One and a half rolls of bubble wrap (these rolls are 750mm wide by 60m long!) has been cut up into make-believe-or-maybe-not-feathers and these have been attached to the skeleton with hundreds of cable ties. The feathers have then been glued into something like the right position and sprayed with grey primer plus gloss black (main body) and gloss white (tips of tail and wings). A special transport box has been made that just fits inside my car (OK my nose is on the windscreen) and the ostrich just fits inside the box (Russian doll-like). Hopefully all logistics of getting it down to London for Sunday morning are in place and I’ll be on the start line raring to go. Hoping that the weather cools down a little else I could be cooked insidethis thing…
Guinness World records seem to be saying that I can go for a new worldrecord (“fastest marathon as a three-dimensional life-like creature weighing more than 20 pounds”) so that’s great. I will most likely aim for a time of 5hrs.
Bob Johnson
Archives for April 2015
Wednesday Club Run
The Fasties
Basking in the sun, the Pentlands beckoned seductively. Four of us set out past Mortonhall and through the woods to Hillend, taking the steep line up Caerketton from the bottom car park. The ascent was accompanied by frequent stops, glorious views and the sweet, heavy scent of gorse in flower. The blast along the ridge to Allermuir into the setting sun was even better. We passed Mike Lynch heading upwards as Steve led the descent to Swanston, bouncing down the hill at warp speed in his rented Hokas and leaving the rest of us trailing. Back by the swiftest way to kb for a pint and a chat. Fantastic run. 11.5m and just under 2000 ft climbing.
Chris Busby
The Social Run
A gloriously still, sunny evening for a Gordon-led run around Holyrood Park. If only the weather was forecast to be similarly clement for the various events this weekend! We bumped into John Hammond at he hurtled over the top of Arthur’s Seat, then made our way back via Craigmillar for refreshments at KB.
Mary Lye
The Easy Run
Fifteen of us ran out to Craigmillar Castle on the very social run and one person (Kirsty, just missing the group) ran in the other direction onto the Braid Hills. Some parts of the Craigmillar run I recognised from Bill’s birthday run on a much colder day in February a couple of years ago, but most of the tracks were new to me. Several of us were trying out Owan’s Hoka (correct spelling, please!) running shoes. The bright pink colour of the shoes I was wearing clashed with my red Carnethy top, but otherwise, they were great to run on the extreme terrain Willie wanted us to try out. We arrived back at KB just before the social group and Kirsty, who had missed us by a few minutes at the start. Thanks to Willie for leading a great run.
Margaret Forrest
Newlands Valley double…
Coledale Horseshoe
After a glorious week in Keswick the weather broke on Friday night and we awoke to snow lying on the hills down to 350m. On arrival at the Coledale Race we found out the race was to be shortened by descending back down into the main valley after Grisedale Pike then climbing back up to the route below Outerside, thus missing out Eel Crag. The distance and climb was only slightly reduced so still a very worthwhile outing. I love the route of this race and the initial climb up Grisedale Pike is a real test. Snow was still lying on the top half of the hill and I hung on the the coat tails of Paul Cornforth of Borrowdale to the top. The descent was great fun, and exhilarating mix of grass and rock. The second climb was tough, time to hang on again, until the pace picked up to Barrow. Ricky Lightfoot led the field home just ahead of ‘new’ veteran Rob Jebb. Moorfoots Scout Adkin had a fine run to finish first lady, 23rd overall. I blasted down the final ridge to hold on to 16th place, 5th vet. Two other Carnethys made the trip, Douglas MacQueen finishing 104th and Bob Lyons 183rd.
Result: https://t.co/zzEUmoNjGY
Anniversary Waltz/Teenager with Altitude
Once week later and the sun was definitely shining. I went for the easier option of Anniversary Waltz, whilst Jon Ascroft took on the longer Teenager with Altitude. I’d run Anniversary Waltz once before back in 1999 when it was a British Championship. This year it clashed with the Briitsh Champs race in Wales which took some of the good runners away from the Lakes! Thus I found myself reasonably comfortable in the lead pack on the relatively flat mile or two at the start. Once the climb kicked in though, things strung out, and I found myself in about 10th heading up Robinson. We deiverted round to the right to avoid the rock step which didn’t end up being a great route, the mossy ground sapping the legs. I followed a Bowland runner on the descent to Dalehead Tarn but our line to the right was too far over so we lost a bit of time. From High Spy I stuck to my own route and started to pull through on the long flat and downhill section, briefly up to 4th at the start of the climb up Catbells. Phil Winskill re-overtook so I had to try and push hard back down Catbells to the finish, failing to catch him, but a fantastic blast. Finished in 5th, 2nd vet and Jon finished an excellent 4th in the TWA, also 2nd vet. Two great races in two weekends, well worth the trip south.
Results: http://www.anniversarywaltz.co.uk/?p=448 and http://www.anniversarywaltz.co.uk/?p=453
Mark Johnston
Whinlatter Xtreme Duathlon, Lake District
Nick Williamson and I traveled down for this event on Saturday in glorious sunshine in his van (converted for that racer about town). Nick had ambitions to do well in the event, organised by High Terrain Events, whereas I was just hoping to compete, having had a mini breakdown during the week with my calf. In the end my calves were fine, just the rest of me that struggled!
We arrived at Whinlatter Forest Park on Saturday lunchtime and spent the rest of day pottering around on the some of the tops doing a bit of navigating (as Nick will be doing his final Mountain Leader’s exam this weekend) and then we tried to get some riding on the trails to try them out, but didn’t mange much as Nick had some problems with the resin setting in his tubeless tyres (I went old school, with tubes). We hunkered down in the van that night in preparation for an early start.
Emily Hill Junior Race, Luthrie Fife – Sat 18th April
We went to Fife on Saturday. Emily was very excited as she thought the race was named after her! The weather was really warm and sunny and I regretted wearing my tracksters. The race started in a field near some noisy cows, and was flat, although very lumpy, before heading up hill. I got a stitch on the way down, but still managed to overtake some people to finish 5th. At the finish, we got some sweets and very welcome juice. Sophie and Emily really enjoyed it. Darcy was last, but that’s OK because she’s only 3.
Euan Burns
Reeth 20k trail Race
Note to self: Any race that has registration and prize giving in an ice-cream parlour gets my vote. Rachel and I were in the Lakes and Yorkshire for a weeks holiday with this race tacked onto the end. 20km in glorious Yorkshire Dales starting and finishing in Reeth which featured in Stage One of last years Tour de France. It was a trail run rather than a fell run and was nice to be able to run without having to carry a bumbag full of rarely used but important stuff. A very friendly and low key race with a race briefing emphasising the ‘brief’, unlike Graham Henry’s ‘Feel the Burns’ stand-up routine. 120 folk set off for either the 20k or 10k – however, due to some slightly vague directions, most of the 10k runners probably completed most of the 20k route by the end! Some were less than chuffed!
We took part in the 20k race – representing not only Carnethy but all of Scotland too. After a gentle intro, things got a bit tough for 4km of climbing onto Grinton Moor. A steady descent, followed by a bit of a leg-sapper of a final climb before descending into Reeth finished off the race. Although on trails, there were pretty rocky which merited the decision of the fell shoes.
Rachel 1st woman, 13th overall. Me 6th. Happy but well aware that the main action was in Wales this weekend. The whisky when staying with my brother the night before obviously drove me on in the final stages.
Stats: 20km, 567m of climb, winning time 1.23
Verdict: Fantastic race, really friendly, beautiful setting, fabulous ice cream – worth the trip alone.
Website: http://www.gr8events.org.uk/event/reeth-trail-20k-2/
Results: http://www.gr8events.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Reeth-Trail-20k-Results-2015.pdf
Tom Middlemiss
Hunters Bog Trot
It was a glorious afternoon in Edinburgh and what better way to spend it than running up and down the crags in Hollyrood park. There was a big turnout of runners with only 4 or 5 Carnethy vests spotted (although there were a few Carntehy supporters scattered around the course). A re-routed course saw essentially the same ground covered with the added bonus of a steep final climb out Hunters Bog through the gap in the crags and down to the finish. Not sure who won but I do have photographic evidence showing that on the last climb I was able to catch and pass the two ladies I had been back and forth with throughout the race. It’s not much but it’s good enough for me.
Sean Walker
Boghall handicap results
Runner | Run Time | Finish Time | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Paul | Burns | 53.22 | 72.16 | 50.0 |
Alan | Hogg | 56.24 | 72.28 | 49.1 |
Cat | Meighan | 61.48 | 72.45 | 48.2 |
Andrew | Howett | 48.19 | 73.19 | 0.0 |
Georgina | McAllister | 58.54 | 73.21 | 47.3 |
Jack | Flower | 49.37 | 73.23 | 0.0 |
Alan | Reville | 53.27 | 74.56 | 46.4 |
David | Harrington | 56.14 | 75.05 | 45.5 |
Jonathan | Hogg | 57.55 | 75.15 | 44.5 |
Helen | Wise | 64.26 | 75.23 | 43.6 |
Irene | Schierloh | 73.39 | 75.43 | 42.7 |
Matthew | Jones | 51.29 | 75.45 | 41.8 |
Holly | Burns | 69.55 | 75.55 | 40.9 |
Anna | Hayes | 58.39 | 76.07 | 40.0 |
Angus | Davidson | 54.10 | 76.12 | 39.1 |
Nicki | Innes | 65.25 | 76.19 | 38.2 |
Britton | Smith | 59.24 | 76.22 | 37.3 |
Kathy | Henley | 60.00 | 76.23 | 36.4 |
Gordon | Cameron | 53.53 | 76.24 | 35.5 |
Mairi | Brown | 74.41 | 76.35 | 34.5 |
Digby | Maass | 66.40 | 76.40 | 33.6 |
Kate | Jenkins | 53.44 | 76.44 | 32.7 |
Steve | Best | 46.47 | 76.46 | 31.8 |
Willie | Gibson | 59.14 | 77.17 | 30.9 |
Christopher | Busby | 48.32 | 77.37 | 30.0 |
Phil | Young | 53.59 | 77.45 | 29.1 |
Michael | Andrew | 47.43 | 77.55 | 28.2 |
Benedict | Bates | 69.31 | 78.15 | 27.3 |
Mary | Lye | 55.13 | 78.23 | 26.4 |
James | Hardie | 48.26 | 78.36 | 25.5 |
Alex | McVey | 45.35 | 78.40 | 24.5 |
Joanne | Anderson | 56.21 | 78.53 | 23.6 |
Neil | Burnett | 47.60 | 79.07 | 22.7 |
Graeme | Dunbar | 51.00 | 79.22 | 0.0 |
Liam | Braby | 44.16 | 79.32 | 21.8 |
Craig | Mattocks | 44.45 | 79.44 | 20.9 |
Cameron | Murray | 49.59 | 79.50 | 20.0 |
Bob | Waterhouse | 59.03 | 80.03 | 19.1 |
Cali | Ingham | 78.18 | 80.05 | 18.2 |
Maggie | Crebor | 60.07 | 80.07 | 17.3 |
Jasmin | Paris | 44.14 | 80.13 | 16.4 |
Mark | Hartree | 52.38 | 80.20 | 15.5 |
Win | Rampen | 63.41 | 80.25 | 14.5 |
Konrad | Rawlik | 43.54 | 80.31 | 13.6 |
Andrew | Spenceley | 50.15 | 80.47 | 12.7 |
Gio | MacDonald | 54.03 | 81.21 | 11.8 |
Peter | Baxter | 69.31 | 81.50 | 10.9 |
Allen | Flockhart | 56.34 | 82.07 | 10.0 |
David | Ramage | 56.27 | 82.35 | 9.1 |
Abigail | Roberston | 57.14 | 82.39 | 8.2 |
Lindsay | Donald | 76.11 | 82.52 | 7.3 |
Anna | Falk | 77.07 | 83.07 | 6.4 |
Joel | Sylvester | 58.40 | 84.48 | 5.5 |
Ester | Fazekas | 79.15 | 85.15 | 4.5 |
Alistair | McGowan | 83.59 | 86.55 | 3.6 |