The Callander Crags race has been a bit like the village in Brigadoon of late. Something that those in know are aware of but mere mortals only stumble on by accident. By a lucky accident I was browsing the esteemed SHR site between beers and Game of Thrones box sets over the festive period and chanced upon the January race. A civilised 1pm time, just under an hours drive away, a few quid in the back of a campervan and chance to run around some woods. Just how hill races should be.
I’d done this race a few years ago and had fond memories of gently climbing through the woods outside Callander, with excellent views across the lowland valley to the south and over to peaks of Ben Ledi, Stuc a Chroin et al from the escarpment. However, those memories must have been from the time I walked round the route. This time, racing it was a shock to the system. The unrelenting 1000ft climb over the first mile passed in an ale-sweated struggle as my mince-pie infused respiratory system attempted to cope. Up ahead Iain Gilmore was challenging Ochil’s Ross Spalding over the top, Harry G climbing hard was an ever decreasing speck in front of myself and Alan Renville.
Mark Burns photos (pictures from Mark Burns on flickr here – here) show what a great day for running it was and there were indeed some fantastic views to be seen of the surrounding snow-capped peaks, but the perils of an ice-packed path meant there wasn’t much time to enjoy the views. Once over the high-point a short off-road descent (best taken off-piste through the bog for grip) took us out onto the Bracklinn Falls road, complete with glacial ice-sheets to dodge. My fastest mile of year followed as we hurtled back down into the woods, where it’s undulating effects proved to much for my sorry attempt to catch Harry.
The race finished with a win for Ross Spalding, with his club mate Gary Fraser taking 2nd and 1st V40 thanks to another trademark storming descent. Iain held on for 3rd, Harry was 2nd v50, with myself and Alan coming in a few minutes later around the 30 minute mark just ahead of Elke Prasad who won the ladies race.. Full results are on the SHR results tab.
It’s a great wee race so look out for the summer one too around June, when there (should) be less ice on the path.
Bruce Smith