Stuc a'Chroin Hill Race, 2/05/09
We ran this monster in 2007 and found it very full-on, with very steep ground. So approached it with trepidation but more hill miles in our legs this time. Just back from a few days holiday and running, over at Mary's sister in Tayvallich where there are some of the best trails in the world. (May put a slideshow of that up later though the weather was a bit iffy at times and not the wall to wall sunshine we had hoped for.)
Last time we raced Stuc I suffered from bad cramp in the last few miles (all that stepping up near vertical heather then stomping down vertical drops) so this year I had a plan to combat this. Pace myself better, carry an electrolyte-heavy drink to consume about 3/4s through the race, and thirdly I had reluctantly spent £25 on Skins compression socks, which I planned to run in. I don't know if they make any difference to cramp onset but thought it was worth a try. I took them West on holiday but not being used to wearing long socks, forgot to put them on every run.
As Stuc was starting at the civilised hour of 1pm there was no hurry to set off at the crack of dawn. However the traditional Callendar logjam held us up for so long that we were beginning to panic by the time we got parked and along to the hotel for registration. Just time to get changed, pin on our numbers and do a couple of strides across the grass. There was a bigger than usual English contingent owing to the race being a GB championship as well as an SHR championship. I was concerned at the start about getting caught behind the crowds on the congested paths and ran with elbows out to keep others from barging into me for the first couple of turns. The moderately steep path does the best job of sorting out the correct order and soon I was able to dodge past a load of runners as the path widened and levelled off a bit. I said a couple of words to Tom Scott and Martin Laing as we climbed the first couple of miles on smooth forest trails.
It was around this point that I realised I wasn't wearing the Skins: d'oh.
Our pal Nic Davies - one of the many English who came up for the race. Her brother Jim was first v40.The trails go into a dark wooded area after about 17.5 minutes. I hit the stopwatch at every major obstacle or summit. Looking back at last year's times I realise I was 30s ahead here this year. However with the bigger picture in mind I tried to pace out the next hour or two in the hope of running the last few miles in better shape. The course is near marathon length in time but due to the constantly changing scenery, and having to keep your eyes on the ground, it passes much quicker. After a lot of muddy tussocky single track over the first small summit and along a bit we begin to descend at about 35 minutes into Glen Ample. I focussed on an even sooth descent and preserving the legs – knowing that after the swamp at the bottom we face 26 minutes of steep ascent. It starts reasonably but quickly becomes so steep that as you follow single file on a thin trail you are hauling yourself up with hands in heather and on metal fence posts: like climbing up a ladder for nearly half an hour. Its tough going and the banter shuts down; all you can hear is your own heart beat and rasping breathing.
Over an hour after the start and we reach the top of Beinn Each. Any sense of relief is tempered by the very uneven rocky ground we now meet although there are stretches of decent running as well. Alan Young is taking photos of us scrambling down a nasty rocky step. Thanks Alan. Plenty of opportunity to trip, slide or fall and damage yourself. I had a gel to celebrate passing the first major obstacle but had forgotten just how far it was to Stuc. (Another 30 mins.)A few folk went past as we stumbled over the rough ground and I began to feel beaten, and my stomach wasn't enjoying the caffeine gel. I struggled on and soon the lead runners began to appear dodging round us but returning on the same path. I looked out for and shouted on the runners I knew and it distracted from the difficulties. However there was still a long way to the top and going round a corner another huge climb appeared. David Scott (Ochils) went past and I wondered how Martin Laing was doing. He had taken off a long time ago and I was surprised that I got most of the way to the summit before seeing him coming down.
These action photos coming off Ben Each by Alan YoungI turned round the summit cairn about 1.39 (30s slower than last year - not that I was aware of that,) but felt better by the minute and after a bit of scrambling down the summit pile began to pick up the pace. We retrace our steps over the up and down for a mile or more until Bealach nan Cabar where a marshal directs us down a long diagonal descent back into Glen Ample. The route changes from rock to squelch and a thin ankle deep muddy track. At the top I caught up with Martin which cheered him up so much he belted off down the path at an astonishing speed. Myself and a guy in a striped black and white top (some English club vest) did our best to stick with him, overtaking several on the way but just couldn't match Martin's exemplary style. Striped top put a foot wrong and rolled twice before popping back onto his feet undamaged. Martin pulled away but by the time we all got to the bottom he had run out of steam. We all walked past the marshals there, sharing a joke with them before the steep hike up the waterlogged swampy path to Meall Mor. I drank my sports drink. I could tell Martin was having trouble and knew that I had more left in my legs today than himself, which was a surprise as he took miles off me at Clachnaben. I felt much stronger than 2007 and chased the striped shirt up the hill. We ran together over the contouring path which goes on for ages tearing away at the soles of your feet before eventually coming to the deer fence. Some stopped to drink (the marshals had an amazing supply of water all the way round the course) and I made a couple of places ducking in front of them and down the sodden hill through the pine trees. I picked up the pace going past another only realising the route suddenly did a right turn at the bottom of the hill, grabbing a tree trunk to sling shot myself along the perpendicular while shouting rude words.
Back onto the forest track and downhill all the way home. However, as it was about here the cramp really caught up with me last time I cautioned myself to run smoothly and not jar my wobbly legs. However I had felt much better over the last ascent than last time and was confident I was in better form. A Bella runner I had overtaken in the woods took the place back then the striped shirt went past. I was breathing much faster than usual inhaling on every left footstep making “hi” exhale noises on every right footstep. Not long to go. I noticed the hairpin turn that induced the cramp last time and didn't take the short cut jump down, taking the longer journey round but still feeling good. I saw a Carnethy up ahead the striped shirt had just gone past and could see from his short stride he was in trouble. I cruised past feeling masterful, knowing there was just a couple of corners to go. Red tape across the path directing us left down the small path and just as I rounded the corner and could see and hear the finish below my right leg seized up: a vice tightened on my upper thigh on the inside. I walked each right step but continued to run with my left leg for ten steps until that seized up in an identical way. I was reduced to a walking stumble. I think at least 2 runners went past as I hobbled the last 200 yards – what a frustrating way to end an otherwise successful day out. However once stopped I quickly recovered and was able to walk to the toilets where I scraped the majority of mud and filth off washing in the cold water before returning to the car and changing, shivering, into dry clothes.
2hrs43, I was 2 minutes quicker than last time. And probably heavier conditions this year. Mary also had a good run getting in just under the three and a half hours – seven minutes quicker than before and looking strong on the last few miles of trails I had hobbled down. In fact I took almost identical photos save for a different number and 2 years inbetween.
2007
2009 - same trees, same stride, different number, 7 minutes faster.A great race. Nearer 13 miles than the prescribed 14 but feeling more like 24+ road miles. There was some marvellous scenery with views to snowy peaks and back down to Loch Lubnaig but I'm afraid I didn't really stop to take it in. Very well organised, marked and marshalled. So many marshals with water means carrying a minimum personal amount, and the weather – sunny but cool esp. on the tops – made for a great day out.
The new shoes, Inov-8 330 Mudclaws get 10 out of 10 for accommodating the terrain in comfort. The rock was slippy as black ice in places but I suspect any shoe would have been similarly troubled. Must go and give them a wash. You wouldn't believe how filthy everything got – socks had to be shaken then thoroughly rinsed before being put through the washing machine.
And the compression socks – I put them on after the race and was able to get out the car in Edinburgh without the usual post race groans and aches though I was disappointed not to have been smart enough to run in them. Quite a few seemed to be wearing the thicker woolly versions which would guard against heather scratches but might carry too much moisture. And no-one escaped with dry feet.
SHR results and photos (Many thanks to Alan Young who did a good job hiking over the rough terrain)
