Didn’t we have a loverly time, the day we went to Falkland….? FV50s at the Burdens.
It was great to be able to field a FV50 team at the Devil’s Burdens. With all the legs having changed from previous years we recced all the new ones and (largely!) enjoyed that part of the process too.
Sally Cross on leg 1 writes: I have been a member of Carnethy for a very long time but always in the social wing of the Club. When the call went out for people to make up relays for the Devil’s Burdens I thought that I would dip my toe into hill-racing so I volunteered to run what looked to me like the most straightforward leg and was given a place in the Ladies V50 team (flattering as I’ve had my bus pass for a while now). Being new to all this I did two recces of the route. The first with Ian (I don’t think he trusted me not to get lost!) on a gloriously sunny Sunday. After I learnt how to use a compass and take a bearing we descended East Lomond (him skipping down, me coming down more cautiously) to control 1C at a gate. After a robust discussion of where to go next we headed over to control 1D by the masts across very marshy ground but this involved crossing two fences, verboten in the rules. After that it was a straightforward run down. Recce two the following week I did solo while Ian went off with his partner to recce leg 2. This time I found a much better (and legal) route to checkpoint 1D and had the pleasure of bumping into an old friend ascending East Lomond Hill as I descended (even more slowly this time because of the ice). On race day I lined up feeling rather nervous at the start, my first hill race in a Carnethy vest alongside Maggie Creber. A horn sounded and we were off with me soon finding my place at the back of the pack. Running along the track towards East Lomond I was surprised to see a runner came across the field on the right. He explained that he had a “gentleman’s moment” and he was not racing – just jogging round. His intention was to race one leg and jog two! He seemed amused when I told him his jogging pace was my race pace! As I reached the gate onto the path up the hill the leader sprinted by on his way down – I had hoped to get that point without seeing the leader. Managed to catch a couple of people on East Lomond and en route back I helped a few of the other backmarkers who were veering off course. I could have done without the final lap of the field! Pleased to finish not last and I enjoyed it. Thank you to my teammates for words of encouragement and bonhomie. Who knows I may race again…
And Margaret Forrest who ran with Cali Ingham on Leg 3 writes: Cali and I had a cracking time on Leg 3. I’m so glad we did a recce the week before with Bob and Willie and knew where we were going. We also knew there was no way we wanted to climb back up towards West Lomond Hill after check point 3E had been removed from Bell Craig. Most Leg 3 runners added the extra ascent in order to get a fast run down the stoney track to Craigmead, but we preferred the more sheltered route through Drumdreel Wood where we met Hilary and lots of Leg 4 runners. It was a great race and the new arrangements this year are a really good improvement. Many thanks to all the marshalls and the course organisers.
Joanne Thin ran with Dorothy Elliot on Leg 3 and writes: I enjoyed the run with Dorothy and passing a few teams towards the end. Good team spirit all round.
I ( Hilary) ran leg 4 which was mainly on forest tracks and was glad of a recce a week before the race. The big decision on that leg was whether to do the monument first or last (the checkpoints could be visited in any order), and this proved to be a very individual choice. It was fun being part of the pre race email discussion with other Carnethy leg 4 runners about the options, and flattering to be asked for my recommendations! Contemplating a 30 ft near-vertical muddy bank, I realised I could (just) get up it, but no way – with knackered knee and legendary poor descending skill – would I get down it with my dignity intact. I therefore opted to do the Chancefield checkpoint first, via North Bank, then fast running along a lovely path contouring through the woods and joining the main forest track to pick up 3 checkpoints (like Sally, calling back some others who went slightly off course) before heading back towards Falkland, meeting Cali and Margaret completing leg 3. I cut off the main track and climbed said steep bank to the monument, and then had a fast run off down a forest track and then a smaller very runnable track which cut the corners. I was very pleased to find I was in the top two thirds of the leg 4 times! The recce definitely paid off.
A great day out, with plenty of time in the assembly area to blether with clubmates and meet folks from other clubs. I gather there may be some male, female and mixed V60/70 teams next year. I hope this write-up might be a rallying call for veteran club members to take part in next year’s race, and other relays (For instance, Comrie is one of my favourite events).
Hilary Spenceley