Post race analysis:
I lot of mucking about from watching the start to getting to leg 2 to pass numbers and logicistical problems due to the events popularity hinders you slightly as you prepare to get set to run. Next Year would propbably have to see some sort of Carnethy style bus rotation as there was too many cars in too short a space, I think the event being great it probably has grown out of it’s self as I lot of the tracks are now pathed which takes away the flavour a bit, that being said it was great last year to have ran leg 1 and come in second after the Ochil and this year standing on the start line up with Hill National Champion Jethro Lennox and surrounded by accomplised hill runners!
We got started myself and Andy Symounds up Whitecraigs we could see the Westies in front heading up to the first gate heading to the top of W’Craigs, Andy wanted to take the Sandy Bennett line but then went slightly higher, we were not quite on the optimum line as we had to shift from lateral up and down movements from time to time, we climbed up an opening where a vehicle could have got up but this was a climb of 200 meters which brought you out at the next check point prior to Bishop’s, Andy was running well and I felt I was holding him back, I asked him to go to Bishop’s and I took a short cut towards the next line. By this time I had caught up and was running inbetween the Westies, however I extended my line instead of coming more easterly which left us a closer line point to point up West Lomond but a very much more difficult climb down to the stream then a steeper climb up the West. Nobody was beside us which was probably a good thing for the rest of the clubs, but again Andy showed his true class on the hills gliding away from me, at the half way point I told him to go on and I would follow as best I could, we attacked the West from a SOuth Westerly direction with Andy in the distance I thought I would head instead for the top straight to the well which I did for a minute to think what if there was a marshall asking Andy where is your partner.
I then turned and started to do my spiderman impression up the hill when I was Andy looking back off the summit waving me over, great don’t need to go to the top, was planning not to go to the well and head straight fo the next Checkpoint but decided I was being anti-social enought and headed down after him.
Fife were just in front coming down West Lomond on a better line which I wanted to be on, Andy had driven high which he became out of sight of a while, coming onto the flat I felt my legs a bit better, with Andy heading down to the fence line before the final check point, we reached the stile together with ANdy saying I think it’s better we stick together we me having other ideas and getting Andy to work harder again as I cut the checkpoint for ANdy to clip it which I found 100 meters on him on the track I thought I could get enough away from hime so he could chase and we could make some time, 2 mins and he was flying on my heels, we kept together passing Angela Wallae and Alan Wilson giving us some well needed morale support, but the last 600 meters I was beginning to fade slight with Andy looking stong, I tried to keep with him which I nearly did to pass over to young John HArgreaves who done a sterling job taking two places and bringing the team in 5th with John being 4th fastest on the day!
Posted under Post Race Feedback
This post was written by Tommy on January 29, 2008