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Goatfell Hill Race
Arran turned on the warmth and sunshine on Saturday for the Goatfell hill, and an excuse for my first visit to the island. The event was efficently organised, providing excellent facilities (read: hot showers!) and even a pipe band to send us off!
The race starts with a two km road section, then climbs through a forest track before opening onto the hill proper. I was rewarded with spectacular views on the (few) occasions I looked up. The route climbs steadily along the rocky tourist track, then rises steeply as it approaches the summit. The descent was pure joy, a technical and exhilarating challenge, followed by a less joyful and seemingly endless return along the road.
For the second week in succession, I was the last competitor home in under two hours. No prizes for any of the four westies running, but all enjoyed a memorable day out.
28 Murdo MacLeod M50 01:43:00 43 Brian Brennan M50 01:52:09 55 John Hamer M40 01:59:42 62 Helen Macpherson W50 02:04:44Posted by John Hamer on Mon 17 May 2010 | 6 comments
Category Hill Race
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Comments
muffy said...
I'm amused by your report, last year (when I was gubbed by Helen, thank goodness you got her!) the descent was joyless and endless (and slow) for me - I spent the whole time looking forward to the road. Not sure what that says about me. You didn't report on the macaroni cheese afterwards on the ferry, don;t tell me you missed the best part of the day???
Wednesday 19th May 2010 11.57am
Hamilton said...
Yes quite right John, no point in looking up as the massive frame of Bruiser Brian Brennan was in front and you would'nt have seen a thing. It's a grand day out on the island.
Thursday 20th May 2010 12.30pm
John Hamer said...
Well, Muffy, I guess together we'd make one happy runner and one miserable one.
'fraid I missed the briefing on macaroni cheese. Will look out for it next year.
Friday 21st May 2010 7.57am
Bruiser BB said...
Bruiser eh? Just as well it's impossible to make you any uglier or I'd have a go at it Wooster old chap
a great day out although way too few Westies as per usual......get running ya bunch of wimps and malcontents
Saturday 22nd May 2010 9.49pm
Johnston said...
Yep BB, I see you were the sole Westie at Slioch, although there were 4 of us at Kinnoull....but the anticipation is killing me as I sit waiting for the Bonny Man's report on the Perth jaunt!
Monday 24th May 2010 10.02pm
Helen the Muffy gubber said...
Last year's form had disappointingly disappeared; this year I was the gubbed rather than the gubber. Tilly Smith got me at the summit this year, Muffy, in exactly the same way as I got you last year. I think my time belies the run that I had - it should have been a lot worse. Regardless, Goatfell is still dear to my heart; I love running it (well maybe not the road section). It was my first hill race 25 years ago so I really wanted to be there this year. (18th May 1985 – 1.59.12 – you got a certificate with your time recorded in those days!). It used to be a grand Westies’ day out with considerable trophy accumulation over the years. As always, it was a very sociable day out. Well done to those who took part. Hopefully, more of you can be persuaded to go next year.
Thursday 27th May 2010 5.37pm