Pentland Skyline 2006

A bright, windy, late autumn day in Edinburgh found 150 or so people on the start line for the Pentland Skyline race on Sunday.

I deliberately started slowly, joining the second half of the crocodile up Caerketton and walking pretty much all the way to the top. Half way up, I could see Joe Symonds out in front at the summit, with a big lead. I couldn't believe the pace he was setting!

Once over Caerketton the running started for me, heading across the ridge to Allermuir in bright sunshine. A short sharp climb to the summit, number taken by the marshal, over the stile and then the fast descent on the way to Castlelaw. After a visit to the unappealing mast on Castlelaw, it was the long descent to the road at Flotterstone. The marshal counting the runners at the hill fort car park advised me I was in 85th place, just behind Steffen.

From the road, it's a brute of a climb to the top of Turnhouse. I slogged my way up, chatting to Steffen on a couple of sections, which helped take my mind off the hard work. Somewhere on this climb, I realised I'd tied my right shoe too tight and had blistered my heel. A quick adjustment stopped it getting much worse but it was still a bit of a mess by the finish.

I made up a few places over Turnhouse and passed Steffen on Carnethy, not seeing him again until the finish. I continued picking up places over Scald Law, South Black Hill, East Kip and West Kip, dropping down to the drove road feeling pretty good. At this point we started the turn for home and I was looking forward to having the wind at my back for the next few miles.

My progress through the field slowed pretty dramatically here. I'd arrived at a section of the field running at much the same speed as me and I made no real progress over Hare Hill and Black Hill. On the descent from Hare Hill the guy in front told me we were 2 hours in to the race. It crossed my mind that to run the course record 2:22, you'd have to be on Allermuir the second time by now!

The climb up Bell's Hill proved to be as hard as expected but also allowed me to pass another couple of people. A bit of stitch on Harbour Hill was soon put to the back of mind as I realised a couple of people were catching me. Capelaw passed quickly and then came the steep little climb back to Allermuir. The viewing point at the top was a welcome sight, as it meant the worst of the climbing was over. Back along the ridge to Caerketton, just holding off the guys behind me and then the descent past the ski slopes to the finish. I lost one place on the final dash from the stile to the tape, outsprinted (or shuffled in my case) by Graham Henry of Portobello.

All in all a great day out and a bargain at £3. Finishing times;

1st Jim Davies (Borrowdale) 2:30:45

8th Nigel Scott 2:41:35

20th Claire Gordon (HBT) 2:56:02

21st Chris Upson 2:56:04

52nd Rob McQuater 3:17:05

66th Steffen Gorgas 3:24:56

85th David Rogers 3:32:54

90th Pete Baxter 3:39:33

Posted by Rob McQuater on Tue 10 Oct 2006 | comments are closed

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