Merrick is a 2765' Corbett in Galloway Forrest Park, on the way out the race loops round a few lesser hills, Eschoncan, Bennan, and Benyellary with a run down the Neive of the Spit before joining the hill walkers path for the the short climb up to Merrick.
The return route continues round via the Rig of the Gloon, past Helen's Stone, over the Rig of Loch Enoch, along the Buchan Ridge to Buchan Hill and a last descent by one of the Black Gairy's, sounds very nice but with conditions wet and muddy underfoot a good test with the winner in 1 hr 25 mins, some 5 minutes outside his record set last year.
This was my 5th try at this race and my fourth race in this years SHR Championship which will get me a mug!
The race starts and finishes close to Bruce's Stone in Glentrool and took a slightly longer route than usual on the way out between Bennan and Benyellary, keeping behind the newly repaired dry stane dyke which gave welcome shelter from the wind. Both the tops of Benyellary and Merrick were in mist but with the route marked with hundreds of taped canes it was difficult to go wrong although one or two at the front did manage the odd detour.
Coming off Merrick via the Rig of the Gloon and views of hills and lochs all round made it difficult to concentrate as you dropped out the mist.
Finished in 2 hrs 9 mins for 67th place out of 84 finishers. A few pictures in the Galleria which don't do justice to what is a beautiful forrest in the South of Scotland, home to one of the 7Stanes Mountain Bike Trails.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Stoneymollen Sun 9th Sept
For once common sense prevailed, so it was a short run up behind Carman reservoir, through the quarry and up over the moors to Stoneymollen, a short jog down followed by a run along the bypass grass verge cutting into the back of the Christie Park and back home. About 7 miles in less than an hour and a half and more importantly - most of it off road.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Devils Beeftub Sat Sept 8th
A new race for me, 2 miles with 700' of ascent, the hill running equivalent of a sprint. The race starts about 6 miles north of Moffat, that's 5 miles to Corehead Farm at the end of a single track road then a mile walk to the start. The race is run in and around the Devils Beeftub.
A warm sunny day greeted the 86 runners for one of the 2 short races in the Scottish Hill Runners 2007 Championship. The race starts in the Beeftub bowl and the main climb begins within 50 metres of the start where it's hands and knees up to a monument on the top for an undulating run clockwise round the rim of the Beeftub, first to Annanhead Hill, then a short descent and re-ascent to Great Hill.
From the top of Great Hill its a steeeep descent back into the Beeftub, first part not too bad in that it is grass and ferns but from about half way down the ground is peppered with rocks and stones and staying on your feet becomes more important.
Took the last descent too carefully and lost 7 or 8 places but got 3 back on the short run past the circular sheep pen to the finish.
A good wee race but just too far to consider a regular visit with over 1 1/2 hours drive each way.
A warm sunny day greeted the 86 runners for one of the 2 short races in the Scottish Hill Runners 2007 Championship. The race starts in the Beeftub bowl and the main climb begins within 50 metres of the start where it's hands and knees up to a monument on the top for an undulating run clockwise round the rim of the Beeftub, first to Annanhead Hill, then a short descent and re-ascent to Great Hill.
From the top of Great Hill its a steeeep descent back into the Beeftub, first part not too bad in that it is grass and ferns but from about half way down the ground is peppered with rocks and stones and staying on your feet becomes more important.
Took the last descent too carefully and lost 7 or 8 places but got 3 back on the short run past the circular sheep pen to the finish.
A good wee race but just too far to consider a regular visit with over 1 1/2 hours drive each way.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Ben nevis Sat 1st Sept
Another go at this classic, 10 miles with 4400' of ascent and descent, straight up and straight down, no fuss or detours just a blast from start to finish.
After a slower run last year hoped to get under 2 1/2 hours, slow by race standards, and my aim was to get to the Red Burn, 2200', in as near to 50 mins as possible then 48 mins to the summit, anything under 52 to the finish would get me in under 2 1/2.
Set off on the usual charge round the sports field and onto achintee road for about a mile leading to the tourist path proper. The route climbs steeper as it winds its way up Glen Nevis on "Melantee" before contouring up and round towards the Red Burn, the only puzzle was which of the many short cuts to take.
For a change reached the Red Burn without feeling as if I needed to lie down until I looked at the watch, just over 53 mins, a bit of a blow but still worth a push to the top. From the Red Burn its straight up the steep rock and scree slopes and it doesn't seem long before the leaders are flying back down.
As you approach the summit more and more runners come past, difficult to avoid as they jump and stumble their chaotic way down.
Reached the top in just over 1 hour 40 mins having clawed back some of the time lost in the first half. To put it in perspective, the 1st 10 were back at the finish before I reached the top.
Handed in my tag to the summit marshalls and headed back over the rocky top at a steady jog, pace increasing as the ground gets steeper through the Field of Cairns, managing to get past a few steady runners before it gets really steep as you pick up the Red Burn.
A new experience this year was being overtaken by a runner doing a somersault on the steepest rockiest part, he spins past and on down the mountain taking out the runner below/in front, a surreal experience in what seems like slow motion, somehow manage to keep my balance, eyes on where my feet could grip as well as the acrobatics.
Luckily both ok and aftere a quick nod took off down hill towards the Green Wall of Death, just as steep but muddy, rock and scree filled grass, a mixture of bumsliding, running, jumping & generally just hope for the best for the last 800' back down to the Tourist Path on Melantee.
Although downhill the Tourist Path is not the best place to run, boulder steps set into the ground to minimise path erosion, greasy, grit covered rocks with more steady runners in front to overtake and walkers climbing up to avoid. Push on as hard as possible on the down slope and soon past the rockiest part with the help of a short cut or two.
To keep the momentum going I try to pick off a few more runners in front for the last 1/2 mile or so of the Tourist Path before the "murder mile" of tarmac called Achintee Road.
Reach the road in 2:22 and some seconds, took me 9 minutes at the start but give it a go and reach Claggan Park with just under a minute under 2 1/2 hours. No way there was going to be a heroic sprint but pushing hard all the way round the park to the finish in 23 seconds over 2 1/2 hours, a PB by some 40 seconds.
Adventure Show TV Cameras there again this year so maybe another 5 seconds of fame!
Next years race is to be part of the Buff Skyrunner Series so entries will be scarce - miss it at your peril.
After a slower run last year hoped to get under 2 1/2 hours, slow by race standards, and my aim was to get to the Red Burn, 2200', in as near to 50 mins as possible then 48 mins to the summit, anything under 52 to the finish would get me in under 2 1/2.
Set off on the usual charge round the sports field and onto achintee road for about a mile leading to the tourist path proper. The route climbs steeper as it winds its way up Glen Nevis on "Melantee" before contouring up and round towards the Red Burn, the only puzzle was which of the many short cuts to take.
For a change reached the Red Burn without feeling as if I needed to lie down until I looked at the watch, just over 53 mins, a bit of a blow but still worth a push to the top. From the Red Burn its straight up the steep rock and scree slopes and it doesn't seem long before the leaders are flying back down.
As you approach the summit more and more runners come past, difficult to avoid as they jump and stumble their chaotic way down.
Reached the top in just over 1 hour 40 mins having clawed back some of the time lost in the first half. To put it in perspective, the 1st 10 were back at the finish before I reached the top.
Handed in my tag to the summit marshalls and headed back over the rocky top at a steady jog, pace increasing as the ground gets steeper through the Field of Cairns, managing to get past a few steady runners before it gets really steep as you pick up the Red Burn.
A new experience this year was being overtaken by a runner doing a somersault on the steepest rockiest part, he spins past and on down the mountain taking out the runner below/in front, a surreal experience in what seems like slow motion, somehow manage to keep my balance, eyes on where my feet could grip as well as the acrobatics.
Luckily both ok and aftere a quick nod took off down hill towards the Green Wall of Death, just as steep but muddy, rock and scree filled grass, a mixture of bumsliding, running, jumping & generally just hope for the best for the last 800' back down to the Tourist Path on Melantee.
Although downhill the Tourist Path is not the best place to run, boulder steps set into the ground to minimise path erosion, greasy, grit covered rocks with more steady runners in front to overtake and walkers climbing up to avoid. Push on as hard as possible on the down slope and soon past the rockiest part with the help of a short cut or two.
To keep the momentum going I try to pick off a few more runners in front for the last 1/2 mile or so of the Tourist Path before the "murder mile" of tarmac called Achintee Road.
Reach the road in 2:22 and some seconds, took me 9 minutes at the start but give it a go and reach Claggan Park with just under a minute under 2 1/2 hours. No way there was going to be a heroic sprint but pushing hard all the way round the park to the finish in 23 seconds over 2 1/2 hours, a PB by some 40 seconds.
Adventure Show TV Cameras there again this year so maybe another 5 seconds of fame!
Next years race is to be part of the Buff Skyrunner Series so entries will be scarce - miss it at your peril.
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