Hunter's Bog Trot 18/04/09
Three Porties turned up for this one. Capt. Pickard, Rab Henderson and myself. My second attempt here. I warmed up with Alastair Robertson (Lothian) who runs in the same part of the field as myself. (My consolation when he beats me is that he, at 17, is nearly a third of my age.)
Robin - eccentric.This annual HBT festival of fun is a great local race – and don't be put off by the casual look and jokey presentation: this is one of the hardest half hours you will run. After a preparatory speech by Robin Thomas about the dangers to be encountered en route (tussocks etc.) we set off at a blast up the side of Haggis Knowe made famous by Queen Paula, King Bekele et al as the biggest obstacle in the unimaginative and rather tame cross country course they run here in the winter. It was the smallest obstacle on our route which ran along the side of the eponymous bog before heading up the top end only to curl back round and down (with the front 3 runners doing an extra few up hill yards before noticing the flour markings round the boulder back down) to an increasingly sharp ascent to the top of the crags.
All that's missing is a crooked walking stick.
Rab reckoned putting his hands on his head helped his ascent.
I started the ascent in 7th place and ended it about 15th underlining my strengths, being overtaken towards the top by first lady Claire G of the home side. I took the place back as the path round the top of the crags levelled off but said I'd see her again on the Rad. Rd. I noticed it was about 8 and a half minutes (from the start line) to the top but already I had poured a bucket of sweat out my face. I also lost sight of Alastair.
I enjoyed the speedy path down off the crags although I had forgotten it went all the way back to the loch-side start before then heading along to the radical road. This makes the long flat quite a hike. At this point I should mention the shoes. I know the general advice is not to use new kit on race day and always use a well broken-in pair of shoes. Thing is, as I walshed the Clachnaben mud off my fell shoes I realised they had run their last race (I don't want to lay the blame of my timid performance at their feet but...) I realised they had lost any structure in the uppers as well as most of the grip from the outsoles. Time to get a new pair of something and quick – the dreaded and fantastic STUC being just 2 weeks away. I tried the Innov8s (Mudclaw 330s) on for 3 minutes in the shop, wore them for 10 minutes around the house to confirm they were the right size and put them on for their first flight outdoors 20 minutes before the race. Okay, not best practise but it is a short race. Mark Johnson saw me lacing them up and suggested they might be overkill. He was wearing smooth soled racing flats and it didn't seem to slow him down (crossing the line in third place) and in a lot of ways both very different pairs of shoes were absolutely right for the course. The Innov8s didn't slip an inch on the polished grassy up hill and were bombproof on the descents. Mark's flatties; light, nimble and extra comfy without any need for studs on such dry ground.
Alastair was running on the grass parallel to the tarmac cycle path that goes from St. Margaret's Loch to the Radical Road. So was the dude behind him, but he quickly moved onto the tarmac as I overtook him, enjoying the studs talon-like grip on the pavement. I was relishing the chase but knew I shouldn't push it 100% and arrive at the steepest “road” in Edinburgh too bushed. I have probably run up this stretch of heart attack more than a hundred times: used to do it in 7 minutes, but when chasing folk on a Wednesday session have taken as little as 4.30 from the bottom to that red sign at the top. Today it took around 5.10 though my brain melted towards the top just after Claire went past. I don't even remember the relief of cresting that final brow and chasing along the top before the joy of gravity assisted descent to the left turn and down into Hunter's Bog for a deja vu up the same grassy step ladder to the top of the crags and Claire comes past again.
I had started all 3 ascents on Alastair's heels. Claire got to the top (underlining her strengths) about the same time as himself and I hoped to catch them both before the end of the race. Alastair was more focussed on catching the guys ahead and forgot to let me catch and overtake him. I enjoyed the long curving downhill trying to use the impetus to roll up and over the shoulder of Haggis Knowe before a final sprint for the line. Somewhere about the road crossing as you come off the crags I looked at my watch and saw I was in danger of not beating last year's time. I fired the turbo thrusters for a last dash to the line and 20 long seconds of pb-ness. Could have been worse. Like getting a spot prize – strong lager for t-totals, tin of corned beef for a vegetarian, grapes (sour) for Edinburgh AC for a previous grudge match, etc.
Cracking photo courtesy of SHR
Billy Minto - who had run in from Livingstone - in home made shoes. His blog hereI was tempted to retreat to the Regent Bar for a post-race recovery beer but it was a bit early in the day and I didn't want to take the edge off the following day which was pencilled in for 4hrs of Pentland Sunshine. And it doesn't get better than that.
Great shot of JBF
Thanks to Tom Barr and a brown blazered Ivor for the organisation and smooth running, and with the entry fee a credit crunching £1.99, superb value! Has to be a contender for one of next year's PRC championship races.
Saw at least 1 Nimmo in the long grass taking photos but reckon there must have been 2 to catch the middle and end of the same race and post their excellent work on the SHR flickr site (before the end of the day) which is well worth a visit. Many thanks.
Report and some photos pb
Action photos Nimmos
Results
Some found the excitement too much.
