Baddinsgill Round 2013

Straight from the Ochill 2000s to West Linton for B & B, and dinner in the Gordon Arms preceded, interspersed and postceded (?) with alchohol in various guises, all to assuage the tired limbs. The hosts of the farmhouse B & B made their own sausages and pancakes so a full cooked and delicious breakfast was had, but at 8 a.m maybe a little close to the race start at 10 a.m. 

The route is a good mix of running, sinking and jumping, so a little of everything to test your resolve and patience, and has the attraction over that of the Ochills in that there is a constant mix of these unlike the “sting in the tail” that is Ben Ever to Blairdennon to Dumyat. Having had a soak in the duck pond at Stirling Uni my legs did not feel too bad in the morning, and for the first half of the race the substantial breakfast was more of a hinder than my legs, but bearing in mind how tired I felt, and keeping a watchful eye on a twisted foot, a slower steady run was the order of the day.

Radio 1 has it`s “big weekend”, and this was to be David`s one, hoping for 4 hours on Saturday at the Ochills and 2 hours at Baddingall on the Sunday. Ended up roughly right on the total time, but 20 minutes faster on Saturday and 20 slower on Sunday. As a nice bonus received a prize from Nick for best combined time over the the 2 races, but before accepting bounteous congratulations I am bound to point out that only one person did both races! Still, it cheered me, and Nick stated that it is his intention to have the race in the same weekend as the Ochills in future, so there is a prize there up for grabs. 

Nick`s enthusiasm and attention to detail pay dividends, resulting in a great race that has much going for it, and which will surely go from strength to strength. The local landowner was briefly in attendance near the end, and heard to comment how pleased he was with what he had seen, which bodes well.

There is a very comprehensive report from Peter Buchanan of Portobello here:-

http://bestpartday.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/baddinsgill-round-hill-race-250813.html

and the results here:-

http://www.shr.uk.com/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0660&RaceYear=2013