Sunday, July 02, 2006

Dollar Hill Race 1st July

Sun shines on the righteous. Glorious sunshine for this triple championship medium race, British, Scottish & Club. The top British runners among nearly 200 for a 9 mile horseshoe round the Ochils.

The route heads North from Dollar Academy up through Dollar Glen, over Saddle Hill and contiunes to climb up Whitewisp Hill. This climb takes you up 2000' in 2 1/2 miles.

Once the initial slog is over the route turns west and becomes runnable undulating up and down along a broad grassy ridge following rough tracks to Tarmangie and then Skythorn Hills, here the route turns south west and heads down then up Andrew Gannel Hill where the route takes a sharp turn south east back towards Dollar down to Mill Glen and then up a stiff 400' climb (walking again) to Kings Seat Hill, thankfully the last major climb.

From here the route continues SE down towards Dollar rejoining the outward path in Dollar Glen. This is a difficult section as its sheltered from the cooling breeze and changes from toe bashing steep to gentle drops all the way down making it impossible to settle the tired limbs into any rythym.

Finish back at Dollar Academy in just over 1 hour 51 mins to tea and cakes, jolly dee.

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