Glentress Black Run 14/09/07 5.40~8.15pm
The view from the initial climb.At the end of Wednesday's session Scott asked if I fancied coming along to Glentress on Friday evening. I said yes even though I might well be racing Saturday. I had only been there once before - a long time ago - on a bike, and listened with interest when Scott said he and Amanda had been on a 16 mile epic round the bike trails there. If you're running its best to go when you won't get in the way of the bikers, most of whom are coming off the trails by 5pm on a Friday evening.
Just after Scott picked me up my mobile went and (off-road) Tony said he'd pick me up just after 8 the next morning to go and race at the Merrick Hill Race. I wondered if I'd done the right thing. Not for long though - when we got to Glentress the weather was perfect for a run - long shadows being cast by a low sun through the trees and not much wind.
Follow the black arrowsInitially we saw a few bikers but after a while I think we were the only folk there. Amanda, Scott and I started from the Hub and headed up the hills climbing for some time before getting on to the main trail and up past the upper car park. We didn't have a map but previous visits had proved fine following the black arrows which occur at every major junction and before the more lively elements. Soon we were directed off the road and through single track between the trees. It was very good running though you have to enjoy hills as it rose and fell continually. The only downside was that there are a lot of sharp stones that jab into the soles of your shoes. We thought this might have come about with the bikes rumbling off the soil between the stones; whatever the case, it kind of shredded your feet after two and a half hours. Probably best to wear road shoes (with plenty cushioning) to cope with this. I wore trail shoes and my feet were frazzled by the end.
I think I had collected most of the 7 Stanes by the end of the trail.The route works its way up to the top of the hill round dozens of switch backs and then over to an aerial. At the hill top is “Britney Spears” a fast downhill section with bermed corners that's good fun to hare down. Then more ups and down - it all begins to become a blur and I have the photos to prove it.
By this time the sun had gone down and I was seeing the sense in Amanda's talk of headtorches. We didn't have any lights with us and as we went into the tree covered areas it became darker and darker until you were raising your feet more than you needed to just in case there were hidden objects you couldn't see. This went on for ages and although there was some good running I was beginning to wonder if I'd be able to get out of bed for the race the next day. After a long drag up through more interminal switch backs Amanda announced it was the Ewok Village, an area of "North Shore" riding: wooden platforms and ladders on posts above the ground that start quite wide and friendly but get more narrow and scarey. Of course much easier on foot - even in the dark.
Ewok?In the excitement I didn't manage any proper photos but it was very impressive. Then there was some steep stuff and back through the trees and on and on. The last couple of miles would have been more fun in the light but I was tired and looking forward to getting back to the car.
Some of the raised walkways are spectacularly well constructed and would be great fun to cycle. I took a shortcut through the trees to catch Amanda running down this one and think it merits close scrutiny. Red eye or Zombie?
Big thanks to Scott for instigating such a great Friday night out! I think the entire conversation on the way home was about food and drink.
Highly Recommended. 16 miles+, 2hrs 34 mins.
Info here where it says estimated times time for the Black Run is 3 ~ 5 hrs. But only if you have a bike to slow you down.Report and photos pb
