Highlander Mountain Marathon 2014

Mid way camp at Loch Ailort

My first mountain marathon, teaming with Eddie Balfour (experienced MMer) at this years Highlander event held around the Moidart area.

Competing in the A class (maximum distance and contour lines for your entry fee), the two day event was split into a 27Km (2200m ascent) day1 with mid camp at Loch Ailort and a 23Km (2000m ascent) day2 finishing back at Glenfinnan.

Day 1 - finishing time 8hrs30mins; position 15 of 21
Tough navigation early on in thick hill fog, but cleared spectacularly around mid day. I struggled around the 5hr mark (totally cooked !) before finding a bit energy later on. Spectacular scenery and views on some very rough ground

Day2 - finishing time 7hrs20mins; position 16 of 21
Fantastic sunny day with a nice breeze - very stiff knee from a slip on the Saturday so down to a very slow pace. Managed the hydration/nutrition better...and got a bit of sun burn !
Again, Spectacular scenery and views, and more very rough ground....

Overall - 15th in A-class, and 3rd A-class Male Vets (after some age related time adjustment jiggery pockery !)

Fantastic event - super mix of endurance, navigational challenge, team work, scenery, friendliness - great evening at mid way camp catching up with 'well-kent' faces and making a few new acquaintances...

Full results...

Eddie enjoying view west towards Skye

View down south down Loch Shiel

More young recruits to the hills excel in Fife

Four young Moorfoots had their first experience of a formal hill race today at the Lomonds Junior races on East Lomond near Falkland in Fife, not that we could see much due to the low cloud which reduced visibility to about 100m. But at least it wasn't windy and it was all smiles afterwards despite the tough hands-on-knees climb to the summit and fast slippy descent. (Maybe the free chocolate bar at the finish line had something to do with that!)

It was a 1-2-4 in the U13 girls race with Beth Hobbs home in a fantastic new course record time (by over 2 minutes!) of 12.20, Elena McGorum 2nd in 12.58, and wee Holly Hobbs having a tremendous run for 4th equal in 14.27. Corran Carrick-Anderson was 2nd home in the U13 boys race in 11.38 over the same course of c. 2.5km/100m, also well inside the previous course record.

The experienced Mairi Wallace (well she did five hill races last year!) was then second girl over the longer U15 course in 18.03, well over a minute faster than last year, just 30 seconds behind the winner and ahead of February's National cross-country champ.

Great runs by all.

Thanks to Fife AC for the race organisation.

Well Done Paul !

Another Moorfoot in  marathon action - this time Paul Nichol at the 118th Boston Marathon...

Moorfoot 1-2 at Hunters Bog Trot

No sign of the full results yet but brief news from Saturday's "world famous" Hunters Bog Trot in Holyrood Park was that Scout Adkin was 1st in the women's race and wee bro Jacob was 2nd in the men's race behind regular U20 rival Andrew Lawler. Young bucks to the fore.

London Marathon Report

A wonderful weekend in London last weekend, blessed by unseasonably warm Spring weather and unbelievable crowds lining the whole route.  It was my first London Marathon - courtesy of Moorfoots - and hopefully not the last.  Did my usual and went off too fast, finding myself at about 8 minute pace at the turn, but the combination of heat and lack of training over the last few weeks (torn muscle) took their toll on the last few miles from Canary Wharf.  Sustained though by the shouts of the crowd - whoever advised me to put my name on the running vest was quite right!

Anyway I finished in 3:48, actually a PW but frankly that didn't matter given the fantastic occasion.  At least my nightmare scenario of being passed by someone dressed as a banana on the home straight didn't happen - though I did cross the line 1 second behind the BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth!  Was running for the Scout Association so will apologise for the lack of a Moorfoots vest in the photo.....

Barry

Three Bridges Handicap Races Sun 4 May - no entry on the day

NB if you are planning to run the 3 Bridges handicap race on Sunday 4 May, whether the Youths race (1 lap/1.5miles) or Senior race (2 laps/3miles), entries must be made in advance no later than 24 April via Borders Athletics. See www.bordersathletics.co.uk for the BA entry booklet.  There is no entry on the day.
(Primary School races entry/selection via school.)

Remember too that there is the fun team race for any age which is the last race of the day at about 3.30pm over 1 lap (1.5 miles) and this IS enter on the day. Teams of four set off with fairly arbitrary handicaps. There is usually beer on offer for the first senior team and this often goes unclaimed! So c'mon you oldies. Who can catch the juniors?!

Well Done Barry !

Well done to Barry Hughes running in todays Virgin London Marathon...