With some minor guilt I slipped out the back road from Penicuik to avoid the Parade and popped down to Broughton for the Broughton Heights race which was part of the UKA Inter Counties Fell/Hill Race Championships. This meant that the bulk of the runners were elite class so I had no expectations of trying to get any reasonable place.

In fact, since Gypsy Glen I had purposely run more than average last week to see how my legs would cope. Not a good idea in hindsight – I couldn’t sprint at the start and was not even close to 1^st place after 100m. I guess running with heavy legs is good practise for those longer races later in the year.

Broughton Heights is a new race and is similar to Carnethy 5 in elevation and distance:

Carnethy 5 – 9.14 kms and 628m

Broughton H – 10.55 kms and 591m

Weather was windy and mixed – one minute sunny and the next heavy showers. In fact it rained/hailed 20 minutes before the race started which got many people worried as to the appropriate clothing for the race. In the end it did not rain during the race and the wind helped more than hindered.

For those who have run Greenmantle Dash you would recognise the first kilometre as it is the reverse of GD. After that, the route deviates to a much more demanding course – see map.

Some of the ascents are quite steep, the worst being the quarter kilometre up to Hammer Head – it should be called Throbbing Thighs. However, the run down from Trahenna Hill was just great, particularly as Mike Pearson was doing an odd dance to spur me on. The final challenge was a final incline up to the finish which was not a lot of fun after running downhill for 2 kms.

Despite being way way down in the pack, my final time was 1:06:24 which is quicker than my best Carnethy 5 time, so not feeling grumpy at all.

Rob

Finally got my act in gear to go through the results.
As we are 4 races in, the competition is heating up.
Well – actually not – even if Duncan and Andrea had their legs amputated tomorrow, it would make no difference.

Results can be found if you follow this link:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AigRqZlMVCvKdE4waUdjWmttYXRaVmExVlpxR3QtQlE&hl=en_US&authkey=CMmXrNUB

So the race is now on for second place – both girls and boys. Chris and Janice have it so far…… but…..
3 races to go

Rob

A great little run and less road than you would think. Nice quick descent although one’s legs feel the sprint down when you are trying to run up that last rise along the road.
Wednesday’s conditions were sunny but cool due to a stiff westerly wind which somehow did not help you at any point in the race.

A little bird has sent me the results before they have been uploaded to the main websites.
So – the scoop

61 runners – winning time 32.25

11th Duncan Ball 36.18
21st Paul Pollard 38.24
26th Rob Wilson 40.36
28th Kevin Anderson 40.44
49th Chris Downie 45.25
56th Andrea Wilson 47.12
61st Janice Smith 52.09

I will update the Grand Prix results and send the current results out now that we are 4 races in.
But come on girls – you’re making this too easy for the Kraut!!!

Rob

On the quest to do something a bit different, a mate mentioned, “Why don’t you have a go at the Highland Fling?”.  Have you ever seen my dance moves was my initial thought, but no it wasn’t a dance on this occasion but the Milngavie to Tyndrum Multi Terrain Ultra – in hindsight learning the dance may have been easier !

Well in for a penny in for a pound better get a bit of training in.  Did some internet trawling, loads of different theories but the  consistent thing being basically, it’s a long run, a very long run !!

Tweaked my marathon training and steadily added miles and time each week, with speed and place not really being a factor, I concentrated on time rather than anything else, with the intention of building to 5 hrs 30 mins which would equate to roughly 35 miles as my final long run.

Training went well with a steady progression upping my running time by 30 mins each week, mostly doing the same route, Penicuik to Balerno via Eastside then Water of Leith and up to my work at Liberton, or vice versa, lots of opportunities to add or subtract miles and a good varied terrain with a bit of hills.

About a week before my last long run, which I have scheduled for 25th March , stupidly climbed the school gate and did something to my hip.

Rested it for a week then thought I’d give it a go, okay for 20 or so then torture for 10, I was hobbling past Carlops when a vision appeared – well Stuart and Lorna.  Through the torment, and then dragged me into the car and took me home.

Got Physio and decided best plan of action was to rest, not the best preparation no running for 5 weeks but no real choice.

Made the decision with a week to the race that I’d give it a go and came up with plan should I need to pull out.

Big day arrived up at 0430 bit of porridge then a gentle nudge to Mags my supporter in chief and off we went, her bleary-eyed and me a nervous wreck.

The race is unsupported with drop bags at four points on route which allows you to run with out a pack should you wish, most runners had a least bum bags though.  I decided in each of my bags would be jam sandwiches, honey,banana and peanut butter sandwiches, flapjacks, water is provided at each station, took some advice about hydration and decided on Diorolite tastes awful but cheaper and more effective than sports drinks, had practised eating in training so no probs with eating on the run, bit weird at first but you get used to it.

Arrived at Milngavie, promptly downed Ibuprofen and Paracetemol, emptied a can of deep heat on my hip donned my compression shorts and more suitable pair on top to protect my modesty and crossed by fingers.

At Registration I was given timing chip, which you put on your wrist.

Bumped into Tim Doyle just at the start, which is in the rather incongruous setting of a subway tunnel.

0700hrs on the dot and off we went through a shopping precinct – weird.

Into some woods and a rather pleasant 10 miles to Drymen good underfoot conditions and gently rolling, Drymen is the first water stop and timing point quickly filled my bottle and off.

Out of Drymen and through forestry and up the major climb, Conic Hill, which would be fine normally but with 40 or so miles to go it was a bit daunting, steep descent into Balmaha, the views coming down were awesome.

Balmaha first drop bag and met Mags briefly gulped down the food and hydration then onto Rowardennan following the loch my companion for the next 20 odd miles.

Strangely found this section tough, I think the initial euphoria was over and it dawned, would the injury hold up and the medication work.

Made it to Rowardennan in 4hrs and 32mins and was in 89th place, same routine bit of food and hydration and off.

Rowardennan to Inversnaid was great with some glorious trail running in the most beautiful of surroundings.

Now the tricky bit, a very technical section out of Inversnaid narrow path with bit of scrambling really difficult to get any rhythm or momentum, seemed to last ages but eventually path flattened out and could get running again.

By this time it was getting warm and with the loch behind us the breeze had dropped and temp was rising.

Made it to Bein Glass farm at 40 miles in 7.48 and had maintained my place.  Was feeling quite good and a bit emotional knowing I was probably going to make it.

Left Bein Glass feeling strong, but not for long.

The final 12miles seem to go uphill forever and the underfoot conditions aren’t great, lots of rocks and generally pretty rough ground, the last 40 miles had caught up with me and I was struggling, pace went right down and resorted to walking up the inclines.

The race had moved from my legs to my head and the mental battle was on.

I was also aware by this stage of being and becoming more dehydrated in hindsight hadn’t taken on-board enough hydration, everday’s a school day and wont make that mistake again, managed to replenish my bottle once at stream but it wasn’t enough.

Finally after what seemed an eternity met Mags about two miles out and she gave me the encouragement to keep going, it was just what the doctor ordered and pushed onto the finish to be met by a piper at the finish line – I had made it!!

A cold beer was thrust into my hand and medal round the neck.  Oh, and a t-shirt and a bottle of bubbly; talk about at £12 bargain entry fee.

Shuffled in to the car with a bag of chips and home.

Sorry it’s a mammoth blog you’re probably thinking is this in real time !

On reflection just glad to have managed to complete it.  During the training I had hoped to finish in 10-11 hours.

Final time was 10hrs and 45mins and 101st out of a field of 400 plus starters.

Tim Doyle was 231st in a time of 12:29:10

Me crossing the finish line!

Hi

The 6 mile handicap has been moved to TUESDAY 31ST MAY in order to allow members to compete in the Gypsy Glen hill race on Wednesday 18th.

Susan

After missing out on a ballot place I was lucky enough to get a club place for the London Marathon.  After months of training and high ideals for a good time I managed to pick up an injury in the last three weeks and was told by the physio not to run for the next few weeks and was then knocked out by a sickness bug the week before.  After much humming and hawing about whether to defer – I decided to just go for it and if nothing else do a bit of sightseeing.

At about 6 miles I did think that maybe I had made the wrong decision and was wondering whether or not I would even make it to the half way mark.  I was then on a countdown to the Lucozade station at mile 10 for a much needed carbo and energy boost.  The heat was begining to really build too and I think I poured as much water over me as I drank.  By mile 13 I gave into the temptation to walk and decided that if I was indeed going to finish I would have to switch to the walk/run scenario.  This kept me going for the next few miles, by mile 20 I was giving myself a mental bashing and decided that I needed to try and run the last few miles.  From mile 21 I spent my entire time waiting for the next mile marker and my mantra was “only 5 more miles to run, I can run 5 miles”, then it was 4 miles, 3 miles, 2 miles….. by now the crowds were huge and noise was absoloutely deafening.  Those last 2 miles were the hardest and by the time I reached the 26 mile marker I was desperate for the finish line.  It seemed to take an absoloute age to appear as it is lurking round a corner out of sight!  I dont think I have ever been so happy to see a fiinish line!  

The London Marathon is everything you have ever heard and more.  Superbly organised, great course (although I managed to miss most of the major landmarks including Big Ben and the London eye!), amazing crowds like nothing I have ever experienced before that shout, cheer and will you on. Highlights like coming over Tower Bridge, going through Canary Warf and past the drummers in the underpass will stay with me.  As I crossed the finish line I vowed I would never do another marathon, however today……..

Who is going to be lucky enough to do this next year?

HORRIBLE HEAD WIND are the three words I’ll choose to sum up my first attempt at the Dunbar 10K!

Myself, Gordon and Kevin along with over 200 other runners lined up on a sunny but very windy start line in Dunbar.  Being my first 10K in approx 3 years, I was already very nervous and not at all confident.  To be honest it didn’t really get that much better.  On the plus side this was a very scenic course, on quiet rural roads with the occasional fantastic glimpse over to the Bass Rock and beyond. 

But most of the time my head was down, battling into one of the toughest head winds I’ve run in.  My slowest kilometre was 5.24, ouch.  On the one time when there was a tail wind behind us, it allowed me to do a 3.50 kilometre.  What a difference!

Huge well done to Kevin and Gordon who crossed the line in 44.12 and 46.28 respectively.  Finally there was me in 48.12.  The can of Belhaven Best in the goodie bag went to Jamie for being my chauffeur, bag carrier and for keeping me positive throughout my injury problems of the last couple of years.

Thanks to Dunbar Running Club for a well organised and well marshalled race and I’ll be back next year when hopefully it’s a nice still day for running!

Susan

And so it was, off to Duthie Park in Aberdeen early on Saturday morning in conditions so perfect that I wondered if I was still in bed in the middle of a rather good dream! Temperature well under 10 degrees, blue skies and a light breeze – it really doesn’t get any better that this. The race director (George Reid) is quite a character – his byline on emails is “Pass the weak hurdle the dead” and the advice he offers to anyone who gets halfway and wants to quit “phone registration with your race number, tell them you are a loser and take the bus home”. I have quickly realised that the world of ultra events and the people who take part in them is like none other. The field has doubled this year to over 200 runners which shows there is clearly a growing appetite for this kind of nonsense. The route is entirely along the Deeside Trail which is almost all off-road and only 2 or 3 road crossings. It’s a mix of tarmac, hard packed earth and track. There are no hills as such but a few small rises and the scene is fantastic especially the River Dee itself ! The big advice I got from people who know lots about this kind of thing was 3 fold: make sure your hydration and carbohydrate strategy is well tested and organised for the race, avoid the temptation to look at your watch and instead, listen to your body and you will know how fast to run and finally, divide and rule – don’t see it as 33 miles but more as 33 mile-long runs one after the other. How did I apply all this? I used my Karrimor backpack with glucose water mix and a load of gels and cereal bars. I only looked at my watch once – at the halfway mark – and this worked well. I planned for 10 minute mile pace and when I reached the 16.5 mile mark in 2:42, I was only 3 minutes / 1.8% off this. I expected the second half to take longer not least because I’ve never done this before so I wasn’t quite sure what to plan for (not to mention getting a wee bit tired by this stage). I listened to music all the way so my divide and rule strategy was based on this – just make it to the end of the current track and so on and so on – this worked well. All said, the seasoned campaigners all have GPS and know how far they have run and at what speed all to the nearest inch. How was it then? I spent the first 16 miles wondering whose idea this was. The halfway point was a high as the extended family were there in support (and for refueling) and being more than halfway is always a good thing. Next hour or so was bad as I felt like I was going to be sick at any moment. Thankfully, this passed and I can honestly say that the last 10 miles was actually really, really enjoyable – I was not begging for the finish, was spared cramp and the weather was just gorgeous soft sunshine with a light tail wind. I even managed to lift my pace through Duthie Park to something more like running. Finished in 6 hrs and 22 secs and picked up the most original medal I have ever received (a small piece of slate with ‘D33 MMX1’ stenciled onto it plus a bottle of race beer ! So, would I do this or anything else like it again ? you bet !