Skyline Recce 5/10/08
After the 2 Breweries, in my weakened state, I picked up the cold which still, nearly 2 weeks later, hasn't left me entirely. Having not run for a week and making what I felt might be a wise choice I opted not to race Doon Hill – a favourite, but one for which the weather forecast did not bode well. Instead on Sunday I cycled to Bonaly and ran the Skyline course yet again, taking over 200 photos on the way round. I was on the hills for about 4 hours and the weather could not have been better. Blue skies and very little wind. Underfoot was well sploshy and the course will probably not dry out much for this weekend's race. Starting at Bonaly and heading up Capelaw Hill and Allermuir means dry shoes until Hare Hill about 2 miles from the finish back at Bonaly. Although there's not such a good hiding spot for a bike there it is fairly ned free.
Sunny weather makes a huge difference. Although last year it was so warm during the race that many would have preferred a cooler day and those that didn't carry some kind of drink (Ben!) paid the price. With the season changing to an Autumnal cool you don't have to carry so much and 1litre was just about enough to get me round. As usual I was very happy to return to my bike bottle at the end of the circuit.
I always enjoy the view from Allermuir (the second summit in the race) right up the two ridges with the reservoirs in between. With the spectacular weather there were plenty of hillwalkers and runners about. I crossed over to Castlelaw and took photos of Turnhouse noting the small metal caravan (bottom right) which I have only ever seen close up for a couple of seconds during the Turnhouse Hill Race. Then as you go past the firing range there is a road crossing and a path that avoids the farm. Just as you go through the gate there is a tree with a hollow trunk which reminds me of a tremendous poem by Hugh Sykes Davies called Poem (in the stump of the old tree). Now, if you read this poem here (below Hugh looking suitably eccentric with his hair on back to front) you will never think fondly of the hollows in trees again which was why I took a flash photo down the inside of the trunk with caution expecting all manner of seething and ....well read the poem. The result was really boring by comparison; in fact its tidier than most of my house and would be a good place to keep umbrellas.
Starting at Bonaly has not only the benefit of a shorter cycle (than Balerno) to get there (40mins out 33 back) but also you get to do the high tops of Turnhouse, Carnethy and Scald Law while relatively fresh. I stopped for a chat with a bloke on top of Carnethy when a hare ran over the summit. Too slow with the camera. On to South Black Hill and the Kips. Had a sports bar for lunch on West Kip though kept moving as there was another runner following. Down the Drove Road and up to Hare Hill.
The trees halfway up Turnhouse
West Kip
Looking back from the KipsA while ago I recce'd an alternative route off Hare Hill heading North to hit the path sooner rather than traverse the swamps in a straight line to Black Hill. I thought by getting to the faster path with dry feet would be a benefit. However given that in all but the driest of Summers the top of Black Hill is always a swamp, the feet are only dry for an extra 10 minutes. And the North route is slightly harder going. Especially as there now appears to be a new and very visible single file route from Hare Hill cairns across the swamps to the sharp descent of Green Cleugh and Black Hill.
As I approached the Cleugh there was a party of walkers negotiating the stile down there. I saw they had noticed me so gave them a show, picking up the pace on the very steep muddy path until I realised if it got any steeper I'd be in trouble. It did, and muddier too, and I could feel the studs in my Montrails clog up and turn into roller skates and I had the delirious dream-like feeling of losing a grip on reality. My only concern was that I didn't plant the front of the camera, which I had in my hand, into an inch of mud. However I quickly left the path and tumbled into the ferny undergrowth, arse over elbow then rolling onto my feet, and with adrenaline coursing through me, sprang up punching the air with both hands like maybe I meant it. My audience had noticed this but quickly moved on before I could wade through the cleugh and contaminate them with mud. The water is nearly knee deep currently.
Crows circling on a thermal
Once onto Hare Hill the grass is suddenly more russet red: like running on a magical red carpet.I don't think I've ever taken the same (unmarked) route up Black Hill twice. Its always tempting (during the Skyline) to follow someone who is confidently striding up one of the sheep trods, though they almost always peter out and you are left marching through brittle burnt heather stubs until you find the next track. I had a start point in mind and had followed variations on it a couple of times recently but on Sunday I started up sooner and found it worked well. No way is supremely easy or takes the best line and it is always a slog. Hitting the landrover path most of the way up and over on the right that leads to the top is probably a good idea if you can find it. The views are lovely and there is usually a marshal at the summit taking numbers and offering kind words. However, this year expect swampy wet and muddy feet up to your knees along the summit plateau then a rough and stony descent down what used to be much faster (maybe I was much faster) but now seems rutted, stony and ankle-twisty. Look across to that green groove on Bell's Hill. I know a good line to the bottom of the groove but there is nothing to ease the pain of the grind to the top. In training I often stop to take a photo here, possibly to catch my breath. Also you find yourself able to scrutinise the flora since you are moving slowly and the vertiginous slope presents specimens close to your face. If you are carrying crampons fit them here. Usually a check point at the summit stones, and another marshal saying that its nearly finished but don't believe that because if you look across at the view that has just opened out in front you can see hills all the way to the horizon and you have to cross them all.
These shots for George S who expressed an enthusiasm for small gay flower photos.The last time I had run Bonaly to Bonaly was the day after I had met Mikko, a visitor from Helsinki. I think Run&Become had pointed him in our direction when he enquired if there was an Edinburgh running club to take him running locally while he was here for a holiday weekend. I made him aware of the Sunday run, on which he went, but said I would take him out on Saturday. I knew he was training on some scheme to run a sub 2.30 marathon and worried I wouldn't be able to afford him a quality session. However when I heard that there isn't much in the way of hills in Helsinki I plotted a course for the summit of Arthur's Seat and by the top, our disparate abilities had evened out. I really enjoyed his company and admired his bold approach to contacting local runners in areas foreign to him, something I might (but shouldn't) feel reluctant to do myself. His report on that run here... to explore his weekend click Sept at the bottom of the calendar and click on the 20th and 21st.
Black Hill from Bells Hill
Looking back on the climb up Harbour Hill
Threipmuir ReservoirWatch out on the diagonal descent to the coll before Harbour Hill as you will have recently thrashed legs and there are a couple of big black swamp holes on the contour where I, not so long ago, took a running lunge and full length try-scoring dive. Harbour Hill doesn't look runnable but it is. I ran the whole thing on Sunday with lungs rattling, a bucket of snot rockets behind me. Capelaw Hill then looks runnable but isn't. Well not the first section. It was here a few years back that I first became aware of, and overtaken by, Lucy Colquhoun and I always think of her as I stagger up this hill. She came running past asking in an all-too-jolly-way if this was the right direction. I will be lucky if I ever get this far again before being overhauled by her. Her amazing career as long distance supremo continued this weekend with her coming second woman (13th overall) at Loch Ness Marathon in a great time of 2.52, GO LUCY! Also winning prizes at the weekend was Willie at Doon Hill notching up another first o/50. He'll be running out of room in the trophy cabinet. And Richard was the club's sole representative at a London Marathon - not The but A London Marathon, and although a good run he was not best pleased - report to follow.
Something Jarvie-esque going on here
Did you ever see an elephant fly?
East and West KipAs the bike was at Bonaly and the sun was going down I took a left along and down past the reservoir back to the car park. I stopped to film a deer but it was too much the same colour as the background bracken and I didn't have the fence-climbing legs to chase it across the next few fields.
My top tips for all those doing the Skyline race would be carry something to drink (and a bit to eat) and wear clothes that won't ruin in mud. And nice grippy shoes if you have them, tied tightly. If you're doing Manor Water the day before don't be discouraged at the start of the Skyline – you may not feel very chipper climbing that first hill past the ski slope and upwards, but it eases off after a few ups and downs. Last (and only) time I did both I spent the last half hour of the Skyline chasing the 3 hr mark knowing it was very close, but by no means in the bag. I ran the last 15 minutes in 14 minutes and what with the exertion and relief of going over the line in 2.59 nearly burst into tears. I may be quite a bit slower this time. Fingers crossed for good weather.
Report and photos pb
