Swanston Report – race director
After meticulous planning, careful selection of paths and trods to give a varied route, route maps and descriptions developed, new Strava legs established, a faff over food, printing of stuff for the race, reccee runs completed, route ‘marked’ with special disappearing flour, I realised organising a race is a tough job. Hats off to race organisers!
All we needed was blue skies and sunshine. Alas, that happened in the morning and by race time the mist descended, the cows closed in, and a chill replaced the warmth of the day. Between 47 and 50 folk headed out at their allotted time, most of whom ran the intended route. Talk at the end of screes, ski centres, Boghall, and Allermuir all suggested that the flour marking, route description and reccee opportunities hadn’t quite worked out as hoped. Despite printing numbers from 1-60 so everyone could easily be counted, personal numbers and folk heading off for a run or walk at the same time ‘but not racing’ helped with confusion at the end. If you are still missing, let someone know!
I think everyone liked the route – or their version of it, and the descent made for some great finishes. My guess that the winning time for the route would be about 32 mins with Liam Braby getting a few seconds under this. But, as it was a handicap, his ‘real’ position was 7 places behind me in 27th. I take that as a result on my part. On this basis, Euan Burns, Gina McAllister and Sally Best took the medals with Jeff Roberts taking the special race prize. Kenny Rodgers didn’t race, but his look-alike did apparently. Thanks to those who turned up to help or watch. Hopefully the timings are all correct now.
Mark Hartree
Results here.
Some murky hilltop photos from Mike Andrew
It was all going so well…
…until mist and racing dementia took over and I went the wrong way.
Ridiculous. I know that route like the back of my hand. I don’t think I gained any advantage as I tried to regain the route but failed miserably, visiting bits of hillside never before trodden by man. I wasn’t the only one to go wrong I don’t think, though probably the most erratic, and with the least of excuses.
A good turnout and a nice wee route by Mark Hartree. And the winner of the latest and most eccentric Carnethy race prize – a bottle of wine to the 7th person over the line – went to Jeff.
Hang on… is that MY hand?
Digby