Carnethy Winter Ultra Series reports
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2020 Winter Virtual Challenges
2019 series report
2018 series report
2017 series report
2020 Reports…
The Edinburgh Circo – a ONCE in a lifetime experience
Thanks to Peter Buckley and Lucas Lefevre for the photos
Who would have thought that a tarmac-heavy run around Edinburgh would pull in such a crowd? I’ve come across a bit of sniffiness about this run (no names…) but it’s one I have wanted to do. President Mark kindly enabled this by asking me to coordinate it. This also meant, in theory, recce-ing it, but a sore hip meant most of my recce-ing involved farming it out to Lucas and checking out Jim Hardie’s Strava route from 2017.
Mark and his military punctuality got a large group of us moving from the Steading leaving Lucas to catch up with a couple of late arrivals. There was a good mixture of ‘old’ and new members and the run over to Portobello passed by quickly. I guess it’s quite a mundane section really so Mark got us all to haul ourselves over a fence and down a wall at Newhailes rather than run in the entrance 100 metres down the road (very ‘Carnethy’, I thought). We had a couple of very new Dads run the first leg with us. Rowan Boswood – new member and last year’s West Highland Way winner – was clearly happy to get out for any kind of run before returning to his 7-week old. Chris Lucas, with a 6-week old, showed the effects of fatherhood on him when he asked me if Portobello was where we’d gone to the Festival-by-the-Sea on another social ultra last year – I had to remind him that that was in North Berwick.
At Portobello (11 miles) we were brilliantly hosted at the Baptist church by the wife and friends of Joel Chaney. They cooked up 70 (yes, seventy!) eggs to put in rolls, along with tea, coffee and tray bakes. A few people headed off at this point for better activities such as a Cocktail Day (no names…). But the rest of us who nothing better to do on a Sunday – and now joined by a couple of very athletic looking new members (Rebecca and Pierrick) – headed off to the seafront. People seemed keen to get the concrete section out of the way as quickly as possible, with a strong pace being set along the shore of the Firth. I found that it’s difficult to lead a run when you’re not quick enough to get to the front to set the pace. At one point I put in a bit of a sprint in order to get to the front so I could call a stop and let everyone else catch up, and also ring in the food order for the Cramond Inn (20 miles). Well, Mark H (in pain by now) used this opportunity to keep moving and set off ahead, and when I looked up from my phone mid-order I found that everyone else had disappeared as well leaving me sorting out the lunch! Thanks! Well, this gave me the chance to set off into the strong west wind along the dog-walkers esplanade at Cramond trying to reel in the group. No chance of that, although I did manage to catch Mark, who’d been left for dust, suffering all over from the concrete, and Gio, who was being sociable.
So the Cramond Inn (20 miles) couldn’t arrive soon enough. We had a lovely back room with a warm fire to ourselves in this Digital Detox and Cash Only pub. Peter B and Rachel H left us at Cramond “because there’s a 41 bus right to our doorstep“. Nice! And that’s the same Rachel who’d been setting the speedy pace – she had miles left in her legs. No number 41 bus for you next time!
With folk stuffed with quinoa burger and chips, and other delights, the pace calmed down as we headed up the River Almond. Mark, who was quitting but still moving, decided to do a bit more, and he took full advantage of a navigation error (well, my navigation error). While most of us peeled off west, Mark and Joel did the obvious thing and headed in the direction of the Pentland Hills. This set a pattern where Mark simply kept moving, relentlessly. Every time we stopped, he just kept moving. We worked our way through the awful west of Edinburgh urban jungle of roads and trams, but marvelled at the lovely soft grass around the tram tracks at the Gyle that gave a comforting break from the concrete. Norman B left us around there having run further than ever before (one advantage of this route is that you’re rarely far from the bus network). We trundled on a bit further, saying goodbye to Rachael (her first ultra marathon under her belt) and Mary who headed in along the canal. We were down to 13 and closing in on the Pentlands. The hard ground was taking its toll so we had to say goodbye to Umberto at Juniper Green as his knee gave up.
It’s a strange run where you start climbing 28 miles in. While we’d been social and waving off Umberto, Mark had stolen ahead yet again. Relentless. Shoe choice started to play a role here. My choice of worn down trail shoes had proved useless because they gave me no protection on the tarmac nor grip in the mud and snow on the hills. Arriving at Torduff reservoir, I finally felt I’d seen something really scenic. And it got better as we worked our way over the side of Capelaw and up to Allermuir in a biting cold wind but with glorious views of the Pentland Skyline part-covered in snow with the sun dropping behind them. From there it was down through snow and mud – with time for a quick snowball fight – to Hillend and the finish at The Steading (33 miles ish). There it was great to be met by Richard and Sandra Chandler. We must have looked quite a sight, covered in mud and sweat, and Tom K with a bloodied knee; well, there was also Lucas who looked completely fresh like he’d just arrived to start a run (and he’d done 40 miles because he ran to the start).
10 did the whole thing – Mark says that’s a record: Caitlin, Fiona F., Gio M, Joel C, Ken F, Lucas L, Lucy S, Mark H, Steven N, Tom K. And a special mention to Mark, who’d said to me at Seafield that he was in ‘survival mode’, who looked broken at Cramond, but who just kept relentlessly moving forward, showing us the way – dare I say, presidentially.
It’s a run you need to do once. Once. It’s a fantastic feeling to look down from Allermuir at the whole city and see how far you’ve covered. But once may well be enough! The last few miles almost make up for the previous 30. I’d have struggled to do it without the great company. It was another cracking Carnethy day out. A great chance to meet new people, and to see people push themselves further than they’ve been before. Thanks to Mark and Lucas for helping with route-finding. Thanks to Joel and Esther C for the food and drinks in Cramond. And thanks to the weather-gods for a glorious day (comparatively-speaking….).
Kenneth Fordyce
Ultra Series – Edinburgh Circumnavigation
The Edinburgh Circo has had an Ultra Series holiday for a few years but resurrected today under Captain Ken Fordyce’s Leadership. I doubted I would make it to Cramond, let alone finish, but remarkably did. I remember now why I had avoided it the last few years. The Esplanade. Purgatory.
My Highlights: 27-30 starters, Egg butties and vegan cake courtesy of Joel’s church group in Porty, a much needed pint at Cramond after flat tarmac hell, deciding Allermuir was not far from the Gyle, the views of the route and cold wind on the top, Guinness at the Steading, 10 finishers (a record I think). 52km to avoid in future (but
it is a must if you haven’t done it once).
Mark Hartree
The Eskapade
Some photos from today’s run – exit of Dalkeith Country Park to Penicuik. The sun was a surprise!
Leaving The Royal Hotel in Penicuik we quickly rejoined The Esk in the Penicuik Estate. The dogs lead the way, stopping only to be thrown over barbed wire fences. Rickety bridges were manoeuvred, muddy fields traversed and slippery slopes ascended. The weather was perfect, providing clear views over the glaciated Esk Valley meltwater channels.
Reaching the Allan Ramsey pub at 4pm, just as light was failing, provided an opportunity to warm ourselves by the roaring fire and enjoy a festive drink. Thank you Willie for bringing us together and giving us all a great start to the Xmas holidays.
Kathy Henly