Scurry Event braved Covid to run the 2020 Scurry to the Sea race. Having not being able to race since March this was a quite brave thing to do and they should be congratulated for showing that racing can happen safely and still feel like a race despite social distancing. The format included:
- 199 Runners split into 3 groups with different separate registration times
- Well separated queuing
- 4 second bleeper to start you
- Dibber at start and finish to record time
- Separation rules at the start and finish
This approach meant a steady throughput of runners with 15 people leaving per minute and therefore a good flow from registration to starting. It worked, was social enough and satisfied the Covid guidance and meant now made rush at the start with plenty of folk to chase and be chased by. In summary – racing is possible.
The route: Hillend Ski Centre to the top of Allermuir, then run by any route to Musselburgh via two checkpoints at the Braids and King Haugh generally following the Braid and Brunstane Burns – so mostly down-hill and about 7 miles of tarmac slapping. This makes various route options and skulduggery depending on your running/route preferences.
Carnethy was well represented and did very well with the winner and third place, 5 in the top 11 places, first and second MV50. Caitlin Ripley was the first Carnethy female to finish chased by my 18 year old son Finlay a few second later with me a minute behind in 74th. Sally Cross beat her FV60 rival. Team Carnethy Hartree also included my daughter Lauryn who ran her first race ever and broke all her Strava records in one run. Peter Macdonald (my body double, nice shoes) came 3rd MV40.
Overall Male Winners
1st Andrew Macrae – M50 – Carnethy Hill Racing club – 1.16.25 – New course record
2nd Peter Gardner – Hunters Bog Trotters – 1.16.40
3rd Nigel Shekleton – Carnethy Hill Racing Club – 1.16.57
Overall results: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QsSvl2ssZGSnkOcQ455lFG9P7chuBdz9/view?usp=sharing
Gender age results: ScurrytotheSea2020ResultsAgeGender.pdf
So, racing is possible and can be just as fun as before. I would not have normally have done this race, but like the Edinburgh 7 Hills, you sometimes have to suffer tarmac to get a race fix. See you out there maybe around the next handicap from Swanston – or the Virtual 7 Hills?
Mark Hartree