Having neither the time nor knees to train for the Skyline, I came across this event as a local but interesting alternative and recalled Mark Hartree’s positive review last year. I entered the 20K run and arrived with about 500+ others (half doing the 10K) to register in rather muddy Hay Lodge park. As we all had timing chips on our wrists which had to be individually activated , a mass start wasn’t practical so there was a 20minute phased release of runners. After getting stuck in queues to register, then again to pick up the chip, then drop bag I found myself leaving after most competitors had already gone. I was in 2 minds all week whether to wear trail shoes or mud claws as route included 2km of tarmac but very soon appreciated my mudclaws that I opted for as the narrow path by Neidpath castle and beyond grew increasingly muddy and was rather frustrating as found myself in bottle necks and traffic jams of slower runners. However once I got on the old railway line path I had a very pleasant flat and fast 6km along the Tweed to Lyne Bridge then back along other side through the March Estate before hitting the slog up road to Manor Sware before heading off through some nice forest trail onto the open grassland of the John Buchan Way before climbing a partly deforested Cademuir Hill. Views around the autumnal Tweed Valley were great in all directions and a rapid descent followed on the new but rather rocky multiuse path down which I now can see how the Cademuir Rollercoaster race gets its name. I had slowly been working my way through the field and by the bottom could only see a few more runners ahead to catch which helped spur me on the tarmac grind back up Manor Sware before encountering the massed ranks of 10K runners rejoining our route. The last section was probably my favourite with narrow single track trail down through deciduous forest at South Park although against got a bit congested so found myself weaving past lots of other runners before the main novelty feature of the run – the usually pitch dark 600m old railway tunnel/bat haunt had been transformed into a psychedelically lit tunnel with smoke machines billowing at the exit for a rather surreal finale before the sprint finish over the bridge in Hay Lodge.
The 20km race (though Strava suggested closer to 19K) was won by Alastair Brockie in a very respective 1hr 23 given the 500m of climbing and gnarly terrain. I finished 13mins back in 6th overall slightly frustrated at losing a couple of mins in traffic but given all the fasties were occupied elsewhere in Dunbar/ awaiting Skyline I actually was first V40 in 1 hr 37.14.
I spotted Hilary Spenceley who finished 2nd V50 (see this report). The race was generously sponsored so meant my prizes repaid the entry fee of £25 three times over so all told a highly scenic, variable, enjoyable & novel route and would recommend (though aim to get an early start!)
More info and results here http://www.tunneltrailrun.com/
Steve Best