This is a race that I’ve done twice before, it’s a lovely route taking you out of Tain, about halfway up Tain Hill, then undulating round it, and a mile tarmac dash downhill to the finish. Tain Map
Helen Low joined me this year, and I felt my ears burning a few times! There has been quite a bit of rain in the area over the last couple of weeks, which made the course considerably more erm, boggy and muddy and manky, than it has been on previous occasions. As anyone who knows Helen, she’s not the greatest fan of mud. However, once she got through the first three miles of uphill mud, apparently she was cackling away merrily as she made her way round the hill through the, in places, shin deep mud!
As ever the event ran very smoothly and the marshalls were lovely. This is a most civilised trail race, with mile markers and water stations which is quite unusual for this type of event. And, most importantly of all, there was soup, sandwiches and plentiful home bakes to be had at a local hostelry where the prize giving was held. Booty included a miniature of Glenmorangie which is the local distillery.
Helen had a really good race, in addition to becoming a mud lover, she came fifth lady, so netting herself a Tain Pottery mug, specially designed for the race. As for me? Well, I came last the other two times I did this race, and managed to make it a hat trick!
Report by: Jenni Coelho