Manor Water Hill Race and Pentland Skyline 11&12/10/08
Manor Water hill race and the Pentland Skyline have not fallen on the same weekend since 2005. So it has been 3 years since you could do the Man-or-Mouse challenge: a competition to do the lowest cumulative time over both courses on consecutive days. Several Porties lined up for it but some fell by the wayside.
The weekend starts here.The weather was pretty kind throughout the weekend (given some of the rainy days last week) with bright skies particularly on Saturday, though on both days a stiff headwind during the first halves made for slower times. Well that's my excuse.
I had tried to encourage as many along to Manor Water as possible (and have to admit being behind its inclusion as a PRC championship race). Karen dropped out at the last moment injured, but it was good to see Cath and Eileen come along to try something different. Gillian also returned to the off road stuff though Ian decided to act as photographer rather than run. All in all there was a strong Porty presence and the race organisers were pleased to hear we had made it a championship race.
The organisation is very friendly and relaxed to the point of eccentric. When Helen Murray (Lothian) arrived 5 minutes late she was allowed to run and only did the registration after crossing the finish line. It was good to see Helen back running after a spate of injuries – her solution; (take note) yoga.
We set off and Ben and I found ourselves 4th and 5th as we exited the field, ran up a short stretch of road then through a gate into more fields. We quickly fell back to about 8th and 12th as the strong runners made their way to the front. The wind was in our faces as we climbed the very wet grass with murky muddy ponds all around. There was precious little wind block behind Donald Naylor so I looked for other more substantial runners to draft. Over the stile and turn left up the hill. (More swamp, and at this point still hopping and jumping puddles.)
Dead Wife gate post - Alan Young's photoThe long drag up the hill is alleviated by a couple of flat or downhill sections. I tried to take in some of the scenery but mostly you have to watch your feet. The ground was more sodden than any year since 2005 and in several places it was better to run on the heather at the side than through the black churned mud. I kept my eyes open for the Dead Wife's Grave – the wistfully named non-place where the Two Breweries route crosses but didn't recognise the ground. It may well have been close to where Alan Young was placed taking photos beside the 4x4 parked half way up the hill. His first photo (above) in the SHR set would certainly suggest this. He was on good form and got some great shots which he has given permission to use here. Its worth going here to see them all.
John Coyle
I spent a lot of the race running alone, a good distance behind the guys in front and a bit ahead of the guys behind. After a couple of miles everyone stayed in order though I did see John Coyle (Carnethy, see Mull Monsterette) making his way up towards Ben. Apparently there was a bit of good natured jostling going on between them which John said he would have enjoyed more if he could have beaten Ben.
I felt stronger than usual (though possibly slower due to the headwind) up the last 400 yard march to the round summit which takes a long time to crest then finally flatten out and at last you can see the marshal at the fence. On the way up the first runners started to pile down the return leg and I shouted to Colin Donnelly that he was miles ahead (of Brian Marshall) who, although a top descender, had maybe left himself with too much to do to catch Colin. Somewhere about the top ten Ben came past and he was flying.
After turning at the fence I began to catch my breath then focussed on as swift a descent as possible while shouting encouraging things to those close behind. I think Scott turned next but Graham's greater experience allowed him to travel faster over the treacherous ground. There were lots of familiar faces and supportive shouts and I really enjoy this crossover part of the course most, where you can see fellow runners, and your legs are still fresh. After a couple of harem scarem descents I began to think tactically – possibly a first. There was no sign of the guy ahead so I probably couldn't catch him. The guy behind was a non-threatening distance away. So if I could hold my place, there was no point in going flat out and taxing my legs unduly for the Skyline next day. I had learnt in the Two Breweries Race that although I have a capacity for downhill, the impact takes its toll. I glanced behind but was fairly sure that if the yellow Westie's vest hadn't caught me by the turnaround I would still be ahead at the finish. I noticed a Carnethy vest behind him.
The guy behind
Another great photo from Alan Young
I would regularly check the distance (another thing I don't normally do) and if they seemed to be getting closer would take the next section at full steam ahead rattling over the stones, mud and heather, before looking over my shoulder to see if the yellow peril was at a safe distance. The gap changed a lot but was never close enough to inspire a take over bid from behind. And I only briefly caught a glimpse of the runner ahead though I managed to reduce his lead to under 30s by the finish line. The last few fields were awful: trying to steer a fast route through deep muddy puddles, (don't slip on the wooden bridge,) the smell of cow flop and mud mixed, and the worry that the Carnethy who had overtaken the Westie maybe had enough of a sprint to catch me in the last field. Ben cruelly shouted he was on my shoulder from the line (he wasn't).
In previous years I have always managed to win a bottle of beer, often due to the generosity of Broughton Ales providing such vast quantities of beverage that it extends far enough down the results list. (Seventh vet I seem to recall!) Also every year I go that bit slower – this year a lot slower (for reasons outlined and others not). And feared the tradition of a free beer would be lost. However after the proper prizewinners got their rewards, a bottle was given to all remaining runners who had hung about for the prizegiving. £3 entry and a bottle of beer incl! Top marks to Graham Pyatt and his team and family for such a good race. Cath and Eileen both seemed to really enjoy the whole thing despite there being a Donnelly on either end of the result sheet.
The troops leave the battlefield in step.
Paul: comfortable clothes or bag-man chic?
In the car on the way home (thanks Ben for the lift) I drank a recovery protein drink; the beginnings of the preparations for the much more serious race the next day. Later I did lots of stretching (well some stretching and tried to touch my toes every hour or so) and I arrived the following morning at Hillend in not too bad a state. I certainly felt up for the thing. In 2005 I had run my heart out at Manor Water and started the Skyline feeling desperate. 3 years on I could still remember the empty legs and tiredness at the start: that dreadful climb up parallel to the ski slope. However today the sun was shining I had just under a litre of pick-me-up caffeine/electrolite drink on my back and I felt okay. I chatted to Steve Fallon who had robbed me of the Man-or-Mouse award last time. Although I had finished just ahead of him at Manor Water 2005 he had beaten me by miles at the Skyline. He had “owned” the trophy for 3 years as the races had been held on different weekends since. This time I had no illusions about being in the running for it, but was interested to see how our Porties enjoyed the weekend. And there was also the Mouse end of the competition. Just as the swiftest combined time is the Man, so the longest combined time is the Mouse. Not knowing who has entered both races beforehand Paul and Richard felt they might be in the running for the cheese board. Scott was looking like he just climbed out of bed. He reported about 11 hrs sleep though I think a heavy week in London was possibly as much to blame as 90 mins of fresh air the day before. Unfortunately he fell on his sword I mean twisted his ankle early on and had to retire.
Post race smilesBen wasn't sure whether he would run the Skyline or not but decided on the day (as they say in political circles) to spend time with his family. Loads of the usual suspects at the start line and my predictions in the skyline recce report last week that I wouldn't get as far as Capelaw Hill before being overtaken by Lucy were quickly confirmed when she overtook me with the starter's airhorn still echoing: I saw little of her after the top of the ski slope. An amazing performance.
First lady by a huge marginSo with the prefabricated excuses of the headwind which was really gusty upstairs, and the nearly exceptional wetness of the course, there was nothing for it but to cruise round the course in an all time slowest ever time enjoying the views and trying not to drink all your pop before the Drove Road.
First up, the hike up to Caerketton and Allermuir. After the 3min45 dash to the log-jam stile where we had a 15 sec recovery we followed the rutted muddy path up the hill. I hoped I hadn't got too far up the field (about 30th?) and would be tutted at by the faster runners I was blocking. My legs felt good and I thought I might be okay, after all the long days out in the hills taking endless photos of grass up close. Some crossed the fence at Allermuir to take the corner off the field diagonally but I knew the path right of the fence was better and faster and they would have to climb the fence at the bottom removing much of any small advantage. Some hadn't learnt this lesson and even did the same on the way back. (Climbing fences with near cramping legs not recommended.)
John a couple of places behind me!Then over to Castlelaw (was that Anne Nimmo taking photos at the top?) and the first unpleasant descent which I tried not to rush and instead follow a reasonable course just to the side of the worst erosion. Down past the road and there's always a guy there telling you what number you are. I was 40th which I felt was about right, though I felt stronger than previous years, possibly the work of the sunshine and caffeine mix. However after some more downhill where I thought I would move up into the mid-thirties, just because I knew I'd drop a few places going up the high tops, we had the first water station then, as I said to the runner next door, the hard work begins.
Nothing puts a smile on Graham's face like a long weekend in the hills.There's no way to cheat, fluke or bullshit your way to the top of the hill other than hard work and one foot in front of the other. I think that's why I like this game. It takes about 20 mins of stiff marching with a little jogging and when you get there you run down for a while before doing more of the same: Turnhouse, Carnethy, Scald Law... head down and think positive: watch yourself get thinner! On the way up Turnhouse an old pal ran ahead then turned round and ran back a bit. After doing this a couple of times I asked Storm where John was but he quickly appeared and we nearly had a conversation, between gasps, about the previous day's race and Ben's elbows. While John did edge ahead by about 10 yards by the summit I quickly caught him on the descent and wondered, since Ben had softened him up at Manor Water, if I would be able to keep up today? I suspected with a new baby arriving a bit early he wouldn't have had much time for long training runs. He caught me going up Carnethy but again hadn't made a lot by the summit, and again I went past on the route down to Scald Law where the same thing happened. It was good having a focus just ahead, rather than just wondering how much this was hurting and wouldn't it be nice to stop. After Scald Law there is something of a left turn over to South Black Hill and it was here that John and Storm made a first tangible gain. Bizarrely there was a gang of giggling cheering schoolkids at the top of S Black Hill and I wondered had John brought his class over from Mull? I don't know whose class they were but they all seemed to be high as kites and were cheering everyone with such abandon it was hard not to grin. Then there's a nice swoop down and round along a contour before the Kips. By the time I topped West Kip, Mr. Coyle seemed to have got down to the checkpoint at the Drove Road and since his descending clearly wasn't that good on previous hills I can only put it down to riding down the hill atop Storm.
The Drove Road checkpoint marks just over halfway and although I felt good, my time was down on previous and I knew I'd have to use a kite to get home under three hours. Instead I choked down a Stinger Gel which would have been a treat if I wasn't swallowing between gasps, had a couple of cups of water then set off down the road overtaking a couple of folk who had slowed to consume some food. Pussies! I hadn't been counting the amount of runners I'd gone past vs the amount that overtook me (generally going up big hills) but I reckoned I was now late 30s early 40s and as I began to see folk bending over to deal with cramp, feeling better by the minute. In fact the caffeine gel at the checkpoint lit a fire inside and I ran the whole of Hare Hill and caught a couple of guys in blue shirts for the wilderness crossing over heathery swamps to the swimming pool between Hare and Black Hills. Being immediately ahead they determined my speed (which was fast but not reckless) down the muddy bank to the pond which I ran into directly thinking it must be up to about Richard's waist. After the excitement its a bit of a slog up the curved ascent to the bottom of the biggest heather ascent of the day, Black Hill. In recce-ing the course I found a good route turning up earlier than the usual along by the deceased gate. Strangely everyone took that route this year so I blindly followed the several ahead incl. the blue tops not paying attention until we'd lost the trail and I was marching through burnt heather stumps. Its all pretty much the same and eventually after a long slog up we come to the top where there is a kindly marshal taking numbers.
Richard displays the downside of roadshoesThere also seemed to be a pile of jelly babies and mini mars bars near each of the marshals but I find my appetite didn't even stretch to the gels I am carrying. Then splosh, splosh, splosh across Black Hill and the big descent to Bell's Hill. If I did one clever thing all day it was the inspired madness of leaving the path at this point. I hadn't tried it before but saw a plan and before I knew it, I was breaking off to a patch of burnt skeletal heather on the left. I could see a great swathe of this descending directly like the hypotenuse of a triangle that everyone else was running the other two sides of. The direct line was quicker; not only shorter but it didn't follow the path that has become so eroded that it snakes dangerously below the heather concealing ankle twisting stones and slippy mud making a treacherously tedious descent down what was once a break neck speed run. I belted down the unmarked heather trying to see if the route ahead was even all the way to the rejoinder of the traditional path. After a hundred yards I hit deeper heather and had to lollop like a gibbon across this, wondering if I had made a big mistake every time I nearly disappeared down some rabbit hole. Then more of the fast skeletal grey heather again and I bombed down to the turn at the break having made half a dozen places. Uplifted by this I sploshed across the burn and started the plod that begins by crossing the ferns and swamp and ends going up that dreaded groove before heading for the summit stones and another marshal. I could see John's red top at the top of the groove as I was about the bottom. He had maybe 2 or 3 minutes over me but I reckoned his wheels would fall off before mine. It was a long way to the top of Bell's and I was gasping for a drink but they pointed me to a water station down on the path between Bell's and Harbour Hill where some saint-like folk had carried in water. I had a couple of sips left in the CamelBak but wanted to save them for an emergency/Allermuir.
Two cups of water and I nearly ran up Harbour Hill. By half way I was walking with occasional bursts of running. I could tell 3hrs was out of the question and was wondering what my motivation was now. Then as you see the guy ahead fail to start running once the hill has eased off you know what the motivation is and you jog past breezily. Halfway up Allermuir an Ochils runner who I'd been near for a while asked about the three hours mark and I said it was long gone and we'd do about 3.05 or 3.06. We agreed that that was fine and it took the pressure off to hare down the long single track descent to Hillend chasing three hours.
Leaving Allermuir summit for Hillend
Mary sprints for the line
Graham, Mary, Steve FallonHowever I found myself unable to slacken off and relished the chance to enjoy the downhills as much as possible. Which was tricky as the thin paths were, in places, fat with black sucking mud and the chance to trip and slide. Shouting thanks to some walkers (who stepped out the way) with a dog (that didn't) I finally ran along the flat above the Ski Slope and before crossing that stile again spotted the red shirt (did he really wash that last night between races?) of John Coyle heading into the finish less than 90 secs ahead. I did 3.06 (36th) (Ochils dropped back to do 3.07) and was pleased to have survived the weekend without any injuries or cramp. Until outside the shower block taking my shoes off sitting on the cold slabs I was suddenly gripped by shout-out-loud spasms of the worst cramp, up and down my legs. I limped into the changing rooms and the warm water sorted it out. They have really splendid hot showers there – its a great finish to the race.
Paul - utilising elbows and line hogging tactics
I returned to the finish and took some photos. Colin Donnelly won the Man and Debbie MacDonald won the Mouse. Another bottle of beer for all Man-or-Mousers. Another £3 well spent.
The MAN
The MOUSEExcellent events but it requires another weekend off to recover. Being self employed my work endorsed this.
Report pb
Photos: Alan Young, Anne Nimmo, Graham, pb, Ian Brodie, Ben
Websites: Carnethy, SHR
Results: Manor Water, Skyline, Man-or-Mouse
Carnethy photos Manor Water
Skyline photos
Alan Young's photos Manor Water
