Loch Ness Marathon 2009

Loch Ness Marathon Sunday October 4th

Four runners (Ron, Steph and I) were royally chauffeured by the tireless Alan Coxon Limousine Service. Ron was to run the 10k, Alan Steph and myself doing the marathon. We were all very apprehensive as a depression was forecast to sweep in over Scotland, with greater that 50mph winds for the Saturday. The forecast did go on to a quieter Sunday, but we know how inaccurate they have been of late. The concern here is: as it’s a consistent NNE marathon course, any northerly wind would be a persistent nightmare.

Alan was staying with Barry and Margaret. They live in Drumnadrochit on the Western shore of Loch Ness and are Clay Cross refugees. Steph had booked the rest of us into a self catering caravan with a double and a twin, kitchen and the rest for the duration (Friday – Sunday nights inclusive). A lovely quiet place in the country with a cosy gas heater to keep us warm, as the weather outside deteriorated. Sure enough, after some concerning stormy weather on the Saturday, Sunday dawned cold and clear with light winds -Scotland at its best! Distant Ben Wyvis loomed behind Inverness with a fresh coating of powder snow, and we made our way into Inverness with differing degrees of nervousness.

The Marathon race is a point to point, with buses picking most of the runners up at the Leisure Centre, where the races all finish, and dropping runners off towards the Southern end of Loch Ness. The marathon course follows the Military Road, built by General Wade (1725), as a requirement for transporting English troops quickly through Scotland to counter the Jacobite Rebellion. Traffic free, and interestingly undulating, and with beautiful enough views to satisfy even critical Derbyshire eyes – I couldn’t think of anywhere better.

An early morning start, and a surprisingly easy trip into Inverness, courtesy of Ron, whose 10k race was at 11.00 am. We were greeted by a long long line of coaches to take the Marathon runners to the start point. A forty minute delay was the only hiccup in the arrangements, with a few coaches being late to collect the runners (2,500 of them) which meant a fraught journey to the start. Many runners who had arrived and boarded their coaches early, were literally ‘caught short’ – ample hydration does have its drawbacks! The coach drivers were human after all, or were perhaps more worried about the potential soiling to their coaches. Anyway, we were allowed to stop en route to relieve the pressure. The start time of the race was sensibly put back 45 minutes – some runners would have made their own way to the start and had an even more miserable time of it. One runner wryly commented that due to the coach delay, the start line would initially have consisted of four elites and a man dressed up as a strawberry…

Finally the start: rather uniquely, a pipe band marched through the field of runners, which parted respectfully like the Red Sea. The pipers were children bursting with so much pride as they marched past – lots of little reminders that this was a special location and occasion. I wanted to get as close to sub – 3 hours as possible, so my targets were well defined. After an extremely ill-judged first mile (6:26, pillock!), 10 in 1:08:22, HM in 1:30:15, things were looking good. At 16 miles, I was ambushed by a gorilla, riding a bike, wearing bright pink socks (to keep his fur from being trapped in the bicycle chain, apparently) and tooting a horn. Had this apparition been due to hypoglycaemia, I would have been quite relieved, but no, it was Barry the guerrilla gorilla! Cue the broadest smile, and a resurgence of life from the legs.

The run through the little village of Dores (17m) was quite inspirational – seemingly the whole village turned out with pipe bands, cheers and the works – tears choked back, and lump in throat replaced, onwards towards the long drawn out Dores hill. (Alan reports that he was having quite a serious race until he was serially molested by a gorilla, wearing pink socks etc. The excuses some people come up with) 20 miles in 2:20:49 was outwardly not bad, but I knew that was it from me.

Too much, too early – how many marathon runners have been through this? The legs had gone, and the last six miles were very slow and hard work with quite a few runners going past me on the run in through Inverness. A PB of 3:08:33 was smaller consolation and yet another lump choked back on coming into the stadium. Brilliant support, a big marathon feel, with very little of the attendant claustrophobia. Oh, and a gorilla.

Total potential costs with four sharing (best case): Travel: Fuel £30.00 Accommodation per night per person: £8.50 Marathon Entry: £34.00 (approx) Food £10.00 per day Worth putting in your diary next year?

 

For photographic evidence go to http://www.lochnessmarathon.com/photos/ and enter race number 1981 (Alan and friend)

Steph ran a PB and Ron a near PB on his 10K. Alan and the gorilla are living happily together somewhere near C’ape Wrath.

 

SRTS Run September 6th: Edale

Hello all

I know it’s a month off but I wanted to give you advanced warning of a sunday run I am organising on the 6th Sept. It will be starting at Edale Car Park (I don’t know how people feel about starting a little later than normal maybe 8.30).

It will only be 10/11 miles but will have a couple of tough climbs. Krish fancies camping the night before, but I can’t (well I might be but at chatsworth instead with the family) so let him know if you fancy it.

The route is the middle section of the Hope Moors and Tors 20m route, which I am not familiar with but I have a map and it looks nice and if AB’s interested he knows it like the back of his hand i am sure. Any way map attached (loop only ignore other blue lines) let me know if you are interested.

Ian (king of the brackets)

post added by Krish

SRTS Run August 2nd

Back by popular demand this Sunday, we are doing a 14 / 12 or 10 miler, starting from Talbot Hotel Car Park, Belper @ 8.00am. Run via Wyver Lane, to Dairywood Farm, Lawn Farm and join up with:

The 10 miler, starting from near Ambergate @ 8.10am (see map below)

Then via Cromford Canal, High Peak Junction, up the High Peak Trail and return via Midshires way.

Chernobyl 5k

Agreed – not a great night of weather. Good running conditions though. Can’t remember the last time I finished as high as second!

(Krish) You forecast  ‘nice and cool’ before the race – how very true!

Peakers Stroll Review

Setting of at around 11.30am, in the July sun, we  trotted off from Peak Forest over the moors towards Mam Tor.  After the first  mile, I was glad I’d decided to carry the extra water, as it was pretty warm.   As we dropped down towards CP 2, the view of the ridge was beautiful, although a  little intimidating.

My amibition of running up Mam Tor soon disappeared  after 50 yards and the climb to the top was one of the easier ones.  The next  section along the ridge to Lose Hill was my favourite part of the Stroll, the  path was straight forward, I didn’t have to think about navigating as I could  see Krish and Ian up in front and the scenery was breathtaking.  Being short,  the climb up the rocky path up Lose Hill meant I had to use my hands, which I  wasn’t expecting. I stopped for a moment at the top of Lose Hill to refuel and  then tried to make progress on the hill down to Hope and CP 3.  I caught up with  Ian at CP3 and we made our way up Win Hill.  We saw Super-Krish walking in the  distance, so I decided that I’d follow his lead and walk too.  By then, it was  about 1.00pm, so it was hot.  The breeze at the top of Win Hill was much  appreciated.  At this point the 25 mile runners took one path down to Ladybower  and we were supposed to go somewhere else to get back down to CP3 again.  We  could no longer see Krish, so Ian and I tried to get back down the hill.  I  haven’t got a clue where we went, but we did make it back to the CP, although  we’d lost quite a bit of time.

The run to Castleton was thankfully straightforward  and forgiving, we arrived to CP 7 surprising quickly.  By this point we were  quite happy to stay for a chat of a bit, knowing that the hill up through  Cavedale was to come……..and it really was a *******!  Although it was dry,  the limestone underfoot was quite polished and difficult to hop over with heavy  legs.  A 25 mile runner passed us going up there at amazing speed, in just his  shorts and a map in hand – amazing.  I spend quite a bit of time looking at the  scenery through Cavedale, trying to distract myself from the hill, so the going  was slow.  The funny noises from a few surface blowholes from Peak cavern  spooked me a little (it’s not called the Devil’s Arse for nothing) – I was  thankful of Ian’s company at that point.  The decent over Old Moor and Oxlow  Rake felt harder than it should have been, but the sight of the finish was a  pleasing one.

The reception at the reading rooms was brilliant.   Soup and rolls, squash and cake……and more cake.  All for £8.50, what a great  day.  I must brush up on my navigating skills before doing another run like  this, maybe even recce the route beforehand.  I was glad of having someone else  to run with for most of the way, infact, if I did a longer distance event like  this one, I’d probably do it as a pair/team event.  The Rugby Rover is going to  be so easy after this!

I should also mention, I’m in awe of Alan for doing  it in his sandals!

Helen Skelton

A long initial rise from the start at Peak Forest is the curtain raiser to this jewel of  an event. The wow comes when cresting the climb near Oxlow House, as almost the whole of the (17 mile) route is spread before you. Mam Tor, shivering on the left, lends a long graceful ridge to Hollins Cross and Lose Hill.  In the distance, sits Win Hill, with almost pimple-like innocence – how deceptive she is.  Shared with Helen and Ian, who brought this run to our attention, this part flies by, with laughs and light steps. Alan with a mixture of uncharacteristic forgetfulness (he’s forgotten his shoes and is now running in his sandals) and very characteristic generosity (he adopts a runner even more unprepared than himself), chaperones a complete stranger around the 13 mile course.

Regular checkpoints cum drinks stations are manned by cheery helpful volunteers, and long may the sun shine on them. The warm day may not suit running, but the views are so good, it is churlish to quibble.  The early climb up Mam Tor goes relatively easily, and then matching the paragliders, we fly along the ridge, interrupted briefly by climbs up Hollins Cross and terminating at Lose Hill.  Without realising it, adrenaline masks the gradual stripping away of initial bounce and strength, and the sharp and unusually long descents  (for us roadies), remind us what our quads are for. A slight overrun of CP3, and the shape of things to come.

The Win Hill pimple has suddenly become a slope of Ben Nevis proportions. Once willing legs, which had never stooped so low as to walk, now gratefully accept the offer; and walk we do,  pretty much all the way to the summit.  A new vista opens with the dark blue of  Ladybower spread below. This is where the granite 25 milers part company – us mere mortals head back down and without exception, take varying degrees  of wrong turnings. All hope of Hope evaporates.  A quick right turn at a T junction, restores  it and the next CP (CP3 again).  I complain about the brutishness of Win Hill. An unspoken smiling  “should have done the 13 miler, then”  raise of the eyebrow doesn’t seem likely to elicit the desired sympathy.

Off to Castleton, flat fields traversed now on unwilling flat legs.  Superior navigational skills lead to the Tourist Information office – a smelly sweaty runner is guaranteed to receive prompt service – and directions to CP7.   Mixing it with the tourists, the debauchery of Gomorrah, the lure of fish and chips and a pint of beer. But we are made of sterner stuff, and anyway don’t carry any money; so a long chat in the shade of the Castleton CP7 is as good as it gets. All roads now lead to Cave Dale.

An enticing grotto like entry is a masterpiece of misrepresentation. It opens into a beautiful steep sided limestone gorge, but our minds are on other things. The slope has stiffened, and running is completely out of the question – all slip and no grip.  A fellow walker says the magic words “this is the last hill”, and with new legs now attached, the slope melts away to reveal a plateau. The rest is freewheel, down an unhelpful rocky path – pain and the prospect of flapjack cancel each other out – and before numb brain has a chance to complain, the finish is in sight.

No Hilton 5 star could compare to the hospitality and we are royally treated to soup and the finest assortments of cakes from the cooks of Tideswell and Peak Forest. Heaven.

Krishna Mahadevan

Charity Fun Run for the Children of Chernobyl

Wirksworth Running Club are promoting their 3rd annual Charity Fun Run on the High Peak Trail (Middleton Top) on Tuesday 21st July 2009 to support The Children of Chernobyl.  There are two runs taking place, the first a 2.6 km (1.5 miles) run starting at 6:30pm, the other a 5k (3.1 miles) run starting at 7:30pm.  Both runs start at the Middleton Top Visitor Centre and are basically over the level part of the Trail.

All funds raised will go to the Bonsall and Derbyshire Dales Link in order to support the  Chernobyl Children Life Line.  The charity was formed to help the children of Belarus, following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986.  The Belarusian people are suffering more than ever from the legacy of the world’s worst nuclear disaster – the radioactive fall out was 90 times greater than Hiroshima.

The funds raised are used to help bring groups of children from Belarus to the UK for four weeks.  Spending a month away from the radiation, eating fresh nourishing  food and breathing clean air, may significantly increase their life expectancy by reducing the levels of radiation in their blood stream and by giving their immune systems chance to recover.

(Mike also mentions that the children are given access to health and dental care while they are in the UK, and if possible, a special day out to somewhere like Alton Towers)

The Fun Run coincides with the children’s visit and a number of them will be taking part in the run.

For further details, please contact Mike Briggs, Chairman, Wirksworth Running Club email zen@w3z.co.uk or download the entry form:

Wirksworth Fun Run Flyer RUNNERS

This really is a wonderful idea and I think this event deserves our full support.

Testing, testing

Not quite sure what I’m doing but I do know that I’m still running the Three Lakes Classic on Sunday.

See you there!

High Peak Relay 2008

Well done to every runner for braving the elements – I had a feeling that our successive years of fine, but cold weather, were coming to an end. I’m very proud that a new generation of kids have started to filter through and hope that they can join us again next year. I was a pleasure to welcome new friends, Sarah and Jamie, Pauline and Family; to see the familiar faces, and also hope that those who did not run with us this year can join us next year.

Thanks to those who helped with the driving and transport and especially to Geoff, who came up from Melton to be team photographer, in lieu of running, as he is injured. I hope that you enjoy his efforts at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ullrichbt/sets/72157608790847618/ . More photos click here

Stage 1 (Pauline)

Thnaks for organising the team ,we all enjoyed it, you wanted a few words so here goes: I dont suppose anyone who was there needs any reminding of the weather conditions I at least did have a few minutes of sunshine on my leg, but it did not last. I was warned about the up hill so I was ready for it, it did seem to go on a long way but at least it was runnable, after the fisrt 10 minutes of the leg, I was on my own as everyone else had just about dissappeared into the distance, anyway I couldnot go any faster. My feet and hands had just about thawed out by time I finished. It was then a quick drive upto the end of leg 2, to pick up my poor disheartened 10 year old son William, who I think had set off too fast up the hill worn himself out, and he tells me got dehydrated and had to catch a drink off some cyclists, I was very proud of him as he had run without complaining dispite spending Friday night in A&E after a collision with a diving board.
My Daughter Rebecca’s leg was the penultimate leg which she ran with Sophie, which I have to say went very well, she had been a very reluctant runner that morning, I had great difficulty getting her out of bed, and she all but refused to run, but fortunately on meeting up with everyone else her mood and enthusiasm improved and I think she had a good day and has even said she might be up for it again next year!

(Krish adds) The weather each year we had run this fanatstic event (since 2004) had been cold, crisp and generally clear. The cold air seems to come down off the hillside into Cromford Valley, but the day usually warms a little. Not so, today! It started overcast, with the threat of squally weather. One never can tell how exposed it will be ‘up top’ – 800′ ascent places you on Middleton Top and subject to the ravages of the Peak District wind.

The initial incline is quite brutal, and one has to fight the temptation to try and power up it with most of the other runners.  Overdo it at this stage, and the rest of the run is very unforgiving. Pace it, however, and the hills never seem quite so bad, and in fact, it is quite an absorbing and varied 4 mile stretch. If you have time, peer over the wall half way up, just below Black Rocks, to admire the vista towards Matlock Bath, Cromford, Middleton Top and Wirksworth. Just stunning. This is exactly where the first squall hit – the chill making you breathless and wondering what lay ahead..