Tour de Glencorse
A great turnout for the first AltC5 with 31 running the TdeG. Some great feedback on a cracking runnable route with finding the optimal line to hack through the bracken up Bells Hill a talking point. A pre-brief to turn 90 degree left at the top seemed to prevent folk heading too far north. The descent to Logan Cottage saw variation and places changed before the traverse above Glencorse. Some got back as the light faded but all were accounted for.
Allermuir uphill
Nice warm up to the hut, then you were meant to take the steepest slope direct. Some went diagonally left so we will tighten the description next time! 30 folk did this blast. Some fast, some less so. A great wee work out.
Caerketton Dooonhill
Some followed Allermuir with the Doonhill to recce the route, or get a night off, while others waited for the actual race. 44 Carnethies hurled themselves down the hill with feet burning by the bottom.
Bonaly
30 folk did this one. You start off steeply, then more runnable to the top of Capelaw. Then it is a blast down to a wee climb to near the top of Harbour Hill. For the second time, someone elected to run on to Threpmuir and require a search plan to form when she did not finish. The rest of us hurtled down Scalextric and through the woods by various routes, to a steaming and sweaty finish at the carpark, narrowly avoiding the various dog walkers.
MMM
John Busby set the challenge this year above Boghall for the 24 folk who had a go. The six checkpoints gave a digit that combined to a grid reference of CP7 which was a tent ‘just off a path’. I ran with Denise Tracey who was unsure about navigating successfully. Some brief planning (wrongly) said end up high so you could go from CP6 to any location quickly. Unfortunately, the ‘path’ was 300m from the start so those doing a circuit of the CPs ended next to the tent. Our cunning plan meant a much slower time and a stinging penalty. All great fun though.
Winners
You were all winners!!! Cringe!!! Just running 5 races in a week is enough. Do the Comrie Relay the Sunday before and the Beeftub the Saturday after and you will be a bit weary and is an idea for next year. Jeff Roberts came up from York to do them in one go. Like me, I guess he missed a beer at the excellent prize doo as he was away. Good lad though.
The handicapping needs some work still to spread the prizes about, but hats off to you fast folk and well done everyone that joined in. Suggestions of favourite routes next year always welcome.
Mark Hartree