The Mighty Deerstalker !

The “Mighty Deerstalker” event was geared as being an event with a difference …and it was! The race HQ was based in the grounds of Traquair House (which is not only a beautiful place but also the oldest inhabited house in Scotland !). There were 2 races a 5k and the “mighty” 10k (which turned out to be a little closer to 15k apparently).

The 5k started at 5pm and it marked the return to competition by my wee sister Irene. The start was good – a sprint up the lawn to the first obstacle of stacked hay bales. It gave the 10k entrants a taste to what to expect. The worrying thing was that it took the first runner 50 minutes to complete the course – estimates were that we would be out for the best part of two hours ! To make the 10k a little tasty, we were starting at 7pm to ensure we needed the head torches, as we would finish in the dark.

I decided that for the hay bales a front position was preferable. After the race brief there was a short countdown and it was our turn for the sprint. Over the bales I found myself in a good wee bunch of runners all about the same ability. Along the road and to the first water hazard – a taped line took us down into a waist deep bog (when made me smile looking at one runner with Gore-Tex trail shoes). Out the water and the up onto the long climb up Plora Rig towards the first control. Over an area of clear fell and into the forest obstacles (some tree hugging on some balance beams, a crawl through the “badger sett” then a tunnel leading up to some white noise piped via a loud PA to be “reborn again”. First control out the way and some “interesting” descending back down towards the road. Some fairly straight forward running saw us part from the 5k route and head out on the longer loop. At this point we dropped into the river which was cold and a bit on the slippy side. I slowed down a little to make sure of footing and promptly lost about 4 places (grrrrrrrr) out of the river and we began a traverse towards a steep scree filled gully on Pirn Craig. About half way up, fireworks indicated the first runner had summited. No sooner had the legs welcomed the end of the ascent and we had a high level log walk – not easy with bendy legs. The guy behind me and I discussed who was making the log bounce but by the time we had an answer we were off it anyway. I chose a line towards the skyline when it was pointed With darkness falling it was difficult trying to figure would the head torch help or hinder. Once down the steep rocky section it was back into the forest – here, there was no thought required …to follow the bike reflectors which marked the route …artificial light WAS required. Down by the river it was back to tapes – not at all easy to follow. All that you could do was slow down rather risk wrong routing. Back in the river we met loads of folks still heading out on the loop towards the scree gully – it was going to be a long night for them. No sooner were we out the river and along the bank and we were back in it again …then out …then back in. Just as we though the dunking was over we were marshaled into a tunnel …and waist deep water again. At the “very” last river crossing some kids who were doing support commented “dinnae worry it isnae deep”. Passing past Traquair House and one last effort was all that was required. I had managed to get to the front of our wee group and even had enough on the next guy to stop and give the fair Mirsia a wee kiss as I headed towards the finish line. All that stood in the way was some tractor tyres …it seemed a shame to stop !

The Deerstalker event might not be for the purist hill runner or road racer but if you enjoy something a little tasty and are up for a bit of anything then it is a must.

Other known rutting Westies were Drew, Graeme Reid and Davy Broni – great effort guys !

Thanks to Gary T, Scotty John and team for putting the event on and a huge thanks to all the marshals who were out before us and not home till long after the last runner had crawled over the line.