Dumyat Dash

Results

Rushed home and trying to get all the chores done (kicking the kids aside) so I can be first Westie to make a post about the Dumyat Dash. No mean feet since there were so many Westies in Menstrie this morning for the race.

Excellent autumnal weather and a fine course (something for everyone) made for great running. As with most running in the Ochils it is a steep start to the race but as the field thinned out I found myself in second place tracking Kenny Richmond. I tried to stay with him as best I could but he edged further away until the final section of the climb to the summit of Dumyat where I was surprised to find I was catching him and even passed him just before the summit. Excellent visibility and the ascending runners as a guide for the route down (with much appreciated cheers from fellow Westies) made for a fast decent. Kenny caught me at the burn and I then stuck with him along the muddy traverse, a wise move because at the slippy bridge he went flying and having seen this at close hand managed to avoid the same fate. I stuck with Kenny the whole way back until the last steep section on the hairpins when he managed to get a small gap that I could not close in the sprint for the line. A sprint like that deserved an audience so it was a surprise not to see anyone at the finish line – even timers. Gaynor appeared (having unfortunately have to stop after throwing up) and seemed impressed having witnessed the finale and able to confirm the result.

It felt nice cheering in all my fellow Westies and it was nice so many hung about to give me a cheer at the prize giving. Great turnout and a great race, well done everyone.