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Stuc a' Chroin
Ten Westies enjoyed the pleasures of a trot up Stuc a' Chroin on Saturday. This was the first time Paula and I had run the event, and Paula's first ever long run! The rain largely held off, apart from a brief patch of sleet and mist along the tops. My enduring memory of the race will be the seemingly endless climb up Beinn Each. Full marks to the organisers, who ensured that anyone thinking they were lost need only look up for the next marker tape or turn to ask the marshall standing next to them! Westie results were:- Manny Gorman, 2:36.02 (15th)
- David Rogers, 2:55.51 (41st)
- Chris Upson, 3:01.43 (53rd)
- Don Reid, 3:12.25 (71st)
- John Donnelly, 3:15.38 (81st)
- Steffen Gorgas, 3:20.46 (90th)
- Keith Adams, 3:26.27 (98th)
- Hamilton Semple, 3:51.29 (138th)
- John Hamer, 3:56.38 (140th)
- Paula Cowan, 4:05.52 (145th)
Posted by John Hamer on Mon 3 May 2010 | 6 comments
Category Hill Race
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Comments
Paula said...
You beat me to the write up John!!! The pain has been erased from my memory and i can now say it was a great experience! Yes it was hard but amazing countryside and views when the sky cleared. The track of 3-4 miles at the begining felt like 10 at the end and how i got up the last steep climb i will never know. But it is true we all feel great for it! Roll on Ben Lomond! The marshalls were fab and their freindly chat and jelly beans, choc etc kept me alive!!
Monday 3rd May 2010 3.14pm
john donnelly said...
well done first-timers John and Paula, its a brute of a race but I'm glad you enjoyed it and hopefully we'll see you both again in Strathyre. Yes, the grind on the forestry track at the start is a killer, and almost always makes me think lots of horrible negative thoughts about dropping out only minutes into the race. After that I warmed up a bit and got into the swing of things, running with Steffen till Ben Each where I managed to get away a bit on the ridge. The slog up to Stuc is always longer than you remember, though cheering on the runners as they descend back past you helps pass the time. Turning at the top of any race usually inspires some energy and I bashed on down to the ridge, with its umpteen wee upsies and downsies sapping the short-lived burst of energy. I lost a few places on the slanting sheep trod down to Glen Ample where I met Don having a wee Senior moment, before we both summonsed some energy for the last heave up to the moorland top. Don ran away easily at the top and once back on the forest track I lapsed into a steady plod, managing to sneak past a few others in the last mile, to make it feel vaguely like a good run. I was please to finish in 3h 15m, over half an hour slower than my best, but heh ho, that's life, or more like that's old age for you. A huge thanks to the organisers and to the numerous marshalls with their unending supply of jelly babies and water, you were brilliant. A pint of the Stuc a Chroin ale with the Westies Crew afterwards rounded off a grand day out in the Trossachs.
Monday 3rd May 2010 5.04pm
Hamilton said...
Yes indeed, well done John and Paula, and everyone on this beast of a race. As we know, you will not get a better supported race, with all those friendly marshalls. By 'eck it's a killer though. Should we have done Dumgoyne instead as Keith, Steff. & I nearly did on the way to the race. No,no,no, enjoyed at least the first 2 minutes of what was nearly 4 hours of purgatory.
Apparently, not the only one to suffer from the C-word.
Dare not speak it's name?
No, not, crap,crap,crap,
But, cramp,cramp,cramp.
Paid the price for not having long,long, runs in the hills.
They'll be another day.
A huge thanks to all those marshalls,particularly those on the exposed tops, and to Gillian from Cosmics for the big hug at the finish line.
N.B. One thing - don't forget to check for ticks - the blighters are back, for those of us who seem to be prone to them.
Monday 3rd May 2010 5.50pm
graham k said...
Tremendous and Congrats to all. It has been a couple of years since I did this one ...not nearly long enough to forget the trauma of the track on the way to the finish. Mibee next year.
Monday 3rd May 2010 6.22pm
Chris said...
Well done to all the Westies at Stuc a' Chroin, especially Paula for completing her first long hill race, and to Dave Rogers for kicking my ass!
Tuesday 4th May 2010 11.43am
Elsie said...
Well done to all the Westies who took part- especially Paula for your first long hill race. I hope you enjoyed it, at least in hindsight! Well Done!
Tuesday 4th May 2010 5.00pm