Isle of Coll Treasure Chase 25/08/07
Ben enjoying his second beer whilst Richard struggles on*Two years ago I'd come 10th in what had been my third ever half, setting a new pb in the process. Ok there were only 25 runners, and the younger locals ran in drag, but..... I gave a lift to an old codger on the way home, who turned out to be the Heb 3's Jim Bruce, who spent the drive back convincing me that joining a running club was the thing to do, and so I became a porty.... This time I felt I might be in with a chance of a place, and did my best to convince the rest of the club to stay away to improve my chances.
Coll is a lovely island - there is nothing to do but wander along beautiful empty beaches, watching the birds, the seals and the sheep. With a population of around 200, coping with 90 runners and families is a challenge. There is an excellent hotel for food, but you pretty much have to camp. And the ferries are pretty anti-social - I caught the 6 am one on the Friday, but several runners reported having left home at 2 or 3 am to catch the 7 am ferry on race day. There was a 5 and 10k option too, so about 60 of us lined up for the half. The course is pretty much once round the middle bit of the island, on road except for a mile of sandy track just past half way. First half felt largely uphill, middle bit was "undulating" with lots of twists and turns, and the last bit felt flat and fast. There were friendly marshals everywhere, 12 water stations and the few locals not involved were cheering at their gates (and willing to allow runners to visit their loos!).
I started about middle of the pack - in the first mile enjoying the honour of briefly running alongside ex Scotland Rugby Captain Rob Wainwright (who told me the first running of the race had had whisky at all of the "water" stations!). Ben seemed to be off very fast, opening a 50 yard gap. Mile 2 was a long pull up hill, with a group of 3 working together to catch Ben very visible in the distance. Last I'd see of them. By mile 3 I'd got through those who'd started too fast, but the hills and into the wind made it feel hard work. Oh, and the tar on the road was melting, a bit like running through chewing gum...
By mile 4 a friendly local was running alongside chatting, apparently not making much effort, and this helped drive me on. We half raced half worked together until about mile 8, when he stopped at his front door for a chat with the family! From mile 5 things had got processional - I could only see 3 runners in front - including 2nd and 3rd lady who were nip and tuck for miles - and no one else came up from behind. The hills and wind had meant I'd had a slow first half, reaching 8 miles in 1:02. Then came the sandy mile - nothing like running on a beach, but enough to slow down a tad, and out of the wind amidst the dunes.
Perhaps marathon training is beginning to pay off, because once over the climbs to get away from the sand, I started to feel strong again. I caught 3rd lady and some guy with a stitch around mile 10, and felt I had a chance at catching 2nd lady and the chap in front of her in the last two miles. That's the limit of my ambition though - the next runner is a further 7 minutes up the track! There were some great views on this stretch - including the church tower marking the approach of the finish - which helps distract me and keep going: but the two in front didn't weaken and I never get close. Down a steep hill into the village, round a tight 270 turn, and time for a last breather before the sprint finish. Round a last cattle grid, and the end comes in sight. I speed up, but the "crowd" is making lots of noise. Someone must be trying to catch me on the line. To look would show weakness, so I go flat out, but the screaming just gets louder. Fortunately it turns out the local lasses are simply encouraging everyone home this way. The 5k and 10k start at the same times as the half, and run to the same finish, so all their runners are welcoming us home. Ben, who has come third, and the other front runners even manage to catch some of the 10kers!
There is an excellent goody bag, a barbeque, and eventually a ceilidh - where my partners and I invent an entirely new form of the eightsome reel. The race's rather odd name comes from it being an attempt to raise money for a new village hall - but I can't see how they make any money at all: except perhaps from the raffle, where I once again fail to win a prize. Highly recommended for those who like the Western Isles and can spare the three days to get there and back. The only downsides were that the mile markers weren't very accurate, and the race was a little short - my garmin made it 12.75 miles, Ben's 12.8 - but at least that makes for good times!
Ben 3rd 1:19:16
Richard 11th 1:35:33Top Photo from Coll Half website here where there are hundreds more pics recording the day, and results.
*Richard provided this caption.Other photos Alison Wilkie (Mrs. Ben), and Ben
NEW photos
There was a rude Helensburgh suggestion that Ben's anguish was due to trailing their v50 star!
Those cheeky HelensburgersPhotos Hendersons
