Cathkin Braes - Bog & Burn Race 1

An urban hill race !

The first in the fantastic mid-week hill races which form the Bog & Burn series started from just below the car park on the high road over towards Rutherglen from Carmunock. Out of the field of 65 runners - 26 were Westies. Someone commented that represented the majority of active racers in the club. It certain made a great spectacle seeing the field dominated by the yellow vests.

The start is a slight downhill and felt fast ...too fast. A look to the left only to see Angela Mudge (similar to trying to keep up with Paula Radcliff in the London marathon) confirmed the pace was not sustainable and I pulled up a little to something more sensible.The early part of the course takes a line over fields down towards the edge of the braes before turning left and climbing towards the woods. The first hill was sore with a short transition from the long strides to short steps. At the top the pain was compounded by changing back to the long strides. The woods section was made "interesting" by some of the local kids heckling ...on quad bikes - not a place you wanted to stop. Cries of encouragement included "hurry up ...the guy in front is beating you", "whit ye runnin fae ya fanny" to a more abrupt "yir sh!te". The steep descent through the bracken took us just to the edge of Castlemilk before traversing a couple of hundred yards and the VERY steep climb up to the transmitter mast. The course continued through the woods back to the start where it was off for a 2nd loop of the circuit.

With the pack generally well split I found myself in the middle of a mini Westies race between Hamilton Semple, Murdo McLeod, Blair Millen and John Donnelly (with Helen Palmer and Martin Reid not far behind). It seemed like I was stronger on the climbs ...could just hold on with the level but lost heaps on the descent where the other guys were so much quicker. Nearly spewin ...I managed to get to the front but it was at a cost - wobbly legs and a sore gut. Just before the finish, Nigel Scott was walking back down the course (having already completed) and he confirmed that JD was close behind me. Thankfully one last blast kept the placing as we all crossed the line within about 90 seconds of each other.

32 Graham Kelly Westerlands M 0:45:30
33 John Donnelly Westerlands M40 0:45:35
34 Murdo McLeod Westerlands M50 0:45:42
35 Hamilton Semple Westerlands M50 0:45:47
36 Helen Palmer Westerlands F 0:46:48
37 Martin Reid Westerlands M40 0:46:56
38 Blair Millen Westerlands M 0:47:05

Easter snow showers ......

In an effort to keep the black dog away which seems to nip at the heels all too often, Shamir Naseem Mohamed (aka Stuart the Sweat Beast Ferguson) and myself are currently planning at least one midweek hill trip each month. We kinda cheated a bit this month and choose Easter Monday. The plan was a good one …high camp under Sgurr Eilde Mhor (up the east end of the Mamores) at NN 224 653 then maybe a moonlight ascent of Eilde Mhor before a good nights sleep then back over Binnein Mor & Na Gruagaichen.

Anyway …

17:30 – Shamir picks me up at Busby and we head north of Balloch (via the Erskine bridge now free of tolls).

19:30 – We stop at the Green Welly for some last minute provisions …it is raining.

19:40 – Heading through the Coe and it is REALLY raining …the wind is up as well.

20:00 – We are in the bar at the Mamore Lodge.

21:00 – We leave the Lodge (the rain is off) and walk 100yds before stopping to put waterproofs on (the rain is back on).

22:30 – The rain has stopped …to be replaced with snow !

23:00 – We are standing in a blizzard, trying to find a spot to get the tent up and get some shelter. The wind is ridiculous. Every so often all you can do is stand with your eyes closed whilst spindrift went everywhere (including up my nose and in my ears). Eventually, we find a spot as sheltered as we will get. Putting the tent up is like fighting one of those Chinese Dragons. Inner up – yipeee. A few minutes later and the outer is over the top as well …a few seconds after that and the outer is well … no longer over the top. Sustained pressure and much swearing later and we have shelter. Ice axes are used to keep the side of the tent taking the brunt of the wind fixed. Both getting too cold for comfort we dive inside the tent, strip off water proofs and get into the sleeping bags. Comfort at last. No sooner had Shamir’s head hit the pillow and all hell broke loose. Judging by the amount of snow driving through the inner mesh, it was obvious …we no longer had the outer tent protecting us. Seconds later, the main centre pole collapsed. First things first …get the warm gear back on quickly, add the waterproofs, keep the sleeping bag dry and then sort out the medium term. It took the best part of 15 minutes to get it all back under sensible control. Once packed (thankfully the outer was still attached to a couple of pegs) – the next decision was do we head of Meanach bothy or the car. Confirmation of the car being closer and we bailed in that direction. Once dropping below the snow line we were able to take stock …the weather if anything was getting worse !

01:30 – Back at the car …phew.

02:00 – Driving south through the Coe singing a selection of Kenny Rodgers and Glen Campbell hits – magic !

04:00 – Tucked up in bed ...wondering if the earlier part of the evening had been a dream !