Forfar Multi Terrain Half Marathon 3/02/08
BeforeScott drove myself and Richard up the road to Forfar. We set off a bit early and arrived just as the organisers were setting up registration. I hadn't run this one before (this was the third year of the race) and had noted the warning on the website stating that due to the arduous nature of the course it was not recommended for novices. Great stuff - bring it on.
Within the first half mile we were already in ankle deep muddy water. The first couple of miles skirted round Forfar Loch on cinder paths and tarmac. I started in 6th place doing the first mile in about 6 minutes dropping to 12th quickly as the second pack went past. Second mile also fairly quick but I could feel I was slowing as we did the third mile out the exposed Brechin Road before turning right along a farmers track for the fourth mile which was hard going. The track was awash with up-to-shin-deep puddles. Initially I dodged about looking for the easiest route: sometimes sticking to the raised centre of the track sometimes just into the water as the centre was soft with mud and grass. After a long long straight of this I was just sploshing along the line the tractor wheels left: deepest but with decent traction where the mud had been swept away.
Bizzy and MargaretIt was round about mile 5 that I remembered I hadn't done a half marathon in months, and realised I was in danger of crashing and burning. Also behind me I was aware of Scott getting closer.
Mile 6 and we came to the appropriately named Myreside. I see the map says Path Liable to Flooding. No kidding. At various points we run then wade through icy cold water that in parts is over my knees. There is a railway bridge under which the water is wall to wall and by the time you've found out how deep it is its too late to consider any other way: although Margaret and Bizzy must have seen folk wading through as they went over the top. Another section seemed to go on for quite a time in water too deep to run through and by the time you got out the other side your feet had gone completely numb. I turned to the Arbroath runner who had entered this icy bath beside myself but it was Scott. I shouted at how bracing it was as my feet slowly thawed, then looking at Scott's feet was surprised to see his black Salomon shoes had gone white. He gasped something about a last minute change from trail shoes to road shoes. He was glad of this as the road miles outnumbered the muddy miles.
We ran the next couple of miles past the quarry together. There was a sign saying danger silt pits and I wondered if we would have to swim through those as well. Then a load of gates. Scott and I worked well opening them for each other but first lady Marion Wood who was just behind sounded a bit hassled when she shouted "just leave it" at Scott at one of them. This was one of the factors that encouraged Scott to pull ahead, as we approached mile nine and the hill. Not the worst of hills - mostly quite runnable - but with cold tired legs I watched Scott increase his lead thinking I may be able to catch him on the way back down. Not so; over the next couple of downhill miles I got no closer. About mile 12, I was overtaken by Lucy who had just become first woman and we did the last of 7 checkpoint road crossings where you had to have your number clipped. We ran down a road then followed Scott who had crossed the road and seeing no directional arrows carried straight on until it became apparent we had taken the wrong direction and were looking into someone's garden.
We backtracked to the last junction then followed the canny locals who must have enjoyed seeing the runners ahead of them head off on a wild goose chase. I felt awful for Lucy who had fallen back into second again and hoped she would have enough oomph to regain first. To be fair to Scott it wasn't his fault. The course had been really very well marked with arrows up until that point and if there were no arrows you just kept going straight, which was what Scott did. The runners ahead of him were too far away to see. It was only after we turned the corner that we saw the missing arrow lying on the road. I ran the remainder of the course just behind Lucy who wasn't able to regain first position. Just at the line I instinctively found a little speed and went past Lucy which on reflection was pretty bad form, but it was more a case of fear of dropping more places in the closing seconds. Lucy was pretty gutted to have lost first place due to navigation. (Deja vu.) The organisers had warned about navigation - providing maps for everyone and warning that the course was not very obvious and that runners should be aware of this. I think I might have fallen from third vet. It's the first half marathon I have taken more than 1.30 for in a long time, so I didn't feel much like a prizewinner, but I really enjoyed the course.
I asked Lucy to express her feelings about losing first place.The changing room seemed unlikely to be big enough for the rugby team but the showers were roasting hot - just what was required after such an assault course. And then free hot soup and sandwiches were splendid. A huge table of booze made up the prize giving - certainly worth returning with a full strength team as there was a long list of generous prizes dispatched.
Highly recommended for the non-hydrophobic.
Report pb
Photos pb and Bizzy
Adrian ran and becameWell done to Chris Upson (Westies) who came third overall and first vet. I'm not sure how he seems to have the results on his website here because Forfar don't.
Also a photo of Lucy and Peter here
After
