team photo: Kel Marcus
squashed in to Hallhill, Nick and Stuart
I really like this race. It has taken an age to write it up because I have been working like a dog since then and am clearly not used to hard work after a Summer of Skive (and butterflies.) This race (in 2000) was about the second time in my life I pinned on a number and ran with a load of other runners, over a varied course of roads, road covered hills, grass- and crop-covered hills and field perimeters. We had gone along because our pal Cliffy said it was good fun. We would spend our Friday evenings down Alien Rock climbing the walls there. I had been running for a short time and felt intrigued by the notion of a race. Mary and I had done Arran Half Marathon together, running shoulder to shoulder for the first and last time in a race, so we would go at our own paces for this, which was sponsored by British Energy (Torness), and I still have the medal to prove it.
It was slightly different course but hasn't changed that much. It still climbs up to Doon Hill then returns. And is just shy of 10 miles. It was a club champs race but I went along because it is a fun race. The weather was ideal racing weather: bright sunshine but cold. I wore my lightest gloves and carried the camera. The B camera, as we had to scale a couple of gates and it might get clunked off the bars mid-clamber.
Stuart has used, in previous years, various instruments of the percussion family to start this race. Memorably one year, a large rat trap. This year it was just a whistle. It worked fine and we set off at a decent pace through the houses, each turn well marshalled. A group of 3 or 4 set off at the front and I restrained myself, knowing the first half steadily climbs and there is plenty time to get warmed up. I spent a lot of the first half close to Darren from Moorfoots. And also Stewart from Porty though he steadily moved ahead after we went off-road.
Darren
Stewart
Tunnel under the A1 or near death experience?
After the tunnel you climb up a rise and run on trails past some trees. There are many Speckled Wood butterflies around here but I was too busy to look today and instead focussed on trying to stay with the runners up ahead. They nearly took a wrong line through the field despite a massive arrow on a sign on the left, and the first 2(?) had to come back over having headed off right. This bunched the top 5 or so, which now included Stewart. As the ground got steeper they increased their lead. Despite this (or maybe because of it) I felt fine. I knew there was a hellish hill coming up and I was mustering the troops for it.
Thanks Brian, Theresa and Jasmine, pointing the way up the dreaded hill!
arrrgghhhh
at the top Sandy!
(having technical probs with camera)
I was quite pleased with the way I trundled up the first part of the hill. It turns the corner and you get something of a breather while still climbing for another long stretch. I was still powering up on coffee fumes and felt if I could just stay ahead of Darren to the top, I might well cross the line ahead of him. He ran just near my shoulder for the longest time and was the stick, to the carrot of the group ahead. Who have disappeared in the dip in the above photo, but were still in sight on the longer straight bits.
It was a blessed relief to get into the field, knowing a bit more and we would be past the worst of the up-hilly bits. I think it was 5.3 miles before we began the descent on this long fast downhill sprinkled with large chuckies of gravel that made me glad I was wearing Hokas. At long last I began to put a few yards between me and Darren, but it was not many.
I was sorry the farmer had dispatched the tree trunk that lay across the path here. It would have made the run a bit more cross country. Actually I wasn't that sorry at that moment as I was trying to zoom downhill as fast as possible and began to catch glimpses of the guy up ahead. I was fairly sure I would catch him before the line. (Spoiler alert, didn't!) Nice views out to the Bass Rock etc though you really didn't want to take your peepers off the trail as there were a selection of rocks and tripping stuff to catch the unwary.
so close
Anne!
This used to be a terrible and lumpy traverse of the top of a field. It is now much flatter and easier going. There was no marshal at the other end but there was another huge arrow to leave no doubt for those not familiar with the course.
Back down the road to the A1 underpass
David!
Glad to hear the 9 mile bleep just before here. Also glad there was nobody right on my tail. A few years ago (2013?) Michael F hounded me all the way to the finish. It made for a much faster time but I prefer the not-being-chased-to-the-line scenario. Less than 20s ahead of DD.
Big thanks to Nick, Stuart and all Dunbar marshals and helpers. This is a great event and a testing but fun route. There are too few 10milers about. It is a good distance. 3 miles less painful than a half and nice to have some challenging terrain and a bit of variety of texture. It is neither a hill race nor a road race but the best of both those worlds. Mary really enjoyed it too. Her blog here. And good prizes! Cash for age group prize and box (each!) of Stella for team prize with Stewart and David. And a good hot shower after the race (although Mary said in her changing room the showers had gone cold.) Highly recommended!
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