Lomonds of Fife Hill Race 19/08/07
It looked as if the Lomonds of Fife hill race would be doomed under the blanket of low wet cloud that has lurked over Scotland the last few months mocking the term “Summer.” However we were determined to get some longer hill runs in and this one seemed to fit the bill since it was revamped from a shorter trip covering both Lomond summits (East and West) to a longer jaunt involving parts of the 3rd and 4th leg of the Devil's Burden which also overlap the Falkland Trail race. All good running. However the weather looked to be improving - overcast, but dry and mild with a cloudbase above the peaks - as we reached Strathmiglo village hall where we registered before driving on to the race start at a point near the bottom of West Lomond.
With admirably minimum fanfare the race began and we were off through angled fields until the angle became a steep stomp up the single file corridor to the groove down which the recent precipitation flowed. I think Paul said he took about 17 minutes to the top of West Lomond before we turned about and hared down past the upcoming climbers shouting hellos and well dones before contouring right and a marshal drawing a kiss on our numbers. First checkpoint of 4.
Neat arrangement of checkpoint markers
The abstract expressionist version.Various height options along the hillside to the woods - I went high thinking I'd have the advantage later but seeing most folk drop down I too headed for the lower contours before a rocky dance, then (was there a stile?) into the woods. Delightful trails (as featured in the Falkland trail race) followed and it made for quick running that suited those more used to roads than hills. I caught up with or was caught by a guy from Cheshire and we had quite a chat about this and that and the similarity between hill racing and Highland dancing - you have to raise your knees and breath hard? I offered. He was interested in both and doing a pretty good job of at least one before we overtook a couple of runners (notably Stewart Barrie (HBT) who had gubbed me recently at Borrowdale by ten minutes; I won't bore on with excuses here..!) And headed off up a narrow (well marked) shoot into the undergrowth and a single track, squishy with mud and ferny coniferocity. The damp low heather brushed our shins like a miniature carwash but made overtaking almost impossible unless you were to have a stomp and a barge. I was considering this as the guy ahead was moving at about the same speed as myself and just a tad slower at times. Then SB (HBT) went for it and overtook us both just before the path went muddy and vertical for 12 feet or so and required a bit of scrambling. SB made his apologies as he hadn't seen this coming and the overtaking business had rather left him breathless for the brief climb. I then overtook him running stupidly off into the heather to show there were no hard feelings and instantly also ran into oxygen deficit while thinking none of the guys up there in the lead are behaving in this amateurish fashion. I had no real idea of where I was in the field but enjoyed the fact that it was nowhere that counted and I could saunter at my own pace and hell, even enjoy the run. Although I did feel I should keep everyone I had passed to the back of me.
Next was a curving and undulating grassy path through planted forestry with the occasional spated burn to hurdle. This was such delightful running the guy 2 ahead had to share some feelings about it which I readily seconded. In between us was a Fife AC shirt with whom I swapped places all the way to the end. Locals shouted him on as Laurie so I think this was Laurie Anderson (same spelling as the experimental pop lady artist cross ref. YouTube “I can't stop watching this and I don't even like Laurie Anderson.....”) and I thought well maybe he'll know some good lines, being a local.
All this on the way to the second Lomond; East. I had a notion that I should maybe make this summit in an hour but I've no idea where this information came from. I had looked at the map and the times of last year's inaugural running of the new course and thought I'd be aiming for around 2 hrs. The second hump marks at least the half way distance but at the same time the descent should be much faster. Suddenly after the immersion in rural bliss we were approaching a road and some folk holding out water cups. I was very thirsty having sweated out all liquids earlier and now beginning on solids and fats, and slowed to drain the cup entirely and lick round the inside. I knew we returned this way and felt I should try to consume a gel before the water stop. Off to East Lomond where the spectacle of proper runners was doubling back on us. A couple had so much juice left in them that they ran past the swing gate in favour of jumping (not vaulting but hurdling) the wire. I walked through the gate and was much impressed by my progress, as towards the top Tom Scott (Fife AC Mountain Goat o/50 division) shot past. He always gets well ahead of me at these things and although that was the last I saw of him, I was proud to have seen him at other than the start line and the pub after. I cheered all of the runners I passed both ahead and behind me in a frenzy of euphoria. I cheered Paul who was a hundred yards or less ahead of Mary who high fived me. I could see she was also having fun, which included an amount of banter with Dick Wall (the Big Dixter) who, looking leaner and meaner, covered the course in round about the same time as M. Just before the water stop I walked for a few yards to eat a Stinger gel. It was tough going and I washed it down with water while trying to regain the place I'd dropped. It was probably a good call as we shortly left the track for a trip through a swamp and up a short steep hill - Maiden Castle “fort” - to a guy with a marker pen and the third checkpoint. Another Fifer who I'd been catching all race went off to the left but I looked to Laurie, O Superman, to lead me out the wilderness. Should've followed Lefty who had a quicker route to the dirt and rock path which led, after a bit of undulating road run, to the bottom of the last climb and up up up. Second trip up West Lomond. You could go straight up the rough stuff if you were a man (Laurie and Lefty) or take the zig zag tourist route if you were in touch with your feminine side (moi). I was pleased to arrive at the summit just after Mr. Anderson and ahead of Lefty. But most pleasing was a marshal with a bottle of water. I gave him a load of shout about how pleased I was, took 2 enormous swigs which restored my wherewithal then headed off after the man ahead.
Leaner meaner running machiner.Now there had been a growing worry all week about the last descent which someone had once reported as terrifying and very steep and we had had it pointed out to us from the start line. A vertiginous V of grass between 2 crags of rock, you wouldn't want to take the wrong line. Coming over the brow of the hill I thought surely not as the hill dropped away to something you might want ropes to get down. However the guy ahead sat down and started to travel quickly and safely down the slope. (Marshals here made sure you took the right line.) I got down and rode the hill. Absolutely fantastic - like a fairground ride you shot down the steep wet grass quicker than you could run, the only worry being that you might lose control and shoot off some hidden cliff. Keeping to the slightly longer grass to the side of the main descent I was able to whiz down the gully; with grass being thrown up into my face. Lycra was hands down winner over baggies and I went past several runners retrieving their shorts. I didn't even change course shouting “THISTLE!” as I mowed one down at top speed. A total adrenaline boost I got up and ran refreshed after an excellent free hamstring and glutes massage, over the last couple of fields to the start/finish. What a buzz to finish a great race.
Mary below the final descent: white dots = runners / sliders
I cooled down running 15mins down to the car and back to get the camera to take some photos. Excellent day out, we all agreed a brilliant course.
Peter Buchanan 1.53.13
Paul Eunson 2.19.49
Mary Hunter 2.22.20Report & photos pb
Route map here
Great Slideshow from Carnegie Hillbillies here
Results here
now that's cheating
