Falkland Trail Race 16/12/06
Wonderful Fife AC! They put on dozens of races and make it look easy. And the few that I have done are great. Saturday was the Falkland Trail Race which had been postponed from earlier in the year and replaced the Pitmedden Forest Race. It was, however, a very similar beast. 6 miles of undulating off-road joy along forestry trails on the lower slopes of the Lomond Hills. After the first couple of hundred yards of tarmac it was traffic free along ferny piney watery tracks. Difficult to know exactly what shoes to wear - I noticed a lot of Swoops, but also some racing flats and at the other end Walshes and Inov8s. Whatever you wore (I wore Walshes) they would become appropriate along different stretches. On the tarmac and flat firm trails I was wondering if road shoes wouldn't have been better, but then we hit patches of mud and soft ground and I was glad of the extra grip. I think the route utilises a similar stretch of trails as the last leg of the Devil's Burden Relay Race in February.
We set off at a good stiff pace and having warmed up on the first few hundred yards I knew it was going to be up-hill for a while. The adrenalin carries you up to the turn off where the path continues to rise but at a more sedate incline and becomes grassy. Folk shift about on the track running in the wheel grooves, then on the centre section, looking for firm ground. Julia had been alongside for a while but dropped back. After the first mile we begin to settle into packs. Then the trail turns from grass to compressed cinder/gravel-path and starts to undulate and snake round the hillside. You can't see round the next corner but it all comes thick and fast as the up-hillers have the advantage one moment, then a steep descent favours the downhill guys. However on the outward leg there is more ascent than descent. Marshals stand at every turn which is good of them as it is cold weather for hanging around. Also there are flour markings at major junctions and the race is too short to lose sight of the runner ahead.
Richard gives the field a sporting chance.There are no mile markers so I look at my watch to judge when we are close to the half way mark. Sure enough about 18 mins we pass a lady with sleigh bells (or did my oxygen depleted brain imagine that?) then swoop down a big descent for quite some way. I have been swapping places with the same four guys every time we go up then down but I reckon I can keep them behind me in the second half. At the bottom of the long tree-lined crescent we are marshalled right, up an off-road choppy single-track that seems to go for a long time and climbs back up to the trail where the lady with the bells says encouraging things as we gasp out onto the flat and try to get back up to speed; heading back the way we came. 23 mins. I begin to target the guy ahead and every descent pick off another one or 2. There are some quite steep downhills and as legs tire they become more hazardous. Glad of the Walshes. Eventually we get back onto the grass tractor tracks and for the first time since the turn I drop a couple of places. The first goes by and I say “welldo...” He replies “tha...” Then another goes by and although I am asking my legs to go flat out for what must be the last half mile they refuse to catch the 2 ahead. We hit the tarmac and the pace picks up to a frantic, sorry a measured, sprint along, turn, final downhill straight, try not to drop any more places, cross the line..... and relax. Andrew takes photos as Julia comes in strongly, then Richard zooms in gaining places in the last few yards, then Mary arrives, fairly stomping down the home straight. Tony comes in looking very focussed but once over the line is all smiles and full of good cheer.
Just time for one more scalp....
No more Mr. Nice Guy
A very rare sighting of Off-Road Tony on (or just above) Tarmac.Great weather, great course, back to the village hall for free spread of soup, tea, buns, cakes, homebakes and a swift and v. generous prizegiving. Julia is first lady, miles ahead of number 2. Results on the www before 6pm!
The only way this race could be improved is if they taxied you home and cooked your dinner while rubbing your tired feet. Another excellent performance Fife AC.
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Photos Peter, Mary and Andrew Henderson (action shots)
Full results here
