Sunday, 26 March 2017
Saturday, 11 March 2017
Ben Gullipen Hill Race
After last months slopfest at Glentress I was ready for another hill race in any conditions. This race fitted the calendar nicely, although the distance wasn't massive (13km). The Skidaddle event company seemed well organised from their website and entry process so was hoping for a good event.
Sadly the weather didn't agree and it was pouring with rain when I arrived at the car park start point ninety minutes early. After registering, I sat in the car watching other athletes arrive. The event was also advertised as a Cani-Cross race (dogs on leads) and there were several fit looking dogs straining at their leashes.
I went for a short warm up along the road and a 'comfort break' near the bridge before returning for the race briefing and finally we were off. The route was a simple up and down/out and back following vehicle tracks initially through the forest and then on the open hillside above 300m but still on vehicle track.
The surface for the couple of kms was large rocky compacted hardcore. Not very friendly to run on, but it was the start and everyone was jostling for position so passed quickly. After 3km I was into a stable position and the course began to stretch out. The rain had stopped, but a mist hung over all the trees and the air was very damp.
We left the forest through a metal kissing gate and then followed a rather churned up track towards the summit of the hill. Within 500m the leaders passed on their way back down; they were going hell for leather and some of them looked like they were flying. It was think mist now, and only knew I was at the summit when a parked Land Rover loomed out of the gloom marking the turning point. I grabbed a cup of water from the tail of the LR and then headed down.
The two figures (male & female) I had been following disappeared into the mist and I struggled to keep up, but once onto flatter terrain out of the mist I upped the pace and drew them back. Unfortunately once back in the forest, I was struck by abdominal cramp and it slowed me up. Looking over my shoulder I was alone - nobody in sight so I plodded on. I felt I was in 12th or 13th place so quite happy. Back on the rough gravel track, I then discovered a group of runners behind me approaching fast! I tried to up the pace but to no avail and they were obviously using me as a stepping stone to the finish.
I lost at least 5 places and came in 19/76 in 01:05:12 but not too unhappy.
Results here
Sadly the weather didn't agree and it was pouring with rain when I arrived at the car park start point ninety minutes early. After registering, I sat in the car watching other athletes arrive. The event was also advertised as a Cani-Cross race (dogs on leads) and there were several fit looking dogs straining at their leashes.
I went for a short warm up along the road and a 'comfort break' near the bridge before returning for the race briefing and finally we were off. The route was a simple up and down/out and back following vehicle tracks initially through the forest and then on the open hillside above 300m but still on vehicle track.
The surface for the couple of kms was large rocky compacted hardcore. Not very friendly to run on, but it was the start and everyone was jostling for position so passed quickly. After 3km I was into a stable position and the course began to stretch out. The rain had stopped, but a mist hung over all the trees and the air was very damp.
We left the forest through a metal kissing gate and then followed a rather churned up track towards the summit of the hill. Within 500m the leaders passed on their way back down; they were going hell for leather and some of them looked like they were flying. It was think mist now, and only knew I was at the summit when a parked Land Rover loomed out of the gloom marking the turning point. I grabbed a cup of water from the tail of the LR and then headed down.
The two figures (male & female) I had been following disappeared into the mist and I struggled to keep up, but once onto flatter terrain out of the mist I upped the pace and drew them back. Unfortunately once back in the forest, I was struck by abdominal cramp and it slowed me up. Looking over my shoulder I was alone - nobody in sight so I plodded on. I felt I was in 12th or 13th place so quite happy. Back on the rough gravel track, I then discovered a group of runners behind me approaching fast! I tried to up the pace but to no avail and they were obviously using me as a stepping stone to the finish.
I lost at least 5 places and came in 19/76 in 01:05:12 but not too unhappy.
 |
| Nearing the summit in the mist |
 |
| On the way back down - abdomen cramping |
Results here
Saturday, 25 February 2017
Glentress Trail Race 2017 (21k)
The first race of my year was perhaps a bit of a shock to the system. In 2016, I had competed in the 10K version of this event on a wonderfully sunny but cold day. I had vowed to enter the longer version this year so was signed up as soon as the entries opened.
Sadly the weather wasn't as kind as 2016 and on the Thursday before the race, a winter storm passed through the Borders dumping a huge amount of snow on the forest. Then on Friday night a mild thaw turned everything to mush so that come race day the entire course was a quagmire.
Nevertheless I drove south in the murk to Glentress only to discover the flat field car park was closed due to waterlogging and we had to park on the edge of the muddy tracks in the forest. Not an idela situation. In addition, the start/finish tent had been destroyed by the storm so the race organisers had decided to move the start/finish to the top of a steep hill off the main road. Bit odd.
I watched the 42k group set off in fine fettle before taking my place near the start line. I noticed Donny Campbell flexing his muscles right at the front. A fast pace to start as usual, but soon settled into positions running the familiar route from last year. I overtook Madeline Robinson (Michelle Hetherington's daughter) and started a wee conversation about the Highlander & LAMM. She then proceeded to chase my heels for the next 10km which was slightly unnerving, but made me keep my pace up I guess.
The route climbed upwards on a general trendline with a few bumps and soon enough we reached the snow line. The highest points of the route were pretty awful running rivers and shin deep mud. I got trapped in a tight group of gents where passing was tricky due to the narrow path. One of them was Ross Rennie, the ex-Scotland rugby international.
The descent to the finish was joyous as 2016 and I was happy to achieve 34/394 in 2:03:46.
Route map here
Results here
Sadly the weather wasn't as kind as 2016 and on the Thursday before the race, a winter storm passed through the Borders dumping a huge amount of snow on the forest. Then on Friday night a mild thaw turned everything to mush so that come race day the entire course was a quagmire.
Nevertheless I drove south in the murk to Glentress only to discover the flat field car park was closed due to waterlogging and we had to park on the edge of the muddy tracks in the forest. Not an idela situation. In addition, the start/finish tent had been destroyed by the storm so the race organisers had decided to move the start/finish to the top of a steep hill off the main road. Bit odd.
I watched the 42k group set off in fine fettle before taking my place near the start line. I noticed Donny Campbell flexing his muscles right at the front. A fast pace to start as usual, but soon settled into positions running the familiar route from last year. I overtook Madeline Robinson (Michelle Hetherington's daughter) and started a wee conversation about the Highlander & LAMM. She then proceeded to chase my heels for the next 10km which was slightly unnerving, but made me keep my pace up I guess.
The route climbed upwards on a general trendline with a few bumps and soon enough we reached the snow line. The highest points of the route were pretty awful running rivers and shin deep mud. I got trapped in a tight group of gents where passing was tricky due to the narrow path. One of them was Ross Rennie, the ex-Scotland rugby international.
The descent to the finish was joyous as 2016 and I was happy to achieve 34/394 in 2:03:46.
Route map here
Results here
Friday, 17 February 2017
Sunday, 15 January 2017
Sunday, 1 January 2017
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
Race review 2016
As there's only 4 days left in 2016 and I'm closing in to finish my second Marcothon, I thought I'd write some notes on my race running year.
At the start of the year, I committed to running an organised race in every month of 2016. Just for a laugh. No targets aimed for, just the participation and chance to keep fit throughout the year.
In February, I started with the Glentress Trail 10K. I don't recall how I'd become aware of it, but it was certainly not on my radar having never been to Glentress before. In Dec 2015 I had completed my first Marcothon, so was obviously maintaining some underlying fitness level which permitted me to come in 5th position. It was a good race, over interesting terrain with a good atmosphere and quite well organised. The fine weather helped. 5/113 48:58
March was a bit of drudgery, not a good selection of races available. I chose the Kilomathon to finish at Murrayfield Stadium. That was about the highlight. It was a little dull with far too much razzmatazz at the start and the route was more than contrived with a strange wandering sojourn in Victoria Park and then a ridiculous appendage before entering Murrayfield Stadium at the end. I'm sure the organisers could improve the route with a little more imagination. 79/1329 56:33
In April I wanted another trail run so headed up to the Balmoral 10K on a cold and snowy Spring day. I had never been to Balmoral (like Glentress) so enjoyed the bit of associated exploration. It was a big event, clearly well established with a strong local following. Everyone sounded like they were from Deeside/Aberdeen. It was a long way to go for a short(ish) race therefore am not sure I'd do it again.
133/1734 45:10
May passed with no organised race due to other commitments so that I packed two into June. First of all starting with the ultimate Highlander Mountain Marathon which we had booked many months previously. We knew what to expect from an event perspective having previously competed in the 2014 event but not the venue. Such is the spice of life that we were kept guessing until the bus departed from the registration building in Cannich. We had a great two days of trotting over the Affric/Mullardoch/Strathfarrar hills in some spectacular weather and not a midge in sight. 15/46 (Class C). Then at the end of June, still in fine weather came the highlight of the year, the Seven Hills of Edinburgh event. Missed the registration in 2015, fast on the mouse click for 2016 we managed to get into the Challenge. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and my few days of reconnaisance seemed to pay off and found me in first position at Craiglockhart until passing Pollok Halls. My fatal mistake was ignoring the Gutted Haddie going up Arthur's Seat and I lost the lead, then coming off the Seat my calves started to cramp up. I slogged over the finish line after a wonderful race. 5/290 2:18:56
Again July seemed to be lacking decent Lothian races. so I ended up entering the Moffat Festival of Running on a Tuesday evening. Information was light and I failed to find a route map anywhere online but made a guess from a description on the event site. It was a 15km job up an undulating valley then a steep climb to the Edinburgh road before returning to Moffat. After work I drove south and parked up on the outskirts of town. The race was pretty intense with a real club feel to the other competitors and a stonking pace to match. I tried hard but suffered from abdominal pain on the long descent back to town. 58/218 01:09
In August it had to be the Coll Half Marathon. I had supported Sally in 2013 on a windy day, but she was happy to return. We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed a fast run round the island making sure to beat Rob Wainwright on the way! Calmac even laid on a return ferry service for us back to Oban on the same day so we could relieve the oldyins of their childcare duties as soon as practically possible. 24/161 01:41:15
I had initially planned to enter the Edinburgh Half-Marathon in September with promises of fast times due to a flat course, but soon binned that idea when I discovered the entry price was beyond my means. And ridiculous. So I found another race on a similar weekend...that was asking £4! However (there is always a downside), it was an event on the British Hill Running calendar - the Merrick Hill Race and I found myself amongst some leggy ants trotting as fast as I could across some of the hardest terrain of the year. 123/197 02:02:00
In February after the Glentress Trail 10K, some kind fellow had planted a leaflet on the parked car windscreen advertising the inaugural Tunnel Trail Race for October. Sadly the registration and start in Hay Lodge park was beset by freezing fog but was almost clear as we trotted along the Tweed. This was a dibbing start as opposed to a mass start which made for an intriguing pace as you weren't sure who was fastest or leading. It was probably best to just run your own race and enjoy the route. Fortunately some of the scenery was good with good technical terrain through the forest and eventually through the disused tunnel. 18/140 01:41:33
In November I entered the Edinburgh Mens 10K after a friendly recommendation of good 10K timings on a fast course. However, with a field devoid of women at the top of the Mound, the first 1k was was challenging few minutes of elbow jostling and positioning. The straight flatness of the Western Approach road was hardest and I struggled to keep the pace as we entered Murrayfield Stadium for the sprint finish. I've already entered 2017! 154/1190 41:51
Hardest - Merrick
Fastest - Glentress
Slowest - Moffat
Won't repeat - Kilomathon
Will repeat - 7hills, Glentress, Mens 10K
And so...to end the year I decided to challenge myself to the Marcothon again.
At the start of the year, I committed to running an organised race in every month of 2016. Just for a laugh. No targets aimed for, just the participation and chance to keep fit throughout the year.
In February, I started with the Glentress Trail 10K. I don't recall how I'd become aware of it, but it was certainly not on my radar having never been to Glentress before. In Dec 2015 I had completed my first Marcothon, so was obviously maintaining some underlying fitness level which permitted me to come in 5th position. It was a good race, over interesting terrain with a good atmosphere and quite well organised. The fine weather helped. 5/113 48:58
March was a bit of drudgery, not a good selection of races available. I chose the Kilomathon to finish at Murrayfield Stadium. That was about the highlight. It was a little dull with far too much razzmatazz at the start and the route was more than contrived with a strange wandering sojourn in Victoria Park and then a ridiculous appendage before entering Murrayfield Stadium at the end. I'm sure the organisers could improve the route with a little more imagination. 79/1329 56:33
In April I wanted another trail run so headed up to the Balmoral 10K on a cold and snowy Spring day. I had never been to Balmoral (like Glentress) so enjoyed the bit of associated exploration. It was a big event, clearly well established with a strong local following. Everyone sounded like they were from Deeside/Aberdeen. It was a long way to go for a short(ish) race therefore am not sure I'd do it again.
133/1734 45:10
May passed with no organised race due to other commitments so that I packed two into June. First of all starting with the ultimate Highlander Mountain Marathon which we had booked many months previously. We knew what to expect from an event perspective having previously competed in the 2014 event but not the venue. Such is the spice of life that we were kept guessing until the bus departed from the registration building in Cannich. We had a great two days of trotting over the Affric/Mullardoch/Strathfarrar hills in some spectacular weather and not a midge in sight. 15/46 (Class C). Then at the end of June, still in fine weather came the highlight of the year, the Seven Hills of Edinburgh event. Missed the registration in 2015, fast on the mouse click for 2016 we managed to get into the Challenge. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and my few days of reconnaisance seemed to pay off and found me in first position at Craiglockhart until passing Pollok Halls. My fatal mistake was ignoring the Gutted Haddie going up Arthur's Seat and I lost the lead, then coming off the Seat my calves started to cramp up. I slogged over the finish line after a wonderful race. 5/290 2:18:56
Again July seemed to be lacking decent Lothian races. so I ended up entering the Moffat Festival of Running on a Tuesday evening. Information was light and I failed to find a route map anywhere online but made a guess from a description on the event site. It was a 15km job up an undulating valley then a steep climb to the Edinburgh road before returning to Moffat. After work I drove south and parked up on the outskirts of town. The race was pretty intense with a real club feel to the other competitors and a stonking pace to match. I tried hard but suffered from abdominal pain on the long descent back to town. 58/218 01:09
In August it had to be the Coll Half Marathon. I had supported Sally in 2013 on a windy day, but she was happy to return. We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed a fast run round the island making sure to beat Rob Wainwright on the way! Calmac even laid on a return ferry service for us back to Oban on the same day so we could relieve the oldyins of their childcare duties as soon as practically possible. 24/161 01:41:15
I had initially planned to enter the Edinburgh Half-Marathon in September with promises of fast times due to a flat course, but soon binned that idea when I discovered the entry price was beyond my means. And ridiculous. So I found another race on a similar weekend...that was asking £4! However (there is always a downside), it was an event on the British Hill Running calendar - the Merrick Hill Race and I found myself amongst some leggy ants trotting as fast as I could across some of the hardest terrain of the year. 123/197 02:02:00
In February after the Glentress Trail 10K, some kind fellow had planted a leaflet on the parked car windscreen advertising the inaugural Tunnel Trail Race for October. Sadly the registration and start in Hay Lodge park was beset by freezing fog but was almost clear as we trotted along the Tweed. This was a dibbing start as opposed to a mass start which made for an intriguing pace as you weren't sure who was fastest or leading. It was probably best to just run your own race and enjoy the route. Fortunately some of the scenery was good with good technical terrain through the forest and eventually through the disused tunnel. 18/140 01:41:33
In November I entered the Edinburgh Mens 10K after a friendly recommendation of good 10K timings on a fast course. However, with a field devoid of women at the top of the Mound, the first 1k was was challenging few minutes of elbow jostling and positioning. The straight flatness of the Western Approach road was hardest and I struggled to keep the pace as we entered Murrayfield Stadium for the sprint finish. I've already entered 2017! 154/1190 41:51
Hardest - Merrick
Fastest - Glentress
Slowest - Moffat
Won't repeat - Kilomathon
Will repeat - 7hills, Glentress, Mens 10K
And so...to end the year I decided to challenge myself to the Marcothon again.
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