Ben Rinnes Hill Race

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Ben Rinnes Hill Race

I will let someone do the report for the race but I certainly enjoyed the walk up Ben Rinnes before the runners appeared. Maisy & I got the top, had lunch then cheered on the few Westies that appeared at this championship race. Pat, Shona, Paula, Brian, JD, Manny, (another yellow shirt sorry can't remember your name) & apologies if I have forgotten anyone else. It certainly looked like a hard race so well done to you all especially in the heat.

Posted by Brenda Paul on Sun 31 Jul 2011 | 7 comments

Category Hill Race

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brian brennan said...
It was great to see your cheery face Brenda as I died spectacularly in the heat. You missed two Westies ......Swaz and Peter ( from Australia ? ) who must both have liked the heat.
I've always had a really bad time in hot conditions and for the first 2 hills it was absolutely sweltering then it just stayed hot apart from a wee bit of coolness at the top of Ben Rinnes .......don't know what my time was but probably an hour below my previous 2 Ben Rinnes times. I almost jacked it half way up Ben Rinnes but stupidly kept going, then nearly flunked out at the road crossing on the way back when I saw several others doing so. Only stupidity kept me going .....not for the first time and probably not for the last .....well done to all the athletes who can cope with the heat.
Monday 1st August 2011 11.24am
Brenda said...
Well done Brian, you did look a bit like a zombie.....Sorry Swaz, how could I possibly have missed you out after having dropped you of at the Slochd to cycle to Inverness after the race & not to mention the cycle from Tomintoul to Dufftown before the race.
Monday 1st August 2011 1.19pm
Manny said...
It was certainly HOT! The ground was dry & fast and a big field made for a hard painful race, and...WTF?! Brian Turncoat Brennan in a RED VEST?!?!? "oh aye, it's cos my pals are running too..." sporting "Tayfloggers AC" or some such nonsense across their collectively obscene bellies. One by one, Westies at the event found and berated our Summer League coordinator into enough shame to make him change vest before the starting gun and normal service was resumed...
I let a huge number of runners rip off at far too fast a pace for the conditions and sure enough, saw most of them again later in the race. The outward bound run was a really test of mental strength in the opressive heat. The group of 5 that I was in had a very sociable break at the water station before Ben Rinnes and then the real race began. I felt not too bad and ran most of the hill pulling away from the group and catching Aidy Davies, taking alternate drinks / head douses from my water bottle to keep cool. The welcome grins from Maisy & Brenny handing out jelly babies were needed for boost. Thankfully a slight breeze had developed and the shouts from passing runners still going up was enough to keep my pace going, even though the soles of my feet threatened to part company with the flesh. JD, Shona, Paula, Peter, Swazman, and Pat all looking in control, but Mr Brennan was shuffling along grunting like a sufficating whale...in trouble? Al Anthony was my next victim just before the water station for the 2nd time, and I had a good climb over Miekle Conval to get away and start looking to distant Rob Brookes. By the time I came off Little Conval I was within striking distance of him & Paul Faulkner, so put in an extra push and passed Rob but Paul was not for letting me past. The pace was raised & raised again for a balls out finish, but in the end I was goosed and had to let him go running round the games field with the skirling pipes wailing away in the back ground. Shona having had great run was gutted as she held up he shoes full of blood from her feet and causing her to pull out: Swaz's elatation at a supposed 30 min PB, was later to turn to more realistic disappointment at an actual 30 PW; JD and Paula both having sensible safe runs to finish; Pat had her usual "get there" hat on and duely finished to a deserved huge cheer from the crowds: Oz Peter and his mate seemed to have a great day out, especially at our debrief in the Glenfiddich free tent. But it was the mighty Brennan who fell hardest that day - entering the field, a broken figure of the once great man. On the day he dared try on an different vest from the black & gold, he paid for his folly and shuffled round the pitch with sympathetic ooohhs and aahs from the crowd, and some even started to throw money in the hope it might tease him to stop and end his suffering. Crossing the line he slunk out of sight and away into the streets to die in his car, wiping his tears away with black & gold...
Tuesday 2nd August 2011 1.03pm
Chris said...
Well done Manny. Sounds a real scorcher, and nice to hear your genuine concern for the decline and fall of the once mighty Mr Brennan!
Thursday 4th August 2011 11.25am
Paula said...
A fine report Manny!!! A tough day as we all melted up the 5 peaks! That is about all there is to say!! Someone should give Brian sympathy though so i thought i had! Poor poor Brian....GOOD EFFORT!!!!!
Friday 5th August 2011 9.00am
Hamilton said...
Paula, you are far too kind, The Brennan,would,i'm sure he would agree, be thoroughly UNDESERVING of any such thing as sympathy.
I'm still doubled over .....that image of the crowd throwing their last coins. Excellent Manny.
Friday 5th August 2011 12.46pm
Pat said...
Just back from 6 days orienteering at Oban so missed all the reports and comments on Rinnes. I have every sympathy with Brian as I am a cool chick who also hates the heat. Its a great atmosphere at the race and very well marked and marshalled. Thanks for the cheers on Ben Rinnes Brenda and the photo ( not sure if its a smile or a grimace). Well done to everyone who raced.

Pat
Sunday 7th August 2011 12.46pm