Confirmation that Graham Nash has taken advantage of the recent spell of good weather.
On Wednesday 27 02 2019 he completed the Round going ACW in a time of 23h 34m.
That result is his 5th successful attempt within 24hours
Well done Graham
Charlie Ramsay
Archives for February 2019
Fetteresso Forest Marathon
Tempted by Matthew Curry’s race report from last year, Matt and I booked ourselves in for the Fetteresso Forest Marathon. Christmas kind of got in the way of early training, but we managed to get galvanised and cracked on with week three of an 8 week training plan. The weather was extremely kind to us – sunny with the merest suggestion of a breeze. Very different from 2018 iciness, and I believe this was reflected in some much quicker running times this year.
Matt and I had been originally planning to “just enjoy it”, but about 8 miles in a spectator noted that I was first lady. That put paid to any notions of chill, as Jeni Rees-Jenkins was on my shoulder. I could hear her chatting happily to other runners, as I puffed and pushed harder than I ought to have done. At about 20 miles, I was seriously starting to flag (why do marathon training plans seem to max out at about 19 miles?? It’s surely a risky strategy). Jeni cruised past looking very fresh, and I felt relieved of the pressure of being in with a chance of first lady. Unfortunately Angela Reid wasn’t far behind, and miles 21, 22, 23 and 24 dragged very painfully on. If Matt hadn’t encouraged me, I would definitely have walked this last section (which incidentally was mostly uphill).
With literally only about half a mile to go, something gave in Matt’s knee, leaving me with the terrible choice of hanging in there with my running buddy (who had slowed down with me while he’d been feeling strong), or to leave him and hang onto my place as second lady. Fortunately Matt’s hopping pace was similar to my bipedal pace, so we shuffled in together. Sadly I was feeling too wrecked to enjoy any of the delicious soups and cake. I saw three other people puking after the finish…testament to the challenging route! However, tea (in proper mugs), edible medals, and tree prizes were a perfect end to this very well managed race. I really appreciated the efforts in making the event “low impact”.
Mary
Results: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wk36yx4b27b9w8v/FFM%202019%20Results.xlsx?dl=0&fbclid=IwAR1I_J9XFjfIgi2M2bOp6L8Mj76T_Lj2w1kAfrfrPmXXMoFxEx73Xc6s2ig
Borders Canter
What a fantastic day for a 30 mile trot. I normally do this run during the winter months, and have often waded through knee deep snow in parts. Not today. We had a great turnout of 22, and kept a nice steady pace, stopping occasionally to regroup and take in the views. By Bavelaw we had lost 2 who had decided on a shorter day. The path up to the Bore Stane is more pleasant now that the old slippery wooden sleepers have been replaced with a new track. The air was filled with spring birdsong and we saw several buzzards and a lapwing, plus the Lesser Spotted Hubert complete with breeding partner and offspring.
Arriving at West Linton, those that had tired of my chat had just a 10 minute bus wait to escape back to The Steading. The remaining seven runners plus Ross Christie hung about the Co-Op waiting for the Gordon Arms to open. Once inside we enjoyed a fine pint, tea & coffee by the fire. A few groans of stiff legs as we left West Linton, but these were soon forgotten as the best part of the run was to come. We saw no one else until we met a trio of walkers looking at the view down to Green Knowe, and from there it was (almost) downhill all the way to Peebles. We were even thankful for the slight breeze to keep us cool. Not often you hear that in February.
With an hour to kill before the 1610 bus back to Edinburgh we headed to The Bridge Inn for a couple of pints, where the loudest game of Dominos was taking place.
Thanks to Mark for organising this series. Long winter runs are much easier with great company.
Graham Nash
First part – Steading to West Linton, 17 miles
Stunning day. Never mind it feeling like spring, it felt like summer. The prospect of missing the very sporadic bus from West Linton back to the Steading gave impetus to the pace, which Nikki and I didn’t half feel. But happily we were there with a few minutes to spare. I’d have liked to carry on to Peebles but the legs weren’t having any of it.
Digby
Sometimes you get lucky on a run. 22 of us started and were so lucky with something akin to a cool summers day. If summer was as warm as today, you would be happy. The route to West Linton stayed low and is fully runnable on good trials. The pace accommodated the slower folk well. Quite a few dropped out at West Linton to get the bus back while Graham Nash led the remainder to Peebles. I will do this leg in the next few weeks I think, but went home to get a few Km done on my bike. Thanks all, super day.
Mark
UAE Hajar Urban Ultra
So, being the last of the 4 Carnethy runners to finish, it fell to me to write the race report! On the 15th of February in the Mountains of Ras Al Khaimah Stewart, Paul, Paddy and I found ourselves in the dark preparing to face the challenges of the heat, the mountain climbs and the boulder ravines.
Before I get to the actual race itself, I need to go back to the start… Paul contacting Stewart to suggest a wee holiday trip out to visit the family in the UAE, whereupon dates being confirmed further messages suggesting a nice race. At this point I should perhaps have read all the race information in a slightly more thorough manner, but nevertheless, the race entry was agreed. Paul, unfortunately, due to injury felt he could only complete the 30k, however encouraged Stewart and I to continue with the original plan to take on the 50k race.
In the week before we headed off I thought I should probably have a little look at the race route and the kit list etc. Alarm bells started ringing when I discovered that part of the mandatory kit we had to carry was ‘a small pocket knife’. No explanation, so upon reading the race info I decided that the knife was for either a. dealing with the snakes or scorpions we were likely to encounter on our adventure, b. cutting off a leg when it became trapped in loose rocks in the boulder field or c. dealing with any unfriendly locals! I am glad that I still have no idea what the knife may have been required for.
Then, further alarm bells when Stewart very kindly explained just how big the climbs were going to be and also stated that he was unable to teach me how to read a map and use a compass well enough before the race, so I should just try and run with someone so that I didn’t get lost.
Starting in the dark with the headtorches at 5.30am when it was already around 15 degrees was a clue as to how things were going to warm up as we began the assent of Jebel Janas to 1000 metres. It was a really nice steady incline on a very runnable track for the first 7km and then as it started to get light the views were spectacular. Looking back down the track watching the lights of the headtorches begin snaking their way up the mountain proper. The climb was straightforward, well marked, and continued onto a long path along the ridge with great views and small villages and ruins. Slightly challenging razor sharp stones which cut up your trainers and feet at points was the only down side. This was followed by a lovely runnable descent for around 12k down the mountain to checkpoint 3 (the 30k finish). And this is absolutely where my race should have ended!!! But no… Next was a very, very slow climb up Jebel Yibir to just over 1200 meters at 44km, 32 degrees was way too hot for me and trying to find some shelter from the sun became my only goal, along with rationing the litre of water that I was carrying, which became apparent was not enough. Once we took on more water at the last checkpoint there was a little more climbing before we started to descend even more slowly than I ever thought possible back down to the 50k finish through an endless number of switchbacks through a never ending boulder field of sharp stones. At the race briefing the organiser said you would go through every emotion on the last 5k and I didn’t really understand what she meant. I do now. Oh my goodness. Still traumatised by it. If it hadn’t been for Stewart appearing with cold juice I’m not sure I’d have made it over the finishing line. Anyway, I’d totally recommend the 30k Hajar Urban Ultra, my advice for the 50k would be to proceed with caution!!
Massive well done to Paul, Stewart and Paddy though for their outstanding running and ability to finish before the heat of the day.
Results: Paul – 30k winner (2h:30m:39s), Stewart – 50k winner (6h:8m:24s), Paddy – 5th place 50k (6h:48m:33s), Pam – 6th female 50k (10h:29m:09s)
Pam Whitlie
Wednesday social run
Culter Fell Circumnavigation
A weather forecast promising clearing skies with sunny intervals was somewhat tardy and only delivered the goods as we sped down the last descent into Coulter Village rather soggy and bedraggled after about 3.5 hours of rain and strong winds. This was a brisk-paced circuit of 30km with no breakdowns of either machine or spirit with a well-honed team of Joanne T, Nicki I, Karl Z, Jamie T, Andy S and Keith B. The head wind and rain on the climb past the reservoir to the Holme Nick bealach delivered wind chill that belied the mild air from the south.
Turning downwind and downhill towards Chapelgill gave us entertaining steepness, swamps and tussock where Karl demonstrated his circus skills handling the bike where the rest of the team staggered on foot. Back on improving track and tarmac we flew to the road turn-off at Glenhighton. The forest climb towards Trebetha Hill gave us shelter from the wind and rain for a brief lunch break followed by an entertaining fast descent to the farm by Kilbucho House.
If anyone thought the journey was routine and drama free, this was where the balloon went up. Cruising through the tidy farmyard led by pilot Andy we found a very heated debate in progress between the farmer suffering a bout of spontaneous epiglottic inversion and Andy explaining to him the finer details of the 2003 Land Reform Bill (Scotland). We joined the debate with enthusiasm and discovered that the farmer didn’t want us on his Land-Reform-Bill-unexempted land because he was worried about having to claim on his insurance for his extremely dangerous Alsatian devouring a cyclist and damaging a bike. So we also reminded him of his duty of care liabilities. We didn’t get to meet the dog and the debate was escalating rapidly with swopped threats of local authority and police intervention by both parties. Fortunately we were getting cold, so we left the threats hanging in the air and bade this helpful guy farewell.
We had a neighbouring farmyard to pass through at Mitchell Hill on our return leg and approached nervously, thinking that Farmer 1 might have raised a local muster to impede us further. We passed the next farm without further incident and embarked on the delightful endgame of variegated mud and local hills that must have been a very large community a couple of thousand years ago judging from the Iron Age forts around these pretty hills.
Just as we were getting back to routine boring mud, we were thwarted by a belligerent group of cows who became so obstructive that we thought they might have been Kilbucho Man’s final act of revenge. We eventually got past them and they tagged along briefly then lost interest. Just as were flew down the final descent to Snaip Nisbet it stopped raining and the sun broke out!
The Mill Inn provided welcome re-hydration and delicious soup to round off a great circuit of about 30km + 600 m climb in just over 3hrs.
Keith Burns
Borders XC – Chirnside
Quite pleasant weather if a trifle unsunny. Compared with last year the slalom through the woods was relatively dry, and by some miracle neither I nor anyone around me tripped over the gaily painted tree stumps. A stretch along an ancient railway embankment, a loop around a couple of plantations and then back by the same route. All very runnable. As ever, well marshalled and marked, and for afters snacks in the hall. Very tempting cake!
Category wins for Graham (4th overall), Michelle and Hilary – well done!
Results here. Results for series here
Carnethy results:
Posn | Time | Category | Cat Posn. | Bib no. | ||
4 | 00:26:20 | Graham | Nash | M40+ | 1 | 395 |
6 | 00:26:40 | Iain | Gilmore | MS | 4 | 192 |
7 | 00:26:45 | Alex | Mcvey | MS | 5 | 418 |
21 | 00:29:17 | Noel | Tomnay | M40+ | 6 | 50 |
41 | 00:31:51 | Neil | Gilmore | M50+ | 9 | 193 |
51 | 00:33:04 | Gordon | Cameron | M60+ | 2 | 214 |
53 | 00:33:18 | Michelle | Hetherington | F50+ | 1 | 24 |
57 | 00:33:50 | Chris | Henty | M40+ | 18 | 5 |
76 | 00:36:36 | Finn | Tomnay | MJ | 3 | 51 |
88 | 00:37:16 | Digby | Maass | M60+ | 4 | 215 |
92 | 00:37:40 | Michael | Wilkinson | M50+ | 21 | 156 |
102 | 00:38:38 | Robin | Sloan | M70+ | 2 | 393 |
104 | 00:39:09 | Hilary | Spenceley | F60+ | 1 | 108 |
119 | 00:42:10 | Catherine | Forrest | FS | 8 | 252 |
121 | 00:42:27 | Mairi | Brown | F50+ | 10 | 287 |
149 | 00:52:10 | Bill | Gauld | M70+ | 4 | 110 |
Wednesday social run
Check out my run on Strava. https://strava.app.link/yiSb6rDpiU
And it was quite social with 18 runners so one per hole which allowed us to go round in par. No burdies but we did have Amber who was quite vocal for a change.
Gordon