Fife Coastal Path Relay
5th October 2013 |
| Google
Album |
 |
Back at the start of the year my interest was
piqued in attempting to get a team together to
set a fast time for the entire length of the
Fife Coastal Path. Initial checks with the Fife
Coast & Countryside Trust, who are the guardians
of the Path, revealed that since it had only
opened around a year earlier at its new, full
length of 116.5 miles (it had previously been
a shorter beast from North Queensferry to Tayport)
there weren't any recorded efforts to run its
entire length in a oner, either from a team or
an individual.
After a bit of scratching around, a team was put together
fairly quickly. This was initially Jim Hardie, myself,
Phil Humphries, Graham Nash, Ally Robertson and Neil
Burnett. Legs were allocated fairly randomly, although
I wanted the leg including Kirkcaldy, where I went
to school and my mum still lives. I also decided to
make the first and last legs shorter and split the
other four as evenly as sensible transition points
would allow. We also decided that the rougher, rockier
section around Fife Ness would suit Graham Nash down
to the ground - whether he liked it or not.
The next steps were to fit in a free weekend day (we
reckoned early on that we might need 18-20 hours),
then all try to get out and recce our own individual
legs.
All was fine until, for various reasons, the initial
date slipped and then time seemed to tick towards summer
and autumn. We then found a window on 5th October that
was light on races (apart from Ben Venue) and we settled
for that. Jim Hardie, who was committed to holiday
plans, had by this time been replaced by Gregor Heron
and we knew Gregor would give us a flying start. Ally
Robertson was carrying an injury and reluctantly withdrew
to be replaced by new member Lisa Gamble, who has been
going very strongly in the Long Classics series. So
we were all set. Recces done, weather forecast good,
tide times checked and re-checked - and start times
adjusted a couple of times! And we were off.
I'll let everyone talk about their own legs, but needless
to say it all came together and we had a memorable
day. Whether the record will last for long is debatable.
It depends which club or group fancies it, whether
they can get 6 good runners together, get the logistics
sorted, choose the right time of year to get the best
out of the weather, the tides and the light etc. I
would certainly hope that we can find a very fast team
from within our own ranks to set a new record that
will be extremely hard to beat.
Until then, 15 hours and 10 minutes is there as the
goal.
|
| |
Carnethy
Relay Record Attempt |
| No |
Leg, runner & start
grid ref |
Start
Point |
Miles |
Cumulative Miles |
Elevation climb (ft) |
Time |
Split |
Cumulative |
Notes |
| 1 |
Kincardine - North Queensferry
Gregor Heron
NS92748727 |
 |
16.8 |
16.8 |
666.0 |
05:06 |
02:06 |
02:06 |
Dark for entire leg. |
| 2 |
North Queensferry - Dysart
MIke Lynch
NT52870167 |
 |
20.8 |
37.5 |
1035.0 |
08:05 |
02:59 |
05:05 |
Dark until Kinghorn.
Met at Burntisland. |
| 3 |
Dysart - St Monans
Phil Humphries
NT30779371 |
 |
20.8 |
58.3 |
435.0 |
10:53 |
02:48 |
07:53 |
Met at North Leven. |
| 4 |
St Monans - St Andrews
Graham Nash
NO52870167 |
 |
21.8 |
80.0 |
546.0 |
13:41 |
02:48 |
10:41 |
Met at Kingbarns. |
| 5 |
St Andrews - Wormit Bay
Lisa Gamble
NO50561712 |
 |
20.9 |
100.9 |
385.0 |
16:14 |
02:33 |
13:14 |
Met at Tayport. |
| 6 |
Wormit Bay - Newburgh
Neil Burnett
NO39172597 |
 |
15.6 |
116.5 |
1503.0 |
18:10 |
01:56 |
15:10 |
Met at Brunton. |
| Finish
- Mugdrum Park |
 |
Total 116.5 |
|
Gregor Heron - Leg 1 - Kincardine-on-Forth to North
Queensferry
 
My job was simple, drive to North Queensferry,
drop off my road bike, drive to Kincardine Bridge and
run to my bike as fast as I could to ‘pass the
baton’ to Mike. It was eerily quiet at the start,
only the noise of roosting geese to break the 02:58
quiet. I tried to visualise a ‘normal’ race
start and took some deep breaths before the planned
start time of 03:00. GO!
I ran off into the night trying to get the pace right
and not set off too fast, the route was fairly flat
but I knew there were a few twisty/short steep sections
to save for along my leg of almost 17 miles. I am sure
the security guards at Longannet Power Station and
Rosyth Naval Base could have seen my light as I passed
but I didn’t wait to check, nor did I hang about
in the villages I ran through silently, trying not
to wake the residents. What happens if the Police stop
me?
It was magical at the midway point to see the lights
of the bridges in the distance and hear the water lapping/wildfowl/yacht
bells chiming next to me. Running in the dark always
brings unexpected encounters with wildlife and on my
section I saw deer, foxes and some rabbits (but no
humans until Graham at Rosyth). He drove past and at
first, I wasn’t sure if it was one of the team
or an early morning heckler (he later told me he wasn’t
sure if I was a runner or someone on a bike!)
My run goes well as I ‘high five’ Mike
right under the Forth Rail Bridge with 02:06 hours
on the watch. A quick change/drink and a slow bike
back to my car - job done for me.
|
Mike Lynch - Leg 2 - North Queensferry to
Dysart
 
Graham and I arrived at North Queensferry around
4.30am, knowing that Gregor wouldn't be too far
away, but still giving me time to get myself ready
and, most importantly, have head torches checked
and double-checked. We parked under the shadow
of the Forth Rail Bridge and all was quiet, save
for the lights and noise of a freight train coming
over the bridge above us. Graham drove off again
to see if he could spot Gregor, and was soon back,
telling me that he was around 1.5 miles away and
running fast!
I decided to go for Graham's 150 lumens 'rabbit scarer'
head torch and dispensed with mine, which seemed like
a faint candle in comparison. Gregor charged down the
hill towards me, we high-fived and I was off into the
darkness.
My leg has a fair incline for the first bit before
settling down and you immediately feel that you are
on a coastal trail, before skirting Carlingnose Point
Wildlife Reserve, West Ness, past a quarry and a scrap
yard before coming in to Inverkeithing. I had settled
into the run by now and my eyes were adjusting fine
to the (lack of) light. It was a perfect morning, weather
wise and the Hokas I was wearing were gripping nicely
in the dark. There was a peaceful calm and all I could
hear was the lapping of the waves and my breathing.
Through Inverkeithing and along a longish section along
St David's Harbour brought me into the residential
section through Dalgety Bay, out past Donibristle Bay,
past the ruin of St Bridget's Kirk and onto a long
tarmac-ed section down into Aberdour Golf Course. From
there I ascended some steep steps down into Silversands
Bay. A quick check of my watch indicated I was ahead
of scheduled pace - good news. The next section, along
the railway line to Burntisland was extremely dark
and I tumbled on wet leaves briefly before emerging
into Burntisland and along towards the Beacon Leisure
Centre where Graham was waiting with supplies. A quick
flat coke and shot of energy drink and I was away along
the beach towards Kinghorn.
There followed a long drag up to Pettycur Bay Caravan
Park and down into Kinghorn, passing the Lifeboat Station,
and at this point I went through my rough patch, stopping
to rub the cramp from my calves. I pushed on on a stunning
section from Kinghorn into Kirkcaldy, past Seafield
Tower - daybreak had arrived and I hauled off the head
torch and buff and wrapped them around my wrist. Entering
Kirkcaldy gave me a lift (how many people can say that?)
and I was met with familar sights -Stark's Park, home
of my beloved Raith Rovers, then onto the Esplanade
- at a mile long I felt every yard - and up the steep
hill past Ravenscraig Castle, through the paths in
Ravenscraig Park and out towards Dysart. As I ran past
the Quartermaster's House in Dysart (the administrative
home of the Trust) I knew I was almost there and ran
past the Dysart heritage mining cottages and up the
hill towards the Mine Head Gear of the old Frances
Colliery (where my grandfather was a miner) and up
to the memorial plinth where Graham and Phil were waiting.
A bit of faffing and an exchange of my Garmin and Phil
was off. My target was 3 hours and I came in at 2:59.
I slowed quite a bit after 12 miles through cramp and
more undulating terrain, but I was happy enough with
that. I reckoned we were around 10 minutes up on our
schedule at this point. It was time to get in the car
and enjoy the rest of the day as a spectator!
Back to chart
|
Phil Humphries
- Leg 3 - Dysart to St Monans
 
The alarm clock goes at 5:45 I check my phone
and a group text message informs me the FCP
relay is well under way and Gregor has completed
his leg ahead of schedule. I start to panic
and decide to catch the earlier train just
in case. I consume my breakfast/coffee
to go on the train arriving at Kirkcaldy at
7:05. After a quick pit-stop at the station
I meet up with Graham and we drive to a small
car park by the Frances Colliery Memorial in
Dysart. We have plenty of time to wait for
Mike, but it is good to be ready and in place
for the transition. The weather is perfect
and we witness a fabulous sunrise – the omens
are looking good for a successful day. Mike
arrives ahead of schedule and he quickly resets
his garmin and I transfer it to my wrist. I
sprint off full of energy along the path, but
after a mile or so I notice the garmin is not
recording and is telling me the memory is full
and I need to delete old activities. Down the
steps at Blair Point I slow to walk, get the
garmin sorted then set off again determined
to catch up on lost seconds.
The first 7 miles to Leven are on easy trail/tarmac
and I run hard knowing from my reccy earlier
in the year that I will on slower terrain later
on. Mike and Graham meet me at the far
end of Leven. I stop briefly to gulp
down an energy drink – the weather is warmer
that I was expecting. The golf course
looks busy so I run along the beach, then up
the hill and through Lower Largo. The
next 10 miles are really scenic and a joy to
run. When I reccied at the start of April
I took the alternative high tide route through
the dunes at Dunbarnie Links, but this time
they are overgrown with long coarse grass and
scratchy undergrowth that hide the many pot-holes.
This is slowing me down, so after a mile of
dune bashing I divert on to the beach, which
is a lot easier. At the end of the beach
is where the Cocklemill Burn meets the sea. I
see the wooden footbridge in the corner of
my eye, but to save a few tens of seconds I
try to leap over the burn. The sand give
way under my take-off foot and despite my flapping
arms I land a foot short of the bank with a
huge splash into shin-deep cold salty water. Six
Carnethies on a coastal relay run – someone
is bound to end up the sea at some point!
Rather soggy from the thigh down I plough on past Shell
Bay, up and over the hill at Kincraig Point, along
the beach at West Bay, round the headland at Earlsferry
and then back on tarmac through the attractive village
of Elie. With another 2 miles to go I start to fade,
but an energy gel and the last of my water keep me
going to St Monans. Along the seafront I bear
left too early and have to back track about 30 yards
back onto the harbour and then finally sprint up to
the car park where Mike and Graham are cheering me
on. Still ahead of schedule I handover to Graham
who is eager to run...
Back to chart
|
Graham Nash - Leg 4 - St Monans to St Andrews
 
Mike had first suggested an attempt at the Fife Coastal
Path relay record back in the Spring, but a busy summer
for everyone meant the earliest we could get a team
together for it was 5th October, and that would mean
some legs would be run in the dark.
The previous 2 weeks had been a frenzy of last minute
recce-ing by the team and everything was set for a
6.00am start. On the Wednesday, I checked the tide
times as part of my section were not accessible at
high tide. Disaster; high tide was due at 15.23 (Anstruther) – bang
in the middle of my section. Worse still, it’s
a new moon and that means higher than normal spring
tides. Without hesitation Gregor agreed to bring forward
his start time to 3.00am, which should give enough
leeway for me to pass through my section before high
tide, if the runners on legs 1 to 3 kept to the schedule.
4.00am and Mike is outside my house waiting to give
me a lift to North Queensferry for the start of his
leg, where I would take over driving responsibilities
until St Monans. Gregor had already been running for
an hour, having started with Leg 1 at Kincardine. It
was eerily quiet and dark at NQ, but also mild. Gregor
came storming in at 5.06am, 9 minutes ahead of the
schedule and Mike ran off into the darkness. After
a chat with Gregor, I set off to meet Mike at Burntisland
leisure centre. Mike soon appeared running quicker
than I expected, collected the flat coke and energy
drink and then again ran off into the darkness. Next
stop, Kirkcaldy train station to collect Phil Humphries.
Whilst waiting, I chatted to a group of Warrington
rugby league fans, with massive carry-outs who were
off to watch a match down South later that day. They
were planning their own endurance event the same day – all
day drinking.
Phil and I headed to Dysart, our early start rewarded
with a great sunrise. 8.05am Mike re-appears and hands
over to Phil and we agree to meet him at Leven to check
his progress. Phil is running strongly and after a
quick stop we head to St Monans for the start of my
leg at 11.00am. Checking the tide it looks a long way
out and we’re ahead of schedule. At St Monans
Phil arrives and we’re still 7 minutes up, the
tide is however advancing up the shore.
My plan is to run the first 16 miles of my 21.8 mile
section hard to get time in the bag to get past the
sections inaccessible at high tide. The first 6 miles
go by quickly, passing through the pretty fishing villages
of Pittenweem, Anstruther and Crail, and I keep checking
the shore to my right. The water seems to be getting
a metre closer everytime I look. Round the coastguard
station at Fife Ness and the sea is definitely advancing.
Have I made a mistake with tide time? Not wanting to
let the rest of the team down or call out the guys
from the coastguard I up my pace. Onto the golf course
at Kingsbarns, location of the Alfred Dunhill cup the
week before, I hug the fairway, dodging golf balls,
some of which I’m sure are targeted at me. I
pass the first of the sections that would be difficult
at high tide with no problem, the water still creeping
onwards towards the cliffs.
At Cambo Sands car park, I meet Mike and Phil as arranged.
Flat Irn-Bru and a banana and I head off. Back on the
shore the tide has come yet closer. I’m sure
its chasing me. At Boarhills the path heads inland
for 2 miles, and when I return to shore the tide has
advanced even more. 5 miles to the handover point in
St Andrews and I’m starting to suffer from the
previous miles' fast pace. I reach the high tide warning
sign at the section under the cliffs and I’ve
beaten the tide. I hop across the rocks under the cliffs
and sprint off the beach. I reckon another half an
hour and I would have got wet feet.
St Andrews is in sight, but I’m starting to flag.
Up and down the steps along the cliffs, down past the
caravan site and onto East Sands Esplanade. The hill
up to the castle is painful, my legs complaining and
calves beginning to cramp. Through the town and then
I spot Lisa Gamble running ahead, down to the British
Golf Museum, where we “high five” and Lisa
departs for her section. The tank is empty, job done.
Lesson learned: If you want a fast run, try and beat
an incoming tide.
Back to chart
|
Lisa Gamble - Leg 5
- St Andrews to Wormit Bay
 
I spent the morning wandering around St. Andrews
downing coffee and eating croissants in an
effort to shift a mild bout of whisky induced
dehydration (Port Charlotte, 66%, Willie Gibson’s
fault). I decided it was best not to
mention this to Mike. I’d never met the
bloke before and he seemed pretty serious. I
shouldn’t have worried however for as I waited
for Graham to pitch up at the changeover, adrenaline
kicked in and the head cleared. Mike
was also a wee bit ‘worried’ that
Graham may have been swimming his way to St.
Andrews. Obviously the concern was that
the FCP relay (Mike: “it’s my baby”) may have
to be aborted and not about Nash and his ability
to swim/drown.
I went for a warm up along the Scores and wasn’t
at all surprised to see Graham approaching
and powering along. I ran ahead of him,
we did the whole high five thing, and I was
off and trying not to take out too many rich
American golfers as I negotiated my way past
the Old Course, and out of town.
The first 8 miles from St. Andrews to Leuchars
follows the cycle path and was on road (blah),
but once I got past the airbase (no RAF jets
these days) I was into Tentsmuir Forest and
much more at home- literally, the route goes
right past my dad’s cottage. After a
quick few miles through pretty autumnal forest,
I was running along the coast again. By
the time I got to Tayport Caravan Park, thirst
had kicked in and I was glad to see the lads
waiting with supplies. Graham threw some
water and a bit of encouragement at me and
back on the cycle path, I ran the last 6 miles
past the Tay Road Bridge, through Newport and
under the Tay Railway Bridge. Finally,
down the hill and it was over to Neil, by which
point I was wondering where the last 2.5 hrs
had gone to. Great Saturday out; hangover well
cured.
Back to chart
|
Neil Burnett - Leg 6 - Wormit to Newburgh
 
Given the honour (?) of the 'glory'
leg which was originally to be run in the dark,
I was delighted when Graham consulted his lunar
charts and the TV guide and insisted instead
that in order to keep his feet dry (and make
sure he got home to watch Strictly), Gregor would
have to start at 3am since this meant I would
be running during daylight assuming everyone
met their scheduled times. As it was, the team
was well ahead of schedule so I had a bit less
time than originally planned for my 'warm-up'
(aka Mike's chat at the transition). The final
leg started on a lovely clifftop path before
dropping back to sea level after a couple of
miles before the long slow (very slow in my case)
slog inland towards Norman's Law. I was met by
the support team after about 6 miles and then
headed properly offroad through forestry tracks
skirting the Law before dropping down through
farmland only to climb again to the hill overlooking
Newburgh. Having finished the climbing, the last
3 miles was a lovely diagonal downhill all the
way to the town followed by a final stretch along
the waterfront before an unpleasant uphill sprint
to the finish where the team awaited shouting
abuse (but handing out beer). A lovely route
although much more hilly and inland than 'coastal'
path might suggest.
Back to chart
|
 |
|
