It is always interesting
trying to drag yourself out of bed first thing in the morning on New Year’s
day. We were in Newtonmoor, having been at the traditional parade of flaming
torches and fireworks display the night before.
We ventured into the
next-door camper-van a little later than intended and found the occupants still
asleep. Lisa had been feeling unwell for a couple of days but now Euan seemed
to have picked up the lurgy too, it looked as though Gina and I would be on our
own.
We had some tea and breakfast,
and then some more tea, and then looked at the clock. Lisa had assured us that
it would only take about 40mins to get to Fort William but we were already
pushing it. The remains of the tea were poured into a flask and we hurriedly
departed.
Lisa had reckoned without
the speed and power of an aging Transit camper van and her 40 minute estimate
was way off the mark. Over an hour after leaving we arrived at Aonach Mor,
dumped the van and ran into the cafe to sign on, only just in time.
Final instructions before the start
The race itself was
supposed to be from the car park at the bottom to the top of the ski lift, a
distance of only about 3 miles but with around 2,000ft of climbing, just what
you need New Year’s morning. Standing at the bottom and looking up the
mountainside the top was invisible in the clouds. Of more concern was the huge
amount of wind. This was even noticeable at the base of the hill and they
hadn’t even tried to get the gondolas going.
It was therefore decided
to amend the race slightly. We would race up the first two thirds of the climb,
but then in a break from tradition we would have to race downhill again, back
to where we started.
Me near the front. I wasn't there very long.
Despite the hour of the
day and the amount of whiskey which must have been consumed the night before
the record 129 runners set off at quite a pace and disappeared off up the hill,
me trying to keep up as best I could.
The lower section was
mainly in the forest, and I recognised quite a lot of it from the various bike
races I have competed in there over the years. The trees sheltered us from a
lot of the wind but it really hit us as we emerged from the woods onto the top
section of course. We battled upwards into the gale, now able to see the turn.
Two marshals were standing, or at least attempting to remain upright, buffeted
by the wind, where the trail crossed underneath the gondola.
I could see the leaders
heading down as I climbed up the final section, they weren’t too far ahead but
I always tend to do better on the uphill sections so I was expecting to lose
more ground on the way back down. It never ceases to amaze me just how quickly
the top guys can descend, if you have never been to a proper fell-race it
really is worth going to see, it’s proper ‘brain out and go for it’ stuff.
Anyway, I went round the
marshals, still standing, and launched myself over the top, trying to be clever
and take the straight line down through the heather I had seen the leaders
take. This would have worked were I as good at descending as they are but I’m
not so it didn’t.
Back on the proper trail
things levelled out a little and we picked up speed as we headed down the
mountain. All the corners, rocks, roots and drops were huge fun to run, almost
as much fun as on a bike.
There was a little bridge
across the river followed by some very slippery boulders. Very slippery.
I hit them hard on my
bottom and right elbow, paused for a moment as I waited for that winded feeling
to subside and then picked myself up as the nearby marshal was coming over to
check that I was alright. I set off down the hill again having now lost sight
of the runners in front.
Me, about 6 feet before I fell.
I soon spotted someone
else, his bright yellow top just visible through the trees, I plunged down
through the forest after him, trying to keep up as best I could. I knew where I
was at this point, I know my way around here pretty well, well enough to
realise that this was not the way we had come up. Did the descent go down the
same route as the ascent? The guy in front seemed to know where he was going,
right up until the point the main track tried to turn right, away from the
finish line, and he shouted to me to ask where to go.
Knowing where you are and
knowing where the race is supposed to go are not necessarily the same thing,
but I lead him left into the forest and down. We emerged very close to the
proper route near the end and I just got him in a sprint finish, which was
nice. He was followed across the line by the person who had been right behind
me at the summit, so I don’t think our little deviation had had much of an
effect on the result.
As I was standing at the
finish waiting for Gina to cross the line we saw people coming from much
further over than we had been so at least we weren’t the only ones.
Much needed tea and soup
were provided for us all in the cafe and then it was time to set off on the
long drive south.
The local guys
and girls pretty much cleaned up in the trophy department, but the best finish
was probably for 2nd and 3rd in the women’s race, just
two seconds in it.
I finished 38th
in the men’s race but was beaten by a couple of girls...
Men.
1. Nick Sedgewick Lochaber AC
2.Tom Smith Lochaber AC
3. Peter Henry Deeside Runners
4. James Espie Deeside Runners
5. Steve Macdonald Lochaber AC
...
38. Andrew Howett Fife AC
Women:
1. Diane Baum Lochaber AC
2. Sarah MacKenzie Lochaber AC
3. Christina Rankin Kilbarchan
4. Edie Hemstock Lochaber AC
5. Mare Meldrum Lochaber AC
And finally a huge
thank-you to John Oneill for the pictures.
Actually, looking at where the photograph of me on the bridge was taken from I wonder if it was he who picked me up? Difficult to recognise anyone with coats drawn up against the rain. If so, thanks again John!
Actually, looking at where the photograph of me on the bridge was taken from I wonder if it was he who picked me up? Difficult to recognise anyone with coats drawn up against the rain. If so, thanks again John!
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