Carnethy 5 Hill Race

Annual pilgramige to Beeslack High School for a school dinner with the Hill Race as an appetiser. Blue skies on the way over turned to rain as we left for the buses, thankfully blue skies returned by the time we were dropped off at race start.

Hiding from the wind with coffee and a biscuit. Race started about 2pm with the charge across the bog, walk jog up Scald Law, met the breeze head on at the top, hard to keep moving forward. Picked up the pace on the run towards South Black Hill my rucksack thought it was a parachute as the wind caught it. The Kips came and went, short lactic inducing bumps. Wind behind now, helping on the run down and across to the Howe. More lactic undulations on the climbs up Carnethy, nothing major just enough to make you walk while you think you should be running.

Running down Carnethy happy there's no more ups, first part grassy then heather and scree my new inov8's perform and I gain a few places. Across the bog I lose one place, happy to finish inside 85 mins with a school dinner to come.

Carnethy 5 Hill Race

Good season opener, 500 of us bussed to the start from Beeslack High School in Penicuik to run over 5 Pentland hills. Still not free from flu took it as easy as possible.

Starting at the back across the bogs to the climb up Scald Law. The next part of the race makes for steady running as the route undulates over three small climbs, South Black Hill and the 2 Kips, followed by faster running down a steep grassy decent and along to the Howe. The final climb undulates up the back of Carnethy, just about runnable if you havn't put in much of an effort before. Great organisation and a big marshall prescence on the Hill encouraging you all the way, happy to finish just over 96 minutes for a cup of tea in the marquee before catching the bus back to school for a hot shower and a school dinner. More pictures here.

Carnethy 5 hill race

Freezing freezing, nearly 500 runners set off for Scad Law, first of 5 hills in this classic race. Crocodile soon formed across Charlie's loop and up the first climb, snow increasing towards the top with high winds n icy sleet blasting exposed flesh, a pattern repeated on each top. Traverse to South Black Hill fun, stiff crosss wind blowing us off course, over the first of the kips and pleasant couple of minutes sheltered from the wind. Run off the second kip more fun in the snow, managed to stay upright and gain a few places. Along to the bumslide down to the Howe, again managed to stay on my feet, and relatively dry. Jogged most of the first part of the climb up Carnethy with a flash of my number to the marshalls. Payed for my exuberance and had to walk most of the way to the gully. Running again out of the gulley towards the final wee climb to Carnethies summit. Steep run down towards the finish, a wee tumble losing grip on the heathery roots. Steady run back across the bog to finish in just over 84 minutes. A few pictures here.

Carnethy 5

Snowy day for this years charge round 5 Pentland Hills.

Not at my best so took it easy across the bogs, 1st climb felt ok, good stretch on my legs, passing a few on the way up, flats and downhills slow, repeat another 4 times, good to pass folk going up for a change probably as I wasn't using much energy or oxygen on the flats or downs. Slowest C5 time and my 1st race where it snowed the whole way. RO insisted on an extra layer worn or carried, sensible, very cold on the tops, although fine if you kept moving. Report and links to pictures here. Finished 408th out of 499 in about 97mins.

Carnethy 5 and Stoneymollan

45th Carnethy 5, over five hundred runners set off, good conditions, cool and dry, a bit soft underfoot. Usual charge across the bogs onto Scald Law, steady run over South Black and the Kips. Descending traverse to the Howe. Up the three short climbs to Carnethy's big summit cairn, heather and scree descent and back across the bogs. Finished in 82 mins for 328th place. Link to report, results and pictures here. Sunday's cool down, round Carman reservoir, through the quarry to the Fort, returning past the radio mast on farm track and road.

Carnethy 5 and Stoneymollan

3 of us set off to join 500 other runners for the season starting C5 Hill Race. Five Hills, 2500' of ascent, this years flavour, mud n snow. A cool half hours contemplation once we were bussed to the start. Finally the junior race set off and then us. Run, boghop, run, boghop and onto the first climb up Scald Law, the odd elbow to contend with towards the back of the pack as we slipped and slithered our way up.

Scald Law back right, South Black Hill, back left, from the bus queue.

Undulating mud and snow trail across South Black Hill, East and West Kip, running down to the Howe, tip toe, slip slide, run past the snowman. Took the middle route along the muddy trail to the Howe, one fall as I tried to steal a few yards and overtake by running along a ditch. I think we all sat down and slid the last 50 feet or so to the bottom. Faffed about with my bag to dig out some Jelly Babies on the way up towards Carnethy's gully hoping they would somehow make it easier, not as fearsome as it used to be and I'm soon running again towards the last climb to Carnethy's summit, round the cairn and push for the finish, we hit the scree early, no marshalls about to chase us off, it's easier to run down than the gritty heathery trail. One last effort as we boghop, run, boghop, run to the finish in just over 85 minutes.

Carnethy

Links to results and pictures here.

Short run on Sunday, up behind the reservoir and along the trails up past the quarry and along to the trig point, a couple of pictures then about turn and back via the club Stoneymollan race route, 7 miles and 1300' in 80 minutes.

Sunday afternoon and an easy cycle along the cycle path to Balloch and on to Duck Bay. Stop for a few pictures. 

The Ben with its head in the clouds.

About turn and ride through Cameron House grounds, Lomond Shores and back along the cycle path to the Vale.

Carnethy 5

The 43rd running of the Carnethy 5 and my 9th. Its the first race in this years SHR Championship series and a record field turned out on a good day for running over these five Pentland hills, dry and cool with little breeze. Usual charge across the bogs to start, the new Carnethy financed gate less of a hold up than the old style we used to climb over. Soon we're climbing up Scald Law, 22 1/2 mins to the top, steady run along a squidgy path to the sharp ups and downs of the Kips via South Black Hill. Got my breath back for a while on the traversing descent from West Kip to the Howe. The climb up Carnethy soon fixes that, three short ups in succession, track, gulley then the pull up to the summit. Round the top for the first part of the descent on steep grassy tracks, a chance to relax before the heathery plunge to the bottom. The heather takes its toll and I almost come to a halt before finding slightly easier going down what used to be a path to a short fast scree section, why some people slow down here I'm not sure, more heathery bits before I hit the bottom with dead legs for three or four minutes of torture across the bogs to finish just under 84 minutes, a few seconds quicker than last year. As usual loads of pictures, Bobbies, SHR, Sandy Wallace, Bob Marshall, see if you can spot the Milburn Vest!

Cool Carnethy

Usual preamble to the C5 race, arrive at Beeslack School, don't get changed too quick or before you know it you are in a field for a cool air quench. So I register, pick up my SHR Mug and 2012 SHR membership, vouchers, leaflets, race entry forms and then browse round the shops, Pete Bland, TISO and Run For It, buy a Carnethy Buff, then its time to change. We arrived at the field in good time, about half one, for an easy warm up before sheltering beside the tea tent until the last minute.

Away we went across the bogs just after two, near frozen ground made for good going with the odd icy patch to keep you on your toes. Steady run to the top of Scald Law in 23 1/2 minutes, the next three hills, South Black and the Kips relatively short, running steady no heroics today. Still managed to overtake a few on the run down to the Howe as a lot of runner s took it easy on the frozen turf, new shoes supplying the necessary confidence. On the way along to Carnethy I had a look around to see who I was running with and picked a few targets. Put in a decent effort on the upper slopes to the top of Carnethy and kept it going all the way down the steep heathery slopes then eased back for a nice steady run across the bogs to finish just inside 84 minutes.

Post race cuppa before catching the bus back to Beeslack for a hot shower and a school dinner. Plenty of photographers out on the course, photos here, here.

Sunday recovery and an easy afternoon run round the club Stoneymollan race route, nice to get out on the hills again, good views to the Luss hills and a cloud topped Ben Lomond.

Weekend races

Saturday, to kick start the season, the Carnethy 5. Arrived at Beeslack school without any detours. Registered, changed and off we went. The guy who thought up the race and has run them all wearing No 41.

Wet underfoot with blue sky overhead and a cool breeze. At 2 pm 500 runners set off across a boggy bog, the field soon spread out on the 1st climb up Scald Law, around 22 minutes of puff pant wheeze for me to reach this first top, brief respite to re-oxygenate on the run along to South Black Hill then two sharp intakes of breath that make up the Kips. Steady descent and run along to the Howe before the struggle that is the gulley on Carnethy's western side, the slope eases for a jog then one last push to the top. Round the trig point and downhill all the way, through heather, scree and don't forget the bog to finished 307th in 82 minutes. Lots of pictures.

Sunday, the clubs rescheduled Cross Country, 2 laps round Polaroid Industrial Estate, cloudy and wet although similar underfoot to yesterday. Good field of 13 runners and a few helpers made the effort on this cold and sodden morning. Jogged to the start to help get everything moving again. Felt my way round the first lap looking for the best way round the puddles, usually straight through. Our small group of five runners broke up, one away in front, one off the back and we were down to three by the end of the lap.

Lap 2, slower run along the side of the Leven then back to a steady pace after climbing the steps. Round the pond, eased up the short climb closing in on the runner in front, tucked in until we turned down the road towards the finish where a few short bursts of pace took me clear over the last couple of hundred yards, 4th in 36:18.

Carnethy 5 Sat 13th Feb

Carnethy Hill on the right, Charlies Loop on the left, two features of the Carnethy 5, this year was the 40th presentation and runners got a mug as a momento. 6 miles and 2500 FOA over five hills, good as it gets underfoot with low temps keeping the bog bogless and most of the rest of the course firm. Only problem was on steep sections of up or down whith frozen ground giving less grip.

Took it steady this year working hard up each hill without blowing a gasket and taking the descents a bit easier, at least off the tops until I could find softer ground adjacent to the paths or as the gradient eased lower down.

Once up Scald Law the race takes us a nice run over South Black Hill and the Kips before a big drop to the Howe and the climb up Carnethy. The final drop off Carnethy through snow and scree makes for a quick descent.
A last push across the bogless bog to finish just under 1 hour 17 mins.

Carnethy 5 Sat 14th Feb

Set off at 10 for today's race over 5 tops in the Pentlands. The route covers Scald Law, South Black Hill, East Kip, West Kip and finally Carnethy, about 6 miles & 2500' of ascent. The sort of start to the hill running season, and a first for me...a hill race in the snow.

Hung back in the school hall as long as possible but still arrived at the start with nearly an hour to go, stood in the tea marquee the heat from the urns providing some comfort, stood on a tussock of grass to further insulate the feet. Half an hour to go & went for a warm up jog avoiding most of the streams and swampy bits.

At 2 o'clock 500 runners set off after a chorus of Flower of Scotland, a few jimmy hats and kilts worn by the runners. After the mad dash across the bog settled into a steady trudge up Scald Law reaching the top in just over 22 mins. From Scald Law its an undulating ridge run over South Black Hill to the short sharp climbs over the Kips.

From West Kip a long snowy descent towards the Howe, misleading as when you reach the bottom its still a fair run along to the start of the climb up Carnethy. Bumslide the last steep drop before the burn then jog walk to the bottom of the gully where its back into grind uphill mode. When you clear the gully the track becomes runnable again and the top of Carnethy and the last wee climb comes into view. Crank up the effort happy it will soon be all down hill.

The run off Carnethy tricky especially when someone in front falls or crosses your path, evasive action tricky at times in the snowy heather. Through the gate and try to turn left onto the path, slipped on the greasy bank for my first fall of the race. Charge back across the swamp managing to pick off two or three more to finish just under 80 mins.

Back to school for a shower and a school dinner before the drive home. A cracking wee race to start the season with 500 runners & times ranging from 50 to 150 minutes no one need worry about being left behind or lost. This was the 39th running of the race so they must be doing something right, watch out for highlights on the adventure show sometime in March, a couple o pics in the Galleria and a lot more here!

Carnethy 5 Sat 16th Feb

Managed to enter online for this from California, lucky as it was full by the time I got home 5 days later, 550 entries. Well organised race to start the year, sports shops on Site, changing/showers, bus to & from the start, tea marquee after the race and a school dinner. All that and 5 hills with 2500' of ascent in 6 miles.

Cold but perfect day, clear skies with only a little wind. Usual charge across the bog with a welcome rest at the queue for the style then a 20 minute plod up Scald Law. Once on top it was a fast undulating run over South black Hill and the East and West Kips. The drop off West Kip tricky in the shade as the sun hadn't thawed the ground. Pleasant cruise to the Howe then the 2nd big climb up Carnethy. A helping hand from one of the many marshalls handing out jelly babies and kendal mint cake meant you were soon out the gully and on your way to the last part of the climb to Carnethy summit.

From Carenthy summit cairn its a plunge down heather clad slopes followed by a 2 minute blast back across the bog. Pleased to finish in 81 1/2 mins when I felt like 85+ at the start. And a school dinner to come.

Carnethy 5 Sat 17th Feb

This race kick starts the year and is the largest Hill race in Scotland, about 500 runners. As such it is a bit more organised and provides changing and showers followed by a hot meal after the race - school dinner - and with 2 sports shops in attendance selling all sorts of running gear.

The school is a few miles away from the start and buses shuttle back and forward taking the runners to the start area. At the start a couple of small marquees are set up, one for refreshments and the other is a medical tent.

The race is 6 miles with 2500 feet of ascent over 5 hills, the first and last climbs are close to 1000' each with the 3 in between minor blips. It starts with a mad dash across the swamp to the foot of the 1st 1000' climb up Scald Law. The middle part of the race is an nice easy run over 3 hill tops, South Black Hill, East Kip and West Kip, followed by a plunge down steep grassy slopes and a run along easy ground to the foot of the final 1000' climb up to Carnethy Hill. A steady plod up and run the short sections where the trail levels out if you have any energy left.

From the top of Carnethy its a steep drop, initially on paths but to prevent erosion you are soon directed off the path through deep heather hiding avariety of rocks and holes waiting to trap the unwary. For the last few hundred yards its back across the swamp to the finish for coffee and biscuits before catching the bus back to school for a hot shower and a hot meal before the drive home.