This was my first proper hill race so I was a little unsure what to expect apart from hills obviously.
Unusually, I sorted all my gear the night before so I was ready to leave at 9am after a sizeable cooked breakfast. The first technical challenge of the day was before the race had begun and that was to do a three point turn on a narrow forest track so everyone was facing the right way when we left. Not that easy for some competitors.
After registration we all had to line up like school children and have our bags checked to ensure we were equipped for the run- gloves,hat, leggings, water proof, compass, whistle, map! How on earth most people seemed to squirrel this kit list into a bum bag are beyond me- I had elected for a much larger backpack. Conditions were very good so it was unlikely I would need any of it but rules are rules. Legs like tree trunks and calves like rocks were clearly the order of the day (not me though).
Race plan was to take it easy at the beginning in case I burned out on the hills. The first part was an undulating section through the forest and quite quickly we encountered a burn crossing and some quite boggy sections. I noticed a few people walking up the first short inclines which I thought strange as they were not that steep but it wasn’t long before the first real test- a horror hill of sorts but twice as steep so I finally succumbed to a bit of the old hands on thighs striding. The course opened out onto the heather hill for the ascent to the first summit. The path was narrow and the heather was course. I could feel my shins being grated and it wasn’t long before the path disappeared and we were running through deep energy sapping heather. It also seemed to have magical powers as quite quickly my double knotted shoe laces were undone on both shoes.
After the first summit we started the first descent- I felt good and was merrily giving it licks down the hill and quickly caught up with a couple of runners and was beginning to think I had this downhill malarkey sussed until a couple of racers whizzed past me. Next up was the main summit – quite ominous as it rose up before me. The path was good and I ran as much as I could until the legs started shouting. The views were glorious at the top but as you started the descent you could not afford to take your eyes off the ground. Terrain varied from hard narrow paths, boggy sections and a section of charred muir burned heather although this could easily have been the hot heals of the front runners who were well out of sight.
We reached a hard forest track which seemed to suit my running as I pulled away from the group I was with and I knew we were nearing the end as we headed into the forest. There was a cheeky wee hill in the woods just to make sure your thighs were spent before a nice downhill finish.
Approx 8.5 miles in 1hr 22. Winner came in at 1 hr 12. There was a good spread including locally brewed beer and a great friendly atmosphere. So, lessons to be learned – don’t wear little ankle socks unless you want your shins shredded. Equip yourself with magical shrinking kit that can fit in a bum bag. Figure out how to triple knot laces. Don’t forget your sun cream especially if you are bald.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking for more hill races in the future.
Report by: Ed Dunbar