Lomonds of Fife Hill Race 15/08/10
The walk to the start - West Lomond ahead, the bumslide the v shape top right.I had only good memories of doing this race a few years ago – what I'd forgotten was that it is a good sized undertaking and by the last ascent you are feeling well pooped. Organised by Lomond Hill Runners this 11 mile trek about the Lomond Hills starts with registration in Strathmiglo then a drive up to the foothills of West Lomond. Familiar ground for the Tour-of-Fifers, Devil's Burdeners, Falkland Trail racers etc. As we approached the start, the morning cloud cover dispersed to leave us in baking sunshine for the entire race.
Off we go.
Chasing Martin up the first climb.
A relaxed and slightly late start and we were off up the un-runnable first hill right to the top then back most of the way and a diagonal descent over choppy ground to the stile into the woods. On the first ascent I was trying to rein myself in knowing it was a 2 hr run and it would be suicide to try to race the near vertical climb. However when Martin L came past I felt I had to stick with him. He had described his current form as sh*te and so I was hoping to match this. I think I may have got to the trig point one place ahead which would have confirmed his diagnosis but on the descent he came roaring past which again encouraged me to stop nancy-ing around on the steep ground.
About to be overtakenYou now have to choose how to get from a high corner off the hill to the diagonal low corner half a mile away at the woods. My thinking (this route choice also occurs on leg 3 of the Burden) is you should slowly descend as you contour along the hillside. Taking a diagonal must be the shortest distance. However doing this gave me hotspots on the balls of my feet particularly the left downhill foot which was struggling to get purchase on the sloping sheep trods that criss-cross the area. On reflection it might have been an idea to descend to near the bottom then run along the flat trail. Martin said he felt that staying high might also have worked better. Adrian Davis (with dog) and Martin both ran off into the distance while I was trashing my feet on these uncomfortable paths, although there were some losing more ground than myself.
At last over the stile and up the familiar trail that runs along towards Falkland. We had been told the abrupt turn off into the woods proper was well marked but being a stupidly hot day I kept an unshaded eye on the runners up ahead to make sure I didn't miss it. Also I began to believe Martin's self assessment, as I was rapidly running down the 120 yards he had gained off the hill. Just before the turn off I went past him, sharing a joke about about certain folk who had also gone past not carrying the requisite kit. The only thing in my bumbag today I was likely to use, were a few sips of juice in a small bottle I was saving for emergencies. I spent the whole race sweating buckets and was very grateful for a couple of folk on the course with water.
On the way to East Lomond
West Lomond in the background, the last hill.The next section was delightful. Up into the woods; running between pine trees surrounded by the piney smells and a damp soft pine needle avenue with an abundance of brightly coloured fungi lining the way. Now and again I would worry I was off course until the path was long and straight enough to see the guy ahead or Martin behind. Then up a short steep muddy cliff to the monument and onto easier ground. Some more forestry trails then over a fence and towards where the Tour of Fife Lomonds Lungbuster started. Down to the road to the lovely kind people who had a water table going and I asked could I take a second cup. I drank carefully not wasting any on such a hot day but it just poured straight back out.
You now do the out and back to East Lomond which is along a nice stretch of flat trail the hillrunners would probably be cursing, then a quick up and down East Lomond (the roadrunners cursing) and back to the water table. I nearly caught the guy in front here until he got away on the hilly bit. Martin was not far behind but I reckoned I had him. Saw Mary running towards the hill as I was running from it and we both hello-ed in good spirits. I was concerned she might be doing more damage to various weaknesses but since she seemed happy I assumed all was well.
Richie took this photo at the Maiden CastleA Lochaber asked was there far to go, and I pointed at West Lomond on the far horizon; “there's the last hill but we don't go there directly, instead heading off to the right over difficult ground.” Only not in so many words. About here I was running downhill in such an ungainly manner my arm swung out and hit a butterfly fetching it quite a slap. I imagined I left it with a considerable headache. Moments later and we were crossing the swampy ground towards the Maiden Castle: no castle and I saw no maidens just turfy soggy ground and low branches you had to duck under. Not much swamp – the sun appeared to have dried up the usual depth of mud and so I kept a good pace under the trees ducking for a couple of low branches raising my head too soon for the third and BANG. If I had been in a Tom and Jerry cartoon I'd have shattered like a vase struck with a hammer. I think I knew how the butterfly felt. I reached up to the top of my head which seemed to be rising as I touched it and brought away my hand – a Red Admiral.
However the cheery figure of Richie at the small summit repaired my humour and I asked which way was best back onto the “main road” between the 2 Lomonds. Follow Adrian was the advice then he added would I care for a jelly baby? I would very much have liked one but as I had gone past and it was too hot a day to do any extra steps I declined. This part of the course involves a good deal of high stepping through tussocky grass on tired legs and I felt for those of a less commanding height, one of whom seemed if anything to be getting closer.
Baza's photos of myself and Martin up the last climb.
The path seemed to be made of chalk or quartz or something very bright and reflective and was only too familiar from the Tour. I knew it was a long haul up to a plateau before the last stiff climb and resolved to drink my emergency drink at the plateau which might help get me up the hill. I stopped to walk for a few steps but hoped the renewed energy from the juice would be of greater benefit. Just as I was starting up the hill proper I heard Martin behind saying something about one last push. Notoriously good at going up and down hills I expected him to come breezing past (I was now struggling) but although he got to within chatting distance I somehow managed to find the legs to stay ahead to the top where Baza (spectating/marshalling) gave me a sip from a bottle and I hurled myself towards the last obstacle of the race. I had assumed Martin was a couple of steps behind and closing fast and so leapt the fence with poor but effective style where the route seemed to drop away to a vertical face.
I knew what was in store but still uttered an involuntary phrase as the ground fell away to reveal THE BUMSLIDE. Although you can descend in tiny steps down this grassy, thistley slope you are far quicker sitting down and sliding, getting a free glutes and thighs massage on the way. If you are not wearing lycra shorts it is advised you take a carrier bag or get out your waterproofs (which you are obliged to carry.) Last time I did this the grass was wet and made an ideal slide. This time it was dry and in real danger of setting alight with all that friction. I picked myself up at the bottom covered in grassy debris and ran the last 3 fields to the finish.
Lycra triumphs over baggies
I think I was about a minute slower than last time, though with such sunny weather it could easily have been 10. Martin failed to chase me down over the last bit and I think (wearing baggies, not lycra) had partly descended on foot.
I got the camera out and took some photos of the rest of the field coming in, including Craig Love unaccountably coming in a few minutes behind me. Previously he would beat me on the long stuff and I would be quicker over the short. He beat me every race of the Tour and now comes in behind me on the sort of race he would normally go past half way through. There will be some reason: at the end of the Tour I asked what his secret was and sadly it was unemployment. More time to train. (I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't just that I was over the hill.) As he was busy organising water for the finishers (which had run out before Mary got in,) I didn't find out why he failed to overtake today.
Chris who took a lot of these photos, raced from one Lomond to the other.
Mary with the funny rock formation on the left and finish top right in the corner of the field.Paul Eunson is also a big fan of this event and suggested it for a PRC championship race. Although I think its a cracker, it is also pretty arduous and you really should have hill shoes and a bit of previous in the hills or you could do yourself a mischief. For those that enjoy this sort of thing its highly recommended and isn't as serious as the 2 Breweries or Skyline. Afterwards a wash in the stream in Strathmiglo is also recommended before enjoying a cup of tea and banana-bicky-crisps goody bag. Wall to wall sunshine may not have been everyone's idea of ideal conditions (10 DNFs) but it made for some great photos.
Mel and Mary by the stream.Report pb
Photos pb, Brian Smith, Chris Upson, Richie Cunningham, Barry Davie
Video of start and bumslide on Carnegie Hillbillies website (pb bumslide 4.43 ~ 4.54)
Results
Scottish Hill Racing page and route map
Mary's Blog
That funny formation in the field above the finish
