Hamilton said...

Yes,after being in The Lakes for Easter, in near tropical conditions, it was back to an icy breeze assaulting the senses. Was getting worried for our own Cat, our Time Keeper, who looked as though she might perish on the spot from the cold. Seemed to take it in her stride as usual. Well, now for the Race....Ahh, no, wait a minute, but, Pal.All the usual banter before, but, but what's this, both the Calders' complaining about their Handicaps. Well, did'nt hear anyone else complain!!!!!!!!!!!! You can't get the staff these days. This is a great trail for a blast, albeit with these severe climbs, and you're winding it up, only to be slightly rocked back by another rise,then another and..... Oh, and the time? Dave,you got me this time. A comfortable win- over a minute. Well done. So, until next year. Thanks again Cat, and Chris.

Thursday 16th April 2009 12.08am

Dave said...

This year's trail was enhanced by twice having to clamber of the recent landslip just before White Bridge. The additional minute and a half (well, give or take a minute and a half, my estimate) required to negotiate the boulders and tree roots was only slightly offset by the 5 second boost gained when I was chased by the alsation just before the landslip. I just managed to keep my backside clear of its jaws when Graham helpfully appeared round the bend behind me and the beast bounded after him instead!All in all I was chuffed with my run. It felt awful, but it was a pb!

Thursday 16th April 2009 9.21am

cat said...

As I rarely wear a watch and never time my races I always find timekeeping a nervous task so when given responsibility for timing 15 stop-watched up Westies and put in charge of a huge multi-buttoned multi-function watch minor panic set in. However, all seemed to go okay (despite a wee hairy moment when the watch bleeped unexpectedly!) and it was cool seeing people finish that have normally showered and gone home long before I cross the line! Obviously the ultimate handicapping and time keeping team of Drew and Margaret were missed and hopefully they’ll be back for the next time. Well done runners and hope you enjoyed the chocs!!

Thursday 16th April 2009 1.31pm

Chris said...

I was quite pleased to get within a minute of my PB, given the extra time required to twice battle past the landslide of fallen boulders and trees just before White Bridge. On my second lap I was closing down Donald Evans on the approach to White Bridge, and was sure I would catch him before the finish, but every effort to get past was countered by an extra spring in Donald's step. Well done to Cat on mastering the timing technology. My times on the Suunto X6HR and my Garmin 405 were identical at 41:18.

Thursday 16th April 2009 3.35pm

Graham K said...

Folks,

Cheers for the company and competition !

For a number of reasons, this was my first Wednesday evening with Westies for ....well too feckin long. It was great to catch up with some older faces and meet up with some newer ones to. Reckon the handicaps were about right and I was very happy to be close to last years time given the obstacles. As Dave stated the added attack dogs initially cost some time as I decided what to do ...then they turned into an incentive to speed up once I got past the teeth.

Nearly spewed trying to catch Hamilton on the final run in but he kept ahead.

Huge thanks to Chris for organising and to Cat for time keeping.

Cheers fir noo ...

Thursday 16th April 2009 4.12pm

I Woz Robbed said...

My time was 51.11 according to my stopwatch !Can provide Chris Upson stylee satellite trace if require, plus full HRM readout providing evidence that the pan was indeed fully knocked in.

I had hoped my winter of Wednesday night attendance would bring me close to defeating the mighty Westerlands racing duo of Calder & Semple. Alas it was not to be... until next time !

Thursday 16th April 2009 9.44pm

Chris said...

Stuart, that's strange... I clearly have marked down in Cat's fair handwriting that you clocked 1:03:31 with an 11 minute handicap. Which by my calculations equates to 52:31 actual time run. Do you know what time you started running? I began at 19:25:01, so you should have started at 19:14:01 if you were on an 11 minute handicap.

Thursday 16th April 2009 10.41pm

Marty Mcfly said...

19.14 sounds about right - the times seem right when compared to everyone else so it might be that everyone was 1 minute faster ... except Chris who has dual redundancy in his timing hardware.

Anyway it was a good laugh and if my time is out it only makes it easier to beat next year !

Cheers Chris for marking the course, I had to laugh at the national speed limit sign on the fast bit plus the big W through the landslip. And thanks to Cat for the time keeping ... (I'm not moaning honest!)

Friday 17th April 2009 11.28am

Dave said...

Chris, interesting that Stuart should have a different time, because by my own timing methodology I was only 39:45. I clearly remember coming up the final straight gasping to myself " 43 mississippi 44 mississippi 45 mississippi" and wiggling the 4th toe on my right foot for the second time; this clearly indicates 39 minutes (ie 20 fingers and toes+19 for the second time of asking). My logic is impeccable, so I reckon I must be right.

Can you check out please?

Friday 17th April 2009 5.33pm

Muffy said...

Dave is clearly having a senior moment, his usual counting methodology is " 1 tittybum 2 tittybum" etc. At least when he's out with me. That's an extra syllable per second he's added.

I bust a gut to get past Elizabeth after that outrageous handicap, only to find that her guts did the job for me later on (sorry you weren't feeling well Elizabeth). So my victory was hollow. My timings were just about spot on - I disagree with official timekeeper (I hardly dare!) by only one tittybum.

Sunday 19th April 2009 3.21pm