Helensburgh and Lomond Highland Games Hill Race (by a hill running novice)

All Westies in top 25 finish!

It was a great day for a spot of Highland Games fun on Saturday. Niall, Claire, Hamilton and I made our way down to Helensburgh, meeting up with Jamie. After a wee cup of tea and some spectating we went off to warm up and literally ran into Brian B and Christine and then John H and some others (apologies for not knowing everyone’s names and clubs please feel free to comment / correct / add in.)

I was getting a little nervous at the size of the entry – a few teenagers, some non club runners, one Jura race t-shirt, a couple of Carnethy runners, a suspiciously fit looking young man who de-robed to reveal a Shettleston vest and the Westies Team. My running anxiety dream could very well become reality today – last place was looming.

Timings etc are a little fluid at a Highland Games but eventually the ‘good sized field?!’ were called to the start line on the grass track in front of the throng of spectators, Niall took up a good inside lane spot alongside the Shettleston chap and the rest of us huddled in behind. We were off and it was a full on sprint round the track to the break in the fence out of the field up into the woods, Niall and Mr S took off, with a Carnethy vest in close pursuit. The rest of the field were pretty close together.

We had formed a wee group at the back but were not too far adrift at all and I tried desperately to hang onto sight of Christine and John H’s W vests ahead. Into the woods and I soon realised (once again) that I can’t run up a hill. Our little group was struggling; Claire felt bad and after bravely hanging in for a while decided to support instead, a wise move which helped the front runners push on when they needed it.

That left 2 in our wee group at the back. I held unattached Mr X off all the way to the top – I will not be last, I will not be last…..was going well downhill with him behind me and then – disaster – I lost the path. AARGH. And he carried on, maybe he knew the way, if he did he chose not to tell me and took his opportunity, he was off. I was hurtling down a parallel path which was blocked by trees and then had to scramble back through the woods to the right path whilst laughing my head off (slightly hysterically) but I accepted another novice hill runners mistake and that I had just made my dream come true – I was indeed now last. The power of negative thought. Turned out I wasn’t they only one to make this mistake, Jamie had a great run in spite of being found running in a circle by Brian B (I think) who directed him safely on his way – the way it should be! Some others followed too. I carried on regardless and enjoyed the rest of the downhill, just hoped that no-one I knew was watching my ‘glory’ lap around the track to the finish line so long after everyone else. Jumped about 10 feet in the air as a caber was tossed whilst I was still running which gave the crowd a laugh!

Results are also a little fluid at Highland Games it appears so we have no results other than Niall ran a great race, battling Mr S all the way, unable to get past him but a great 2nd place. Christine got a well deserved 4th wummin prize too. All the other Westies did very well indeed (and can post their own times / results if known) and with me in last / 24th place we all made it into the top 25 – just as well we showed up!

Good prize money helped sway the decision to make our way to the beer tent for celebratory drinks, Haggis and Neeps and Stovies in the sunshine. What a laugh we had, great banter and some cracking ideas on future race tactics….best to have a couple of drinks before we share them though…..

Thank you to all the Westies on the day, another race learning experience for me but a great wee day oot.

Gaynor Gillespie