Two Breweries

Two Breweries is a fantastic race.  It is has distance, 18 miles, ascent 1700m+, descent 1700m+, rough stuff, runnable stuff and great scenery.

This year was no different.  Perfect weather made for a great day hill running.  The usual impressive stampede start from Traquair, and then after some road we were onto the first climb.  Runners snaked up the hill and it was up and up until we got to Birkscairn Hill.  As requested wee kiss to Elise at the top and then down to Glensax.   Knee deep heather and folks hurtling past until welcome discovery of a path at the grouse butts.

Years before I had headed up the gully (in one case with Elsie yelling at me to follow her so I didn’t get lost in dense bracken) but now the race goes up a green track which is less rough but really steep.  Lorna and I chatted and amazed at folks speeding past: Roddy looked strong ahead.  Eventually the gradient eased, hazy hilly views opened up and some running was possible.  But then more heather and more up to the top – Hundleshope.  Finally running again, a boggy contour with Lorna setting a pace ahead, up Stob Law then off down to Glenrath farm, a fab decent.  Pat and Sharon plied us with drink and sweets which helped immensely.  Now the ‘runnable’ bit of the run starts!  Through woody trails then up to Westies at Whitelaw: Don, Jane and Christine with yet more sugar and water – brilliant.  Another runnable descent to Stobo, an even more welcome drink station, and then on the seemingly endless track to Trahenna.  Was it always this far, it seemed really far?  Maybe not really running by now, more a determined hobble, but finally the grassy slopes of Trahenna came into view and it was a relief to know this was the last climb.   Took a line to the left of the trees and up the fence and eventually came to the top.  Spirits lifted by loud WESTIES cheers from Dave, Muffy, Isobel and Big Al, the last downhill was fun, bounding (ish) down the trod and then the grassy drop to Broughton, with sporadic foot cramp adding an exciting edge!  Tarmac for the last few 100m but by then the end was in sight and it was lovely to cross the finish and stop running. 

A great day out topped by Westies Ladies winning first ladies team prize and going home with Elsie’s trophy – she was a lovely lady, a star indeed.  Thanks Pete for a great race – maybe next year you can run it J.

Results are on SHR website.