Scottish Co-op Goatfell Hill Race 17/05/08
Arran for me is a place of great nostalgia. My first family holiday “abroad” and a place I was to visit many times on cycle-camping holidays and once by kayak; I have lots of fond memories (and an ex-girlfriend) from this holiday island, where the sun always shines.
Unaccountably the sun didn't shine at all for Saturday's race; a low cloud shrouded the hills above Brodick and as I warmed up in the fields beside the Ormidale Pavilion I was reluctant to strip down to vest and shorts, trying to judge the strength of the cold breeze potential up the hill. However Frank was running in a vest so I couldn't let him upstage me.
After a lap of the field we were out onto the main road for a mile plus of tarmac along past the golf course and into the castle grounds. I racked my brains to remember the name of the guest house my family stayed in (just across from the golf course) nearly 40 years ago which took my mind off the joy of road miles in Walshes.
Goatfell with its head in the clouds across Brodick bayJust under 11 minutes and we left the castle grounds for a cinder and dirt trail signed Goatfell. I was just inside the top ten but expected lots to go past now we were onto the steeper stuff. The trail started fine but got progressively more rugged and boulder strewn. 22 minutes in and Paul Thompson of Helensburgh went past. Paul is relatively new to off road stuff and on the way from the ferry we had chatted about the joys of hill running versus doing the same old halves year after year. (Paul does these same old halves at quite a remarkable pace, looking and performing like a man 20 years junior, his true age (1st o/50) only hinted at by his iconic eyebrows,) so I was pleased to keep him in sight for more than just the first 10 minutes. 25 minutes and we went through the deer fence. The course levelled off briefly, the only near flat section from the castle grounds to the summit, however the boulder count went up and you would find yourself hopping from rock to rock over streams and puddles as the trail twisted between obstacles. The wind was cold and I was glad to be hurrying past groups of hillwalkers facing a long trudge up a steep hill for a view of nothing. The top half of the hill was covered with a mist. I can't remember if there was a light rain or just a heavy mist but I remember jumping off a rock and the water sloshing off my head as I landed on the ground.
Just before leaving for Arran I had found some photos of last year's event (here) and was concerned that about 1 in 4 of the runners had skinned and bleeding knees, elbows and worse. Remembering Tony's accident last year, safety was paramount in my head. As we neared the top of the hill the route turned into a clamber over angled car-sized slabs before a single file track round to the right and more scrambling up to the summit where 2 mountain rescue heroes took a note of your number as you ran round the trig point. 55.44 to the top.
Dougal Ross of Bella (5th) who spent time with Tony last year in Lamlash Hospital
was more careful this year but couldn't resist some interaction with the geology. (Picture SHR)Initially descending I didn't really speed up but took it cautiously over the treacherous ground. My Walshes gripped the pitted granite-like rock very well but I resisted the urge to open the throttle until I was past the worst of the clambering. I think a lot of the injuries last year came about from the course being much wetter; although everything was damp this time the grip underfoot was fairly solid and throughout the descent I became more confident about flying down the trail skipping, hopping and dancing over the uneven track and combinations of rocks, boulders and ditches. Then there is the additional fun of hillwalkers who, seeing you approach move to the same side you have already chosen to dodge past. However everyone I went by was really supportive and kind. I shouted thanks to one couple for moving off the path and they replied “a pleasure”!
The crazy golf on the front in Brodick has been there since I was a boy. (And possibly Moses)On the way down I think I maybe overtook one or 2. To my surprise I had gone past Paul Thompson just before the summit but knew he would be strong on the final mile and a half tarmac, and probably not hanging around on the less rocky paths just before, so I kept forcing the pace. The amount of concentration required while going at speed over the rocky bits was immense. My eyes would scan the ground a few metres ahead picking a line and my feet would process the information while my eyes moved onto the next section. I felt I was making hundreds of calculations and decisions at top speed and that any mistake would result in a bad fall. Littered with abrasive rocks it was not the sort of ground you would want to fall on either. It was just below the hard stuff off the summit last year that Tony decided to pick up the pace and looking for a line to overtake someone, fell, smashing his face off the rock, resulting in a trip to Lamlash hospital with several nasty injuries and his teeth stoved in. This was at the front of my mind as I ran past the ascending competitors exchanging encouragements.
Steve and MikeIt was a joy to meet up with fellow Everest Marathoners Mike and Steve Abram, of Arran Runners. We caught up on the ferry across, and now shouted at each other as I descended from the summit. It is their club who organise the smooth running of the race, although Mike and Steve don't live on Arran themselves.
Back through the deer fence and the going got easier. I could feel I was tiring and, as I was running on my own unable to see the runners ahead, wondered if I was following the right route. Very little seemed similar to the paths on the way up, then I would see a bit of tape and know I was okay. At last the cinder, stone and grit path turned into tarmac and I could see a runner way ahead up the hedge lined road. This went on for an age spilling out onto the main road and marshals pointing us towards Brodick and the finish.
Picture SHRI was anxious to stay ahead of Paul (first and only time) so tried to keep good form as the coastal road went along past the guest house we stayed in (the name St. Elmo falling out of a long closed memory drawer) and I looked to see if I could spot the house name which passed the time as I trudged home. (I couldn't.) Then a last cruel torture of the long way into the field then round the outside before crossing the line.
Picture SHRHowever to make up for that there were excellent hot showers followed by excellent tea and cakes. I was very glad to see Tony arrive in unscathed and I think he was both relieved and pleased to have bravely revisited the race in which he came such a cropper last time.
At the prize-giving Sarah was maybe unlucky that the Lochaber girls had such a strong team. And I did a “Ben Kemp” – coming as high as possible without winning anything (11th overall and 4th o/40.) However I was very pleased with the result and recommend the race highly for the surefooted. And besides, the sun always shines in Arran.
Report and photos pb.
Action photos SHR, more here
Results here in due coursePeter 1.32.10
Frank 1.40.46
Sarah 1.53.04
Tony 2.14.13
Not just for young whippets: you don't have to conform to the perceived physique of the hillrunner
to take part. Both these guys made it to the top (2,867') and back in good times. (Pics SHR)
