Cort Ma Law

First run in this race since 2019, renowned for its bogs, 70 plus runners set off, warm evening thankfully with a breeze when the sun came out, run and walk up the steep starting slope, into a steady run as the gradient eases, keep running all the way to CML summit, the bogs reasonably dry so far, that didn't last, there's usually a few bogs from CML to The Leckett this year they seemed to have joined together for long stretches of strength sapping tussock hopping , hoping, to avoid the mushy bogs, hard work all the way to The Leckett, short downhill into the gulley then a short climb and trudge towards the final pit of doom bog, managed to cling to the fence at the side and avoid a swim, try to pick up the pace as the route undulates down then a mad dash steeply down to the finish in 51st place.

Cort Ma Law Hill Race

Tough wee Bog and Burn race, steep climb to start, managed to run pretty much all of it, yo yoing positions with the jog walkers, after the first kilometre the gradient eases and although undulating up for the next 4 km the route becomes quite runnable if you can navigate the luminous emerald green bogs between Cort Ma Law and the Leckett. Managed to pick off a few runners before the Leckett then another few in the short drop to the stream crossings, jogged most of the way back to the crossover point apart from a short section cutting the corner as you come out the ditch. Running into from the broken fence the wind strong enough to blow you about as you begin to tire before picking off another 3 or so runners on the fun run down the steep slopes to finish inside 69 minutes.

Approaching the finish making sure I'm not overtaken.

Photo courtesy Barbara McLeod, Westies

Cort Ma Law hill race

A dry less boggy run this year, straight into the tough climb at the start, walk and jog trying to save something for the run round to the Leckett. Onto the top and the route undulates up across a few wee tops, working hard to keep up/ahead of the runners I reached the top with. Across the bogs, relatively dry this year easier to maintain a steady pace. One overtook me on the run into the gully. Plod out the gully then jog to the fence crossing, run back across to the final descent using whatever energy left to keep my place.

Finished in about 74 mins.