I headed up to Aboyne this weekend to stay with the in-laws and have another go at the Games Hill Race. I’ve run this a few times but have never managed to get under 50 minutes, so was keen to see if I could do it this time. Traditionally, runners would get their Games entrance fee back after completing the race, but they stopped refunding this year due to burgeoning numbers. I had earmarked that tenner for several rides on the dodgems afterwards, so I was gutted at this. This year the race attracted 64 runners and at registration I spotted a few kent faces – Dan & Claire Whitehead, Steph Provan and James Espie among them. I didn’t spot Charlotte though, who had hidden herself under a jacket to shelter from the heavy rain that fell as we were about to start. Up until then it had been a lovely day.
Before the main event it was the turn of the kids, and Archie just missed out on a prize with 4th place in the 100m. He then vomited on himself later on the Big Dipper, so it was a day of highs and lows for him.
The route is a fast one, for a hill race (11km and 340m climb) and takes runners once around the Games field and over the River Dee and into the start of Fungle Hill. I started out in the leading group of about 12 and we pretty much stayed in position until a couple of miles in when Claire Whitehead pulled ahead of myself and another Deeside Runner. She stretched further away from us and I tried to concentrate on reeling in the runners in front. Easier said than done. Underfoot was very muddy here, but things improved as we moved onto firm forest track and a long drag up the the summit of Birsemore Hill. From there it was a fast descent down and back towards the river. I thought I was set to overtake the runner ahead but in the end I failed to do so and was overtaken myself on the run back into the Games arena. It was left to one more lap of the field where I clocked Charlotte chasing me down. I managed a final sprint to finish a place ahead of her (13th and 14th respectively – her 2nd lady). The race was won by Dan Whitehead in around 44 minutes, and I finished in 49.23 with Charlotte just behind.
A great race in the classic Highland Games tradition. I’ll be back.
Results
Mike Lynch