The tide is turning -------- Ceannabeinne 1841
This is a story covering 3 races in 4 weeks in the greatest country in the world. First stop we go up to Strathyre and into Rob Roy country for a race that is a mountain race as opposed to a hill race like the Two Breweries/Skyline. That was the chat before with Martin Hulme of Corstorphine. The race is called Stuc a’Chroin and is 5000 ft of climb over 14 miles. The really hard climb is Beinn Each which is an all 4’s job in places. The race has lots of marshals and is a good one to do if you want gain some experience and use different muscles. Some of the views are fantastic and the highlight this year was a 30m decent on my backside over the snow. Poor performance from myself on a hot sunny day in 3.22.33 and 12 minutes down on last year. My friend from my circuit class Gio McDonald who comes from Glencoe went under 3 hours which was an outstanding performance.
One week on and it is Edinburgh to North Berwick and thanks to big G it was my 7th in a row. Reports have been written on this event and it was great to see so many turn out from the club. Michelle, Peter and Tom got individual prizes and we managed both team prizes. The last 4 years has seen a sea change with the number of our runners now into double figures. A lot of us on the day underperformed and I think I was the pick - 23 mins down on my PB and getting a PW. Yes I was squealing at Musselburgh when Ricky and Keith passed me. I saw Bert at Prestongrange and asked if he was going to North Berwick, I thought I was going to speak to Hughie and thought it was wise to drop out. Bert said he was not going all the way and I thought I was going to be the Lantern Rouge. By Aberlady I had recovered and started to feel good and enjoyed it from there, the tide must have turned. Great route, great race and thanks to our supporters and marshals for their help and support; it certainly helped me. Chief Marshal Heneghan, John ‘Big Bad’ Forker, Drew, Roberto, Lynne, Gillian H, Bert, Kerry, Karen M, Lynn, Jim S, Iain Brodie, Gillian M, my brother and family. There will be others I have missed - sorry.
Bog Trot, Stuc and Edin to Nth Berwick all great races but I was at least 10% down in all of them. Talked to some in the club and the conclusion was I was knackered. Sometimes it is difficult to notice that one is farting against thunder so I decided to basically have two weeks rest before The Cape Wrath Marathon. One circuit class, one 40 min run in the two week build-up plus fish suppers and some Guinness.
Get your diet correct.I was camping the week before the race as I worked my way up from Applecross, Ullapool then to base camp for the race at Durness. There is a website www.capewrathchallenge.co.uk and it explains the events. A week of events for both the runner and non runner. A community working as one to put on a show. It deserves support. Regarding the marathon after reading Julia's report on Rotterdam and Peter's on London this course at Cape Wrath is a Vive Ecosse course. All tarmac cse that you can also do as a relay. Two from my circuits class were doing the relay 15.2 and 11 mile sections, another two the full marathon so we had 5 up in the North West. The course profile is on the web. It is 2415 ft of climb. It is all tarmac but the 22 miles on Cape Wrath does have a lot of grass up the middle which I used on the descents. The race starts in seeded batches with the fastest going last. I got the bus with the fast group after my sub 3 in La Rochelle. The bus leaves from the village hall and 10 mins later you are ready to cross by boat to Cape Wrath. You then run 11 miles to the lighthouse and 11 back to the boat. The clock is stopped, ferry across then you are back in a pack for the final 4.2 miles with race finishing at the village hall which is at the top of the 10th climb. It is an outstanding course and I put in one of my best performances to finish in 3.21.21. I was 4th out of 40 and my highest ever placing. Fiona Dixon was 2nd female (City of Edinburgh) so two from my circuit class got a trophy. The race was won by Stuart Simpson from Ochill Hill Runners and Stuart has represented Scotland at hill running and on his day is a class act. The winning time was 3.02. All you marathon runners should think about this one next year, by the end you will be a different person.
From Stornoway for the runners. I got inside and very interesting this rescue service machine.The title The Tide is Turning is taken from the wall of the village hall. Quite appropriate as comebacks are in fashion with Janet (2nd at Loch Leven well done), Bert and Jim Scott. Durness resisted the Highland Clearances. It became known as the Durness Riots and has its place in Scottish history with various websites having a note of this event in 1841. After searching official records it would appear 353 got booted out. There is still a community there (150 households and 350 hardy souls) and I spoke to one of the organisers Ronnie Lansley after the event. He said, “We got professionals in for the first two years, but we then saw we could run it ourselves better. We know how things work up here and who can do what. I am not a runner but I have heard it is a hard course.” Ronnie is from Edinburgh originally and maybe he should be in charge of the Forthside Half Marathon.
An inspiring course - thank you.
This was the view from the tent.
Looking at the Cape where 22 miles are run.
90 mins after the race a 6 mile hike as the warm down. That is a mouse in my mouth.
Give it a go.Report and photos Planet Henry.
