Lighthouse 10km – 24/04/2016

 The Lighthouse 10k from Portmahomack to Tarbat Ness Lighthouse is an out and back race on quiet roads. There is also a 5k fun run and a 10k walk. It looks only 20 miles (if that) from Elgin as the crow flies but is 77 miles round the Moray Firth in Easter Ross, 9 miles east of Tain. It is in its 12th year and is a very scenic route along the Tarbat Ness peninsula.

I was keen to see if I could improve on my Buckie 10k PB on a non-windy course. I nearly didn’t go as I mistakenly looked at Monday’s weather on the BBC which had 40 to 50 mph northerly winds, 4 degrees and rain forecast. The forecast when I clicked the correct page was better – 10 degrees and sunny.

The run starts on the sea front with an immediate hill to slow you down before the route levels then descends slowly to the impressive lighthouse at half way. It was built in 1830 at a cost of £9361 by Robert Stevenson and is the 3rd tallest in Scotland at 53 metres tall.

The way back was tough with a steady incline to 8k then downhill to the finish with the last half kilometre being the fastest of the race. The spread was excellent with sandwiches and cakes a plenty. Trophies were presented to the first 3 men and ladies in the 10k (same for 5k) and everyone got medals. The race was won by Stan Mackenzie from Dingwall in 34:06. Catriona Fraser was first lady in 41:53. There was a free raffle which everyone put their numbers in for – about 20 prizes in all from fizz to bath salts via chocolate.

The facilities at Carnegie Hall are excellent with enough toilets and plenty of seats. The whole village appeared to be out cheering us on and the very few cars on the single track road gave us plenty of space. There were water stations at 2.5k, 5k and 7.5k.

I finished in 43:30 (a new PB) and was 13th, my highest placing ever in a race. There was 56 metres of elevation which is just a little more than Buckie. I’m hoping that on a flat course at Forres (18 metres elevation) in 2 weeks I’ll be able to push myself a little bit further.

I’d certainly do this race again. It may be quicker to get there by speedboat from Findhorn than round the road! I’d never heard of the place before the run. It is a beautiful village and worth a visit. The beaches are excellent and there is plenty of parking.

This is one of the Tain Runners races. The others are the Tain Gala 10k & fun run on Wednesday 29th June, the Highland Gathering Hill Race on Wednesday 10th August (did this last year – 260m ascent) and the 11 mile hill trail race in October or November (date TBC).