Pollok Parkleys Marathons 2020

It was a bright warm day in April and the sound of birdsong was striking, I’m sure Tom F would have been able to distinguish at least thirteen different species. As I studied my map and prepared for the physical and mental torture that lay…

Meet the Westie – John Hamer

* What do you call the thing you change the TV channels with? During my early life it was called a pair of pliers. These days it's called an iPhone. * Where did you grow up? New Zealand. * Have you always been a runner? Nope.…

Skirting The Empty

Skirting the empty By Niall McAlinden and James Callender Niall’s Story It was the Friday of the Easter long weekend of 2020, the spring of COVID as it was known. James and I set out to conquer 10 previously unclimbed (by us) Munros…

COVID KILPS CAPER

COVID KILPS CAPER – Sunday, April 5th 2020 Our Lady Captain suggested that I write this report for those of you who currently cannot get out to the Kilpatrick Hills, or for that matter, any hills. It was a thoughtful suggestion on Jenn’s…

Cioch Lhess is Mhor

Dingwall seemed closer than the last time I went up there. It was like I hardly even glanced at my car before I found myself up at the Cioch Lhess start line. I had mixed emotions about my condition at the start of the race. Partly I felt…
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Cioch Mhor 2020

When my alarm went off at 11.15 the last thing I wanted to do was get out of my sleeping bag. Leaving work at 5 on Friday and cycling to Dingwall seemed like a good idea at the time. I mean it was, but stopping for pints in Pitlochry, shots…

High Cup Nick

I signed up for this race in a fit of hill-racing enthusiasm during what is now known as the “pre-Carnethy-5-in-2020” era and was full of regret and nerves on the journey there. I needn’t have worried. Mum got us off to a great start,…
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A handicapping analysis

Introduction According to Wikipedia, a handicap race is "a race in which horses carry different weights, allocated by the handicapper". On March 4th 2020 18 Westies ran the In The Dark Handicap from the Kilpatrick gasworks (55.927112,…

Crevasse Bars

Crevasse Bars After the Westies weekend in the Lakes a couple of people asked me about the Crevasse Bars I made. They are my attempt to save a couple of quid and improve upon commercially available bars. How they compare to energy…