Ochil 2000's - Saturday 27th August 2016

So I headed up to Stirling last night, a great caravan site just outside the town, in a walled garden !

It's only a short drive to the Uni, where race registration is; very civilised, it's at the sports centre with excellent changing facilities and a cafe. As always I'm early, so take advantage of the cafe. Then it's the bus to the start at Glensherup. 

The race was due to be 18 miles and 1,500m of climb but due to forestry work the race will be a bit longer and 200m more climb ! It's a hot day and very clear, that's a good start. 

So at 12pm we are off, about 70 runners head up into the forest on a good track before breaking out onto a the open fells. The race visits all of the Ochil 2000' summits, plus an extra wee bump at the end.....not that it felt very wee !!

I run well, a good steady pace and climb strong. Far too many summits and checkpoints to name but after Ben Ever the race changes; up to that point it was on good grassy paths but now there's a large tussocky and boggy section to cross; I actually get a good line through here, picking up two places and then climb to Blairdenin Hill. 

From here is where the route changes, two extra checkpoints, first Colsnaur Hill and then a deer fence crossing. It's great downhill running through these two checkpoints but now down at sea level on the road the last wee bump is a struggle. I feel a bit sick, too hot and dehydrated but I dig in and chat to a Carnethy lass, that helps and we keep each other going to the summit of Dumyat. 

The finish is in sight, the Uni about 2k away. It's more good downhill running to the forest and then an intricate, and fortunately flagged, route through the forest to the road. The Carnethy lass pulls away, my legs have given up by now. And after some confusing roads through the Uni I am very pleased to see the finish. 

It's a great race, a bit tougher than expected, but that's no bad thing. 

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