Saturday morning I drove up the A93 in cold temperatures to arrive in Braemar in a full snow storm. When I'd finally reached the car parking field at Balmoral, the snow had turned to rain.
There was a running festival over the Saturday and Sunday. The 10K was only a small part of the event so there were many runners and families coming and going. I got changed in the car park and wandered to the start passing by the front of the Castle.
Balmoral
Behind the start line, markers were laid out to group runner in their expected finish times : 35mins, 40, 45, 50, 55 etc. I lined up at 45 and was relieved to see some other old duffers like me.
Balmoral 10K start
The first 3.5km followed the river Dee through the forest and a light snow snow shower coated the wobbling lycra. There were a few kilted runners bravely lollopping past; I was impressed. Soon enough, the killer hill began and we turned left away from the river to climb steeply up a loose gravel track for about a kilometre. At the summit of the climb, a pair of bagpipers heralded our passing and the RAF cadets served out water. Then it was a fast descent back towards the Castle, past the walled garden and a U-turn along the front of the castle to the finish.
