Amy's Edinburgh Marathon Report - 27 May

A little belated but here's Amy Alcorn's report on her great performance at the Edinburgh Marathon at the end of May in some testing wet and windy conditions, where she had a fab run and recorded a time of 3h 26m 43s to meet her goal of sub 3h30:

Amy at the 2018 edition but such a great pic it needed to used again!

After being somewhat fleeced on the marathon bus from Straiton, on arriving in Edinburgh some 1.5 hours before the start, we went for a coffee in a dodgy wee cafe as my running partner (Piers) had heard coffee before a marathon was a good idea, and we were not taking the 'dont try anything new before a race' very seriously! Anyhow, it was all good and we burnt some pre race nerves drinking coffee and chatting to the local policemen and other marathon goers...

Anyhow, 10am was looming and it was seriously soggy and miserable, we crammed into our pen and got ready for the inevitable surge forward and walk to the start. As we all beeped our Garmins on the rain stopped and we were off down the bridges towards the mound, I was desperately trying to keep myself slow and steady, which meant checking my watch every 5 seconds, but was worth it to stop myself getting carried away as I did last year. As I reached the portrait gallery, my running partner over took and ran into the crowds, which was the last I saw of him all race...

I was loving the run at this point, and kept my pace steady and felt brilliant throughout Portobello and through to Musselburgh, at mile 9 ish I reached for the dates and vowed to eat 1 every 2 miles, which I did and it worked perfectly for me. Everything was smooth and enjoyable until leaving the estate on the switch back around 20ish miles when the wind hit me like a tornado, it actually felt like I was going backwards. I tried to tuck in behind anyone, but I was by this point overtaking everyone I saw so that didn't really work, but feeling of overtaking was awesome, and the sun was also coming out which was gorgeous. By the time I got to Musselburgh again I was feeling invincible, and happened to pass an ex-boyfriend who I'd not seen for 9 years who hi fived me with a big smile making me up my game and get my pace back on a wee bit.

By mile 25 I was elated and jubilant, grinning like a nutter, knowing it was all nearly over any that I would finish this race under my target time and not in any pain, I sprint finished and high fived every person I could on the way to the finish line. What a brilliant race, I was greeted by my running partner who had smashed his PB and beaten me (only his 2nd time in our history of racing together!) and I had not a single blister!

Loved it, way more than last year, and have been looking at more marathons ever since, I think London's calling...

St Boswells Wobbly Bridge Race Report

Gillian and Dean Carr, and Mike McGovern did the Wobbly bridge race in St Boswells on Sunday. Here's Dean's summary:

Mike was 3rd overall, Gillian 1st Female and I crawled in sometime later !!!

Despite the friendly name of the race its a pretty challenging riverside 8 mile trail run with lots of ups and downs !!!!. Free beer at the end though !!!! 
Results:https://www.webscorer.com/race?pid=1&raceid=183151

The Trotternish Trip

It’s a lang whang to The Isle of Skye and as with any road trip the car is loaded up with everything required - plus a few things that would just never get used.
Soon in to the six and a half hour trip, we have a mechanical issue and I am under the car, approaching the Queensferry Crossing, with a knife fixing the problem.

Job done. Colin works on his laptop ,as I drive and soon, we are at the Spean Bridge chippy – much looking forward to the whale of a fish, only to be disappointed with the tiddler and chips – changed hands we assume and no longer worth the visit. 

We arrive in at Torvaig Campsite, just outside Portree at around 9.20 to find it is FULL! I drive in and it is clearly half empty. I decide to head up to the owner’s house and ask if we can pitch out two tents.

We are met by a gruff - ‘Can I help you’? as the ‘manager’ meets us just outside his gate.

We mention the 6-and-a-half-hour drive and the desire to pitch our tents. ‘We were full at 8.00 tonight’ is the response (clearly an issue of how you describe your glass) The campsite to us was half-empty…We are advised to go to Sligachan – 9 miles away. Not sure how difficult it would have been to say ‘£18 quid – pitch there’ – Could have been done in 4 words. We are pretty much encouraged off the grounds. 

However, he probably did us a favour - by rough camping for free – we have the pleasure of spending the site fees on beer. Not what I would describe as ‘Island Hospitality’

We have a decent pitch down by the bay and get a reasonable night’s sleep. Registration opens at 9.00 and we are there, with kit checked and maps marked.

It’s a rickety drive up the one-way tracks to Flodigarry and it looks as if the clag won’t lift for a long time to come. Navigational skills required! You can use GPX/Mobile phones in an emergency situation. It will later become clear that this IS an emergency situation. I have no GPX and my phone is charging on the front seat of my car…Oh well…

The Ridge on a clear day

53 runners are given the off and as we reach the top of the Quiraing visibility is reducing. On the descent to the Quiraing car park, it’s difficult to see beyond 40 feet. A challenge indeed!

Eventually, the downhill track is crossed and it’s a good thrash down to the car park. Colin disappeared over the top of first summit and I don’t see him until a good while later. In fact, it’s difficult to see anyone further than several meters!

Some use analogue methods with maps and bearings and some use mobiles or GPX loaded watches.

I have no phone, GPX watch and my maps have blended into a bit of a Jackson Pollock with all the rain – must get waterproof version in future. 

So, mapless, I make it to CP4 by keeping the southerly wind in my face and finding a familiar fence line to follow. Conditions are appalling, no visibility, howling wind and rain – and the prospect of a 300-foot drop if it all goes pear shaped. This is the case for most of the run.

Some aimless wandering, and in the middle of all the clag, I meet up with a French runner. I ask if he knows our location. He shrugs. I am less than surprised. We climb, and climb, until eventually, I find the path again and am off.

Lost again, I descend and there in the distance, in a brief lifting of clag,  is what I believe to be the lump of a hill called Hartaval (just before the Stor) I aim for the base of this and am gutted to find (later) that it is Beinn an Righ. I contour this, through the saddle – looking for someone who could tell me ‘exactly’ where I was. I now suspect the hill I can see to the east is the Stor.

I spot a croft below Beinn a Chapiull and head for this.

I open the gate and approach the door. I knock and an elderly gentleman answers the door.

‘Sorry to bother you, is that The Stor over there? I ask.

‘Yes’. He looks at my drenched appearance.

‘You’ll be needing a cup of tea’, he says and leaves the door open and wanders off to put the kettle on. 

I accept his hospitality and am soon inside.

‘Just a quick black tea would be great’, I say. 

He says he doesn’t get many visitors.

He’s making venison stew for dinner – with fire-baked potatoes
.
15 minutes later, he has made me 2 cheese rolls, followed by a slice of Swiss Roll.

I mention the urgency. That I am in ‘a race’ and that my club mate (Colin) would probably be waiting at the finish line wondering where I was.

We talk about crofting, as he enjoys his stew.

By now, my chances of making CP6 and 7 have disappeared – but care has left me.

An hour later he has driven me round to the bottom of The Stor, as I have requested to ‘run in’ the last mile or so. We shake hands and part company.

The irascible ‘tent director’ at the campsite should look this chap up and ask him for lesson in hospitality.

A wee dash in at the end and it’s time to bundle into the sandwiches and cakes. Colin and I meet up in the fishing hut at the end – he has my car key – so we will be able to make the trip home (arriving back in Peebles at 1.30 a.m.)


Colin had a good run, considering, the lack of visibility and came in on 4 hours 28 mins.

My last tag was bagged at CP4 – so having missed the remainder – I finished without a time – although I ran a mile more than the race distance!

Bummer… but getting a time isn’t everything.


Big thanks Sarah and James Stephenson and all the marshals ….

(Mark, Dave, Heckie, Niall, Alasdair, Jordan, Steve, Phil, Neil, Bruce, David, Kirsty, Richard, Richard, Mandy, Alistair, Morag, Sam & Clara. – from club facebook page)

Colin's addition:

What a trip and what an experience - without doubt the hardest hill race I’ve ever done - not because of the 19 miles and 6,000ft ascent but because of the conditions - with the wind constantly battering and bouts of rain and drizzle I got increasing cold until I stopped for a few minutes halfway to get all my kit on and then it was all about just getting to the end and finishing. I had to be so careful with the navigation as with the cloud down visibility was about 20-30m. My map and compass didn't leave my hands for the 2nd half and down to a snails pace taking bearings - even then I ended doing an extra 2 miles detouring getting lost and finding myself. 

A bit of an eye-opener as I've always considered myself a strong navigator and I'll never underestimate a hill race again. To be honest I was seriously relieved when the race organiser picked up the message that Alan was safe and well - I knew then I would be able to rib him properly! What Alan didn't say is that he picked up a nice souvenir for his troubles after wrestling with a stag - see photo!

Alan is kind to say I had a good run - although so many people went wrong it relatively wasn't too bad 53 started, 44 finished alot dropping out a the halfway marshall point. Still about 40 mins slower than I would expected compared to other runners I recognise from last years results. This years results are here: https://www.webscorer.com/race?pid=1&raceid=183032  

I feel like I have unfinished business with this one now!

Reunited with Alan at the finish

Clouds at 400m

'Wild Camping'!!

Road trip fun before we'd even got over the Forth!

Ross Grieve at the Hardmoors 110 mile Ultramarathon

Ross Grieve was running a very very long way this weekend with a simply unbelieveable run (and he never seems to stop smiling)!

Here's how the event website describes the race: https://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/hardmoors-110/

The Hardmoors 110 Ultramarathon follows the dramatic Cleveland Way National Trail encircling the North York Moors and the Cleveland Heritage coastline.
Commencing in Filey, competitors will have a time limit of 36 hours to complete the 110 mile single stage trail race, following the stunning Cleveland Heritage coastline visiting the seaside resort of Scarborough, the old smuggling town of Robin Hood’s Bay, Dracula’s Whitby, Staithes, Runswick Bay and Saltburn, before passing through the beautiful Cleveland Hills and the North York Moors  before finishing in the market town of Helmsley

Ross' Report:
Another plug for Moorfoots in the ultra scene and a wee one for me ( quite enjoying my wee string of vet 50 podiums!!)

Anyway -  came 5th overall ( 4th male , missing podium by 22 mins…..ach!) and 1st vet 50 on the Hardmoors 110 this weekend, coming in on 25hrs and 43 mins  – a gruelling 112 miles and 6000m elevation gain on the Cleveland  Way.

I’m delighted again and very curious to know what might have happened, as I lost 20 minutes going slightly off route with about 20 miles to go….and went on to  gain on the  3rd place finisher !! Made for an exciting ending to watch on live tracking .

It was a great weekend away . I had my family and two other families supporting me . Jackie, my wife, was key support driver  and logistics person ( all I needed to do was run) getting me to Filey for  an 8am Sat . Kids were a blast, ringing cow bells and generally being really excited to be included at Saltburn ( half way mark) then at Helmsley for the finish ( I love the photos attached) . 3 support runners (2 Dad’s and a mum) getting me through the night section and onto the finish at Helmsley at 9.45am Sun   -  I basically just handed over my brain and did what I was told  -  “run now, hike this bit, eat that, drink this….ok”

All good fun

Oh….. and 6 lbs lighter !

Ross

Robert Wilson runs Kirkcudbright Half Marathon

Robert was busy having another good run, this time in Dumfries and Galloway. Well done. Here's his report:

I travelled down to Kirkcudbright to run their annual half marathon on Saturday morning. This year there was a change of route to try and avoid running the last three miles on the main road in to town. Overall it felt as if the new route was better, there was a steep uphill after 3 miles and then you gradually made your way back down to the river Dee for the final push to the finish. I certainly benefited from my recent marathon training and posted my best time (1:41:18) for a half for many years – time to quit while you’re ahead I hear you say!

The results can be found here;

http://whatsmytimeresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=17047&RId=194

Robert in the pack just after the start

Roslin ‘Scurry along the Esk’ trail race, Saturday 18th May

Mike McGovern and Colin Williams took part in the inaugural ‘Scurry along the Esk’ trail race on Saturday 18th May.

There were two distances to choice from 10 or 15 mile:

The 10 mile route is a fast and relatively flat Scurry from the start up from Roslin Glen Country Park along the beautiful Esk to Penicuik and back with the 15 mile route adding in a scenic and more adventurous undulating 5 mile trail loop within the Penicuik estate. The routes are shown below

10 mile - https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4905926.html

15 mile - https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4905652.html

After a glorious week it was drizzly for the race but a lovely route none the less, even after the shock of descending into Roslin Glen and climbing 72 steps out the other side before you got to the disused railway!

Mike and Colin both had good runs – Mike was 2^nd in 10 miler and 1^st M40, while Colin was 3^rd in the 15 mile and first M40 too, although 10 mins behind the winner! The fields were pretty small as it’s a busy time of the year with about 40 runners in each distance.

A big thank you to the marshals out and organisers. It only took 30 mins to get to so maybe one to get on the list for next year.

Full results can be found here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1muStMelt50yaabXXyGfsgltGBJez9Y9B