Ochils 2000s Hill Race 23/08/08
The Wallace monument above Stirling CampusIf you've run the Alloa Half you will have noticed the big hills on the back straight above Tillicoultry and Alva. Add some more at either end and you have the Ochils 2000s: all the 2000' plus hills between Glen Devon and Bridge of Allan ending with Dumyat and dropping into Stirling University.
Red rings are checkpoint dibbers at hill summits (and the start and finish).We had been for a couple of recces and I wasn't very impressed. Lots of similar looking round green characterless hills at the start with the prevailing wind and rain in our faces. However on the second recce the sun eventually came out and I found the latter part of the course more scenic and fun, though harder to run and more difficult to spot the right line over poor ground. Our fingers were definitely crossed for good weather.
When nationalists rant on about the joys of Scotland and how it is unequalled I often wonder if they have been abroad and seen what sunshine and a warm climate is like. This last week my work was outdoors and I wasn't full of summery Caledonian fervour. In fact after many hours standing in the cold drizzle and torrential rain through the week I was so tired I could have happily turned over and slept for a further 5 hours when the alarm went early this morning. Mary also had a long week and looked pretty tired on the start line. Not a promising opening for such a major endeavour – selling itself as 18 miles and 5000'. Mary made it nearly 20 miles on her Garmin. However the weather was near perfect.
Being a point to point we had been driven from the finish to the start in several coaches. There was a bit of a delay at the start counting the entrants (but not doing a kit check.) Some carried nearly empty tiny bum bags while others had rucksacks for a weekend hike. Eventually we set off up the gravely path into the forestry trails. I had thought I would start modestly and pace myself however the red bull and the caffeine gel that had taken over my chain of command had other ideas and for the first few up hill miles I surprised myself by overtaking several hillrunning heroes – considerably stronger athletes who had better judgement about how to pace a race this length.
These empty landscapes were snapped on the recces. River Forth in background.After a while some red and white hazard tape guided us into the murky damp woods and we ran between trees up a long corridor of moss-on-mud slipperyness ducking beneath branches and skating in the mire. Just as we ran into the woods I noticed a group staying on the landrover trail led by David Scott of Ochil Hill Runners. Had I been behind him I would certainly have followed his lead – given his local knowledge. About a mile of difficulties later we popped out the other side and climbed a deer fence. Coming up behind at about the same distance as before was David Scott – he had gained little from his detour apart from maybe less muddy shoes.
I continued to push onwards and although sweating profusely I felt okay – unsure whether Gordon's vigorous midweek hill session would take its toll later in the race or whether it had fine tuned my hill fitness for today. (Probably both.) Shortly we came to the first checkpoint and we all dibbed our dibbers (£25 fine if you lose it) in the electronic device at the top of Innerdownie, the lowest of the 2000 footers at 2005ft.
Mary and Judith at the finish - we had recced the course with local runner Judith.A couple more ups before a big drop down to a burn crossing then up to Kings Seat Hill. I was delighted to still be ahead of Tom Scott, Martin Laing and Jill Mykura having swapped places a couple of times with Jill who I noticed was wearing earphones. Not sure if she was listening to motivational tapes or rock 'n' roll but it was working for her as she soon went past and finished strongly. Later, as she was just ahead, I saw her cleanly leap a fence I was only just able to vault using the fence post. Must have had something good for breakfast.
Next up Andrew Gannel Hill. Googled and Wikipedia-ed this name but can't find any famous Andrew Gannel apart from said hill. Maybe it just looked like an Andrew Gannel. A tall green chap with very little chat who leaves you a little breathless. Then The Law, at which point I was thinking I fought the law and the law won. An out-and-back promontory which you could approach diagonally to cut off a corner. There wasn't much of a path and folk were knees-up over the turfy, bumbling crossing, the first of many. Back to the main path across the spine of the Ochils and up to the highest point Ben Cleuch (2365ft) where there was an unpleasant headwind to add to the discomforts of the climb. Over then to Ben Buck and I was glad to have been overtaken by David Scott (who would finish 10th, nearly 20 minutes ahead of me) who with another runner led the traversing diagonal over the fence to cut another corner. From this point on I was beginning to feel an occasional twinge of cramp and an IT band problem that's been dogging me for 3 weeks. Last weekend I opted not to race the Lomonds of Fife in the hope it would be sorted by today but I could feel I was losing support in my right leg from halfway through the race. Its not painful; just a weakness, particularly descending. I spent the rest of the race going backwards through the field.
I was disappointed not to keep up with the runners ahead as we were now going to be coming to the treacherous stretches of the course and local knowledge would be paramount. I dropped a short distance stumbling through long grass off Ben Buck then after the quick up and back of Ben Ever was too far behind to see what line was working for the runners ahead crossing the heathery swamps and peat bog marshes before Blairdennon Hill. There is no easy line or path through this awful ground and you just have to wade and stomp until you get to quad bikes tracks that lead up the hill. The guy behind (Craig Love, Dundee Hawkhill) made considerably more ground towards me than I made on the guys ahead so I feel I probably made an arse of this section. As we climbed Blairdennon, Craig overtook though I stayed with him. “That swamp was very swampy,” was my conversational gambit, and he agreed. Better ground to the top and a checkpoint over the fence implied we should cross. I think Mary did, but in the recce we didn't and had stayed this side. As did Craig ahead of me, so feeling like I was fading I stuck to the route I knew and keeping up with Craig on the downhill (I knew his downhill-abilities from a drubbing off Bishophill earlier this year) caught a guy from Central crossing the burn before the second last climb. As the three of us clambered through the peat hags and swamps Central tripped and took a full body dive into a small pond. “On your feet Soldier” I shouted to amuse him. Then pointing to Craig who was leading us across the difficult terrain, “I thought he would find a better route than this...” I went over to the fence line to look for more runnable ground but there was no sign of a path. I knew a few hundred yards ahead we had to leave the fence and cross unmarked ground to pick up a quadbike trail that would take us round and down to the climb up Dumyat. Unfortunately I thought we might make better time cutting the corner and led the three of us (and some unfortunates behind) through about half a mile of awful tussocky swamp. Bad move. When, after a long battle through the tripping grasses we at last made the path, Dawn Scott, who had been behind, was now well in front. Very frustrating. The long easy run down the slope started well and was the last enjoyable running of the day for me. We then had more very long and unpleasant grasses to stumble through to get round a pond with long reeds and grass before going through some fields and past a ruined farm building. I suddenly limped to a grinding halt as both legs were gripped by intense cramp and I had to slap them and stretch until it eased. I watched runners I had been alongside disappear towards Dumyat the last hill. (Craig finished 5 minutes and 9 places ahead.) I hurpled onwards and eventually crossed the stream before the climb, where I walked into the welcome water and soaked my spasming calves then took three double handfuls to drink before jogging up the steep path ahead. I had long finished the litre of sports drink in my Camelbak (and 3 gels). A long slog up Dumyat followed and when I turned around I could see Tom Scott, the wily old dog, catching up. I got to the top and dibbed but then as I jumped down a rocky incline both legs seized fast and I looked at my calves which had locked into solid clenched rhomboids of muscle. I slapped them as hard as possible repeatedly then did some stretches as Tom ran past. It worked a little and I was able to run down hill as long as I kept my toes pointing up and ran on my heels. I felt like Paula – my heart was strong but my legs were shot: I was running on one leg (then the other) trying not to make any sudden jumps up or down over the rocky descent.
The descent from Dumyat - photos Ian Nimmo (thanks Ian!) from SHR link here. You'll notice I am not wearing a club vest. If I wear my Camelbak with only a club vest I rub the skin off 2 points about the size of two pound coins and have scars for a week for every half hour run. Hence a gilet which also carries gels and map in the pockets.There was still a good distance to go and I dropped half a dozen places which was very frustrating. I think a similar thing was happening to Duncan McGougan. He came 5th in the Lairig Ghru, nearly half an hour ahead of myself, so when he was sitting on the top of Dumyat watching everyone go past Tom and I assumed he had finished and was back to watch for friends. Not so, as he jogged back down finishing one place behind me. Or maybe he had found Buddhism on the journey and lost his competitive motivation. He didn't hang around to be asked. The organisers said that the last mile through the wooded area and into the university would be marked but I found it tough to spot all the markings and I wondered more than once if I was going the right way. I heard someone else say they ended up on top of a crag and had to backtrack. Central AC (swamp diver) came past and said he knew the way. It was the same route we had gone in the recce which surprised me as there were a couple of very slippery sharp drops that seemed dangerous. I went down them like a timid pensioner. Out into the University Campus and a couple of roads and another couple of guys going past including Jon Rathjen, HBT, which he would have enjoyed more than I did.
So apart from the last quarter of the race I had an outstanding time. The last few miles tempered this somewhat as did Dougie Milligan (1st o/60 yet again) saying the Two Breweries was a very similar adventure. Its another SHR championship race and a long time must-do. Maybe try to arrive at the start line in better shape. And pacing – that's a discipline I haven't got the hang of yet. I find it difficult to give less than 100% when feeling fresh at the start of a race.
Angela Mudge was on top form coming 5th overall in record time (2.51!). Jill Mykura kept up the solid pace she established early on maybe aware of Andrea Priestly of Ochils hot on her heels. Three of the top four guys were over 40.
Well organised and good showers/facilities and food and drink included (with coach ride to start) in entry price of only £10 road racers take note. Tired legs and had trouble descending tenement stairs to booze shop for essentials. Glad to have tomorrow to recover. Next up The Ben and the challenge to go 45 seconds quicker than last year to beat the 2hr mark.
Benefits of a long off-road run vs. road marathon; I was able to go out for a recovery run about 8 or 9 miles at chatting pace Sunday.
I particularly like the vertical climbs - don't remember going up any ladders.Report pb
photos pb and Judith
resultsRobert's report
Prior to entering the Ochils 2000, I should have paid more attention to the Ochil Hill Runners (OHR) website first.
One of the other hill races OHR organise is the Dollar Hill Race. Part of the race description says "The lower part of the course is controlled by a pair of Buzzards who have a liking for runners, especially those with little hair. ... If the Buzzards are too aggressive this year, an alternative route through Dollar Glen is used, but the first time we used this route there was a problem with Bees with several runners getting stung!" Then another part of the OHR website takes you to "100 Dumyats in 1 year - The Club Challenge" which describes a club challenge to run up Dumyat 100 times in a calendar year. If OHR can organise these type of races/challenges, what would the Ochils 2000 turn out to be like?
Dumyat from Undiscovered ScotlandIn this race, there were no buzzards or bees as the route did not pass Dollar. Also we were only required to ascend Dumyat once. The Ochils 2000 is a point to point 18 mile route, should you find the optimum route. By the end of the race, I had run 19.5 miles. Starting on relatively easy terrain but narrow track for the 1st mile, a long line of runners quickly develops as we run two by two before turning right and up a mossy mud track through trees. Even with my mudclaws, getting any decent traction was tricky. The challenge was 11 peaks, through a mix of track that would turn into a mix of heather, peat hags and bogs. By the time I arrived at the 3rd peak, in just under an hour, I was already feeling the effects of the course in my legs. Thankfully weather conditions were near perfect. I had to be reminded by a passing runner to take in the stunning views of the Forth and surrounding countryside. This was definitely one of those races where it was mostly head down and keep one foot moving in front of the other.
I can't quite remember when I hit the peat and bogs but I will never forget they were there. Route choice becomes all important and there is no substitute for local knowledge. The shortest route is not always the quickest route. In the absence of any purple vests of OHR runners and only having a map and a compass I decided to trust a couple of non-local runners in front of me. Unfortunately that took me through what were at times calf deep bogs and no obvious track follow. The other choice, the fence line on the left seemed to lead away from the next checkpoint but with hindsight, maybe that's the way I should have gone.
Due to feet being soaked in the bogs and many downhill stints, I could feel blisters developing. If there was a sweeper bus I could have been tempted. There was no such thing though and there was only one way to the finish.
Around Ben Ever, the 3rd from last, there was about half a dozen of us all within around 200m of each other. The mass procession of runners that had previously been in my field of view had disappeared. My initial objective to
finish under 4 hours had eroded, even before reaching half way and now changed to keep the runner in front in view.With dud legs, 1.5 lites of water drunk, reservoir now dry and feet that seemed to be growing blisters for fun, the final ascent of Dumyat loomed. 238m upwards in the space of 1.3km. By now the group of 6 had been whittled
down to a group of 3 with the other 3 way in front somewhere. If the ascent wasn't hard enough, the descent was worse. I was passed within meters of starting the descent by Claire Martin of Deeside Runners as she gave chase
to Jonathon Dawson (I think). There was now no visible runner behind me. I couldn't even go faster if I wanted to. My descent was clumsy and the gap in front was opening. Claire had passed Jonathon and was now almost out of
sight. Rather than focus on the finish ahead which was further than I realised, I kept taking the occasional glance behind in the hope someone would appear.A few minutes later, a group of three appeared what must have been about 150 meters behind me and at the same time I was starting to gain ground. This had nothing to do with any pace injection on my behalf. Eventually I could
hear some cheering sounds ... ah must be the finish close by. Unfortunately there were some rather horrible steep embankments. To safely navigate down them, tree hugging was almost essential. A few more twists and turns and I reach the tarmac road to the finish. By now I had passed Jonathon and the group of three that I had seen about 10 minutes earlier were still far enough behind.To get to the finish was a huge sense of relief. I was completely knackered in my legs. A finish time of 4h 54m. My training to date for a race like this has been insufficient. It was a great learning opportunity because it shows me what I need to do between now and next June.
Speaking to Mary at the start of the race, she asked if I was going to do the Two Breweries towards the end of September. I had no plans to but now that I have run the Ochils 2000 I may get my entry off. Amazing what a day
or two does!The Ochils 2000 is a very well organised race on a fantastic route. For the seasoned hill runner, this is a gem of a race. If you're more like me, mainly road with a mix of gentle off roading or just starting to venture into off road racing, then this will be a tough initiation to hill running. My first comment at the end of the race was "brutal", but this is a reflection of my lack of preparation for such an event.
Report Robert Kinnaird
