I registered in the cafe, there were a lot of people taking part in this event. There was a 42km, 21km and a 10km. So there were lot of jokes about not signing up the for the wrong distance and having to run much further than expected, or signing up for a shorter one and getting home early! As always there was a lot of fun and excitement. The weather outside still wasn't wonderful but gradually the sun began to force it's way through the very dark clouds. Might turn out a better day than expected.
Still had my hat on and my many layers on at this point though. It was still pretty chilly. I did decide eventually though that given the sun was trying to come out that I would part with my hat and my extra top that I had on under my coat.
Finally, it was time for the 10km to get started. So we all walked up to the start line. I chatted to a lovely lady called Shell. We were both looking forward to our run and cracking lots of jokes about how hard it was going to be, particularly the finishing straight, or should I say mountain! We were pretty confident we weren't going to be running up that at the end!
So after a bit of instruction about where we were to go and what the course conditions were like, off we went, beeping our way over the chip timing mat. After Glencoe I have had a real problem catching my breath when I start off on a trail run, particularly if there is a hill immediately after the start. Not sure why this happens but I just stopped and walked for a bit until I got my breath, blooming asthma, but once I was sorted off I went.
It was a long slow climb up to the Buzzard's nest. We were soon off the forest track and up into the trails. I was much happier with this, this is the fun bit. Winding our way through the forest path's we were soon splooshing through muddy puddles and carefully placing our feet on tree roots and stony paths. Fantastic. It took a while before we started to catch some of the stunning views that the Tweed Valley has to offer.
Just after the Buzzard's nest we headed down again, following the Peebles Link, the views started to appear at that point. It was then that I met with Charlotte and Lisa. What lovely people. We shared stories about what had brought us to trail running. And we kept each other going for a good long while. The stories we told we fabulous. I love trail running for that, people are always willing to just chat away, there isn't the same pressure for times in trail running, no real competition to speak off (unless you are off up the front). I kept with them for a good long while until we hit a hill again and that was me, as per usual, heading up the hill backwards!!! So at that point I just got my head down and enjoyed clambering through the muddy puddles. It was around this point that we met with the marathon and half marathon runners. Some of them were just looking awesome, hardly looking like they had done anything. I later found out the marathon runners were only on their first lap, they had to turn around at the start line and do it all again!
As I came past the Buzzard's nest for a 2nd time, I felt back on familiar territory, this is my way down from my training runs up here. I shouted a quick hello to Ali (the memorial spot that Rhona picked), told him I loved him and then toddled on back down the path to the finish line. You get a brilliant view of the Tweed Valley from this point on. It was great. We had a good laugh when from behind the group of us working our way down, heard "fast runner coming down" to which many of us laughed and commented on how none of us were fast runners so who the heck where they talking about??? That then led to a series of "alcoholic coming down", "slow running waddling down", "old man running down" etc etc... Just good fun.
Finally, the finish line was in sight. At this point a few of us were starting to think about the finish line which was that horrible up hill stretch. So we all agreed that we were going to run up it if it killed us. So steeling myself for the agony that was to face me, I dug in and took on the hill to the finish line. It was one of those hills that you tackled head on and then gradually started to run out of steam just before the top, and then your lungs feel like they are going to burst (Windermere Marathon had a similar hill at the finish). But I was determined to run to the finish line. At the finish line Shell was waiting. I was ever so glad to see her. She high fived me then was waiting as I crossed the line. At that point Charlotte and Lisa came over too. Charlotte made us laugh saying that despite the men being very good looking you could spot the ones who were ultra runners as they had that special glint of madness in their eyes. Maybe I had that glint once upon a time?
The sun had come out and it was one of those finish lines that you just didn't want to go home from. We stood chatting for ages and then finally we decided to wander down to the car park to beat the rush out.
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| Charlotte (in yellow) and Lisa (pink) |
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| Me with Shell |
Don't worry, be happy :)
