Simon Wake Comrie Hills Relay 2010

Tom Wake, son of Simon Wake and watched by his mother Shelagh, presents the prize for fastest Leg 1 to Scottish International Andy Fallas of Carnethy.

A record 35 teams from 18 running clubs across Scotland took part in this year's Simon Wake Comrie Hills Relay, run over a reconfigured course on Sunday 12th September. It’s a tough 40k+ event with over 2,000 metres of ascent, run in four stages by teams of five runners. The highly scenic course starts and finishes at Laggan Park in Comrie and follows a route over the hills in Glen Lednock.

The race is organised by Strathearn Harriers, with support from The Famous Grouse Experience, and is dedicated to the memory of Harrier Simon Wake who died tragically in 2008 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. All proceeds from the race are donated to the fight against this terrible disease.

The men's race, which featured three Scottish International runners, was a real thriller with the lead changing hands between teams from Carnethy, Deeside and Strathearn (briefly) before Deeside’s Robbie Simpson became the first leg 3 runner ever to break the hour and in so doing looked to have put the race beyond doubt.
However, as seems inevitable in the Comrie Relay, a final twist and a couple of missed turnings by the Leg 4 Deeside runner allowed Tim Darlow to sprint across Laggan Park to the finish to snatch victory for Carnethy by just 7 seconds after 40 kilometres and 3 hours 16 minutes of running.

Strathearn Harriers Men’s team – comprising Colin Glencorse, Phil Mestecky, Digby Sym, Will Manners and Phil Tipping – finished close behind in third place in a time of 3 hours 18 minutes 14 seconds.

The women’s race was won by a team from Ochil Hill Runners, while Fife AC won both the Men’s Vet and Women’s Vet categories. Lothian Running Club won the Mixed category, but a Harriers Mixed team featuring Nicola Watson, Angela Mackenzie, Doug Flint, Tony Wayte and Andy Greaves were category runners up in a very respectable time of 3:56:53.

The third Harriers team of Cathy Tilbrook, Adrian Wake, Peter Gaylor, James Bussey and Ali Manners ran well to finish fifth in the Mixed category.

Despite the navigational questions (?!!), Deeside's strength showed in the fact that they picked up two of the fastest Leg prizes:
Leg 1: Andy Fallas (Carnethy) - 46.55
Leg 2: Drew Tivendale and Sam Burgess (Deeside) - 39.04
Leg 3: Robbie Simpson (Deeside) - 59.31
Leg 4: Bill Fairmaner (Fife) - 38.07

An enjoyable day ended with cups of tea, plenty of post-race analysis and a great barbecue sitting in the sunshine in Laggan Park.

As well as being an increasingly popular fixture on the Scottish hill running calendar, the race is very much a community event which brings together many people from Strathearn in a variety of roles. Race organisers Phil Tipping and Colin Tipping were in overall charge but thanks go to many other people who gave their time and energy to organise timekeeping, marshalling, car parking, feeding the runners, marking the course and a myriad of other tasks.

Thanks also go to The Famous Grouse Experience for providing prizes and to those local landowners on the east side of Glen Lednock who this year kindly gave permission for the race to cross their land.

Full results are on the Strathearn Harriers site here: http://www.strathearnharriers.org.uk/ComrieHillsRelay2010resultsv2.pdf
Other pics of the event are here http://picasaweb.google.com/McStecko/SimonWakeComrieHillsRelay2010#

The Famous Grouse Crieff 10k 2010

There was an excellent turnout of 249 runners for this year's Famous Grouse Crieff 10k and despite some damp conditions before the race it was once again a successful and enjoyable event. Morrison's Academy sports ground was a beautifully manicured green and there was an abundance of food for all.

Results are at www.strathearnharriers.org.uk/Crieff10kresults2010.pdf

First man home was Neil Calder of Edinburgh AC in 35.31, just ahead of Andrew Wright of Carnegie in 35.52. Chris Black of Bellahouston was 3rd in 37.05.

The womens race was won for the second year in succession by Edel Mooney of Lothian in 40.41, with second and third places going to Claire Couper in 42.05 and Strathearn Harrier Angela Mackenzie in 44.02.

Colin Glencorse was first Harrier home in a very impressive 37.54 and 6th place, closely followed by Will Manners in 38.09 and 8th place. Will and Angela collected the prizes for first local runners, including a gallon of whisky each. (So when's the party?)

Special mention for the three bananas who finished the race, in a bunch of course, in just over 65 minutes. This was race number 6 in a series of ten 10ks they are running to raise money for charity- more at http://www.justgiving.com/100kbanana

The club is very grateful to The Famous Grouse Experience for their generous sponsorship of the race, and to Highland Spring and Morrison's Academy too for their support.

Race organiser Ali Beattie did a great job, ably assisted by Colin Tipping and a team of other helpers. Thanks go also to the pipers from the Comrie Pipe Band who spurred the runners on and to Gilbert the Grouse for his performance at the finish line!

Devils Burdens 2010

Another excellent day doing the Devils Burdens relay over the Lomond Hills.

After loads of call-offs we had only one Harriers team this year, comprising Jack and James on Leg 1, Gordon on Leg 2, Phil M and Andy on Leg 3 and Kenny on Leg 4. Jack's mum and Seonaid turned out to support.

The access roads were clear and the weather on the day was cool but mostly dry. There was some snow and ice on the hill - some of the snow deep and very hard going - but there was also a lot of easier wet grass and track.

The race entry was up from 110 or so last year to 120 [corrected from first post]. For the first time the race start was split - slower teams at 09.30 and the rest at 10.00. For various reasons the Harriers team ended up starting at 0930, and discovered that this was no bad thing!

Parking was easier at all points round the race, there wasn't a bottleneck of runners going up the hill on Leg 1, and - most unusual but all the more enjoyable - Harriers were first to finish both Legs 1 and 2!!!

Inevitably the 30 minute head start didn't last and the elite runners started overtaking during Leg 3, but it was a good effort and a good run from all the Harriers involved.

The team finished in around 3hrs 30. Inividual timekeeping was a bit disorganised but we'll see the exact times and positions when the official results are published.

Update: Harriers finished 73rd in 3:31:74 - full results now available here :

http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/DevilsBurden2010Results.htm

Simon Wake Comrie Relay Results 2009

Well done to Ochils men's and women's teams who won just about everything at this years Comrie Relay.

The men's team set a new course record of 3:17:12 and picked up all 4 leg winners prizes with Prasad Prasad and Ross Houston setting new leg records on legs 1 and 4 respectively.

Ochil Ladies held off the challenge of the home club to win the women's competition b 5 minutes.

First vets team was Carnethy with Beacon retaining their Mixed team title.

The weather was excellent and, I think, a good time had by all.

Thanks to all organizers and helpers on the day.

Here are the results in image format. When Gordon gets back I'm sure he'll tidy this up a bit and post the full excel file, but for now, I hope this is good enough!

I've added some Strathearn-centric photos here but there's also quite a few from other teams too!

Crieff 10k 2009 Results

Congratulations to all who took part in today's race. Hope you all enjoyed it!

Here are the results which I think are now pretty much final. If you spot any errors please let us know by posting a comment. Apologies for the formatting. Our regular webmaster is away but he'll post a much cleaner version as soon as he's back (meanwhile, some more nicely formatted results are available on Chris Upson's blog ).

Also, we would love to get your feedback about the race: things you liked and disliked and ideas to improve the race for next year. Post your comments below.

Finally, don't forget the Comrie Relay is planned for Sunday Sept 13th details here http://www.strathearnharriers.org.uk/comriehillsrelayrace.htm.

CRIEFF 10K - SUNDAY 12 JULY 2009
RACE RESULTS (PROVISIONAL)

POS NAME CLUB CATEGORY TIME
MIN SEC

1 MURRAY STRAIN HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS M 34 59
2 ROBERT GILROY RONHILL CAMBUSLANG HARR M 36 42
3 TONY JACKSON PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 37 18
4 EWAN MCCARTHY UNATTACHED M 37 42
5 MICHAEL HARVEY CARNEGIE HARRIERS M 37 54
6 CHRISTOPHER O'BRIEN CORSTORPHINE M 38 0
7 CHRIS UPSON WESTERLANDS M 38 6
8 COLIN GLENCORSE STRATHEARN HARRIERS M 38 30
9 LINTON SCARBOROUGH PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 38 33
10 CRAIG NEAL UNATTACHED M 38 37
11 DONALD PETRIE KILBARCHAN M 38 38
12 EDEL MOONEY LOTHIAN F 38 39
13 ALEX KEENAN PITREAVIE M 39 22
14 JOHNNY LAWSON PORTOBELLO M 39 33
15 ROBERT ROGERSON KIRKINTILLOCH OLYMPIANS M 39 37
16 BARRY PATERSON FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS M 39 46
17 CAMPBELL HUTT CARNEGIE HARRIERS M 39 56
18 PETER KADOBINSKYJ EDIN RC M 40 5
19 ALAN TORGERSEN GLASGOW UNIVERSITY M 40 7
20 IAN ROBERT JOHNSTON CARNEGIE HARRIERS M 40 8
21 EUAN MACKAY GARSCUBE HARRIERS M 40 9
22 NEAL MUIR PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 40 13
23 KENNY CROSS UNATTACHED M 40 41
24 ANDREW MACKENZIE STIRLING UNIVERSITY M 40 59
25 STEPHEN FERGUSON PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 40 59
26 PHILIP SWEENEY CENTRAL M 41 0
27 CHRISTOPHER MCHARDY CENTRAL M 41 13
28 ANDREW CULLEN STIRLING TRI M 41 40
29 WILL HENSMAN CENTRAL M 41 45
30 MEGAN MOWBRAY HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS F 41 50
31 RICHARD DAVIDSON DUNDEE RR M 41 52
32 BILLY MITCHELL STIRLING TRI M 41 53
33 FINLAY FINLAY UNATTACHED M 41 54
34 TOM BARR HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS M 41 57
35 JOHN MCLAUGHLIN SPRINGBURN HARRIERS M 42 1
36 DANNY FAIRLIE HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS M 42 5
37 ROY PATERSON KINROSS M 42 6
38 ALAN HUME CENTRAL M 42 10
39 ALISON WINSHIP GARSCUBE HARRIERS F 42 15
40 PETER EDGERTON KINROSS M 42 19
41 ANDREW MILLINGTON PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 42 25
42 MICHAEL GALLOWAY DUNDEE HAWKHILL HARRIERS M 42 35
43 STEPHEN KILPATRICK GARSCUBE HARRIERS M 42 36
44 YAMUNA THIRU ELSWICK HARRIERS F 42 37
45 MICHAEL LOUDON UNATTACHED M 42 40
46 KEVIN JUDGE PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 42 55
47 GARY MITCHAL KIRKINTILLOCH OLYMPIANS M 43 2
48 ALAN DUNN UNATTACHED M 43 18
49 JIM OGILVIE KILBARCHAN M 43 20
50 SEAN REID UNATTACHED M 43 28
51 DAVID JONES UNATTACHED M 43 50
52 COLIN THOMSON FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS M 43 56
53 ELLIE HOMEWOOD WESTERLANDS F 43 59
54 JOHN BAYNE KINROSS M 44 8
55 DAVID SIDEBOTTOM UNATTACHED M 44 25
56 ALLY MILLAN HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS M 44 34
57 STEPHEN OLIVER FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS M 44 40
58 GAIL BEATON UNATTACHED F 44 57
59 IAN FINDLAY UNATTACHED M 45 7
60 BRIAN COOPER PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 45 12
61 SCOTT SHARP PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 45 13
62 ALISTAIR CURRIE JOG SCOTLAND M 45 18
63 JOHN DENHOLM FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS M 45 21
64 ANGELA MACKENZIE L STRATHEARN HARRIERS F 45 25
65 DUNCAN BAKER HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS M 45 26
66 ROSS CROMBIE UNATTACHED M 45 28
67 DAVID HERBERTSON CALDERGLEN HARRIERS M 45 29
68 JOHN PRITCHARD L UNATTACHED M 45 32
69 PAUL O'BRIEN CORSTORPHINE M 45 34
70 MARTIN PURVIS L UNATTACHED M 45 56
71 NEIL ANDERSON UNATTACHED M 45 59
72 DANIEL MESTECKY L UNATTACHED M 46 4
73 BOB BROWN PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 46 9
74 PHYLLIS MITCHELL HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS F 46 11
75 KENNETH STEWART PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 46 12
76 FIONA DUNLOP UNATTACHED F 46 17
77 JOHN FLYNN UNATTACHED M 46 18
78 CRAIG TORGERSEN UNATTACHED M 46 21
79 FIONA ANGUS PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 46 23
80 ALAN ROBERTSON LOTHIAN M 46 27
81 PETER BROWN BEACON RUNNERS M 46 31
82 DAVE TORGERSEN L UNATTACHED M 46 35
83 GRANT STRACHAN PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 46 39
84 JIM MACGREGOR MORAY M 46 46
85 JOHN HAGEMEISTER BELLAHOUSTON HARRIERS M 46 48
86 DAVID RUSSELL UNATTACHED M 46 53
87 CHARLES ROBERTSON L UNATTACHED M 47 11
88 NEAL ADAM UNATTACHED M 47 14
89 JUDITH DOBSON KINROSS F 47 15
90 MATTHEW MCLAY L STRATHEARN HARRIERS M 47 22
91 OWAIN WILLIAMS PITREAVIE M 47 30
92 CHRIS CAMPBELL UNATTACHED M 47 31
93 MARIE MCCHORD KIRKINTILLOCH OLYMPIANS F 47 33
94 BRIAN SHARP UNATTACHED M 47 51
95 ALLAN KEMP UNATTACHED M 48 0
96 JONATHAN CAMPBELL UNATTACHED M 48 6
97 BRIAN GROGANS UNATTACHED M 48 8
98 NORMAN BOYLE BELLAHOUSTON ROAD RUNNERS M 48 12
99 DAVID BUNYAN FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS M 48 13
100 EDWARD REYNOLDS L UNATTACHED M 48 16
101 LINDA PHILP UNATTACHED F 48 18
102 AMY GREIG PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 48 22
103 THOMAS MCCHORD KIRKINTILLOCH OLYMPIANS M 48 36
104 CHRIS WOOD UNATTACHED M 48 41
105 IAN GOUDIE BELLAHOUSTON ROAD RUNNERS M 48 45
106 ANNMARIE MCCAFFREY KIRKINTILLOCH OLYMPIANS F 48 51
107 PETER RITCHIE PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 48 59
108 CAMERON CAMPBELL CENTRAL M 49 0
109 JONATHAN WATTERS UNATTACHED M 49 11
110 JOHN DAVIDSON L UNATTACHED M 49 12
111 STEVEN OSPREY UNATTACHED M 49 17
112 SHEMANE MURTAGH UNATTACHED F 49 19
113 LEE MELLOR PITREAVIE M 49 19
114 GORDON SHAW UNATTACHED M 49 26
115 ERIC SIDEBOTTOM L STRATHEARN HARRIERS M 49 28
116 KEVIN GREENHORN UNATTACHED M 49 35
117 ALASTAIR MARTIN UNATTACHED M 49 41
118 SUSAN ADDISON KIRKINTILLOCH OLYMPIANS F 49 45
119 JEFF SWEENEY L UNATTACHED M 49 46
120 ALAN LAING L UNATTACHED M 49 50
121 STEWART DAVIDSON FIFE M 49 59
122 PATRICK MACKLIN UNATTACHED M 50 1
123 ANGELA PARK PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 50 2
124 GRANT WOOLER PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 50 8
125 NIGEL WORSNOP UNATTACHED M 50 9
126 ANDREW HARKER UNATTACHED M 50 12
127 ROBERT THORNTON PERTH ROAD RUNNERS M 50 18
128 MADELEINE SMILLIE BELLAHOUSTON ROAD RUNNERS F 50 30
129 ANDREW SMILLIE BELLAHOUSTON ROAD RUNNERS M 50 31
130 PETER THOMSON UNATTACHED M 50 32
131 MALCOLM MCDONALD UNATTACHED M 50 37
132 DUNCAN ROBERTSON UNATTACHED M 50 42
133 MARK THOMSON UNATTACHED M 50 43
134 JOHNNY CAMERON UNATTACHED M 50 44
135 CHRIS DALTON L UNATTACHED M 50 46
136 TRACEY NEWMAN UNATTACHED F 50 49
137 ALASTAIR McCALLUM FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS M 50 50
138 GRAHAM MUIRHEAD UNATTACHED M 50 53
139 TOM FARRINGTON UNATTACHED M 51 4
140 DONALD MACLOED UNATTACHED M 51 11
141 CAROL PAXTON UNATTACHED F 51 13
142 KERRY SWEENEY L UNATTACHED F 51 26
143 PHILIP BARLOW UNATTACHED M 51 34
144 NICOLA WATSON L UNATTACHED F 51 41
145 PAUL DAVIES CARNEGIE HARRIERS M 51 44
146 JOHN MAUCHLINE L UNATTACHED M 51 48
147 MURDOCH RODGERS UNATTACHED M 51 53
148 STUART GRAHAM L UNATTACHED M 52 24
149 CHRISTINE EADIE FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS F 52 27
150 PATRICK LEASK BEACON RUNNERS M 52 28
151 LOUISE DALLAS PITREAVIE F 52 30
152 GEORGE MCHARDY CENTRAL M 52 31
153 ISABELLA CARMICHAEL KINROSS F 52 32
154 MANDY SCOTT UNATTACHED F 52 36
155 GORDON MCKENZIE UNATTACHED M 52 38
156 MICHAEL MCKAY UNATTACHED M 52 47
157 VERONIKA JURANOVA UNATTACHED F 52 44
158 CATRIONA HUSSEN UNATTACHED F 52 46
159 GRAHAM DOUGLAS UNATTACHED M 52 57
160 ANNETTE FORSYTH L UNATTACHED F 53 11
161 HAMISH GORDON UNATTACHED M 53 18
162 NORRIE SWAN UNATTACHED M 53 24
163 PAMELA PARKER KIRKINTILLOCH OLYMPIANS F 53 26
164 MARK TALBOT UNATTACHED M 53 27
165 NEIL GREWAR UNATTACHED M 53 28
166 GILLY MARSHALL UNATTACHED F 53 32
167 CHRIS BAYNE UNATTACHED M 53 34
168 PATRICK ANDREWS L STRATHEARN HARRIERS M 53 35
169 TANIA GREENHORN PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 53 37
170 CLAIRE BRISBANE CENTRAL F 53 40
171 GORDON COCKBURN UNATTACHED M 53 45
172 LINDA O'NEILL PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 53 48
173 SUE WOODS CENTRAL F 53 50
174 MCGILLVARY JAMES UNATTACHED M 54 13
175 GRANT CARSTAIRS L TAY VALLEY ORIENTEERS M 54 17
176 GRAHAM MACNAB UNATTACHED M 54 19
177 ELAINE THOMSON FALKIRK VICTORIA HARRIERS F 54 21
178 DAVID BAUCHOP SCOTTISH VETS M 54 42
179 DAVE BARCLAY METRO ABERDEEN M 54 46
180 DOUGLAS SMITH UNATTACHED M 54 49
181 DAWN SYME L UNATTACHED F 55 7
182 CARLYN STEWART UNATTACHED F 55 22
183 LEA COWAN UNATTACHED F 55 28
184 KAY GREENSHIELDS UNATTACHED F 55 30
185 DAVID FOORD UNATTACHED M 55 31
186 ELIZABETH MARSHALL UNATTACHED F 55 36
187 DONNA GALLOWAY UNATTACHED F 55 38
188 SHONA STEWART HARMENY F 55 41
189 VICKY PARK PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 55 42
190 HUGH MCGLASHAN UNATTACHED M 55 43
191 SHEILA BAUCHOP SCOTTISH VETS F 55 44
192 DAVID DENT L UNATTACHED M 56 17
193 ROB LITTLEJOHN UNATTACHED M 56 37
194 NICOLA LESSELLS PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 56 41
195 JACQUI MCDONALD UNATTACHED F 56 43
196 GRAEME BAIN UNATTACHED M 57 0
197 ADELE OSBORNE BEACON RUNNERS F 57 2
198 CATHERINE RAMSAY UNATTACHED F 57 10
199 DEBBIE JACKSON PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 57 14
200 CAROLINE MACKAY UNATTACHED F 57 33
201 LINDA FERRINGTON UNATTACHED F 57 37
202 LESLEY KEMPSELL UNATTACHED F 57 38
203 BRIDGET HALEWOOD OBAN ATHLETICS F 58 31
204 FRAN LOOTS L STRATHEARN HARRIERS F 58 49
205 ROSEMARY LEIPER UNATTACHED F 58 58
206 PATRICIA WHITELAW BEACON RUNNERS F 59 5
207 KATHLEEN BOTHAMS UNATTACHED F 59 16
208 MARGARET DAVIDSON UNATTACHED F 59 33
209 ANNE BARCLAY JOG SCOTLAND F 60 12
210 PETE PHILP UNATTACHED M 60 31
211 JUDY-JANE BOYLE CRIEFF HYDRO SOC CLUB F 60 32
212 ROSYLN GHAREH UNATTACHED F 60 36
213 COLIN CRAWFORD L UNATTACHED M 60 40
214 DEREK STEWART UNATTACHED M 60 48
215 SALLY ARNOTT BEACON RUNNERS F 61 15
216 DANIELLE PIERONI JOG SCOTLAND F 61 18
217 DEREK CARSWELL FETCH EVERYONE M 61 22
218 SUSAN LYNCH UNATTACHED F 61 26
219 KENNY ROBERTSON L STRATHEARN HARRIERS M 62 0
220 ANTONIA BARLOW UNATTACHED F 62 42
221 CECILIA MCINTOSH TAYSIDE RUNNING SISTERS F 63 14
222 ELAINE DAVIDSON L UNATTACHED F 63 30
223 AILEEN FLETCHER HUNTERS BOG TROTTERS F 63 35
224 JASON FLETCHER UNATTACHED M 63 35
225 KAREN WALTERS PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 63 51
226 ANNE HAMILTON TAYSIDE RUNNING SISTERS F 63 25
227 KEN CHARLESON L UNATTACHED M 65 8
228 KAYE GROGANS UNATTACHED F 65 50
229 KATHERINE LAKEMAN UNATTACHED F 66 35
230 ALAN HAZARD UNATTACHED M 67 1
231 KATY SMITH UNATTACHED F 67 11
232 FIONA MORRISON PERTH ROAD RUNNERS F 67 26
233 JOHN FLYNN UNATTACHED M 67 40
234 CAROLYN SIMPSON UNATTACHED F 67 45
235 ERIC WALLACE UNATTACHED M 68 9
236 JILL LEASK BEACON RUNNERS F 68 10
237 ERIC MCKAY UNATTACHED M 68 45
238 JOHN BOTHAMS UNATTACHED M 68 46
239 KAREN WELLS UNATTACHED F 69 6
240 ELAINE SANDEMAN UNATTACHED F 70 2
241 ALAN PRINCE UNATTACHED M 70 3
242 DENISE TAYLOR JOG SCOTLAND F 70 41
243 LOUISE PEACOCK JOGGING BUDDIES F 71 2
244 RICHARD CROMBIE UNATTACHED M 71 45
245 MIKE ANDREW UNATTACHED M 72 39
246 LEAH HAZARD UNATTACHED F 76 37
247 PAT HARKER UNATTACHED F 77 25

Caption Competition

Time to test your wit and creativity again! A few recent photos seem worthy of a caption competition. Send your suggestions to me by email and then I'll post them on the forum with a vote to select our winner. As usual, there's a bottle of malt in it for the best one! Closing date for entries: 17th July!

Photo 1















Photo 2















Photo 3

Team Manners does the LAMM 2009!

A fantastic well done to Ali and Will Manners who completed the 2009 Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon. It is a great achievement for them both, but as Ladies' Captain it is particularly exciting to see another lady pushing their boundaries.

This report was written by Ali soon after the event and posted on the forum, but I thought it should be put onto the blog for a more permanent record of our club members' achievement.

The Highs and ‘Lowes’ of a Mountain Marathon
LAMM – Kintail 6-7 June 2009

After the drama of the OMM in October last year, we decided to try a summer event to give us a better chance of avoiding wild weather. I couldn’t believe my (bad) luck when I received the bad weather warning from the LAMM organisers 3 days before the event, predicting unseasonably cold weather with the possibility of snow showers!! Fortunately this was a very pessimistic forecast and the conditions turned out to be ideal albeit a chilly night at the overnight camp on Saturday.

We found out the event location at 1pm 2 days before the event and Will’s general area prediction proved to be right. The event was held in Kintail on the west coast - a really spectacular area with some steep mountain ranges and dramatic glens.

We had been warned that the organiser Martin Stone likes to keep everyone guessing as to the routes right up until the last minute. Unlike to OMM where you have a fixed start time at a fixed point, with the LAMM you are given an assembly time and told to the follow the signs to an assembly point. Surprises in the previous events have involved getting to the assembly point and then getting on a ferry! This time having walked north of the event centre, we found coaches waiting to bus us who knows where. Having boarded the bus, we then drove back south to the Cluanie Inn, which is where our class race would start.

DAY 1

Day 1 was hard hard HARD!!! Well for me anyway. Despite having completed day 1 of the OMM last year, I had not really experienced a full day as the OMM had been a bad weather course and considerably shorter. Half way through Saturday, it dawned on me that I had really underestimated how tough these mountain events are. Although I probably do most of my training off road, there is simply no comparison to running on mountain tracks to running on tussocky, rocky, heathery, boggy uneven terrain. I found it completely energy sapping and found my reserves running low very quickly. The wrong choice of dinner the night before and having just recovered from a cold probably didn’t help either. Unfortunately this resulted in some communication problems between me and Will who only fully appreciated how exhausted I was, and just how on the edge I had been, when I burst in to tears at the overnight camp at the end of day 1!!

OVERNIGHT CAMP

Fortunately I did not need to do much at the overnight camp as Will put the tent up, sorted out the kit and busied himself with cooking pasta and cups of tea. The location for the overnight camp was at the eastern end of Loch na Leitreach, a really stunning spot. We arrived at 3.30 so had plenty of rest and eating time. The sun was well and truly out by this time and due to a cool breeze was mercifully midge free.

DAY 2

After a chilly night we were woken to the sounds of the piper for the 5 am wake up call. The first leading runners were away at 6am and we set off at 7. I was feeling far more positive on day 2 and fortunately my legs (surprisingly) were functioning ok. The start past checkpoint 1 to checkpoint 2 involved just short of an 800 metre climb to the summit of Raochaig (868m) - a real wake up call and hard slog. As per day 1, route choices were critical and the course planner, Angela Midge, had put in some challenging legs. The going was a little easier for me with more opportunity for running on the flatter sections and downhill but it was still very hard going. Fortunately at approx 1.15 pm we ran back to event HQ and I had finished my first mountain marathon.

IN CONCLUSION...

In the end we finished in a total time of 13 hours 24 min. The winner’s time in our class was 9 hours 35 and the slowest was 22 hours 28. We came 93rd out of 143 finishers with a further 22 starters not completing the course. The total distance was approx 42 km (depending on what route you took) which does not sound too bad, but when you factor in the terrain, carrying all your overnight kit on your back and ascent of approx 2900m– believe you me – it feels like a hell of a long way!

Will I do it again? If you asked me after day 1 the answer would have been ‘no – not even if you paid me a million’. But I guess like childbirth, the pain is soon forgotten and you give it another go. I suspect I will do another but this time, I’ll be better mentally and physically prepared.

Ali.


Again, well done guys and I have no doubt you will do another!

Kaz