Jenni Coelho and Claire Reilly enjoyed a weekend away to take part in the Glen Ogle 33 ultramarathon.
The usual route is a figure of eight starting and finishing in Strathyre. However, the inclement weather just over a week before the event meant that the campsite where the facilities and parking are usually located was completely under water with the river having burst it’s banks!
So, on the Tuesday, four days before the race, the organisers announced a change, the race would be run over virtually the same route, however, starting and finishing in Killin, which was previously round about the halfway point.
Saturday dawned still a little damp, but the temperature had dropped a bit from the balmy 16 degrees experienced the day before! We had registered the night before, so it was just a case of turning up and running … After a brief briefing, we were led by the marshalls the half mile or so through the village and up to the start point which was on a narrow lane. I lost Claire in all the bodies and blethering – the hooter went and off we went, I was not to see Claire again until a few hours later!
The first six miles are on forest tracks up a rather large and steep hill, which meant quite a bit of walking for most, a good warm up, before the track flattened out. Fantastic views were afforded across the valley as we dropped down to the first checkpoint. A few folk came a cropper on this section. I found myself running along with a friend for quite a few miles, then as I took longer than her at a “comfort break” she went on ahead. This section is down the old railway line to Lochearnhead, then a lovely wee windy section through woods leading down into checkpoint 2. I enjoyed a wee Hartley’s jelly, topped up my ginger beer and off again. The next section is 6 rollercoaster miles on the tarmac, passing Rob Roy’s grave. I remembered this being quite unpleasant last year as it was the end of the race and I was freezing. I didn’t enjoy it much more this year to be honest, the only things that had improved were the weather and actually being able to see what was around me.
I came into Strathyre over the shoogly bridge, where a cameraman was awaiting to catch any potential mishaps …. I headed for the rather lovely Broch cafe to use their facilities, had a chat with another runner who had pulled out after a fall in the woods at the start, and was now enjoying some food. It was quite difficult to leave the lovely warm cafe. But I did, over the road, a quick top up of my water bottles, and then into the forests again. Up a VERY steep hill. I really don’t remember this being quite so steep or so long last year! But there was another lovely downhill which brought me back down into Kingshouse and Checkpoint 3 (the same as Checkpoint 2). Had a bit of a blether and then popped on my Ipod and headed back up the valley. Because I had been bimbling along until now, I was still feeling really strong, so picked up the speed a bit and started to catch up with a spreadout group of five runners. I gradually picked them off passing the last two at the last checkpoint, which I went straight through, just grabbing my ginger beer. From here I knew it was going to be pretty much all downhill on the cycle path and then through the woods again. I managed to pass another runner just before I dropped down into Killin for the last half mile or so through the village, over the bridge at the magnificent Falls of 
Dochart and into the park to the finish, where Claire was patiently waiting for me!
Claire had had a great run, thoroughly enjoying the route, it was her first time doing this ultra, but we both agreed we would do it again if it was run from Killin. We stopped at the Strathyre Inn on the way back to our hotel for our free soup and coffee and a catch up with a lot of the other runners. Once again, another great event from BaM Races, especially given the logistical nightmare of having to basically pick up the race and turn it through 180 degrees with just a few days to do so.
Photos by Richard O’Grady and James Day Pictures
Report by: Jenni Coelho