First go at this race a 10 mile 2200 FOA out and back run through the rolling Borders Hills. The race is combined with a sheepdog trial and was set up by a farmer keen on fell running. The start is a few miles from Peebles.
Arrived in plenty of time driving over familiar territory from family fishing trips 30 odd years ago. Turned off the main road between the remains of a railway bridge before crossing a hump back bridge over the Tweed. The fishermens cars clogging the narrow road.
Sharing the day with the sheepdog trial meant better facilities than your average hill race, registration was in a horse box, a Marquee set up with tables and food, toilets.
Waiting for the race to start and stood in the Autumn sunshine watching the Sheepdogs working hard to pen their flock.
The race is gently undulating and starts at Woodhouse farm, up through a couple of fields and onto the John Buchan Way, then a left turn to pick up a Landrover track ascending Whiteknowe and Whitelaw hills. a short down & up through Dead Wifes Grave, traverse over and round Hunt & Breach Law's before the stagger up the Scrape, you had to call out your number to the marshall at the top, got mine wrong!
Reached the top of the scrape on the hour, turned for the mostly downhill run back, running off the Scrape was ok, passing the runners behind and catching the runner in front, then he passed me on the next uphill and I couldn't catch him again. Struggled to lift the pace from then on, perhaps feeling the previous weeks races and reps, still it was a beautiful sunny day, easy terrain, a delight to run.
Bottle of the sponsors, Broughton Brewery, Greenmantle Ale to all finishers and quite tasty it is.
This race is the first of a weekend double the Pentland Skyline the other a 16 mile 6000 FOA trek, not this year, but I'll def be back to give this race a go with better preparation and then maybe the Sunday PS. Finished 60th of 86 in 1 hour 40 mins.
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