Win Rampen – Don’t go into the Woods with a Bear Behind
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Win’s abstract
I was born on a farm outside Toronto some time ago. Flatlands… pooh! But I spent a good part of each childhood summer in Algonquin Park, canoeing, sailing, etc., as many North American kids do.
Coming to the UK as a young engineering graduate I joined the Salter wavepower team in 1978 at the University of Edinburgh. As someone who has always done a bit of running, it was an obvious step to run from KB into the Hermitage and Braids. Eventually I met luminaries like John Blair-Fish and Willie Gibson in KB House (then Union!) changing room and found out about the Carnethy 5 hill race (first attempt 1991). After a year or so I was persuaded to ditch my unattached status – by those same people – and join Carnethy. I managed to keep an extremely low profile for decades, which meant that people perusing the list of Carnethy members would stop on my name and say to one another: Who he (she)? Win being a pretty androgynous name – perfect for this era of gender fluidity! Though, it should be noted, I’m not confused.
Years went by and I did eventually surface in Carnethy taking part in Willie’s most excellent Carnethy Junior Running programme with my kids. One result of which is that both daughters now consider themselves to be runners, many thanks to Willie! Let this be an encouragement to the next generation of Carnethy parents who might feel able to step up – particularly whilst Willie’s invaluable guidance can be utilised.
More years and more Carnethy handicaps and local hill races until I clocked up 21 Carnethy 5s and won the only thing that I’ve ever tangibly acquired in my running career – the coveted Quaiche! I suppose that it is all downhill from here – but for those that know me, that is my speciality. I run uphill very slowly, being passed by every Tom, Dick and Henrietta. But then on the way down, I can make headway. And at 64 my knees still work….hurrah!
My talk will be about my childhood experience in Algonquin Park: the camp I went to, the war between Woodcraft Folk and the Boy Scouts (I was always aware of this as a child at camp but then much later found out the true scale of this ruction), the aesthetics of canoes. But then I hope to impart some useful and practical information about how to go there and do it yourself in the approved Ahmek style (not as a Rinkydink – a term that will be explained).