Goatfell 16/05/09
View from the boatAfter a long week and with the prospect of sub 5hrs shuteye combining with a rather grizzly forecast I wondered whether I could be bothered to catch the 7am from Waverley, walk from Queen St. Station to Central and get to Ardrossan for the 9.45am ferry.
I dozed on the train very aware of the potential for waking up beyond the harbour terminal returning to Glasgow un-raced. However the weather improved throughout the day and as the ferry approached Brodick and Scotland's Holiday Isle only the top half of Goatfell was hidden by cloud. On the ferry I chatted to Steve Fallon (Carnethy) about who was signed up for the race.
On the walk to Ormidale Pavilion we passed the crazy golf miniature putting course that featured in my youth and in last year's Goatfell report. Curiously, in the intervening year, I met the man who built the Forth Rail Bridge model there and here it is again...
I had taken a number of cold weather kit options but after a warm up I determined it was probably warm enough to run in just a PRC vest.
After a lap of the field there is nearly 2 miles of tarmac along to and through Brodick Castle grounds then off into the woods before the cinder path climbs upwards to the deer fence. Here the gradient levels off for a breather but the rock-hopping begins in earnest. I had dropped from an optimistic 5th place to about tenth and was surprised more hadn't swarmed past. There was a gang of Mountain Rescuers and marshals gathered about here.
Stones and boulders litter the trail; in places wide, elsewhere a narrow staircase of stepped rocks. This continues for another 25 minutes until the path disappears into the fridge- and car-sized blocks of the summit pile. About here the runner behind (wearing a green vest of Kendal) who had been catching up for some time, went past but failed to pull away. Steve Fallon also went past but climbed rapidly away in a more convincing manner. I expressed surprise he hadn't gone past sooner.
The courseScrambling over the wet summit blocks, round the trig point and back down to the path may seem to be the most hazardous aspect of the route, however because of its obvious risks I think folk (front runners excepted) give it more respect than lower down where I suspect more blood is actually spilt. I didn't notice at the time but I was nearly a minute faster to the top (54.46) than last year. Last year I finished in 1.32.04. This year I hoped it might be possible to duck under 90 minutes.
I was just a few steps behind Kendal and was impressed by the line he was taking over the tricky top stuff. I stuck close and soon we were bombing down the path avoiding the ascending runners. The high friction granite boulders are very abrasive and you only had to lightly brush one with a thigh or forearm to leave a nasty scrape.
We are now going full tilt leaping and bouncing down the rocky trail. I am hoping to overtake (he looks like an over 40) but there is no way I can speed up on this insane conveyor belt of killer rocks. I wonder if he is annoyed by my proximity. It would bug me to have an old fart gasping in my ear on such a descent. He later told me it annoyed him more when I overtook on the smoother trail below the deer fence and he couldn't keep up.
As we approached the deer fence a Mountain Rescuer advises us to steer over to the left side a little like the police do on the motorway when there has been an accident. In a flash we are past but I saw someone wrapping a bandage round a head, a gashed thigh and a Carnethy top. I get a bad feeling in my guts and hope Steve is okay. It seems the Rescue folk stand at this point knowing it to be the accident black spot – where tired runners feel they have passed the worst, take an eye off the ball for a second and come to grief. Des Crowe also succumbs around here and when I saw him later, he looked like he had jammed his nose between two boulders while someone teed off his brow. The granite takes no prisoners.
Sensing Kendal is slowing I made my move and kept the pressure on down to the tarmac where I unpacked my road running legs and tried to blast up the road in a discouraging way. It seemed to work and I had the feeling Kendal gave up the ghost allowing me 30 yards. It was a long 2 miles to home and just a matter of trying to keep decent form, and ignoring the overheating engine as the sun burnt through the clouds.
At the finish - ahead of Paul Dugdale, KendalAt the field (which we were required to circumnavigate) I checked I was too far ahead to be caught. Crossed the line gasping at 1.29.42: result! Also 2nd o/40 and top ten place.
I took some photos of the hill and of injured runners. Dougal Ross (Bella) had again drawn blood – third year in a row, though at a different spot this time. There were a number of walking wounded, the most impressive being Steve who bravely finished before being checked out and having his wounds properly dressed. Hamilton Semple (Westies) had fallen on his hand and had to visit Lamlash hospital to have the wound trimmed (yikes) cleaned and dressed. Lots of scrapes and knocks. I felt I had run through a minefield and come away unscathed. What stiffness I did have in my legs (mainly from trying to 6 minute mile on tarmac in fell shoes) I sought to relieve with the help of post race refreshments at the Ormidale where I hung out with the Westerlands Massive. News was beginning to filter through of high winds wreaking havoc with the Islands Peak (boat) race again.
Ouch. Steven's report hereDespite the potential for injury I really love this race. The post race spread was excellent and although I spent all day from 6.30am till 8.15pm travelling back and forth for a 90 minute run (and spent about the price of a pair of Asics) I think it was well worth it. Really well marked and marshalled; great organisation. Caught up with loads of running pals and made some new ones. Highly recommended.
Report pb
Photos pb and SHR photos
Results and SHR report
Goatfell above the start / finish
