Stornoway Half Marathon 23/05/09
In a fit of madness I bought a flight to get me to this race as I couldn't leave work on the Friday in time to be able to drive and get the ferry from Ullapool as Ben, Peter and Richard did.
It was an early start on the Saturday then to be up and ready to catch my flight. The plane was a small plane with propellers (a Saab 340 I think having googled the Loganair fleet) and it was a delight to take off and see the Forth Bridges, Cramond and Fife laid out below me. Soon however we flew into thick cloud which was only to become more dark and dense as we went further north-west.
The plane set off a bit late but made up the time on route and by 9am I was catching a (the) taxi to the race. On the way to the start, passing a house by the road the taxi driver beeped his horn saying it was “time they were up”. “Its all very well staying up late at night” he told me. I didn't catch who “they” were. By 9.10 am I was at the Golf Club Car park where baggage was to be dropped. The first person I met was Richard Dennis equipped with a large umbrella. It was unremittingly wet and cloudy but the ambient air temperature was actually quite warm and there wasn't much wind.
Rosie, Jane and Jim - all completed the course.Of added interest to the race for us was that our friends Jane and Jim had – reluctantly – agreed to also do the race. They were on holiday in the islands anyway, normally being based in Cumbria. As they have a relatively new addition to their family, Rosie, they'd invested in a camper van and had been touring around for a couple of weeks. Jane is just getting back into running post-baby although she usually runs hills and Jim is a dyed-in-the-wool British national standard fell-runner who “tried” road running briefly during the foot-and-mouth thing (c. 2000?) but didn't like it. Jane was the more likely of the two to have a go at the half marathon (we'd promised the second half is off road and they'd like it) but Jim surprised us by saying he'd also do it, but pushing Rosie in the baby buggy.
I soon hooked up with Peter and Ben and Lucy C. In the car park at the start up at Lews College, Jane and Jim were sitting relaxed in their camper van and it was only when I said “Oh well, 12 minutes to go” that they realised the race was at 10am and not at 11 as they'd imagined. There was a sudden flurry of activity as I got to hold the baby, Peter got to pump the buggy's tyres up and Jane and Jim got their numbers on.
10.01am we set off after a brief and humorous race briefing by Tony Robson the organiser who set us off and then ran the race himself.
The first 2 miles are downhill so I thought to be capitalised on. I ran side-by-side with RD briefly ( he thought it was for the first mile but I think it was for the first 500m or so). Lucy is just coming back from injury and a hiatus in her training so was there to enjoy herself and not push too hard and so I saw her take off at a relatively relaxed pace ahead and disappear. Richard went with her and stayed with her as long as he could in the race. Up the front could be seen 2 Porty vests; Ben and Peter running shoulder to shoulder.
I didn't know where Jim and Rosie had started but I knew I'd be seeing them before too long. I ran 2 quick miles and then the course flattened out. Things settled down quite a lot then! Despite being excited about the race I could also feel that I was tired and mentally not that focused. I briefly stayed with a pack of quite quick women and then really knew I had to let at least the first 2 go to avoid some version of crashing and burning. The test then was to stay involved in the race and do the best I could with the form I had. I swapped places a few times with a woman called Maureen who had the energy to talk! “I've gone off too fast!” She said. “If you can talk you're feeling better than me.” I thought. “Nnnngggg” I said, discouraging further discussion.
I got away from her on an uphill. The next thing was Jim going by with the baby carriage. He was going at a nice relaxed pace, not breathing hard at all, we exchanged greetings and he disappeared off into the distance.
I used my wits to run the next couple of miles reasonably well catching on to a chain of men running into the wind, tucking in and using them for cover. If I'd had enough energy I would have gladly taken my turn. I did try at one point but when I increased my pace to go ahead of the guy ahead he sped up to prevent me.
The first half of the race is dodging about housing estates and I was looking forwards to the second half which is mostly off road, but was also aware that times would inevitably slow then too. I was cheerful, which is a good sign in a race but I was low in sugar as I'd had my breakfast at 5am and then due to the restrictions on carrying liquids through security and a lack of real forward planning I'd had nothing to eat since. I was half hoping that maybe some of the water stops would have energy drink as I knew I could use it, but it was not to be. Why would they? It was a stroke of luck then when running into the castle grounds one of the marshals offered me some jelly beans. I wouldn't normally risk eating anything when running at half-marathon intensity but I could tell I was going to run into as much trouble from low blood sugar so I took them. They were delicious! And I managed to digest them without any problems. I'm definitely a slightly different machine from the one I was a few years ago. In my first marathon even drinking sports drink gave me such a bad stitch that I couldn't drink anything from 18 miles onwards.
The second half of this course is lovely. Maybe a wee bit hilly for Bert but its on nice gravelly paths, through scented woods, lush greenery, nodding rhododendrons, then over heathery heath with a view over the bay and then zig-zagging back down to sea-level where you turn a corner and suddenly find yourself right back down at the shore.
Maureen had caught up with me again early into the second half. She passed talking to another runner, Hamish, who I knew from the Everest Marathon. “I won't be able to keep this up for long, I'm not fit!” She exclaimed. I had enough breath to tell her “I've heard that before, on you go...” Which made Hamish laugh. I did catch her again a bit later on the uphills and we exchanged places a few times. I finally got away on the last long hill and belted down the other side as quick as I could.
The last couple of miles are mostly flat and follow a winding path along the shore side. There was also a 10K race and the slower of the competitors were now making their way back along the same course as the half-marathoners. This was very helpful in that I could focus on reeling in these runners who were going a bit slower. I had to keep breaking down the mileage for myself by this point as I was tired and my legs were cramping up. Instead of thinking 3 miles to go I would think “just 2 miles and then 1 mile”. Even the last mile I had to break down for myself. By this time there were also km markers for the 10k racers, so at 9K I pretended I was doing one of the intervals at the meadows. I was half aware there were a few runners not that distant behind me and I was determined that no one would go past me before the end so I kept the pressure up as best as I could ; running the last .1 of a mile at 5 min/mile pace according to my Garmin! I'm not sure about that but I gave it what I could and had to lean over breathing heavily for quite some time once over the finish line before I could get it together to get some juice and my goody bag.
Due to the persistent rain there was a dearth of people hanging around at the finish so no Peter with his camera, in fact no-one I knew at all. I found my bag and phoned Peter and got him out the shower as I needed to borrow some shower gel. (Couldn't take it on the plane.)
After getting a very hot shower I felt a lot better and was able to take full advantage of the very good spread of rolls and soup and tea and coffee and cakes and find out how everyone had done. A Stornoway runner had won the race which was nice for the running club and the organisers. He won it decisively in 1hr 16 mins so nobody was arguing about it! Our Ben Kemp had held on for 3rd. Peter was 5th and – he thought - 1st older gent. Richard had held onto Lucy for as long as he could but she'd got a minute ahead in the end to finish in 1hr 28minutes. He did a very respectable 1hr 29minutes and had managed to stay ahead of our friend Jim Davies but not Rosie in the baby carriage. I wish we had a photo of that. I did not expect to come anywhere, with a vague hope of maybe lucking an LV prize but was pleased with the day anyway. I finished in a respectable (I think!) 1hr 42 minutes. Its a tough course and I was tired and I don't think I could have done any more – I could definitely have done worse. (I died on this same course in 2006 after a wet night in a tent and ran 1hr 49minutes.)
So when it came to prize giving there was general celebration in our camp. Lucy was 1st lady so got an enormous shield. Ben obviously got 3rd and then Peter also got an enormous shield for 1st MV. It was a complete surprise then when 1st LV was “Mary Hunter of Portobello”. I also got a massive shield and was so astonished I don't even know if I said thank you when I went on stage to get it. All the winners also got stone Lewis chess men and a black pudding, so I had a brief moment of horror when I found I didn't have enough hands for three items and thought I was going to drop something before I tucked my black pudding under my arm and got back to my seat.
The first three ladies had all been LV35s so as they had 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, 1st LV35 fell to me who was actually 4th LV35 and also 7th lady. I felt a bit bad for the 3 senior ladies who had beaten me but I like my great big shield.
Richard said there was a bit of consternation in the changing rooms about the man with the baby carriage who'd run 1hrs 29 mins. Some people were saying he'd been in the 10K race. If they knew Jim's calibre as a runner they wouldn't have any problem with being beaten by him. I had a wee look on fellrunner.org just to clarify for myself how he'd done in the British fell-running championships in the last few years and found in 2004 he was 7th, in 2005 he was 6th, in 2006 he didn't focus on it so was 19th, in 2007 he was 7th and 1st MV40, 2008 9th and 4th MV40 and this year is currently standing at 1st MV40. He's won countless races. I've been there when he's won Stuc a Chroin and the Pentland Skyline. And if you knew just how much he hates road running you would be equally impressed by him doing the race at all. He even admitted it was not as bad as he thought it would be.
Enough about that I suppose. I think my point is it made me think about how weaselly runners can get about other runners when they get beaten sometimes and how they'd be better off realising that the person who beat them deserves respect for a good effort rather than some destructive attack on their character.
This was the ferry on the way there (for those of us not Rock-Star enough to fly.)After the prize-giving it was time to catch the ferry. We got a lift there in a minibus from Tony Robson and were in plenty of time. I have to mention just what a friendly experience doing this race and most of the Hebridean races is. I e-mailed Tony a couple of weeks ago to see whether he thought I should organise a taxi in advance from the airport and he told me if I my flight was late just to phone and they'd hold up the race start for 10 minutes! The organisation was seamless, the results up on the website before we got home, the prize-giving is always generous. There was more cake than you can shake a stick at!
Ferry good
After a long drive home with a valiant but fading Ben at the wheel (he wouldn't let me drive so I had a few beers which helped me relax!) we arrived back home about 11pm. Today is about trying to recover sufficiently to make a decent job of the Rigg Race tomorrow night. That will be Peter's 3rd race in 5 days or 4th race in 9 days.
Report Mary Hunter
ResultsPeter's version...
Intense trip but worth it, travelling to this remote but welcoming island to meet old friends and new competition, to dash through streets and trails with the rain washing your brow and hope pounding in your heart for success and maybe this year a hot shower before a black pudding prizegiving and buffet fit for a (chesspiece) king followed by the journey home in a car full of laughing and tired legs, worries of the week forgotten (as long as I don't tongue the stump) and so tired when finally home, I'm asleep before the lips touch the glass.
Report pb
One of various challenges this weekend was the idea of a hundred word web report (as above.) I tried to put them all in one sentence. Okay I may be pushing it having chesspiece and prizegiving as single words, and I'm sure Ben and Richard will do better. Other challenges were to run a course pb which I probably did and Richard and Mary certainly did. Richard, Ben and I came second male team to the Stornos who have mounted a strong campaign on the Heb3 overall team prize. Hopefully I will manage Skye and Harris.
On Thursday, the day before we left I went to the excellent Chalmers Dental Clinic (having been without a dentist for a couple of decades) where they sorted a molar that had been chipped a while ago and had begun to turn up the pain volume during the last week. Extraction seemed to be the best option and after a tug of war the blighter came out. While it wasn't painful it wasn't wholly pleasant either and my apologies to Ben and Richard for the detailed de-briefing during the journey up the road. If you are squeamish look away now...
Luckily I had my camera with me.Any rumours about removing body parts to lighten running weight are exaggerated. Great to catch up with Dougie Flett - see you for a training run soon. And very well done Jane, Jim and Rosie. Rosie's first race and an excellent performance crossing the line with Richard. I was delighted to win a black pudding which was very tasty.
home sweet home
Here is Richard's 100 words...
Cavalry charge down drizzly hill. Through townsfolk cheering to harbour’s grey seas where Calmac beckons to faster races on distant isles. Empty fishing boats wave at the cemetery’s too-still watchers. First hill heavy breathing wakens Colquhoun pride. She leads the men single-file through the houses – then leaves them lass-lorn. Onto the trails, heart-busting through willows falling to faster flowing stream. Distant hilltop gallows threaten those fading. Brief tarmac climbs to open moor. Thoughts turn to home too fast. Puddle-scattering pram pusher passes – pooh! Legs and lungs give their last. Stand gently steaming, stopped. So tired - where’s the cake?
Blank verse Richard Dennis
Here are some photos from the SRAC site - thanks Gavin. Report and more photos
I really like this impression of the Storno guys
Lucy and RD
Mary mixes it up with the girls
First ladyNext up Richard's report from Benbecula...
Benbecula – Heb 3, II 6/06/09
Having been beaten at Stornoway by an eight month old girl (don’t ask), I was initially rather dismayed to see a four month old boy – Reuben Kemp – sitting in the car when Ben and Alison appeared for the long trip north: just think what might be in his genes. But fortunately he isn’t running….. yet!
The Hebs make me think of Masefield’s “I must go down to the seas again…” - since the Western Isles get in the blood and call to you once the half marathon season is upon you. Whether CalMac ferries count as tall ships I don’t know. And for once there was no grey mist on the sea’s face – though there was a large swell on the Minch - and the dawn that came to Lionacleit on Saturday was bright, with the sun shining strongly.
Of course, I was in the hotel - though I wasn’t alone. In spite of all the flack I have taken in previous reports from those who think camping is the only way to savour the full Heb experience, little things overnight like a gale, driving rain, a ripped flysheet and a four month old baby had forced the Kemps to stoop to come indoors.
Masefield goes on “the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied”. I don’t think he had running in mind, but if he had, I’d have known what he meant. Benbecula is a small race – 80 runners this year – and so full of repeat competitors from this and the other Hebs that you could almost write the results beforehand. Ben knew exactly who he’d be racing against at the front, and I could also work out exactly who I needed to follow.
Benbecula is the flattest of the Hebs. Though the course rolls up and down, there are several points where you can see over a mile in front of you. The downside is that it is very exposed to the wind – and there was a small competition to see how many safety pins you could use on your number! But this year we were lucky – the wind was only really against us from miles 3 to 6 across the middle of the island.
The main drawback with a small field is that the race is very processional – after the first mile, there were very few changes of position. I settled in alongside HBT’s Robin Livingstone in that first mile, and we ran together for most of the race – working together into the wind. He was even good enough to tell me to tuck in and slipstream when I went through a tough patch around the 4 mile point. But in general I was happier being a few yards ahead and being able to run my own pace. We’d started off leading the first “pack” – a little group of 6 or 7 following the long stretched-out single file of runners in front. I didn’t notice the others disappear – but I did notice one after another of the isolated runners in front slowly coming back to us. I think we got perhaps 5 places over the next 6 miles – just enough to keep focussed on going as hard as I thought I might be able to keep up.
There were bits of the race with the sun out and the wind behind us when working close to the limit was surprisingly enjoyable – there were other bits when it was just hard. I was certainly glad of the end when it came, and very ready for the mountains of cakes, sarnies and soup the good ladies of the Hebrides had spent possibly the whole year preparing. Ben had left aside his nocturnal adventures to come back to his traditional 1:19 form and second place – Reuben was not at all impressed with the tankard for second. I was slightly disappointed to have come first loser – last year this was the race in which I won my first and only prize in my own right – and then slightly disappointed to find out that I had equalled my personal best. But only slightly – in face of the cake mountain, and inspired with the Heb 3 spirit, I have to agree with Masefield that for that night:
All I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s overLiterature Richard Dennis
Results may eventually be posted here but so far no hurry to get them up.
