The Dunoon Hill Runners club was well represented at the inaugural Fort William Marathon on 26 July, with everyone completing successfully. For several of our runners, it was their first ever marathon. Congratulations to all!
Jamie, Lindsay, Roger, Jean, Michelle, Emmerson and Linda (LtoR)
At the start of this year my running goals were vague. I had some fuzzy, formless ideas about maybe revisiting races I’d done before and bettering my times, but was not giving serious thought to increasing race distance. I’m not sure why this was, other than I’d decided to be cautious and sensible and to know my limits. And then I got injured – a painful gluteal tendinopathy that saw me limping to Elaine at Cowal Physiotherapy for help. Being duly cautious and sensible, this downtime afforded me the perfect opportunity to focus on what I needed to do to strengthen up, rebuild slowly and … enter a marathon! I guess something about not being able to run made me want to run more, if you follow.
And so it seemed like a sign when Club Secretary, Kenny, posted up the 2015 Arran Marathon on the DHR Facebook page. It certainly got my attention as I read about this inaugural race, occurring in the midst of the Arran Man Triathlon, based in Lamlash in June. Images of beautiful seascapes and mountain backdrops, and me dashing through them, filled my mind as my finger hovered over the “Enter now” button. But no, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I thought. Instead, before making any rash commitments, I decided to embark upon a marathon training plan just to see how far I would get with it.
Time marched along and my weekly long runs became longer. I set myself checkpoints. Once I got to 18 miles, I would sign up. But I’d done 18 miles on trail – so maybe 18 miles on road then. Or maybe wait until 20 miles, and so on. I’d casually mentioned to a few fellow DHRs that I was thinking about entering. It wasn’t until Club Treasurer, Morven, subtly posted the link to the race entry form on my Facebook wall that I finally, at last, caved in and signed up. I’d also been following Kristine’s training for the Edinburgh Marathon and, upon seeing her success, felt inspired to bite the bullet.
I might go as far as to say that the week of the marathon was worse than the race itself. I’m not a control freak, but so many out-of-control variables were running circles around me, my head felt ready to explode. The longer range forecast had hinted at the possibility of a heatwave moving in (well, some high pressure at least) which would mean certain death (I do not do heat). Then the forecast changed to “unsettled” which (in my mind) meant the ferries would be off for sure. Then it was going to be calm. Then, nope, back to stormy. Sleep became elusive. The tiniest, barely-there, niggles during my tapered down short runs became potential stress fractures. The ferries threatened to strike. Other nagging doubts took hold: had I trained enough? Had I done enough yoga/strengthening? Had I eaten the right food? Dear god, I don’t remember doing a 16 mile long run – how could I miss that?! Etc.
As race day approached, I was left with one choice – to let go. Wouldn’t you know, I slept just fine, the weather was fine, the ferries were fine, and the planets aligned. It was all very simple now – just show up and run.
Race start at Lamlash
It was a very busy ferry over to Brodick as I tried to pick out my fellow marathoners from amongst the lycra clad, cleat-wearing hordes of cyclists. A bus awaited us at the ferry terminal but, as it was for runners only, I wasn’t the only person who opted to stick with their spouse/family and use public transport for the short journey to Lamlash. The sun came out from behind the clouds and I had a last fret over how roasty-toasty it might be out on the course. We registered on Lamlash Green and received a quick welcome talk from the event organiser wherein he declared that the course was all ready and “pancake flat”. I tried not to feel too self-conscious about wearing my hill runners vest. Being an inaugural event, it was a small field of under 50 people, with various running clubs represented.
It was interesting to note the reaction to my DHR vest from marshals and other runners. No longer am I asked about who this upstart new club is. Now I am informed of previous encounters with other DHRs who are apparently popping up all over the place (confirming that our plans for world domination are apace).
Lamlash was busy at times!
Emotions ran high as the countdown commenced (something about the start of a race makes you feel vulnerable), and we were off at 12.30 pm sharp. The route headed south before veering south-west and on to a clockwise loop through the lovely Arran countryside. High spirits and banter prevailed as we set out as a pack through back streets and farm yards. The tiniest couple of blips represented the only climbing as we ran partly on trail (as a DHR I was naturally all over this) then through more back streets to Lamlash Green before heading north-east for an out-and-back along the shore road. Helpful, cheery marshals directed us throughout the route and a feed station appeared just before the shore road petered out on to a beach trail.
Such a scenic route: Holy Isle backdrop
After a bit, we turned around and headed back to the starting point at Lamlash Green. Basically, this lap was repeated 3 more times, so we knew exactly what lay ahead. Alan was positioned on the green with my own fluids, gels and energy bar supplies, although I recall water and gels being offered by many a marshal too, including at the aid station also on the green.
Things became a little tougher on Lap 3. Little aches took hold and the doubting voices in my head grew louder.
Courtesy: The Oatmeal
Emotions returned. I became tearful at the blackbirds singing, at the lovely horse on the hill, the “Well done” greetings of passing fellow runners and the encouragement of the marshals. It was all too beautiful/awful. “Dig deep” became my mantra as I became aware of the fact that a few of the runners who had passed were actually lapping me. I then became aware of the appearance of a very different sort of runner on the course. The sleeveless tops, the helmet hair, the 1000 yard stares … it was the Ironman distance triathletes. Not content with running a marathon, they had preceded it with a 2.4 mile swim (starting at 6 am) and a 111 mile bike ride. If there is “magic in the misery” (to quote famous ultra-runner, Dean Karnazes), then this was flaming Disney World.
I soldiered on. A moment of transcendent bliss occurred upon Lap 3 at the shoreline feed station when the marshals coaxed me into sipping Coke. A sip became a chin-wiping guzzle – nectar of the gods!! It made me almost look forward to Lap 4 for my next slurp.
The finish line
I’d wondered how 4 laps would affect me psychologically, and I can say that the infamous 20 mile mark, when many a marathoner allegedly becomes derailed, was made easier by knowing that I simply had to get myself through one more circuit. I said my farewells and thank yous to the blackbirds, the horses, the tourists, the marshals as I went, had my last gulp of Coke and aimed for the finish line where hugs, relief and ecstasy (the feeling, that is) awaited!
My finish time was 4:31:26 – BUT the actual distance was 26.6 miles (the GPS watch wearers amongst us confirmed this). Importantly (not really), my 26.2 mile time was 4:28-ish. I came in in 25th place and fifth woman (I’m just about to Google if this might qualify for Boston …). The winners were Greenock Glenpark Harrier, Kevin O’Donoghue at 2:52:20, and Gael Riddle at 3:50:39.
A t-shirt was presented to all finishers, although there were no medals. I think the lack of medals is possibly slightly less of a surprise to triathletes than runners, when every egg and spoon racer gets one these days. Yes, I was a teeny bit disappointed, but it caused me to consider what really matters in a challenge such as this and it’s so much more than a bit of bling at the end. I am happy that the money was spent on the organisation of a wonderful event that I will never forget. I would anticipate that, if the Arran Man events return in the future, the numbers will only increase as word spreads of excellent races in an incredibly scenic location. I certainly hope it goes from strength to strength.
Now, a few days later, I thought I’d be wallowing in slothdom and relief, chuckling at the prospect of not having to run anywhere in particular any more, but instead I’m feeling a bit lost and bereft. Precisely 6 years ago (almost to the day), I was diagnosed with MS. At that point, it is safe to say that I didn’t envisage that I’d ever run a marathon. I am ecstatic to report that I now have – and I very much want to keep going. As I eye my old scribbled-on training plan and follow the DHR chat on the many forthcoming races, the same voice that told me to dig deep is now asking – could I do it all again?
Thank you to everyone who made it possible.
2015 Hoka Highland Fling – Team DHR
Big congratulations go out to all the Dunoon Hill Runners who took part in the 2015 Hoka Highland Fling on 25 April. Three DHRs completed the full 53 mile race in outstanding times – well done, Kevin Nairn, Lisa Marshall and David Wilson. Our two relay teams did exceptionally well too: Kenny Taylor, Michelle Cameron, Gail Ritchie, Linda Good, Lynda Nairn, Suzanne Longster, Elaine Graham and Clare McFadden – you can all take a bow! Thanks also to all the DHR supporters who showed up to provide encouragement, sustenance and medical assistance (!) on the day.
Race results can be found here.
DHR Team at Dunoon Ride and Run 2015
Dunoon Hill Runners club was well represented at the inaugural Dunoon Ride and Run event, held on Saturday 28 March 2015 and organised by PA23 BID – Destination Dunoon and No Fuss Events. In fairly atrocious conditions, the cyclists set out at 8 am to cover a challenging 31 mile route, before the run commenced just after 11 am. Thankfully, the torrential rain had lessened for the runners as they made their way through the 4 stages (and transitions) that firstly took them from the Argyll Gardens along Alexandra Parade and on to Hunters Quay Holiday Village. The next stage involved a muddy trail run through Kennel Wood, emerging at the Sandbank high road. It was then onwards to 2 speedy laps of Dunoon Stadium, before transitioning to Bishop’s Glen for the final stage that took the runners back to the centre of Dunoon.
Iain and Roger collect their medals, presented by Graeme Obree
DHR’s own Iain Cairns and Roger Stewart took first and second place respectively on the podium for the run portion of the event.
It was an excellent, well-organised event and it is to be hoped that this will be the first of many more to come!
The route came to approx 9.3 miles in total, with approx 6.7 miles of timed stages.
Iain Cairns and Roger Stewart, 1st and 2nd place!
I don’t ever imagine David and Morven Walsh envisaged seeing a mass of Dunoon Hill Runners vests racing across the Carnethy hills when they first entered this race back in 2012. Fast forward some 3 years later, twelve club runners adorned in the now familiar and recognisable red, yellow and black colours were seen racing across the five peaks of the iconic Carnethy 5 2015 hill race.
Five new faces to the race, Bobby, Bryan, Kevin, Kieron and Louise, along with “seasoned” Carnethians, David, Iain, Lisa, Morven, Richie and Ricky (supported by Lynda and family) lined up at the mass start. An expanse of rough, untouched bog-strewn fields sprawled out in front of them before the monstrous hills of Scald Law and Carnethy rose up dramatically from the ground to the heavens. As usual there was a fantastic buzz in the air as around 515 hardy fell runners chatted with excitement, occasionally being drowned out by the sound of bagpipes from a lone piper.
It wasn’t long before the chatter died to a nervous silence as the Chief Marshal gave the well-versed race brief and the distinct bang of the start gun went off! Change the shorts, vests and waist packs into kilts and claymores, one could easily have been re-enacting the Battle of Bannockburn and crying “Freedom!” as the runners set off with purpose towards the first of five tough climbs. The first climb, Scald Law, towering some 579m/1900ft above sea level, is guaranteed to have the calves screaming at you at some point on the ascent and it wasn’t long before the field of runners had filtered into what looked like an army of ants across the bare heather-laden hillside.
Over the 10k course, the ground, soft underfoot, uneven, peppered with ditches, streams, thick matted heather, bog, scree and mud, is a test for any runner. Add in a few wickedly steep descents and the legs soon feel like jelly! Thankfully, this year the course was free of snow and ice so there were fewer Torvill and Dean impressions. Four peaks completed, and just when you think the lungs or legs can’t take any more following a leg breaking descent stretching over a mile to near sea level, you are faced with one last thigh, calf and lung burning climb – Carnethy! At 573m/1900ft in height, it looks every bit as daunting as Scald Law and feels more like Kilimanjaro, yet this last climb has a rather nasty twist. As you reach the top with a sense of relief, up out of the hill ruptures another steep rise to the actual summit and you quickly realise that you are standing on a false summit … Yes I am confident that if ever there was a place to have a swear box, it would be at this point!
Once up and over, the horizon unfolds for miles and looking downwards you can make out the distinctive yellow and red Carnethy flags marking the finish. One last hair-raising, leg busting descent over heather that wants to grapple you to the ground, on to loose scree, then back on to the all familiar ankle-breaking field that we had raced across at the start, and the cheers quickly ring in the ears with fellow runners, supporters and marshals encouraging those tired legs to finish in near Usain Bolt style (well, ask Bryan about that one).
Twelve DHR runners, twelve DHR finishers, and fittingly David led the way for Dunoon finishing in a new PB of 1:07.16 (it would have been quicker except for a bog taking him out at the beginning!). Also worthy of noting, five others achieved PB’s. Ricky and Lisa took a huge chunk from theirs of 9 and 10 minutes respectively, Morven took 4 minutes off of her time from the previous year, and Richie and Iain also gained new records. Of the Dunoon Hill Runners that ran this for the first time, I am confident that continuing the same dedication you have all shown in 2014 and carrying it on into 2015, each one of you will achieve a new PB in 2016!
Well done everyone and I hope to see even more faces at next year’s race!!
Congratulations go to the 11 Dunoon Hill Runners who successfully completed the 2015 Carnethy 5 hill race on 14 February. Excellent work by all!
 2015 Carnethy 5 hill race |
 Some of the DHR team |
Stretching the limits of the title of “Summer League”, a crowd of Dunoon Hill Runners braved the very non-summery freezing rain for the final, handicap race of the 2014 season on Saturday 6 December. The course had been marked out in Glenkin and started with an uphill push on the trail that’s well-known to most DHR folks, before taking a sharp left into less familiar, and somewhat wilder, enjoyably hilly terrain.
Being a handicap race, runners set out at individual times which were based on their previous season’s performance (these had been carefully worked out by DHR committee members using advanced mathematical skills and a calculator). Inevitably, some runners were “caught” by others who had set out after them and hunted them down, but good-natured camaraderie prevailed. Competitors had been warned at the start to anticipate slippery conditions underfoot, but everyone made it back with no stumbles to report and full dignity intact.
Unfortunately, the persistent rain curtailed socialising afterwards, however, thanks go to Morven, Kirsty and Lynda for thrusting baked goodies into the hands of grateful runners. Thanks also go to Kenny and Ian for organising, and to Morven and Emma for marshalling.
Congratulations go to first male, John Colquhoun, and joint first females, Claire McFadden and Suzanne Longster.
DHR is pleased to release the final results of the Summer League 2014 [.xls file]. A big “well done!” goes to overall winner, Lisa Marshall.
Congratulations to all who have taken part and made this year such a tremendous success!
Team DHR (Jamie on phone to insurance)
“That’s not good.” That’s how our day began and were the words that Jamie uttered quietly after we had just ploughed into a dead deer in the middle of the road (well, its torso) en route to the Glenogle 33 Ultra race! 6:50 am, dark and with my head stuck in the kit bag, we took flight then landed with a loud thud … silence … then we limped to the side of the road. Ricky and Kevin were next to hit the deer, quickly followed by Ian and Lisa who by this time had avoided a hit. So there we were, 6 DHR’s standing at the side of the road looking anxiously at Jamie’s poor Audi. Ricky asked, “What’s supposed to be in there, dude?”, as he pointed a foot at the holes in the bumper. Jamie replied, ”The lights!!”
After a brief check, “Are we all okay?”, it was decided to call the insurance company en route and continue to the start line. It’s never dull with us lot! Off to register we go, the weather turning out much better than expected. At registration, we followed a stream of runners of all different shapes, sizes and compression gear. With numbers collected and pinned on, we were set – the Dunoon Hill Runners were ready for action. Because of the deer incident we didn’t have much time for pre-race nerves and all too soon we were ready to run. A brief but relaxed and informal talk by the organisers, some nervous laughter and it was time.
The Glenogle 33 Ultra is an extremely relaxed race. Due to the bad weather the days leading up to it, it had been decided to turn the race route round and start from Killin running to Strathyre then back. Jamie and I had learned a few lessons running the Kintyre Ultra and decided we didn’t need drop bags but just to carry enough of what we both use and would require. The marshals were fantastic and so supportive. We met up with Nikki, a fellow runner who we became friends with on the Kintyre run. After a quick hug and catch up, we were off. The route is mostly trail through forest with a long stretch on a viaduct; there is a middle loop which takes you on the quiet B roads at Lochearnhead. There are amazing properties on this part and we had much admiration for different houses (we even spotted a lovely intact Audi similar to the broken one we had left sitting on the road side a few hours earlier!).
Jamie and I continued our tootle. It was all new to me but Jamie had already run this race twice before. We played cat and mouse with a few runners and ultimately set out to enjoy the race and finish. About mile 28, at the last check point, we met up with David, Jean, Bethany and Aimee. A quick cup of tea and more hugs then we were off again. Jamie decided at mile 30 that he had whiplash!! (Such drama). He also nearly didn’t make it to the finish as, when running over the viaduct earlier and out of nowhere, he said, “I wonder how many people think you are my mum”. He must have been wishing to end his ultra racing career at this point!! (Only 8 years older, I am ). We think we ran our fastest mile about mile 31, as we overtook a poor runner who I am sure thought we had completely lost the plot as we tried out the “Ricky Reid downhill manoeuvre”, leaning forward, arms by our side shouting, “Wheeeeeeeeee …!”. Then we were back in Killen, crossing the bridge and heading to the finish. Once again, Jamie distracted me and sprinted to the finish but, as in normal race finishes for us, was only joking and waited as we crossed together. Welcomed by our families and fellow Dunoon Hill Runners, there was many hugs and a lot of support.
Morven and Jamie, happy to have finished
We had a fantastic run on the Glenogle 33 Ultra; it was full of beautiful scenery, excellent organisation and support from marshals and a fair share of other crazy runners. I have to say, we may not be the fastest runners in any race, but we love it. Finishing in a time of 6:42, we were delighted. Jamie has run this quicker on his own but he told me it was boring!! So I am just going to take his word for this. Fellow DHRs, Ian, Ricky and Kevin smashed the course in their fantastic fast times and did the club proud. It is an absolute honour for me to stand at any race start with these fabulous men and run the same race. I always feel a little emotional at the start and finish and would not be doing any of these races without the support and friendship we all have from our club. I also have to say I love running with Jamie. We have the maddest fun on all our races and really appreciate the fact we get to go off and have our ultra running adventures.
After all this excitement we had promised the children a Halloween party as we did not want them to miss out. So there we all were a few hours later, dressed in a variety of costumes and having our party faces decorated so expertly by little Rowan, not quite believing we had just run this race. To top it all, I won the lottery … all £25 which went towards a fantastic breakfast on the way home the next morning, the perfect finish to another Dunoon Hill Runner weekend away.
Ultra races may sound mind-boggling but, honestly, any one can run them. You train, you relax and set out on a new adventure, meeting great, like-minded runners on the way. It’s a great day out! Thank you everyone for sharing them with us, the next one is just round the corner!!!!!!
Morven & Jamie
PS: The update on the car repair bill … Jamie said it is quite DEER at £3,000 … “STAGGERING”, I replied! 🙂
Now in its fourth year, the Southside Six has become something of a Glasgow running institution. The race had intrigued me over the last few years as friends had raved about it. Previously I hadn’t managed to get around to getting a place (I’ve usually still been in my rest phase after a spring marathon – OK, 6 months is a long rest!). Anyway, those pesky friends – some runners and some serial volunteers – recommended that I apply earlier this year when entries went live. I duly followed tweets and Facebook updates in the weeks leading up to entry and quickly learned that the first challenge was to secure a coveted place on the start line. Entry banked, I was amazed to hear that the race had sold out in a matter of minutes – a testament to the reputation and loyal following the race organisers have gained in a few short years.
Fast forward several months and I found myself standing on the start line on Sunday ready to see more of the city than I’d seen in the previous 16 years of living in Glasgow … actually scrap that, the 28 mile Clyde Trail with Jack will still probably be the most I ever see, or want to see, of Glasgow in one day! Me, Jack and Clyde still have a real love hate relationship and it was the sight of the wooden Clyde mascot that welcomed me to the start line in Queens Park.
In essence the Southside Six is a tour of six parks in the Southside of the city (Queen’s, King’s, Linn, Rouken Glen, Pollock and Bellahouston Park). Coming in at 16 miles, the race is a great stepping stone for anyone considering a marathon and offers a good mix of road and trail running with equal measures of tarmac mud and puddles thrown in for good measure. A really well organised event, ridiculously cheap and soup and cakes at the finish line mean this is a race that I will definitely look to incorporate into next year’s calendar.
So, it all sounds too good to be true – well the truth is that the Southside Six is an incredibly challenging run. The golden boy, my pal Jack, said it was the hardest run he’s ever done (to be fair he’s never run one of Kirsty’s legendary uphill slogs in Dunoon but we’ll let that pass). This was a hard slog at times. Departing Queen’s Park (from the flagpole) the route passed downhill into Mount Florida with some hairy traffic dodging on the open roads. Shocked faces showed that other Garmin junkies had flown out the blocks far too fast on the early downhill section.
Climbing out of Mount Florida, the race heads towards King’s Park. Even this early in the race you are conscious that your goal time might need to be re-evaluated to take into account the hilliness of the course – I knew I shouldn’t have worn my Dunoon Hill Runner’s vest, people always think I am going to be good on the hills!
In each park your race number is adorned by happy stickering volunteers – there are six stickers in total, see the theme developing? This led to some hilarious clashes as some runners tried to be “stuck” on the run, not an approach I’d recommend and one that doesn’t permit a cheeky wee breather as you are issued with your sticker.
Leaving King’s Park there was a further ascent up to Linn Park. This was a new one for me but another really incredible green space in the heart of the city. One to visit again at a more leisurely pace in the future. Other than the loveliness my only other abiding memory of this section was the originally themed race feature of the staircase out of the park! The first of several on the route.
A long road section followed next through the leafy suburbs of the Southside and I was delighted to see my former colleague, Emma, a fellow runner who’s had a nasty spate of injuries this season, standing right on cue outside her house. When I say I saw Emma I mean I heard Emma. Man, that girl is enthusiastic. Like enthusiastic off the scale. I felt like Jess Ennis powering down the home straight in the Olympic Stadium. I did spot some of Emma’s more reserved and slightly embarrassed relatives cowering in her porch but she gave a real dose of encouragement early on in the course.
Before entering park 4 of 6 there was another steep climb, this time up the Ayr road. This was getting worse than one of Kirsty’s “small” hill runs where she promises it won’t be that hilly! Rather than miles I was calculating elevation profiles in my head and reckoned there couldn’t be much more climbing from this point onwards.
Back on the flat and going well, I was approaching work turf, Rouken Glen Park. This is where I train the pupils from Woodfarm High School on a Tuesday after work so I know this territory well. Rouken Glen is a great park for trail running and the kids at school enjoy running off the tarmac and getting wet and muddy – the parents who collect them probably don’t appreciate me sharing this passion as dirty trainers clamber into their cars. I really enjoyed the Rouken Glen and then Pollock Park section of the course, miles 8 through 12 by my reckoning. This was the part of the race I still felt quite strong and was well in the groove after a tricky opening few miles. The trail sections in both parks could be miles away from the hustle and bustle of Buchanan Street and the Highland cows set against the backdrop of Pollock House add a touch of Highland gravitas and class not normally associated with an “urban” road race.
Covered in mud, we emerged out of Pollock Park and crossed the M77 for the short transition to Bellahouston Park.
I’ll be honest, Bellahouston Park was rubbish. The race got pretty tough from this point on. To remain positive I got a nice photo in Bellahouston and not much else. Although I actually overtook a Hoka Fling wearing runner – one of those mythical creatures! Maybe Bellahouston wasn’t as bad as I thought! Twelve miles in though on a 16 miler is definitely the death zone. People are slowing and it’s important to keep the rhythm going. So the organisers try their best to accommodate you and put the sticker checkpoint at the highest point of the park, you guessed it – up a set of stairs. There’s something quite head lightening about running up a flight of stairs 11 miles in to a race and it definitely took a while to catch the breath.
The next road section saw the route head back for home turf and Queen’s Park. Loads of shouts for Dunoon (I will collect my royalties cheque for the PR at the Christmas Dinner) or was it ‘that goon’ helped to pass the final miles.
As we approached Queen’s Park I saw my old pal hiding behind the gate – back slightly turned as if he still suspected me of kidnapping his brother and was plotting to exact his revenge on me at any moment. The giant wooden Clyde! What should have been a welcome sight sent shivers down my spine as I thought about our 28 mile cross Glasgow Clyde and Seek adventure earlier this summer. Well this time he let me pass no bother but his revenge was hiding just around the corner. One final staircase where you expect to finish but is cruelly followed by a final climb to the top of Queen’s Park to finish the race in just a smidgen (official race term for 2 minutes) over the 2 hour mark.
Despite the hills and the toughness of the course I would definitely recommend the Southside Six to anyone who is looking to move up the distances on the roads and who likes to get value for money. Post race soup and home baking rounded off a really great event. The golden boy Jack even finished third. Maybe I won’t bring him to one of our races next year after all.
Now in its third year the ATR, organised by AdventureZone Scotland, is a 13.8 mile off road trail race. The route follows the historic Antonine Wall. Conveniently, the event starts and finishes at Croy railway station – a twenty-minute drive from Glasgow making it accessible by car and train.
This was my second time running the event. Last year I ran with some work colleagues and knew very little about what to expect. Fairly new to trail and hill running it was fair to say I was slightly apprehensive about what to expect. Standing there on the start line I was totally out of my comfort zone in my shiny new trail shoes which stood out like a sore thumb amongst the hordes of muddy and well trodden Salomons.
I start by mentioning last year as the ATR is a sort of starting point in my off-road running obsession. I remember the race well, particularly the fact that I exceeded my own pre-race expectations and that we exchanged positions for most of the race with a tattooed guy with an epic beard in Roman Gladiator sandals. I remember being in equal parts puzzled and curious about the guy with the distinctive appearance who was apparently breezing the race in sandals. I had read “Born to Run” whilst travelling that summer and knew a little about barefoot running, but it was a surprise to see sandals on what I expected to be a very rough and technical course.
Anyway fast forward twelve months and I’ve now run a number of off-road races, including the recent Glencoe Marathon. In fact this year I have run as many off-road miles as I have on the tarmac. I’ve also met the aforementioned bearded, tattooed and sandal-clad runner who is now well known to me as Graham Kelly. We’ve crossed paths at numerous races, while I’ve been out training hikes with some of my pupils and at this year’s London Marathon. As it turns out we are also both regular runners, and beer drinkers, with the Westies Cross Country Running Club in Glasgow.
So back to this year’s ATR race. It was run in fairly awful conditions with all 200 runners huddling under a family-sized gazebo pre-race to listen to the race briefing before setting off. The first two miles follow the golf course along a narrow path that does not permit passing. Remembering this from last year I tried to place myself in the pack but probably went about 20 places ahead of where I should be in a very strong field. So I found myself running too fast early on but it was difficult to fall back so I decided to ease back at mile three. This coincided with monsoon rain conditions that had me considering whether a walk back to the train station for an early bath would be an appropriate course of action.
Negative thoughts were buried to the back of the mind and I carried on. Thankfully the rain died away to a more gentle ‘lashing it down’. The first ten miles of the race are net downhill so it is easy to get carried away as you run through Kelvin Valley before approaching the town of Twechar. However any thoughts of speeding up were curtailed around mile 8 on the approach to Twechar by the 100 metre swim section – a new addition this year – thanks to the previously mentioned monsoon rain waters. Knee-deep wading at the foot of the valley gave a good chance to take a breath before the first climb up the forestry trail behind the town. This is the first of two small climbs on the route – cruelly both ascents are placed in the last few miles of the race.
A short descent follows the first climb before a steep climb up Croy Hill at mile 12. By this time I realised I was on track to match last year’s sub 2 hour finish, not bad considering Glencoe and the Cowalfest ‘mountain’ races had drained my legs in the last fortnight. I gleefully tore down the other side of Croy Hill and along the now swamp-like narrow trail at the golf course to finish in 1 hour 57. A good run in dreadful conditions. 13.8 miles is a real mind messer for the road running side of my brain and I again found the last half mile much tougher than it should have been due to my obsession with the magic numbers of 13.1 and 26.2.
Overall I really enjoyed the ATR and would happily recommend it to others. My now well trodden Salomons coped well. However, I’m not quite ready to run the race in a pair of sandals. Speaking of sandals, I bumped into Graham again at the end of this year’s race. He didn’t run in his sandals this year but being back at the ATR reminded me how my running tastes and preferences have changed over the last twelve months since my first visit to the Antonine Wall. Graham’s inspiration for ‘barefoot running’ comes from the Tarahumara. He has taken part in the Tarahumara Ultra Race outlined in the book “Born to Run”. Who knows, maybe one day the Dunoon Hill Runners vest will make an appearance there – I’m working on Lisa to see if Mexico can be considered as a honeymoon destination.
