Black Rock race 18th June

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Black Rock race 18th June

Two Westies (Chris Upson and me) among the throng of nearly 600 starters at 8pm on a showery evening in Fife. The massed start alongside the railway viaduct takes some time to get under way, but then it's a dash down to the beach, where we join the line snaking and splashing its way towards that Black Rock which improbably sits over half a mile out from the shore. This year we chicken out from going round the rock - the waves are splashing on the seaward side! - and worry about the piper and the fun runners who are going to get well drookit. It's as I run past the rock that the rain comes on, but by that time I'm so sea-soaked that total immersion doesn't matter. There's still the cruellest finish (a short, steep climb, not visible on approach) to negotiate...but beer and bananas make a nice dinner (and the local chippy does a lethal kebab to mop up the beer)!

Results: 1. Phil Mowbray (HBT) 2. Andrew Lemoncello (Fife) with the winner just under 23 mins, second just over;

72. Chris Upson 28.31; 238. Graeme Orr 34.04

Verdict: wet sand is a close second to peat-bog in sapping the strength, but easier to clean! Try this race some time!

Posted by Graeme Orr on Wed 23 Jun 2004 | 1 comment

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