Gartmorn 6 8/03/09
On the front page of this website I had written under the listing for the Gartmorn 6 that “this looks like a cracker.” If anything that turned out to be an understatement. There are photos on the Wee County Harriers' website of the route but they were taken on a drier sunnier day – today the mud on the lower parts of the course made it more cross country than trail.
Woke up this morning to find Arthurs Seat patchy with snow. Things deteriorated rapidly as a blizzard made the hill disappear entirely. Wasn't much better on the M9 with sleet coming down hard on the roads blocking views of the Ochils which were white.
Huge crowds seemed to be gathering near the start: not only a popular event with the central Scottish clubs but a kids / under 18s event attracts even more. Hats off to the organisers as everything including car parking, changing, marshalling and a great spread afterwards was all handled very skillfully, the whole event running very smoothly.
We warmed up while the kids race was finishing. Not having run this one before we were uncertain what to expect – I chatted to a couple of folk beforehand who said the trails, which would be muddy, rise up to the loch which you circle, before retracing your steps. I was warned that the lochside was quite exposed and so wore a t-shirt under the club vest. I was glad I had as a stiff breeze was available at several points. The worst of the weather kindly relented a bit while we were running.
Muddy stockings.We set off up the road before being turned right, down another which lasted a bit longer before being guided off road onto a trail that was almost continuous mud and puddles for a mile up to the dam. A group of about 10 led the way but with yesterday's race still in my legs I couldn't keep up and tried to settle for just enjoying the run. A series of narrow wooden bridges (without handrails) crossed and recrossed the stream, forcing you to line up carefully, to cross swiftly but with a certain caution. The slippery wooden slats were covered with chicken wire which gave a good grip but if you got it wrong (particularly on the return journey on tired legs) the results could have been spectacular. After a while I stopped running around the deeper mud sections and just ran through them hoping that sploshing through puddles later was removing the heavy mud stuck on my soles.
A couple of folk went past on this section but I was fairly sure I could catch them later. There were mile markers but I reckoned the first one may have been a tad short as I noticed 5.50 which seemed unlikely given it was rising gently and through rather slippy mud. 5.50 was pretty much yesterdays first mile on tarmac over about the same amount of gain. Second mile was maybe more realistic as we were by now circling the Dam and my watch read nearer 13 mins I think. I was trying to catch the 2 dudes who had gone past on the climb as we ran the very picturesque hard pack paths round the pretty loch. The route stayed flat – just above the water level with twists and turns and over small undulations so you rarely saw the runners up ahead. I overtook one but spent the rest of the circuit trying to catch the other. At the top end there were spectacular views of the hills covered in snow rising into the low snowy clouds.
As we turned to come back the opposite bank the wind seemed stronger in our faces. This was kind of strange as I felt it might have been in our faces in the other direction also.
I was anxious to finish the circuit and descend on the fun trails, however the circumnavigation of the Dam seemed to go on for ages. I overtook the second guy just before the concrete steps which I was glad of, as they felt a bit slippy underfoot and I was happy to have a clear view ahead. Off the steps and back to the mud (the loch-side had been mostly dry hard pack/cinder path). I began to enjoy the sweeping trail back through the trees and over the bridges and hoped to put enough distance between myself and the 2 behind so they wouldn't catch me towards the finish. There were a few marshals out at crucial points and junctions keeping us right. Since I couldn't see the runner ahead this was reassuring. Thanks to everyone who marshalled in such grim weather.
Pretty soon we were out the woods and I had forgotten how much up hill the second last road involved before we turned for the last downhill 200 yards dash to the line. Happily the guys behind weren't close enough to chase me down and I did as much as I could to impersonate a sprint.
First end of race medal in ages, great spread of sandwiches, homebakes, tea and juice. Oh and terrific showers (new for this year?) in the rather industrial changing rooms thanks to Diageo. Hope someone swept the muddy shoe droppings off their canteen floor at the end of the day.
Highly recommended, great fun route even on a day when the cold wind blew and the mud saw brave men (and women) slip and slide. Well done Wee County Harriers. Top marks.
Report and photos pb
Results here
Roadrunpics record of the race
ps. If I'd known that they gave the only over 40 prize to first MSV and first MSV to second MSV as I suppose they are entitled to do I wouldn't have given them such a favourable review! Mary also reckoned they put an extra minute on her time which didn't cheer her up.
Mary's blog
