The Bog and burn diaries of Chris Furse aged 54 years and 19 days- 54 years 4 months and 9 days

Race 1 – Wednesday 20th May Kaim Hill

A terrific turnout of 32 Westies made the trip down to the Ayrshire Coast for a trot up Fairlie’s favourite hill. At the business end of the race it was a sea of yellow as Harrison Stubbs came out on top in front of Gregor with 6 Westies in the top 10. In the women’s race Ella took a fine second place. Excellent runs from Damien and Don who finished 1-2 in the V60 field which was a taste of things to come in the Bog’n’ Burn season.

As for my own race I didn’t do to badly going up and enjoyed the half mile or so of flattish ground which looped round the summit, but then the descent was a nightmare with my choice of Roclite’s as footwear giving me nowhere near enough grip on the numerous boggy bits. After having a battle royal with Andrew Mott on the climb and around the summit loop he was able to stride out and open up a gap on me as he navigated the bogs well which I could never close despite trying to put my foot to floor metaphorically speaking on the last half mile or so of wooded trail and the road before the finish.

My time of 41:40 was a good 3-4 minutes down on my best at Kaim and the amount of bog near the top caught me out as it had been pretty dry in the week leading up to the race, but anyway one down 11 to go.

Race 2 Wednesday 27th April Beinn Dubh

I was very grateful to be giving Daniel Williams a lift to this race as his use of the phone to keep an eye on the What’s App and travel alerts played a big part in us getting to the race in time. An accident on the A82 had caused havoc with the traffic but some good use of sat nav and google maps saw us taking to the back roads and reaching Luss with plenty of time to pay and warm up as the race start had been put back by 15 minutes, thanks Damien.

85 people managed to make the start with 28 of them Westies which is highly impressive and pretty much a third of the field. 6 Westies finished in the top 10 with Del an impressive 3rd overall. Fraser Dickson who won the race as an unattached athlete will have surely been snapped up by a club on the back of that performance. Meg Stuart came a very impressive 2nd in the Women’s race behind Ochil’s Edel Mooney who would go on to dominate the Women’s series.

The evergreen Don Reid won the V60 race with Micky Anderson second in the V50 race showing the form that he would maintain throughout the series.

Although not my fastest time on the course I was pleased to run 50 minutes 45 seconds and felt that I descended well by my standards and managed to stay in front of a clutch of Westies including Kerry, Rona and Ali Boyer. I always enjoy Beinn Dubh as it’s a hard climb but the terrain is straight forward with not many rocks and it’s a nice fast grassy descent until you hit the wooded bit near the bottom.

Race 3 Wednesday May 4th Whangie Wizz

This race which was very smoothly organised by Sharon and the usual band of Westie helpers had an immense turnout of 43 Westies. Unfortunately the Men’s race was won by a Shett! ( Well done Harry) and in the women’s standings Ellen Downs showed her pedigree finishing second not far behind Alice Goodall in a very strong field.

Craig Gallagher ran superbly to place 7th and the battle between Del and Alwyn who came 9th and 10th respectively was perhaps a precursor to the What’s App wars that seem to have broken out between them! Damien and Don maintained their utter domination of the V60 category.

As for my own race, my legs felt like lead as I hadn’t recovered from the previous Saturday’s exertions at Stuc a Chroin. A generous application of Sloan’s liniment and a mile or so jog took some of the stiffness out of my legs but I had not a lot of energy on the climbs and even the gentle downhills felt like torture to my aching quadricep muscles. I was pleased to hold of Chris McKiddie and Ali Boyer but when Kerry and Rachel came past me on the final descent I felt like waving a White flag or a Westie’s buff in surrender!

71st place and 44:09 was probably  a PW on the course but that was 3 down and 9 to go. On the positive side the bog factor was bearable and I don’t recall the gate as you come of the Whangie to head down the hill towards the track being particularly challenging.

Race 4 Wednesday May 11th Dumyat

23 Westies towed the line at this race out of a huge field of nearly 350. The race which is organised by Stirling University and incorporates a Scottish Universities Hill Running Championships has a feel to it that’s totally unlike any other Bog’n’ Burn race. The age profile of the competitors is obviously significantly lower than pretty much any other hill race and the public address system at the start and the race T Shirts at the end and food available in the canteen afterwards gives it a big race feel which is perhaps only matched by the Carnethy 5 on the hill running circuit.

In terms of the actual race Ellen had another storming run to finish as first Woman in a very high calibre field. Craig ran well again to finish as the first Westie bloke and place 36th overall. I was pleased with my own race as I just about placed in the top half of the field in just over 50 minutes  and managed to hold of Andrew Mott but could not stay with Graham Kelly on the descent. The course was extremely dry and probably the least boggy of any of the Bog’n’ Burn courses.

Race 5 Wednesday May 18th Ben Sheann

6/7 (Micky Anderson joined later in the year) Westies rocked up at Strathyre to experience the delights of Ben Sheann. For me this is one of the most difficult and challenging races in the hill running calendar. It’s probably only about 4k if that but very little of it can be described as running! Basically it’s a brutally steep climb through a nondescript track through the trees with plenty of mud and tree roots and the odd rock or two on the narrow track which always come into play on the way down!

After slogging through the forest you then get a brief almost runnable bit before doing a very short loop round the top then hurtling back down if you are Don Reid or treading more warily in my case. The descent this year had even more mud than normal which at times meant I felt like I was sliding down sheer drops towards the next clump of trees. It  was so bad that the race director gave us a safety warming about mud and tree roots before the race began.

Anyway those with more bottle and better co-ordination than I faired well with Craig having a storming run to place second and Tom Finch maintaining his excellent early season form to finish 7th. Damien and Don flew down the hill placing well up in the small field of 30 finishers with Andrew Fullwood and I delighted to get down the hill in one piece and cool off afterwards in the river. My time of 42 minutes wasn’t great but I was delighted with 21st place and the positive impact that would have on my league placing.

Big Shout out to Angela Mudge who won the Women’s race and beat most of the blokes looking effortless coming down the mud slide through the forest.

The excitement generated by Rangers being involved in a televised European Final accounted for the smaller than normal field and the pub being out of bounds for the post race presentation.

Race 6 Wednesday May 25th Kilpatricks Kaper

On a cracking evening in the Kilps I arrived early and helped out with the kit checks. Most people had all the correct attire but several folk had to be referred to the race director and kit found for them etc. it never ceases to amaze me that a small minority of runners would if allowed venture up a hill in a race with no kit and assume they have a divine right never to get injured  etc. Anyway that’s enough moaning.

The Kaper saw a superb turnout of 36 Westies out of a field of 94 with countless other Westies out on the hill or at the finish assisting James. Ellen Downs and Tom Callan ensured a Westies double with some high class hill running on very dry tracks well suited for fast running. Harrison placed third. Damien and Don continued their domination of the V60 category and Lorna had a storming race winning the Women’s V50 race and gliding past me as we came down past the wall on the descent. I tried to put in a big effort coming down the final field but just failed to catch her. Nevertheless I was pleased with my time of just over 40 minutes and had some cracking battles with fellow Westies. Graham Kelly once again got the better of me and turned in yet another fine Bog’n’Burn performance. I did manage to hold of Andrew Mott and Ali Boyer which was pleasing.

Race 7 Wednesday 8th June Red Moss Kips

After a couple of Wednesday’s off to get some club runs in the series returned with a trip to the nature reserve above Balerno and the Kips race. Driving across with Andrew Mott it was very murky with a fine drizzle and I predicted not much of a view from the top of the Kips which turned out to be partly correct. Seven Westie men jostled on the start line although make it Nine if you include Micky who joined later in the year and Westie legend Chris Upson who was sporting Cambuslang colours.

I’ve always liked this race as it’s a bit longer in length than most of the  Bog’n Burn’s with a bit of everything. Fast runnable road at the start and finish a good runnable trail  that has been much improved in recent years out to West Kip then proper hill running with grassy climbs up and down the Kips a steep fast descent down from East Kip towards the Howe then good trails back to the road for the final fast descent on foot slapping tarmac.

I started quite conservatively then settled into a bit of a battle with Don on the approach out to and up West Kip as we traded places several times before he flew away from me coming off West Kip. As we came off East Kip and the mist cleared a bit to give us a view CS McKiddie came storming past me with a cheery how ya doing greeting. My brain and feet kicked into gear and I  gave chase vowing to keep him at as close order as possible until we got onto the track at the bottom of the hill whereupon I gave it full beinz and managed to pass him before we returned to the final road section.

Despite my strong finish my time of just over an hour was a good four minutes off my PB on that course. In terms of the business end of the race internationalist Andrew Douglas narrowly pipped Alexander Chapelin to win with Fiona Bunn running sub 50 to win the Women’s race. What of the Westies I hear you all ask? Well Scott Henderson continued his good form with an excellent time of 51 minutes dead with Tom Finch hot on his heels. The superstar vets Chris, Micky, Damien and Don all comfortably ran faster times than their ages to take home some ale. The two Andrew’s both ran well Mr Mott not far behind myself finishing strongly and Mr Fullwood despite carrying an injury which bothered him all summer just kept on churning out the races and hitting the finish line no matter what the distance, terrain or weather threw at him.

With 7 races down it was apparent that Andrew and Micky wanted that 12 race ale haul and kudos at least as much as I did!

Race 8 Wednesday June 22nd Cort-Ma-Law

These race organisers were being  kind to us Bog’n Burn combatants as once again a two week break between races gave us the opportunity to rest up and apply magic potions to aching limbs or in case of Andrew and I just fit in the odd weekend race for good measure.

21 Westies lined up out of 65 entrants on a night that was perfect for racing, dry not to warm with a slight breeze which from memory kept away the worst of the Midgies.  Full credit to Dave and his squad of helpers who ensured everything ran like clockwork.

I really enjoyed this race as I had a lot of Westies around me throughout the race and it was nip and tuck between a good group of us right until the final descent. My two standout’s are negotiating the bog between Cort-Ma-Law and Leckett without any real difficulty but then being caught out and going almost waist deep in it by the fence line close to where you rejoin the main tourist route back down from Cort-Ma-Law. The other one was the return of the Rod. The sometimes  flying Mr Fleming had when I scanned the field at certain points looked well back but then he appeared over the brow of the hill with that flowing easy running gait eating up the ground to surge past Daniel Nixon before turning on the after burners to power past me close to the finish line with my legs and body to shocked to respond in time.

At the business end of the race Gregor ran a blistering sub 50 time to hold off Alistair Graves and Meg had a storming run to place 3rd women behind Ochil’s Catriona Buchanan and the oh so consistent Edel Mooney. A special mention for Stuart who travelled down from Fort William which is a fair midweek jaunt and one again placed in the top 10.

Race 9 Wednesday 29th June The Law Breaker 

After a couple of races in a row that had multiple climbs and 10k ish routes this first part of the Tillicoultry double is a straight up the hill and back down affair although 600 metres of climb and ascent in less than 6k packs a punch. Apart from a tricky short rocky climb after crossing the bridge the route isn’t to technical although the steepness of the climb makes any semblance of running a challenge. Although well down the field I was pleased with a time of 56 Minutes which is amongst my better times on that route.

13 Westies made up over a quarter of the field of 50 people. Josh Ring ran excellently to place 6th and Tom Finch and Scott continued their fine run of racing finishing 10th and 11th respectively with Scott also placing as 2nd Vet 40. As expected Micky, Damien and Don continued their good form placing at or near the top of the V50 and V60 standings.

Big shout out to Jenn for the Cow Bell encouragement as we trudged up the Law much appreciated.

Race 10 Wednesday 6th July Maddy Moss Mash

Another Wednesday saw another trip to Tillicoultry and the famous lyrics written by Sonny Curtis and covered by numerous bands whirled round my head as I trudged up the steep climb towards the Law. At least this week we started from the bottom of the field rather than halfway up Mill Lane which slightly reduced that first long slog up to the Law. This race much like Cort-Ma-Law is a classic medium distance hill race as it’s pretty much entirely off road, with some grassy runnable descents when you head back off the ridge and down into the valley. Early doors I was battling it out with Lisa Blackley  who was having an amazing season placing in the top 3 of the Women’s table  and the Ochil’s very own JD.   Lisa pulled away from us slightly as we came off the Law and bore left to head out towards Ben Cleuch the highest point in the Ochil’s. On the tops of the hills it was blowing a hoolie and I put my jacket on for a bit of warmth.

As we trudged towards Ben Cleuch faster Westies Daniel, Ross and James shouted encouragement (at least I think that’s what it was!) as they  headed back down on the homeward journey. The run along the ridge and down the grassy descent suited me and I didn’t lose any places until I was overtaken by JD of the Ochil’s variety on the final rocky stretch  close to the finish. My time of 1hr 18 was slightly down on my PB but it was windy and I did have Saturday’s Durisdeer trot still in my legs.

What of the so far unmentioned Westies? Tom Callan and Craig flew round to finish 6th and 12th respectively Andrew Fullwood and Micky kept their unbroken B and B runs intact and I was pleased to finish a few minutes in front of our very own and the one and only truly original JD and gain some partial revenge for him having shown me a clean pair of heals in the closing stages at Durisdeer the Saturday beforehand.

In the inaugural Bog and Burn team race an as expected excellent performance from Ochil’s on home turf (3 men in the top 10 and first Women) meant the Purple vests were well and truly breathing down on our Yellow vested necks. It was definitely squeaky bum time!

Race 11 Wednesday 13th July Cairn Table Time Trial

The motivational speeches and inspiring What’s App messages from the trio of Captain’s clearly inspired the Westie  troops as a sea of yellow vests (22) headed for Muirkirk for the penultimate fixture of the 2022 season. The race organisers (East Ayrshire Leisure I think) had decided this would be a Time Trail format with start times available from 6:30pm -8pm which could mean a long night for the Timekeepers and Hill marshall’s. Actually it worked out pretty well with most of us and a healthy contingent from Ochil’s facing off at around 7pm.

Despite what had been a dry warm spell in the Glasgow area the boggy bits near the start before you begin climbing the meat of the hill were boggier than I recall them in recent Cairn Table races. It was a misty evening with bits of drizzle about and on the approach to the hill I kept evaluating my options as in did I chance the bogs not being deep or try to run fast on the slippery wooden boards. In the end I opted for a hybrid of both.

I climbed to the Cairn ok and as I neared the top Gregor and Tom cane flying back down with Tom hot on Gregor’s heels. I enjoy this race as it’s mostly runnable and my main recollection is it being very misty at the top with not much visibility and Lorna and Nicola appearing like visions out of the mist to chase me down successfully. I was a bit disappointed with my time of 46 minutes but looking at the results most of my racing rivals Lorna, Kerry, and Ali Boyer were about a minute or two down on their PB’s for the course so it may have been the bog factor slowing us down.

Tom Callan came past Gregor to win the men’s race and their were also a number of solid runs from the likes of Niall, Tom, Scott and Captain Ally. However Ochil’s placed Three Men in the top 10 so Ellen’s storming run to win the Women’s race in just over 38 minutes proved pivotal in ensuring we amassed enough points to clinch the inaugural Bog’n’Burn team prize with a race to spare.

Other outstanding performances came from Lorna and Nicola 1st and 3rd in WV50 AND WV40 categories and Damien who once again won the MV60 race and placed well up the field.

Race 12 Wednesday 10th August Caerketton 

7 Westies made the trip to the outskirts of Auld Reekie for the final race of the series. I always think this race is a bit like the last stage of the Tour de France in that many of the various category prizes are already decided and folk are turning up to collect a prize or just making sure they finish the race in order to complete the full set.

Ali Mason from Carnethy took the win over a minute and a half in front of Harry Pulham from Shettleston with Chris Grant Pantry also from Shett’s 3rd. Credit where it’s due Harry and Chris produced an excellent season of racing and fully deserved the outright and V40 Men’s titles. Nicola Duncan from Carnethy also a Vet won the Women’s race.

It was a glorious warm evening and the tracks up and down the hill were bone dry. Given it was only a couple of weeks since I had been at A & E with a left foot so swollen I couldn’t walk I was just happy to get to the top of the hill and jog back down unscathed thereby ensuring I completed the full set. With regard to the other Westies Scott ran another storming race to place 15th and Daniel who is clearly taking very well to this Hill Racing lark ran a very decent 25 minutes. Micky went even quicker than Daniel to place first in the V60 category in his first race since hitting that milestone with Don not far behind him.

Andrew battled through his injury to make it 12 out of 12 and Jamie made a return to racing and showed off his fearless descending ability.

all that was left was for us to collect our prizes which consisted predominantly of Tennents Lager  for those who completed all 12 races (Andrew. Micky and I). Niall you did a brilliant job collating all the results and revamping the B and B format to include a team prize etc but please don’t buy so much Tennents for prizes next time!  I know it was done largely for the banter but there is a vast array of exciting Scottish independent ale out there!

Final reflection, it was just brilliant to be out racing most Wednesday evenings  after the couple of years we had come through and enjoying the banter and healthy competition with club mates and fellow competitors. Here’s to the Bog’n’ Burn 2023 edition, I can’t wait!