Having missed the Mull Monsterette yesterday drove to Roseneath after a late night in bar51 for the Parreman Hill Race, a return to the race where I first won money as a runner. About 15 or so started, 7 runners and the rest kids, hopefully the kids would be slower than last year.
Set off with 1 1/2 laps round the track, an extra half lap! Left the games field on the first climb, soon passing the kids. Went from 5th to 2nd as those in front took a slight detour even though the course was marked. Route goes through a delightful cows field taking in the most gloopy bits in true Milburn fashion. From the field its onto a forrest track which winds its way up to the top, back in 5th by the top and then had to re-direct the first 2 onto the correct route.
The run back starts off in what is basically a ditch for the first few hundred yards and your rate of progress depends if you choose the right side, i.e. whether you walk or run, how many times you fall, how much skin exfoliates on the dry stane dyke. As this was my third time you would think I would have learnt!
Out the ditch and back onto the forrest track, not steep enough to catch the guy in front before the gloopy field, then didn't pick the best line through field and only started to catch him on the last steep descent, too short to make up the distance and finished about 50 yards behind in 29:21 for 5th place & £8. Not too bad as only 7 seconds slower than last year but with 1/2 a lap extra.
Lovely sunny, breezy day spent watching hammers, stones, haybales and the like being thrown about, Highland games seem much better when you participate.
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