Westies Ochils Hill Run

A cracking 13 mile and 4000 feet run from Tillicoultry to Stirling University, via The Law, Ben Cleuch, Ben Buck, Ben Ever, Blairdenon and finally Dumyat. 3hrs 15mins in total. Windy and cool on top, lots of freezing bog and tussocks, and the great descent off Dumyat to Stirling Uni. Rounded off by soup and sandwiches in Alva. Present - me, Rob, Johnstone, Murdo, Dougal, Chris, Ellie.

Photos

Linlithgow to Edinburgh Canal and Pub Run

A 25 mile run from Linlithgow to Edinburgh with the Lomond Hillrunning crew. Oh, and with a couple of pub stops enroute for refreshments. A great day out.

Photos

Greenmantle Dash Hill Race

2nd January 2008
2 miles 220 metres

12 years since I Iast ran this race and I beat my previous time by 7 seconds! A great wee starter to the year. A river crossing, horrible bog, short sharp slog up the hill and a mad dash down a greasy slope with half a mile of torture on the road to finish. Tea and donuts after and tons and tons of beer for prizes - what more could you ask for. Here's to more cracking races in 2008.

I finished in 20min 54sec, 22nd of 91 finishers.
Results

SHR report =
The Scottish Hill Racing web site describes the route beautifully: "Starts with a mad sprint from the Broughton Brewery to hurdle a stonewall, across playing fields, hurdle fence, wade river, negotiate marsh, cross road. Breathe. Then up through turnip fields before hitting the base of the steepest hill. Struggle up this and turn with juddering legs to hurtle precariously back down, and wind up for the final dash along the road to the village hall. Then catch your breath again."

First to catch his breath again, after 17 minutes and 52 seconds, was James Tullie (EUHH), perhaps better known as an orienteer. He was followed by the leading M40, Stuart Sanderson (Penicuik H), then Bob Wiseman (Ochil HR) and the second M40, Des Crowe (Shettleston H). Robert Inglis (Lothian RC) had a fine run for an M16 to finish eighth overall, two places ahead of the equally-remarkable M13 Jamie Crowe (Dundee HH).

The ladies' race went to Judith Turner (Carnegie H), with Ellen Homewood (Westies) adding yet another to her burgeoning tally of second-places, F16 Scout Adkin (Moorfoot R) third and Gillian Carr (Corstorphine) fourth.

The prize-giving resembled an off-licence on Hogmanay, with the winners staggering away under the weight of the local produce. Perhaps the most deserving of them all was Bill Bennet (Penicuik H). He missed the inaugural race because he didn't know about it, but to make up has completed every one of the 25 since then.

The main race was preceded by the Greenmantle Gallop Fun Run, which 18 juniors and one senior all finished with smiles on their faces.

Christmas and New Year Round-up

Lots of running, the first Hash of the year in Fife, lots of cycling, lots of socialising, one new Corbett (Fraocaidh at Ballachulish) ,a visit to friends in Drumnadrochit and a great concert there featuring Breabach and Orkestra del Sol, party till 4am at Hogmanay.

Some random (sad)statistics for 2007 =

I ran approx 1954 miles (48,000 miles in last 24 years of running), which equates to about 280 hours of running. I managed 23 hill races, 7 "other" races and the 5 day Hebridean Challenge.
I cycled approx 2915 miles, about 210 hours on the saddle.Longest was 131 miles.
I hillwalked approx 33 times, including 16 new Corbetts, about 200 hours of walking.
I must have gone to the gym approx 100 times, about 75 hours worth.

Let's see, that totals roughly 750-800 hours of "exercise"; 15 hours a week; 2 hours a day !!!!!!!! Obviously a bit of a lazy a##e. New Year's resolution - must do more.