Merrick Hill Race

The fast descent off The Merrick

Earlier in the summer, I had my mind focused on my September race as being the Two Breweries on 24th September. It would certainly be the azimuth of my running year and I would need to do a couple of recces to understand the route. But late in August, a double booking on the weekend in September, meant that I couldn't enter the Two Breweries race. Plan B was another race on the weekend of 17/18th September. Looking at the excellent Scottish Running Guide calendar, I found the Edinburgh Half-Marathon on the Sunday might be worth a look. It promoted itself as "a great route for fast times, if you want a PB, this is the course for you!"

I started the registration process and then reached the payment page....£37! Someone is having a laugh surely. How can they justify that? Its not even a marathon. My wallet closed and I went back to the Scottish Running Guide for another scan.

Aha! I thought as I spotted The Merrick Hill Race on Saturday the 17th. I knew The Merrick, having previously walked up it in 1999 and I had walked through Glen Trool on the Southern Upland Way in 1990. I could imagine running up and down that. The distance of 12.4km sounded doable and I remembered the ground being fairly grassy. What was even better - the entry fee was only £4!

Saturday 17th arrived and the weather forecast was perfect, dry with no rain expected, light winds and cloud base above summits. It was going to be warm. Lazily, I let the car satnav decide the route to Glen Trool and I ended up on some very windy single track roads. I had plenty of time though, so made sure to enjoy the views of the Rhinns of the Kells as I drove south.

I arrived at the old Caldons campsite car park at about 11:45 with other racers joining me. I took the bike out of the back and headed along the road towards the start at The Bruce's Stone. I heard a few grumbles from other racers who were having to walk the 1.5miles each way. At registration, I was asked to show my gear (all competitors had been emailed in the week to bring full body cover, hat, gloves, map and compass). But as a clueless amateur I left it all back at the car. Fortunately they let me off; I wasn't a contender clearly!

Back to the car to get changed and eat some lunch before heading back to the start line. On the advertised map of the route, it struck directly up the Fell of Eschoncan where someone had used a garden strimmer to beat a path through the thick bracken. How kind.

At 13:00 we set off, me not too far from the back keeping clear of these athletes. A short trot up the road and then onto the bracken path. I had not experienced something like this before so wasn't sure of the etiquette, but it all seemed amiable. There were very few chances to overtake and I think most people were happy to stick at the pace of the mass.

Head down for the initial ascent

Shortly the bracken receded and the slope fell back after 200m or so of ascent, the trotting began along a single track bog to eventually reach a forestry track where I could increase the pace and strides. It was downhill at this point before passing an encouraging  marshall and entering the forest for a steep climb towards Corse Craig. Ahead I could see the familiar figure of Ranjit in his FiveFinger shoes. I recognised him from the Moffat race in July. As him I passed I said my greetings and we panted a brief conversation. He wanted to know what club I was running for and insisted I joined Carnethy.

Out of the forest, the path improved. It was a surface of gravel with good drainage ditches. Although it was steep, there were some sections could be jogged briefly. I looked ahead and was amazed to see tiny figures in the distance approaching the summit of Benyellary already. I fell in step with a male runner from Westerlands I think. He was wearing a yellow vest with a W on the back. However, I started to get a bit annoyed by his pace. The slope of grass was wide and uniform. I would start a brief run for a few metres and gradually pass him; he seemed to start running just as I did, but then continued beyond where I would start walking and start walking directly in front of me. He did this on at least ten occasions and it became irritating.

Even as we ran down the Neive of the Spit towards the Merrick, he matched my pace so that we reached the summit at the same time and then began the delightful descent down the Rig of the Gloon together.

Starting the descent off The Merrick with my shadow in the way

I tried to loosen up and increased the pace on the soft grass, but too soon the ground degenerated into wet slop and rocks and the brakes went on. He passed again. Then the terrain became a bit more technical with crags, tussocks and man-eating bogs. I face planted tripping over a tussock near base of the ridge. The W man was ahead and I managed to pass him again just before we reached the Kirn Burn. I sploshed into the water, grabbed three quick mouthfuls and then struggled up the boggy tussocks beside the wall onto Cragnine. The W man was behind me but distant. At last!

Now I was following a red vested man who was doing a steady pace. I set in behind him, legs really tiring now so no energy to overtake. Coming off Buchan Hill I was now behind a group of 4 and I made sure to stick on their heels as we careered down into the cow field. The fallen fence almost garotted me as I ran into the single strand of wire and boinged back up the slope.

Descending off Buchan Hill, W man in the distance

I made sure to pose for the camera

The bottom of the field was another fence just beyond a stinking bog of cow shit, mud and water but travelling too fast to care. On the other side of the fence were a group of spectators and marshalls I think. I heaved myself over the fence like a numpty and onto the track. I was now following a female who powered up the steep track.

The final fence. Some runners actually jumped over this, aye right!

Some runners who had already finished were walking down the track giving encouragement. But it was far too steep to run properly and I waivered between walking and very slow jogging. The finish appeared round a corner and I struggled through the line in 2hrs 02mins. 123/197

Good race but I think I need a vest.