I ran the (shorter) Ochil Ultra this Saturday 24th Sept. A last minute route change saw the finish amended to Perth, instead of Stirling. This then also made it a full 50km, 31miler – and delightfully told at the start as it’s a new course, we will all have PB’s and the potential for new course records to be set!
Started steady on tarmac and roads from Auchterader towards the Ochils. Sun was beaming throughout, and the route so enjoyable that the 10mile checkpoint arrived after what felt like 5 minutes. Next leg more grassy and with more room for navigational error, but heading down towards Bridge of Earn for the checkpoint provided great views towards the Tay. Race organisers advised a change to road shoes for the last 10ish miles, as it was 50% tarmac – looking back the change to a dry pair of socks was welcome but my shoes would have been fine the same.
Hard slog to Moncrieff Hill where it seemed never ending ascent during the last 10k, winding around several sides of uphill – and at this point racing my watch before the battery died. Downhill almost the whole way to Perth to finish, through an industrial estate – and a wonderful marshall shouting it was only downhill from the bridge onwards was the motivation I needed to push on.
Happy to report I set a new course record and came first in my category- as the only non-binary entrant in the 50k! 😊
Oliver Wain