Following a week of constantly changing regulations, toing and froing of emails and an extraordinary committee meeting on a Sunday night it was amazing that any of us got out running on Wednesday night. But run we did! Under the auspices of Scottish Athletics and the racing club of course. No more nice social runs – we were here to train.
The Lammermuirs have always allowed for social distancing. It is relatively rare to meet someone on a Saturday afternoon let alone a Wednesday evening. Especially when the road to the Hopes had a sign at the end proclaiming road closed. Billy and I did stop and wonder whether we should proceed, only to be passed by Nadine who didn’t hesitate for a second. So on we went to find Brian already there. Is there something about the Irish and signs or is that a Carnethy thing?
It was a lovely still evening as we set off with a flock of partridges running ahead of us (more of which later). Our aim was Lammer Law, the second highest summit in the Lammermuirs. As expected we had the tracks to ourselves, apart from sheep and rabbits. We reached the top in the gloaming and knowing the descent was fraught with trip hazards the head torches went on. This in itself was a strange experience – where has the year gone? Our return route was that of last year’s handicap so there were a few undulations along the way and no-one decided to take Michael’s alternative route along the ridge and through the electric fence.
It was almost properly dark by the time we started to retrace our steps along the outbound track where we were met by the local gamekeeper to be told we were all mental. He then did ask us to take care not to disturb his partridges after they have gone to roost as this is when the fox gets them which means he can no longer shoot them. We politely agreed – you don’t argue with a man with a shotgun.
Alternative routes could well be a bonus of covid19 and something to continue when things return to “normal”!
Dorothy