The view from the back
A lovely summers day; with flies. This is one hard long race and part of the Dufftown highland games. Great fun with stirring pipe bands, very large men variously throwing, heaving & tossing hefty objects and lots of other events. I knew I wasn't particularly race fit and tried to pace myself, though progressive fatigue just meant going slower and slower. I didn't think there were that many runners in the race for so many to overtake. There are 5 climbs over 2 outliers & the main Corbett with 1500m of ascent in all, and 14 miles of running. Although not bad going underfoot there was at least one fall & nasty grazing. At the finish, on tottering legs, it's quite something to do a circuit of the games field with everyone clapping - in sympathy no doubt. Many Carnethies present, and a good scattering of prizes - including myself, 2nd MV60, though I have the feeling there may only have been 2 of us in the running. I don't care, I'm still chuffed!. Map
Digby
This race is part of the Carnethy Club Championship series and also the Scottish Hill Runners Championship link
Stewart Whitlie led Carnethy to the team prize with a great 3rd place, behind Robbie Simpson (Deeside), who broke the record (and won by nearly 10 mins) and Jethro Lennox (Shettleston). results
Practical details: Roads near the games ground closed to parking. If you get to Dufftown early enough you can park in the public car park near the centre. Entry to the highland games £6, which gives entry to the race (and the caber tossing if you like). There are changing facilities with toilets & showers, though rather small & scruffy. There are also track races up to a mile if you have any energy left. Underfoot are peaty heathery paths on the first two hills and a wide stony track on Ben Rinnes, with some stone steps. The course is marked and there is a drinks station at the road crossing at the foot of Ben Rinnes. On a hot day like this one you would probably want extra water.