Bunessan Easter Road Race (10k)

When our plans for an Easter holiday in Mull were made, all the appropriate fixed self-catering property was booked up. So we came up with the novel idea of a touring campervan from mullcampervans who met us off the ferry at Craignure.

I had been looking at an events calendar for Mull and discovered this event listed on the Mull Runners website which happended to coincide with our itinerary. We spent the Saturday night at the excellent Fidden campsite south of Fionnphort before rolling into Bunessan on the Sunday morning. Race information online was sparse so I was not quite sure what to expect, but we parked up near the centre of the village and awaited some developments.

Within an hour the place was bustling with men in shorts and wooly hats (it was raining and a bit parky). I made sure to register and pay my £6 in the bus shelter and then at 12:30 we all gathered at the start. When I say 'All' I mean about 20 folk. Due to the layout of the roads, there was a shorter race option that would go in the opposite direction to the 10k, both starting at the same time from the same place. A funny situation!

The organiser sent us off and I quickly settled into a pace near the front of the field. After the first loop to return back through the village I was in 4th position but I could see numbers 1 & 2 starting to stretch away in the distance. Number 3 was not far in front, still in touching distance. We were now running along the 'main' road which wasn't closed to traffic; infact none of the the race was, so we had to allow traffic to pass a few times on the single track road.

After 5km on a downhill section, I realised I was closing on Number 3 and managed to pass him as we turned left onto the Ardtun loop. We were now neck and neck for the next 4 km and I think we both kept each other going at a good pace. Numbers 1 and 2 were a loong way ahead now, but still visible in the loops and turns of the narrow road.

We were now overtaking the competitors on the shorter route and they all gave us encouragement without fail which was gratefully appreciated. The village now came into view but at the turn on the bridge back to the main road, my companion now slipped strongly into his original 3rd position and I struggled to match his pace. Nevertheless I found something and was able to put on a spurt into the finish line with the small crowd cheering.

46:53 4th position out of ??

Strathconon

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.

Nearing the summit in the mist

On the way back down - abdomen cramping

Results here

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

West Lomond

Mount Blair

Gatehouse