Barra Half – Heb3 round IV, 4/07/09
This was the tenth running of the Barrathon; the half marathon round the perimeter of one of the prettier of the Outer Hebrides. It has to be a special weekend to justify the 3hr drive and 5hr ferry (up on Friday and reversed on Sunday) and largely due to Katie the race director, and an unusually sunny Barra, it was.
This was my fourth Barrathon and the best so far. Richard drove Ben and myself up to Oban where we caught the ferry over to the island arriving to a misty Friday evening in Castlebay. Richard prefers concrete to canvas and drove off to his hotel after depositing us near our proposed campsite round the eastern peninsula this year. We didn't want to upset the locals over at the hospital where last year the informal campsite had come to their attention. This year's wild camping was far enough away from town to feel wild and remote, but close enough to walk along to the race start the following morning.
Our facilities were en suiteWe had hooked up with Davie Hearn, a friend from past Heb3s and although 69 has the outlook of a twenty year old, and an enthusiasm for “tonic” wines, long distance hikes, motorbikes and skinny dipping. Basically a nutter. He chose the team name “Portobello and Trailer” himself being the trailer.
Castlebay gets its name from ...well guess.When entering the race you are required to estimate your finish time. I knew this would then be posted for all to have a good scoff at, near the start, so estimated a conservative 1.25. This may seem far too modest but I ran 1.27 here a few years ago into a fierce wind with horizontal rain so felt better safe than sorry. The course is also considerably undulating with a mile long 350 ft climb at mile 10 that sticks in the memory. A couple of years ago I chased Ivor up this hill only to watch him run away while my legs turned to jelly.
Friday night and after we had cups of tea and hot chocolate in the bar (the barmaid did well to disguise any thoughts along the lines of “a bunch of gays”) we retired about 11pm to the campsite. I walked along the shore taking photos as the evening was delightful.
Nearly midnight.
Camera shake deliberate - honest!As we warmed up near the start line more and yet more Edinburgh AC appeared. The last few years Porty have dominated and won the team prize. This year an email had gone round EAC targeting Barra and an alarmingly strong team looked like spoiling our fun. One of their number said something cheeky to Ben as we waited to be set off along the lines of “we could have settled this at the meadows!”
Katie MacNeilAfter a brief speech including a memorable line about the priest pushing his horn to start the race we were off. Ben and I had discussed strategies and whether bolting to the front was a good idea or not. It is downhill to start with and I have to work hard not to drift to the front. However Ben was up for it and led us down the road for a while. After a mile (5.40) the lead group was Graham (EAC), Ben, Robbie (?)(unattached) and myself. Hadn't seen Robbie before and luckily I hadn't seen his estimate of 1.17. Nor Graham's of 1.15. Otherwise I would have felt a bit foolish overtaking them and Ben about mile 2 or 3 and taking the lead for a bit. With the wind pushing us along I was feeling great and knew it wouldn't last once we got round the corner into the headwind so I was just making hay while the sun shone.
Davie and myself after the race.Sure enough Graham and Robbie went past up the incline through miles 5 and 6 though worryingly no Ben. He had been injured and unable to run Skye and I hoped he wasn't going to fail us here. Graham tested out the competition, pulling away from number two who made no great effort to match his pace. About mile 6 / 7 I noticed that Number 2 was drifting back towards me and just at that point heard Ben rallying immediately behind. He went past like a train and we both said in unison “let's get him.” Ducking in behind Ben to avoid the worst of the wind which was now in our faces I upped my pace and was gasping with the effort however we closed down Number 2 and went past him like he was standing still. I didn't look back for a mile or so by which time he had disappeared from the landscape. Ben was charging on and I knew I wouldn't be able to stay with him once we reached the dreaded hill at 10. We caught occasional glimpses of Number 1 way ahead but he was too far to catch. The support round this long twisting road was terrific although sparse. Folk would come to the end of their gardens to cheer and applaud and it gave you a real lift. I was very pleased being in third place with no competition visible knowing if I could hold it together on the big hill I would remain ahead of all but one of the EAC competition, something that had seemed most unlikely on the start line.
Ben pulled away at mile 10 and made a good job of the hill while I dug in and watched him gain maybe a minute. I was checking over my shoulder but there were no threats. Down the other side and into town with just one last killer short hill before the downhill sprint past the community hall and the finish line. A medal from the priest, a cup of orange and a very happy result. (Course pb for me.) The next 3 in were all EAC and our team hopes faded. “Number 2” eventually appeared more than 10 minutes adrift of his 1.17 previous half and estimated time. He was unable to explain the fade and was last heard speaking about taking up golf.
Richard finished 13th and 5 mins up on his best Barra previous with a strong 1.30. He was pleased to win the race between himself and me with camera, to the finish line. He was also “first lady” finishing 4 places ahead of the first woman - Marietta – wife of the first man. Doubly impressive as they had a toddler with them.
The important part.After cheering in the runners and having a cool down I went for a few lengths of the pool, though stopped when I realised I was inadvertently racing another swimmer. That caffeine drink doesn't know when to draw the line. Then onto the highlight of the weekend – the legendary post-race buffet. Two tables heaving with the best seafood in the world (followed by trifle and/or fruit and cake). I imagine this is one of the reasons the race entries fill up so quickly.
Our campsiteDuring the day the weather was constantly changing. From mild and sunny while I was running, the clouds then disappeared and the runners taking more than 1.30 got a bit of a toasting. It made sitting around afterwards very pleasant. But by the time we had finished prizegiving (Ben 2nd overall, myself 1st vet, and the three of us 2nd team) we returned to camp in a light drizzle. (2nd team prize was a case of Stella - a more generous offering than many 1st team prizes.)
Jim Bruce (head honcho of the Heb3 series) gave a splendid impromptu speech after the prizes to mark the 10th running of the Barrathon, outlining its highlights and did a presentation to Katie.
Brrrr.Meanwhile back at camp while we were stashing away our goodies (incl. 10th running pottery Quaich and Barra shaped medal for all runners) I heard a grunting from outside the tent and feared the worst. It was as suspected, Davie getting into the water for a swim. Reluctant to be shown up by a 69 year old I knew I would have to follow suit and sullenly clambered over the seaweedy rocks to immerse myself in the tepid waters, the air going blue with expletives. Ben joined in making a high pitched piping noise as the water crept up to his waist. That must have attracted a seal which appeared to see what all the kerfuffle was about. Davie wound us up about the potential of seals being territorial and what with the rain now beginning in earnest and my teeth chattering I vacated the water which was not in any way warm or pleasant and crawled into my tent to lie shivering amongst my sleeping bag. From here I drifted off into a light sleep until I heard Ben getting ready to meet Richard at the appointed 7pm at Castlebay Hotel where we had booked a table.
On the way into town a shout went up for Portobello and we went over to a camper parked beside the council skip. It was Ross of SRAC and his pal Bom who were celebrating Bom's recent 50th with a bottle of Mortlach sherry casked whisky that was four times the price of any I'd ever tasted and about 10 times as good.
This was greatly restorative and would bolster us for the meal at Castlebay Hotel where although the food was really tasty, the service (provided by charming but inept teenagers) would have made Basil Fawlty blush.
We popped into the ceilidh to pick up our race reports. Every runner is given a bound printed 25 page document detailing the race results including an Age Grading – how you scored according to your age expectation. This has more appeal for those of senior years as some move upwards (to second place, hurray!) and others (BK) move downwards (to 11th!). (Can't have been trying hard enough.) The ceilidh was mobbed however and so Ben, Davie and I (a bit wearied from the day) went back through town to have a nightcap sitting outside the pub before returning to our tents.
Seen from the ferry home
Richard, ever the complete gentleman, collected us from the campsite at 8.30am and we drove onto the ferry and then home from Oban for about 7pm. Almost needed another weekend to recover from this one. Harris Half (the Heb3 conclusion) this coming weekend.
Looking at these photos I am reminded that these Heb3 events are so much more than a long haul to a windy outpost; the Barrathon weekend was a complete joy, an adventure, a very well organised race and a chance to meet up with friends from previous years. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Report and Photos pb, Team photo Richard of EAC
Results and Barrathon Website
