Moffat Chase – Ya Bass 15/7/06
photo nicked from SHR site - many thanksI always like to put in positive reports and thought this one might be too negative and was going to keep my mouth shut until I seen Fen's report. Yes, Gala week in Moffat a 15k midweek and a hill race on the Saturday. A lovely sunny day and the course which is 16 miles long; the same as the Pentland Skyline but a 1000ft less of climb, I can do the Skyline in 3hrs 10mins so I had the aim of a sub 3hrs. My time was a slow burning 4.29.08. I said to the troops who were nervous beforehand it will be “Character Building”. I was in a semi state of shock on the Sat night about my time but I did find a £5 in a Chippy in Selkirk that gave me a free fish supper for my pains. On the subject of fish I drank like one during the race but still got dehydrated; over 4 hours in the sun took its toll. As for Fen's challenge to the A team, well I was a Mr T by the end. The Carnethy website site says it was not for the faint-hearted and one of the Westies got concussion after a fall but after a 5 min break managed to finish. Tony Stapley did this race many years ago and he had warned me it could be a dangerous one. Shettleston Harriers organised it well with the Mountain Rescue and plenty of marshals. I want another crack at this one and next time it will be all out attack, I got a really sore heel and blisters and should have worn my training shoes instead of Walshes mind you one of the ascents is a cracker. I would normally only go down something like that on skis. Hope to be fit for the next long hill race at Dufftown on 29th July, failing that it will be a Musselburgh 6 miler. Well done to the 15k runners and our island hopper's victory up in the Isles. Yes it is still a magic country.
PS Fen we will do the double next year.Report Graham Henry
Further info, results, photos etc here
