Three members of the yellas headed North to participate in the Cioch Mhor hill race – Simon Dobbs, Linda Smith and myself. This is a challenging 14k romp up and down hills (obviously) with an interesting river crossing in the middle.
Weather conditions were favourable, especially given the weather there had been during the week, so mostly sunny and just a lightish breeze. It became apparent fairly early on that the underfoot conditions were going to be quite manky as we slopped through shin deep muddy/cow patty areas on the way up to the first trig. There was a juniors race going on at the same time, they “just” had to go up to this first trig and return back down. One poor wee soul was obviously not enjoying herself and was giving it sobs as she headed back down the way!
So, over the first hill and wheeeee down the other side, over a couple of fences and over some horrible tussocky boggy stuff to the river crossing. This was deeper and faster flowing than last year and quite chilly … out the other side, swiftly, and over some more tussocky horribleness up to a landrover track. From here you get a really good view of Cioch Mhor itself rising high above, then head down really and concentrate on getting up and up and up. All the lead runners were making their way down by now, charging down and finishing before I’d even gotten half way!
It wasn’t too much longer before we were up at the snow level – then over a stile for the last wee hill before Cioch Mhor. I managed to choose a much better line than last year and actually found the sheep track up the slightly less steep side of the hill. Much relief to reach the top, and fantastic views over the area.
Then, the return journey, a fantastic downhill pretty much all the way back to the river crossing, which seemed to be a little deeper than when I’d crossed it earlier and quite a scramble up the other bank to get out! I managed to choose a good line on the way back to the last trig which meant no clambering over spiky fences, happy days. A last look at the fab views then the last downhill to the end, through all the manky dodgy muddy stuff!
So, a splendid day out in the hills, made all the better for our Linda, who scooped First Auld Wifie prize !!!!
Report by: Jenni Coelho