Festive Carnethy cheer from the top of Allermuir at 11am on Xmas morning. What a great way to start the day. Family, friends, dogs all taking part. Happy Xmas to all!
Kathy Henly
Margaret’s pics
Filed Under: Social Runs
Filed Under: News
With no Christmas shopping done, I was faced with the prospect of fighting the crowds on Princes Street, or going running, so sensibly I chose the latter, and headed to Tillicoultry for the Kirk Craigs Christmas Cracker Hill Race. This is the 4th year of the race, organised by Ochil Hill Runners, sponsored by Harviestoun Brewery, and at just over 4 miles with around 1,800ft of climb is ideal for the time of year. The starting point had been moved further up the hill from previous races due to cows and a frisky bull in the usual field. 103 other runners had similarly decided to avoid the Christmas crowds, which meant for a frantic sprint from the off on a trod beside an old wall. The climb up the Kirk Craigs was lung busting, before we headed across the tops to the path from Mill Glen, where we descended at pace to the turning point at The Big Stone, and then retraced our steps back to the start.
The weather was very pleasant with some warmth in the sun breaking through the clouds. We headed to Centenary Hall for the prize presentation, and hot scotch pies, mince pies and cakes, served with tea and coffee. The race proceeds of over £400 plus donations were donated to Play Alloa. The winner was Josh Boyle from the Ribble Valley in 36.50 with a new course record. First female was Carnethy’s Angela Mudge. Last year’s female winner, Michelle Hetherington was 3rd. Colin Ledlie was 76th. I finished in 8th picking up the MV40 prize of 2 cans of Harviestoun’s Bitter and Twisted, plus a mini Panettone cake, which I’ll wrap and give to Nicola for her Christmas present – such an efficient use of time; running AND Christmas present shopping at the same time. The beers I drank, obviously.
Merry Christmas to one and all.
Results: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0330&RaceYear=2018
Graham Nash
Filed Under: Eskapade, Social Runs
Almost perfect weather this year – no wind, no snow, no rain, no sun… ok we can forgive the latter (although it was forecast) as it was just very pleasant and great for running. Far flung exiles made welcome returns – Lynsey all the way from Exeter, Cat all the way from Inverness and Jeff all the way from York. Others appeared and disappeared throughout the run, popping up then disappearing again. A feast in Penicuik – love those enormous bacon/sausage/egg rolls. Willie confused us a bit by sometimes being at the back, so we didn’t stop in the usual places as we tried to catch up, leaving him even further behind. We arrived at the Alan Ramsay with the light just fading, where the fasties had been for some time. Legally they are supposed to go to the Bore Stane first but inexplicably they just stopped at the first sight of the cosy tavern.
A fine run. Same again next year please!
Digby
Filed Under: News
Part of the joy of outdoor swimming this summer/spring/autumn has been the accommodating air and water temperatures. That was blown out of the water (no pun intended) by today’s experience. A never-to-be-repeated one in all probability. It was cold and brief.
8 of us made the dip, including a couple from The Wild Ones who seem to swim a lot without wetsuits at this time of year. Hmm. Most of us were gloved a booted (Tracy B improvised with socks on her hands) and as we fumbled to get ready, Gordon and Amber looked on. Gordon was mid-run and wanted to see the pain for himself. I’m sure he had a smirk on his face. Once in, it was actually fine on the body, but the face was numbingly-cold. Front crawl had to be swapped with breaststroke when the ability to submerge one’s face became too much. We managed about 500 yards, in under a quarter hour and we got out as our bodies were tricking us into getting used to it. Then the shivering really began.
Were we in long enough to get the brown fat activated? Who knows, but we demolished bowls of soup in the Colinton Inn afterwards. A worthwhile experience if not much of a swim. Let’s park that until March at the earliest.
Happy Christmas all!
Mike Lynch
Filed Under: Social Runs
Bob’s pics
Alan’s pics
Filed Under: Club Pub Run, News, Social Runs
I think I am losing my touch as well as my knees.
Turning up at KB for the Pub Run to find that the bar is shut. Unforgivable.
It was looking like a small turnout until a few stragglers and the “Already been to the pub” group appeared. Kudos for their forethought!
With about 25 folk by the time we passed the flattened “Briadburn”, we headed to Liberton Rugby Club.
Excellent (if a little surprised) service as usual, and the use of tracking technology gained us one more runner.
The fire door spilled us all onto the playing fields and we headed to “The Robins Nest” to the usual car horns from the motorists that we cheered up.
Amber and Jasper were barred from the pub, they reckoned the Robin wouldn’t be safe. So Gordon and Aidy drank outside as we all struggled in the heat of the pub.
We ran through Ellen’s Glen, giving The Northfield a miss (too expensive) and heading straight for “The Waverley” where we were welcomed as usual. Although we did interfere with a few games of pool.
Heading on past the last Christmas House left int he estate we stopped at the site of “The Old Bordeaux” for mulled wine and mince pies.
It was time for some mud so on across the fields to find the Coyle’s new house where Tallsker was liberally poured while we sang carols in the garden.
A quick half mile on to “The Stable Bar” but no baby Jesus at the stable, although there were a few wise men. We were shown the descending spider hidden in the rafters as we imbibed a lovely beer.
On the Chateaux Whitlie through Mortonhall Arboretum and we were offerred three whiskies and some tablet.
Stewie had entered a race last week just to win some whisky for us. Ta Much!!
Running the Buckstone path we had a last stop for a hip flask share before the road and then headed for the Waiting room for the last drink or two.
A great night, as usual, made perfect by a quick phone call to get Fraser out of his bed and give me (and 3 others) a run home, what a boy!
Willie
Filed Under: Ultra
As the assigned weekend approached, the weather stood firm and colluded with the MWIS: words like ‘ferocious’ were bandied around. Carnethys commenced furious blinking. With less than 12 hours to go before start time, the Tour de Helvellyn blinked too: the course was shortened to an out-and-back 27 miles.
International jet-setter John Ryan, keen to complete his trilogy of early-winter ultramarathons spanning three nations in preparation for a race in a fourth, and I, would carry the baton for those non-blinking Carnethys.
John’s first trick was to disappear – or, more accurately, start the race before me. His second was to hide the second checkpoint at the foot of Place Fell. His disguise was flawed, however: there were not many runners wearing shorts when the forecast was this ‘ferocious’.
We turned at Swart Bridge, a mile or so short of Sticks Pass, with the weather sterner even at this altitude. I ran the last 10 miles, up to Boredale Hause, past Martindale Church and over Askham Fell, alone, with John a few minutes back and while the ground formed an icy crust.
No-one doubted it was right to shorten the day. The cold blast that swept across the exposed expanse of Askham Fell confirmed any doubts. Fell runners may be a tough breed, but we are not stupid. It is wonderful to be in the hills; sometimes, it’s wonderful to be off them.
Jonny Muir
Filed Under: News
The full list of trophy winners announced at the Xmas Party…
Burns Scott Trophy: Jeff Roberts – for organising several alcohol themed journey runs, as well as club gear
Scald Law Trophy: Charlotte Morgan – for winning the WMRA World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship, 2018
Handicap Trophy: Andrew Lamont
Club Championship: Gordon Cameron
Allermuir Junior Trophy: Andrew Nash – for beating his father’s best time on Caerketton downhill at a first attempt
John Blair-Fish Trophy for Best Overseas Performance: Charlotte Morgan – for winning the WMRA World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship, 2018
Carnethy Radical Runner Trophy: Micah Stanbridge – for cycling across the USA to raise awareness and funds for Anthony Nolan charity
The Alt C5 Trophy: Jonathon Marks
Billy’s Goat on a Grough: Kenneth Fordyce
The Wooden Spoon Trophy: Helen Bonsor – turned up to race the 2 Breweries only to find she’d forgotten to enter
Carnethy Hill Running Club is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland with registered number SC492072 and having its registered office at 35 Damhead Holdings, Pentland Road, Edinburgh EH10 7EA