

3. I ran most of the Skyline last Sunday so perhaps my legs were feeling that 3 hr run but I did not feel tired at the beginning and had rested most of the week.

4. Maybe because of my right calf and I was running in a rather odd way, I was simply using my leg muscles in a subtly different way than normal and they tired more quickly than normal.

Whatever the case, it was a pretty horrible race for me. Despite this, I still completed in 2:04, only 8 minutes slower than my PB of 1:56. So not a disaster I guess, especially as the route was a little longer. Last time my knees were in a bad state, so I know I can do much better on this race. Roll on next year although I first need to decide whether to rest or run next weekend!

Rob

This is my first race report for the Harriers; it’s going to be short on route detail (as I was so focused on just getting up the hill!), but here goes!

Sadie, Michael and I travelled together to Hillend, and met up with Andrea and Chris, Rob also joining us (although saving his legs for the Lomonds of Fife), to give us his support and take photos. It was a nice dry night, although a wee bit chilly. The junior race was already on, so off up the hill we went to warm up. At this point, I was as usual getting a bit nervous, especially surrounded by lots of serious hill running types. As a newbie to hill races, I always feel slightly terrified at the start, and the Steading Pub was within tempting walking distance. We saw the juniors coming in to the finish, watched their prize giving, and as there were a couple of tiny runners at the back, we had a slightly delayed start. After we’d cheered in the little ‘uns, we were off!

I felt quite comfortable to start with, as we ran up the grassy track and then onto the steeper slope (at this point, details become vague for me, as I just follow the person in front). I managed to keep running for a while, and then it was hands on knees walking, pretty much following everyone else’s example. The Harriers were quite close together and all making good progress up the hill. It was good to have some support from Rob halfway up, even if he was taking unflattering photos!

As we got to the first ‘summit’, I began to feel my legs failing, but I was trying to keep in mind that this was a short race (and that the kids had managed to run a good part of the route earlier!), and I managed a bit of running on and off until I reached the top cairn and started the descent.

At this stage, I felt I was managing quite well and was trying to keep up with the runner in front, with the hope of passing her (that was never going to happen). Not long after turning, I met Chris, Michael, Andrea and Sadie coming up. For a change, I felt more comfortable running downhill and had enough confidence to speed up. Well, there was my mistake! Talk about timing – as I passed Rob with his camera, I managed to lose my footing completely and tumble over several times…and got back up. Phew – ‘I’m not hurt, I can keep going’ I thought! So off I went, trying to catch up with that elusive runner in front. This plan was going well…until I fell again; my feet just came out from under me and I landed on my behind on a big sharp rock. I did swear – several times, and another poor runner offered to stop and help me down the hill, but the horror of ruining someone else’s race would have been worse than the humiliation of falling again (twice – in one short race?!). I managed to pull myself together, having watched runners pass me while I sat on my bum, and run (rather slower than before) down the last part of the hill to the finish. As usual, I forgot to stop my watch, as I was too busy trying not to cry like a baby ( not with emotion, just a very sore butt).

I saw my fellow Harriers come in, and was glad to have their chat to distract me! Thanks to Rob for those ‘lovely’ pictures too . Great race, good atmosphere, well organised and results out quickly! (Also proud owner of a ‘map of the world’ type bruise on my behind:-)).

Results: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0090&Year=2014

64th 26:48 Gill

77th 28:24 Michael

79th 28:32 Chris

80th 29:01 Andrea

89th 30:42 Sadie

I decided at the last minute to enter this race. I phoned Paddy in the morning and he assured me that if I turned up I would get a place, so off I went to Haddington in my little car, I arrived quite early and got my number then headed off to buy some water and flapjack. The weather was lovely, quite sunny with a little breeze to keep us cool. I bumped into a few fellow harriers before the race and had time for a chat and even to read my book for a while. Feeling organised shortly before the race I went to take my sandals off and put my trainers on, this is when I realised my socks were back at the car. I dashed off and soon after I was at the start line with my fellow harriers, relieved to have got there before the starting gun went off. The race takes an undulating route through the countryside around Haddington and there are plenty of water stations along the way. We all got a medal and there were sandwiches and cakes on offer at the finish.
The results:
19 01:21:59 mark snodgrass
107 01:38:52 michael mccomb
184 01:49:37 sadie kemp
194 01:51:05 tracy philp
278 02:20:17 rachel McGavin

The nine in the title doesn’t refer to kms or miles, if only, but Munros !!, these ones

1. Creag Leacach
2. Glas Maol
3. Cairn of Claise
4. Tom Buidhe
5. Tolmount
6. Carn an Tuirc
7. Carn Aosda
8. Carn a Gheoidh
9. Cairnwell

21 miles and 6000 feet of ascent.They must be completed in order, other than that, you can take any route you like.

I had fancied this one for a while. The really long ones don’t really suit me, but hey you’ve got to tick them of.

Not having done any formal training for a while with the baton commitments, I really was uncertain about how it would go.

I saw that Alan Thornburrow had entered and made the decision to give it a go.

MWIS forecast had improved marginally from earlier in the week, I was worried as there are ample opportunities, to go seriously wrong and get properly lost in the middle of nowhere.

Alan and I headed up with much trepidation, and registered at the Ski Station

Had the usual briefing, and safety warning with a wee aside about lightening in the area.

I was really nervous, I knew if I got round it would probably be between 4.40-5.00 a hell of a long day in the mountains, but my main objective was just to finish it.

Its Probably the toughest on the calendar, reckon only similar would be Arrochar Alps and Jura

Weather was initially very kind with perfect what I like to call goldilocks conditions not to hot not to cold. The first six are on the east side of the A 93, very varied ground, surprisingly bogey in bits A lot of boulderly summits which made it hard going, after number six there is a long descent back to road then the remaining three.

I reached the checkpoint in about 2.50 with a 3.30 cut of.

Over the road and up the near vertical heather clad Carn Aosda.An absolute beast major cramp, in lower left leg and foot, even tried to go backward to relieve it. After what seemed like a prolonged torture session made the summit asked marshall, point in general direction of No 8 it seemed absolutely miles away furthest on the horizon. Then the weather came in, biblical rain all the worse as at that height your in the cloud. I tried to put my jacket on and for the life of me it wouldn’t go on and went into complete rant mode as a three or four runners came past, it would have looked hilarious I’m sure if somebody had managed to film it.

Thankfully the clag cleared slightly to get a view of the last summit, up that and then straight down n the line of the ski lift, to the finish, hallelujah

Well knackered, bumped into Alan at the café unfortunately timed out missed the cut of by about 10 mins, still a hell of an effort.

57^th 4 hrs.55 min 87 finished out of 107 starters

First hill race ever for me!  I’ve been psyching myself up to tackling something of a more vertical nature, and picked this wee beast because it’s a short distance (4.8km), and they allow 10 year olds to take part.  How hard can it be?!

Very.

On waking up to torrential rain, I was somewhat uneasy about the event.  However, the rain cleared, and we arrived to find North Berwick bathed in late afternoon sunshine, looking marvellous!  Registration was quick and easy, though I put that down to arriving just after it opened for business.  Closer to the start time, the queue was down the street.  I found fellow Harriers Sadie, Michael, Gillian, Chris, and Sarah milling about the harbour, and we spend the last 20mins before the race chattering and feeling nervous.  Well, I felt nervous anyway!

The start gun sounded and suddenly we were off!  Straight away you head uphill from the harbour, up the main street, and into the park.  Cutting across the park, I had to remind myself to slow down otherwise I’d quickly run out of juice.  Although this definitely was a sprint, not a marathon, I knew I’d crumble if I went all out too early.  I lost sight of the other Harriers early on (speedy folks, these Harriers!), so concentrated on finding a pace I could maintain.

After the park, and a more level run through a more residential area, we were into the parkland that surrounds the base of the Law, and then quickly onto the single track path up the Law itself.  There was no easing into this: you were relatively flat, and then you were going up at a very steep gradient.  Although I stopped running at this point, I maintained a good ‘pounding’ pace; quicker than walking, but not quite trotting.  I did get a bit frustrated at being stuck behind some slower competitors, not their fault, but as I say that track did not allow for easy overtaking.  I got past people where I could, and was surprised at how quickly I reached the top.  I guess when your head is down, and you’re concentrating on not stopping, and keeping breathing, you just get it done.  We collected bands from marshalls at the top (which proved we’d made it), and then it was on to the descent.  I think the views were beautiful, but honestly, I didn’t really lift my eyes long enough to take it in.

The descent.  Oh my days!  I don’t have a lot of experience in steep running descents, but this seemed pretty serious to me, and while I’d have loved to have simply hurtled down the slopes (like some mad HBT runners that passed me on their way down), I was too afraid for my ankles to throw caution completely to the wind.  The rain had made the mud slippy in places, and a few folk definitely bit the dust.  The rocks, however, were dry, and I was thankful I’d put my trail shoes on rather than my road runners, as I stuck easily to the rock, and was able to pick up the pace a bit.  I saw Sarah on the descent, and tried to match her pace.  Not sure where everyone else was, ahead of me somewhere!

I felt great on the descent, confident I’d left enough in the tank for a speedy sprint home, but this was misguided.  The gradient of the hill gave me a lot of momentum, but when I hit the flatter sections I really had to fight to keep going.  My legs felt heavier than they have ever done (hello lactic acid!), and I felt really quite sick at one point.  However, the spectators were really great at providing encouragement, and I slogged on to the park, from where it really was all downhill!  A few shouts of “Come on, Penicuik!” from the marshalls helped even more.  The best part of the entire race, though, was running through the park gates and into the High Street.  Hundreds of spectators had gathered, all of them were cheering, and there was even a pipe band playing!  I think this was coincidence rather than planned, but at this point I just started feeling goosebumpy and smiley, and willed my legs to run the last few hundred metres to the finish.

Finish I did, and was handed a medal, and traded my band from the top of the hill for the best bottle of water ever.  It had been a very hot run, and my face felt like (and resembled) a Belisha beacon.  I met up with the other Harriers, who all looked similarly pleased, and then met some runner friends from other clubs for a well earned chippy and bottle of Coke (ok, not the best recovery I know, but it WAS North Berwick!)

This was such a fun event, the community of North Berwick were brilliant, and I felt the organisation was spot on.  Not sure about official results, or where or when these might be released, so watch this space.  I reckon I was somewhere in the 30min mark, give or take a few on either side.  Thanks to fellow Harriers for the encouragement, and to Susie for loaning me her vest!  Wearing the Harriers colours did make me feel part of something really quite wonderful, and who knows, maybe I’ll even do another hill run 🙂

There’s a reason why I got nominated (by Rob) to write this race report………let me enlighten you all 🙂

It was 6.00 am in the morning.  I had a trip to make to Middlesborough and back, with my work, and then I had the Newtyle Hill Race to look forward to………..I was super hyper.  I was getting the bug for hill races in nice weather 🙂 I headed out for the day, to whizz around my appointments and get back.  Gillian was picking me up at Hillend at 5.25 pm, along with Sadie and Stuart who were coming along also.  Rob had decided to make his own way there.  We headed off in the Perth (not Australia) direction.  Newtyle Hill race is at the Loch of the Lowes in Dunkeld.  The race is 7.8km long, and Newtyle Hill is 300m in height. The race was at 7.30 pm and we arrived in plenty of time.  Rob was in the car park by the time we arrived, and had already registered.  Registration was at the Taybank Pub, in Dunkeld.  As the weather was warm and sunny, people were sitting out in the beer garden.  But not us, no way……….we were ready to race!  Registration was quick, with the usual count of runners, nervous chat, stomach churning etc, etc.

The race starts approx a 5 minute walk from the Taybank Pub in Dunkeld.  It starts at an area known by the locals, as “the field”.  Adrian Davis, the event organiser, had given us our briefing before the race.  I had printed out the maps and distributed them to the other harriers.  Adrian advised that the route wasn’t marshalled, but was marked out with bits of red and white tape every 15 metres or so.  My head was in overdrive mode at this point, because I was only half listening to the brief, due to those nerves that I get in every race.  Also, I was only half scanning the map……….big mistake.  It’s a pretty fast hill race, more cross country I would say, with good trails through woods and on undulating roads.  The hill is saved until the end, when you’re a bit tired.  We lined up at “the field”………..there were approx 40 runners.  We were off……….running as fast as we could, through forest, trails, paths, Dunkeld Golf Course, and then on to Newtyle Hill.  Stuart was off like lightning, followed by Rob.  Gillian was now out of sight, and Sadie was right behind me.  As I was climbing the hill, Stuart came down, followed by Rob.  I greeted them with a High 5, and carried on up the hill.  Boy I wish I was on the descent, I thought.  I got to the top, and took a quick glance.  There was a fantastic view of the village Birnam, and the bridge over the River Tay.  Beautiful.  As I started to descend, there were approx 10 runners just behind me, including Sadie.  I said hi, and headed on down the hill as fast as I could.  Then I was on my own 🙁

When you’re new to hill races, you don’t think about taking the map out, that you’ve neatly tucked into your shorts.  You just think about running as fast as you can, and trying to catch some fellow runners. Plus I hadn’t been paying attention to anything on the way to the foot of the hill, because I was so preoccupied of placing my feet correctly, without twisting my ankle. I was trying to follow the red and white tape, but was then getting worried why I hadn’t seen anybody for about a mile or so.  I was kind of hoping that Sadie was right behind me……….why didn’t I wait for her at the top??  Why did I head off on my own??  It suddenly dawned on me that I was well and truly lost………what a muppet!!  I ran up and down wrong routes for another couple of miles, then I saw a house in the distance……..result, I thought……..civilization.  I knocked on the door, and a nice man answered.  I explained that I was lost, and had been running a hill race, and asked if he knew where “the field” was.  He said that there were plenty of fields around………..don’t think he quite knew what I meant.  He said I could just go the easy way back, and follow the main road……….but I wanted to finish the race……….so he pointed me in the right direction.  I eventually spotted some red and white tape, and I was back on track.  It was starting to get dark, and I was dressed in just my shorts and harriers vest………..plus I was starting to get cold. No phone with me, no whistle, no bum bag, no extra layer……….a true muppet!  I was tired.

Meanwhile, back at “the field”, everyone had finished the race and were having sandwiches and drinks.  The presentations were happening.  Gillian won 3rd lady and got some beer as her reward, but my fellow harriers didn’t stay for the presentations as they had all headed back out towards the hill to look for me.  I was starting to wonder if I would ever make it back to the finish.  I had covered 12.8km, and the race was 7.8km.  Having travelled 600 km by car the same day, I was kind of getting fed up counting km’s!!  As I was near the finish, this man and his daughter had also come to search for the missing harrier……….I caught glimpse of them and was so pleased to see them.  I asked if I was last (stupid question), and he said yes.  I passed them, and shouted out that I would never make it in Celebrity Jungle…….he chuckled.  Even when my head is down, I still have my humour 🙂  I ran to the finish……….there was no finish………everyone had gone home, apart from Adrian.  My fellow team mates were out searching for me.  I got in Adrian’s car to go look for them, and just as I did, I saw Gillian and Sadie heading towards me.  I’ve never been happier to see anyone as much in my entire life!!  They phoned Rob and Stuart, and we were all reunited again.  A happy ending.  I had a lot of apologising to do, and a lot of appreciation and thanks to give out.  They are my true mates and were extremely supportive…………especially when I felt so embarrassed.

It was a beautiful hill race, on a beautiful day, one that I hope to do again (but not until I have done a course on navigation and map reading).

Newtyle Hill Race may have beaten me yesterday, but it hasn’t broken me……….see you in 2015 Newtyle 🙂

Thanks to Rob, Stuart, Gillian and Sadie………..well done for completing the hill race and well done to Gillian (aka mountain goat) for 3rd lady.

At 7.2km long and 330m high, this was my kind of hill! Having previously done Tinto, Red Moss Kips race and Largo Law, I knew that this one would be for me. I met Rob at his house in Penicuik, to discover that it was just him and I running this one………Andrea had to work late. No pressure for me then………having to keep up with the Robster hill legend! We set off by car with our Maoam’s in plentiful supply. It was a beautiful day, about 23c and warm at approx 5.00pm……….it was a roaster 🙂

The journey to Muirkirk was beautiful, even with Rob’s fast driving, and the conversation was flowing. We arrived in Muirkirk in time for our 7.00pm race, and in time for a much needed toilet stop. Race registration was the usual for me……..stomach churning, quickly count the number of fellow runners, talk like a budgie to everyone and anyone in the vicinity because I’m full of nervous energy, ask if it’s going to be marshalled, and say over and over in your head “please don’t let me be last”. The Cairn Table Hill Race runs from the village of Muirkirk to the peak of Cairntable, one of the highest hills in Ayrshire, and back again.  Out and back hill races are my favourite hill races, as my navigation skills are a lot to be desired (that’s another story).

About 50 runners lined up at the start. We were off. It was a fast start, and as usual I tried to keep up with the proper hill runners…………not the wisest decision. The first mile was very boggy in sections (as I discovered big time), with a series of wooden duck boards and bridges to ease progress over the worst of the mud. For some reason, I never found these wooden boards or bridges 🙂 Most of the rest of the route is on good paths, which get rockier as you reach the summit. The summit is topped with a huge cairn, triangulation pillar and direction indicator. Rob passed me on the downhill, as I was making my way up the hardest bit of the hill………..I think I was walking, but as soon as I seen Rob’s purple and white vest tearing towards me, I started to run (to look cool). I reached the top, glanced at the Isle of Arran and Ben Lomond in the distance, and then got myself ready for my favourite bit of any hill race……….the downhill section. After flying down the hill I arrived at the finish line, was greeted by Rob and his smiley face, and given a medal and a bottle of water for my efforts. I can recommend this hill race to everyone…………the views are to die for at the top, especially on a roaster of a day that we had the pleasure of getting 🙂

Race results to follow (once they’re posted)

If you are looking for some useful facts on the actual route then sorry, jog on, as they say. I’m truly hazy on the race details, but feelings? I’m brimming over with them.

The race started and ended in Loretto Playing Fields and felt well organised. I had received an email with my number a few days before the race – although I know others did not- so registration was pretty quick and seamless. After registration, I wrestled with attaching my number to my vest and then attaching a small electronic chip to the front of my trainer. Once that was done I was good to go – or at least – good to wait. I had turned up almost an hour and a half early. To other newbies I say, don’t arrive too early. It was far too long to hang around with my tummy playing host to a kaleidoscope of butterflies, surrounded by seriously fit looking people in athletics club vests. I was relieved to see some friendly faces arrive: Amy and Tracy, then Julie and Lou. Dave also joined our merry band and it was great to chat and relax before the start of the race. I will be forever grateful to Amy for pointing out the handy drawstring in the waistband of my new shorts as I loudly complained I would have to pull them up to my ears like Simon Cowell to keep them from falling down. All the gear and no idea, right enough.

Wardrobe malfunctions aside, the starting gun sounded and we were off. We ran around the playing field and down the prom towards Portobello then looped back. From then the route is a slight blur. I know there was a river.

Earlier on, I had observed to Amy and Tracy that wearing a Harriers vest felt like being a learner driver in the front seat of a Porsche. Too many expectations from others! I was probably over egging it a little (who moi?) but at around 3km, a voice did say: “Come on Penicuik, don’t let a codger like me pass you,” as the self-proclaimed codger in the Portobello Running Club vest did indeed sail pass me. He was having none of my protestations of being new at this game and quite rightly so. He kindly suggested I could fall in behind him but I couldn’t keep up. I think at this point, I was running slightly too fast and was rewarded for this foolishness with a furious stitch that lasted until about 7km. I took Dave’s sterling advice from the Tuesday before and ran with my arms above my head to try and ease it, whilst hoping that I had not fallen for a running club coach’s equivalent of sending me on a message to buy some tartan paint.

Once the stitch eased off, something miraculous happened: I started to pass people. I even looked for the kind Portobello Club Vest Codger to see if I could catch up with him. No such luck as I could see he was already on the other side of the river. At this point a marshal shouted, “come on you lot, you look far too comfortable,” and this was really helpful as it made me think, can I go faster? I decided I could. Before I knew it, I could see the 9km sign then we ran back into the Playing Fields. I got into a wee passing game with a different Portobello Running Club chap (there was a lot of them about) but I finally sprinted past him as I heard the Harriers shouting for me. What a fantastic feeling. I immediately got torn into my free Di Rollo ice cream and necked the bottle of water that was in the goody bag.

The atmosphere at the race was really positive and relaxed; there was a fabulous big spread of sandwiches and cakes, teas, coffees and juice. Happy days. I really would recommend this race for someone who is new to running races as it was fairly small and felt like a good mixture of running club types and, you know, real people. It also felt family-friendly and there were plenty of spots along the route for people to shout encouragement.

I’m pretty sure it was PBs all round for the Harriers and my official finish time was 52:40. I was really delighted with this for about half an hour until I started wondering if I could’ve been quicker. I’m seeing this as a positive sign that the ol’ running races bug has bitten.

Race results as follows:-

Amy           95th         43:56
Tracy        140th         47:28
Louyse      155th        49:03
Ezmie       191st        52:40
Julie          212th        54:28

It was PB’s all round for the girls!

Big thank you to Dave, and family, for their support on the day…….it is so appreciated 🙂

Brilliant race – so well organised and we struck lucky with the weather. An all girl turn out from the club!

The grass sections I must say made me feel like I was wearing lead boots.

After my bad year with injuries etc I set myself an ambustious target of getting under 50 minutes and did so. So inspired I went home and immediately entered the Frankfurt Marathon on 26 October (14 weeks and counting!). I couldn’t do the Loch Ness this year as I have to accompany my 13 year old daughter to The Vamps in Glasgow. Roll on her 14th birthday and she can go on her own.

Sorry but can’t do the Haddington Half. I registered and only then realised that hubbie and me are off to London to the hallowed grounds of Umpton Park to see West Ham United play. Still in the Premiership. Their theme song is “we’re always blowing bubbles” which ends with the lines “but they fade away and die”. Kind off sums up West Hams playing. But Atleast they usually finish mid table. Hubbie has been a massive fan all his life – indeed it was West Ham that won the World Cup! Anyhow this is their last season at Umpton Park as they move next year to the Olympic Stadium. Come on you Hammers.

My hubbie has some video snipets of us running at Musselburgh. He wasn’t just some random guy who really favoured the Harriers. Not sure how to up load these to our site. Any suggestions?

Cheers

Lou x

At 24 kms and 1770m (1540m on my Garmin??) I guess this can be counted as one of the tougher hill races in the Calendar. In fact, this is just one of the 10 races that make up the Scottish Long Classics series. Still time to get your five in!!

From my point of view, this is definitely similar to the Ochill 2000s and Two Breweries w.r.t. race time. I still believe the Skyline is easier due to the fact that there is a path most of the way which greatly facilitates navigation and speed.

The Two Inns route starts at Creagan Inn on the A828 between Ballachulish and Oban and  takes a fairly straight NE line across the hills (mostly along a broad ridge) to Glencoe with the finish line being the Clachaig Inn car park.

overview map: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/Graphics/Maps/RA-0256-main.jpg

There are six checkpoints (manned by fell rescue volunteers – fees from the race go to the organisation) along the route which each runner MUST run through.

While Mike B was busy taking the Commonwealth baton on the Harry Potter train between Fort William and Mallaig, Stuart and I were raring for a challenge.

We left Penicuik has about 7.45am and arrived for registration/kit check at the old visitors centre car park at Clachaig at 10.15 or so.  Stuart, finally getting nervous, started faffing around with getting his kit ready, drinking coffee, eating etc while not realising that we were losing lift options down to the start. Luckily, in the end, a late arrival (Hugh and Joe) came and we had enough cars to drive the final runners down to Creagan. As is usual with these long races, the drive between the finish/start seems to take forever and you cannot help keep thinking – s**t – we’re gonna race this distance!!!

We all had plenty of time to wait around at the start before the race started at 12pm. There 30 runners and there was a good deal of banter as nerves started to bubble up – I think the toilet was well used.

The forecast was poor with heavy rain set to come in during the race. Until 11.45 it was dry and mild but then the drizzle started. Luckily I had planned ahead and was wearing contacts instead of glasses. The start was a little different from last year as a rather randy bull had just been introduced to his harem the night before and no one dared enter the field.

After Linda (race organiser) had told us a few route  “factoids” and does and don’ts we were off. The longest and highest climb of the whole race is right at the beginning – 540 m in about 2.2 kms. No real path (like most of the race route), but just following the natural NE line of the geology. We entered the cloud around 400m which meant that most of the race was in mist (and rain). Luckily, the temperature was really quite mild and a slight wind was on our backs. There is no obvious path until checkpoint 3 but there is a fence line along most of the route. The fence is mostly in a dilapidated state, but is invaluable to aid navigation. Although it might not always be the most direct route, if in doubt, follow it, and just make sure that when you get to a “T-junction” in the fence, you take the correct turn.

Between checkpoint 1 and 4, I settled into a group of 2 girls (2nd and 3rd place at this point) and 2 guys. Stuart was somewhere ahead in the mist. We all had slightly different speeds and I was a little slower going up, but generally caught up going down (hey – still no knee pain). I think the others clustered with me and a south African (?) bloke as they seemed to think we knew where we were going. No pressure then. As I have ran this route twice before, I actually think that it is not that difficult to navigate in the mist, but for first timers, I can imagine there are sections where getting lost would not be that difficult. Bar the [rather horrible and steep] ascents up to checkpoints 2 and 3, this is a generally fun bouncy heathery boggy section. Conditions were MUCH wetter than last year and I think all of us went knee deep in bogs on a few occasions.

Although checkpoint 3 is not quite half way, it is the highest point of the race and on average it is all down here from here. There was thick mist at this point which was a shame as the route joins a narrow path on a lovely ridge section which is just fabulous in good weather. Alas, we could not see anything and we simply fixed out eyes on the ground in front of us to ensure that we would not slip on the slimy wet rocks. The weather really clagged in at this point and the section to checkpoint 4 seemed to go on forever and even I started worrying that we had messed up. However, the compass bearing was right, the fence was with us and – having faith – we ploughed on hoping we were on the correct route. When the two fell rescue marshals appeared in the murky mist, there was a definite release of tension. I certainly was starting to feel quite tired at this point (14kms in at ca. 2:20 hrs) and I am not sure what I would have done if I realised we had gotten lost.

As if realising that navigation was now not going to be an issue, our group started splitting up on the descent from checkpoint 4. I was definitely flagging and now just concentrated on making it. A 3rd girl appeared from behind and all 3 gals left in a power play for 2nd, 3rd and 4th. On the way down to the low point between Checkpoints 4 and 5, two runners, who probably should have known better, were running back up towards use grinning and trying to make fun of the fact that they had miss-navigated in the mist and had bypassed checkpoint 4.

Compared to last year, I was really very tired on the ascent up to checkpoint 5 – busy munching on muesli bars and drinking like mad to try and squeeze in some more energy into my tired legs for the final few kilometres. The initial descent from checkpoint 5 is the steepest of the whole race and I was all over the place as my legs refused to work properly. At the bottom of the slope, since last year, they had installed a new deer fence and the route went over a huge style – well – it seemed big at the time. I probably could hop over it normally. Luckily, I managed to get over it without the legs cramping up.

Then came the final descent to checkpoint 6. I know this section of old. Horrendous hummocky button grass which would be hellish with FRESH legs – let alone these wobbly sticks. I took my time and fixated on the valley bottom and river crossing ahead. Strangely, I overtook the 2 guys I had been running with the whole race. They must have taken a really crappy route.

With great relief, the final section from check point 6 is relatively flat. The route (track and path) snakes around 2 houses, through a garden, over stony sections and hidden footbridges, but for the first time in the whole race, it was possible to get into some semblance of a rhythm. I looked at my watch and realised that it was not impossible to get a BP if I did not mess up this final 2 kms. I slogged on, trying not to count the seconds.

The last kilometre of the “official” route, takes you over a boggy button grass section (no track) that ends in a style opposite the old visitors car park. Last year, Mike and I missed this and had to run an extra half a kilometre on the road. This time I was forewarned, took a compass bearing and set off. Mein Gott! – although shorter, there was no path and was hell for tired legs. In the end, I gave up and ran diagonally to the road. I still managed to pass the guy in front, but as we ran through the bushes into the old visitors car park, he passed me by taking his own short cut. Damn! I was hot on his heels, and looking at my watch I realised a PB was definitely possible. I pushed on for the last half kilometre – briefly waving at Stuart as he was walking back to the car. Obviously he had made it and would have his own stories (including how one starts a 3-4 hr race (2.5 hrs away) at 12pm but expects to get to work at 6pm for a 16 hour shift while still fitting in a Haggis feast. All rumours of a Honda hybrid breaking down north of Callander are slanderous lies!)

Results: First man in at 2:45:30. Stuart was 9th with a time of 3:30:42. I came in 20th at 3:50:48 – a 2 minute PB improvement on last year. What was strange however, if I compare last year to this, was that throughout the race I was 1 minute slower this year than last. I somehow made up my time over the last 3 kilometres. Huh?

Rob

some piccies here: http://lochaberac.co.uk/two-inns-race-picts/

21/06/14 – Summer Solstice – 21C, warm and no breeze

We left Penicuik just after lunch and headed to Largo for our hill race.  The car was full of banter and Maoam’s (sweeties).  Ezmie was doing her first hill race ever, so we kept the car full of words of encouragement.  Tracy was on her 2nd hill race in a week, and I was on my 3rd one to date.  Thankfully we were joined by Chris D and Duncan who are hill race legends!  Susie had sold me this hill race after a chat about it at one of our training sessions, so I decided to give it a go.  I had survived Red Moss three days before, and thought after looking at Largo Law’s height compared to West Kip, that it would be manageable.  For anyone not in the know, Largo Law rises 290 metres (950ft), is conical in shape and is the remains of a volcanic plug.  It’s a 6.8 mile out and back race, mostly trail with four burn crossings and includes The Law (the wee hill)!

65 runners lined up at the start line.  I, as always, was nervous, apprehensive and probably (if the truth be told) scared.  We were off!  There was a mad dash at the start, where my legs were going that fast I thought they were going to fall off.  Note to self………do not try and keep up with the experienced hill runners!  The route crosses Keil’s Den burn and runs along the full west side of the burn before crossing back over to the Largo Law side. It was fairly undulating and fast, through some fields and then gradually climbing to the foot of The Law.  Well, I thought to myself, I was loving it so far……….especially the burn crossings (they’re my favourite bit).  I glanced up just before the start of the Law, saw Duncan was already half way up it, and thought “boy, that looks steep”  This was the point that I was asking myself in my head “why do I do hill races”?  I attacked the hill, far too fast, and by half way up I decided that my heart was going to explode out of my body, and had to sit down on the hill to catch my breath.  Plus, there was no breeze whatsoever.  Chris was right behind me, chuckling and telling me “come on, it’s not that far now”.  A nice lady from Fife Athletic Club approached me, reached out to grab my hand, and said “come on, let’s just take it easy and I’ll run with you”.  I seized the moment, got up, and continued up the hill with her.  Once I was at the top, I knew it was all downhill from here 🙂 The descent off the hill was fast and fun, followed by the trail path back and the burn crossings again…….yippee!  Then, a nice downhill bit of road, to the finish line.  I had made it!  Duncan and Chris were there cheering me at the finish, and then we cheered Tracy and Ezmie over the line.  I managed to catch up with the nice lady from Fife Athletic Club at the end, and thanked her for her encouragement on the hill.  It was a fabulous race, beautiful conditions, and the race was so well marshalled.

Will I be doing more hill races?? Of course I will……..wild horses and elephants won’t stop me!  The hills definitely take me out of my comfort zone, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…….there’s a song in there somewhere 🙂

Oh, and a big massive congratulations to Ezmie for completing her first ever hill race………and what a tough one it was!

Results:-

Duncan   11th –   53:08
Chris D   43rd – 1:06:10
Amy        51st – 1:09:00
Tracy      55th – 1:11:22
Ezmie     59th – 1:19:22

It’s a toughie especially when the suns beats down on you but the 7 Hills of Edinburgh is a great race!

You choose your own route between the hills but you must do them in the following order : Castle Rock, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart Hill, Braid Hill, Blackford Hill, Arthurs Seat and Calton Hill. There is no wrong route, there is just slower routes –  it is up to you. I think we were quite a spectacle for the tourists on the Royal Mile and on the top of Arthurs Seat.
Rewarded with yummy food and drinks and Sadie and Vicky got a wee minature for having done Edinburgh Marathon and 7HoE 🙂
PB’s for all the girls, 2 who hadn’t done it before, I don’t think Duncan got a PB but he has a ‘double race weekend’ as his excuse 🙂

Hill races can be a navigation nightmare, but the Red Moss Kips race provides a beautiful circuit with visibility for miles on sunny days (like yesterday) – it’s impossible to get lost.  I’m not exactly famous for my navigation skills but this time I excelled, even for my own standards. It takes a genius like me to start one race and finish another – all in just under 1 hour! To my own defense, I was perfectly aware that I was running in the opposite direction to the route indicated on the map (so was not really lost), but picture this series of unfortunate incidences (not to be used as a ‘golden rule for race navigation’):

1. Be sufficiently confident that you can find your way through the Pentlands with your eyes closed, so you don’t bother looking  closely at the map
2. Only listen to the route description of the race organiser with half an ear. So if he mentions a ‘sharp left turn’ don’t worry – it will be obvious which turn he means
3. Look closely at the ground while running so that you only see the runners in front of you and miss any runner that may join you from a different direction
4. When you reach the top of West Kip, follow the runners taking a sharp left U-TURN (‘ah, that must have been the sharp turn the organizer mentioned!’) although you bloody well know that this is opposite to the route on the map.
5. Draw the only possible conclusion one would reach if ALL runners (carrying race numbers) in  your vicinity confidently take the u-turn and absolutely nobody takes the direction you think is right: I must have the wrong map (or more precisely: my husband must have handed me the wrong map)
6. Even when the first doubts creep in, keep going as the new route is nicely downhill and easy.
7. Suffer the consequences by serving as the evening’s entertainment for the Carnethy runners who completed their handicap from Nine Mile Burn to West Kip and back.  See excerpt from their blog (http://carnethy.com):

Meanwhile, in a place far far away, a race (The Red Moss Kips race) was minus one runner.It is not the first time that Carnethy has led someone astray.
The very runable route was enjoyed by all as we ran up the “Eskalator” (Strava Segment) past Spittal farm and on over Spittal Hill.
As we ran over Green Law we could see a long string of runners heading up The Kips. We seemed to be climbing faster than them as I ran past Davie Duncan and, turning at the top, I noticed Big Al approaching from the east having chased the pack.
The descent was fast and furious and soon we were all back at Nine Mile Burn, but one runner looked a little confused. A female runner (name with held to avoid embarrassment) had been led astray by the Good looking Carnethies and had chased us back to end up only 4 miles (in a straight line) from where she should be.

The only silver lining for the Harriers is that I didn’t wear my Harriers vest – and may refrain myself from doing so in the next few races.

Congratulations to all proud Harriers who completed yesterday’s race in the baking heat. Sorry if you had to wait and look for me. Thanks to Fran and Alan for giving me refuge. Finally, apologies to Rob for doubting you – I should have known that you’re never wrong!

Andrea

[Rob note: What a plonker]

After our Black Rock 5 race on Sunday, we continued our weekend with a spot of Tough Mudder fun! Sadie and I ran this last year and decided to volunteer this year, along with my husband (which also gave us a great discount to run on Sunday!) It was a very early start as we had to be at Dalkeith for 5.45am where we were given breakfast and a typically enthusiastic TM briefing. We had volunteered for the course and got to pick our obstacle. We chose “walk the plank” which consists of a high platform jump into deep cold water. It was a pretty full on obstacle to volunteer on and as well as the three of us were joined by a further 5 volunteers, 2 safety guys, a team of around 6 divers an ambulance and some paramedics and doctors! We were given a full safety briefing and instructions on how to run the obstacle. We took our positions and watched as the divers ran a couple of trial runs hauling their dummy out the water to practise their routine for pulling bodies out of the water and then we were all set, waiting for our first mudder to appear!

We had a good vantage point where we were as mudders ran into the field, did some other obstacles and then ran out again to come back into the field at a later point in the course to do our obstacle. There were some lovely bright fantastic costumes as they started and ran past us for the first time, but as they came to do our obstacle proper, they were all the same muddy brown colour!

We spent the day either on the microphone and loud hailer cheering on the Tough Mudders, shouting “feet first and swim to the cargo net” and getting lots of muddy cuddles or atop the structure sending our mudders off in waves shouting 3, 2, 1, GO! Checking for heads to bob back up, waiting for them to swim clear and sending the next wave off. We watched non-swimmers hurling themselves off and being hauled out by divers, we watched barechested macho men back flipping and somersaulting off (not allowed! FEET FIRST!) We watched a fair few face plants (don’t look down!), we watched terrified people overcoming their fear and taking the plunge and their friends rushing to congratulate them on the other side and we had a few who climbed up, stood and peered into the deep, murky water with race numbers, straw and the odd wig floating on it and try to muster the courage to jump, but then sadly climbing back down, disappointed that they never managed to take that leap of faith.

It was a great experience that certainly shows you the good side of people, the support, encouragement and camaraderie between friends.  Everyone you meet is so full of excitement, anticipation and enthusiasm.  It also had Sadie and I excited for the next day!

Sunday morning saw Sadie and I back at TM, this time ready to take the course on ourselves. As we had volunteered the day before we got to enter for £15, which is a huge saving on the standard price and something I would certainly recommend to anyone thinking of taking part. Tough Mudder may have its detractors but they put on one hell of an event, it takes them about 4 weeks to build it, they put everything into the event and you certainly get your money’s worth (especially if you only paid £15). From the warm up, the 6 foot wall you have to climb over to get to the starting pen to the build up in the starting pen where you kneel in the mud and make your mudder pledge to ” leave no mudder behind” and chants of ooh-rah! It gets you hyped up for what is to come, and then you are off! It is 13 miles of running and obstacles some easier than others, everyone has their own personal nemesis and mine is definitely Artic Enema, a skip full of ice cold water that you have to jump in, fully submerge and duck under a partition and out the other side. This year might not have been as cold, deep or with as much floating ice cubes as last year, but I still struggle to stop every fibre of my body screaming to get out and mentally prepare myself to stick my head under and out the other side, but it’s amazing what you can do when you are sure you can’t. This year there were 30 obstacles, I won’t go into each one, my reports are long enough as it is! But Balls to the Wall, Glory Blades, Electric Eel, Hero Walls are just some of them, each testing something different but this year the mud really came into its own. I don’t think I have seen as many different kinds of mud! We were crawling through it, sliding down it, clambering up it, splashing in it, it clung to us and stuck to us and everyone was smiling and laughing and a fair few just rolling in it for the hell of it, well what else could you do? It was like a bunch of kids let loose. This is not a timed event, “its not a race, it’s a challenge” so I don’t know how long it took us this year, but around 3 hours later Sadie and I made it to the finish line, wet, muddy, cold (well me anyway), bruised and bleeding to be met with a pint and the coveted orange headband but now as we are 2 x mudders we get a green one too! Are we going for our blue headband next? Well all I can say is OOH RAH!

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