Considering I've had the craziest season of long plod races I'm surprised at my recent speed. All I've done this year is long training days in the mountains, AL races or Skyraces.. Either everyone is getting slower or Sonic the coach is managing to squeeze some more effort out of me! ;)
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| Myself and Stuart |
I'd never done Knockfarrel before and since I'd been going well recently with Morven and Meall a Buchaille I thought I'd have one more crack at a shorter race before retiring for the year so off Stuart and I went up to Strathpeffer to check out this short and fast race put on by HHR!
Running slightly late and once we eventually found the shinty club it was quick reg, quick change and warm up run up to the start line!
It was cold with snow on some of the near by tops and we were warned of ice! The sun was out at least.
Stuart and I lined up right at the front in vests brrrr!! Seconds later we were flying a long the first flat trail for a few hundred mtrs until a sharp right onto the first short climb through a part frozen, cow trodden, dubby field. Loved the leap of faith over the burn!
I was probably top 6 or 7 for the first few kms. The 2 guys in front slowly started pulling away but when the first steep climb came onto Knockfarrel I was back right behind them as we all bunched up, pulling up on heather and grass up onto the summit. I knew Stuart was right behind me having pulled away from him on the field.
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| A white capped Ben Wyvis in the background |
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| Stuart only a few seconds behind |
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| Ord and Smiff battling it out! |
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| Javier sweeping |
The steep climb onto Knockfarrel really saps it out of your thighs and once on top trying to accelerate my legs felt like lead!
However I managed to get some power from somewhere and got in front of the next 2 runners sitting around 5th now. There were a couple of lead swaps here and there across and down to the foot of Cnoc Mor. This was a sketchy decent on a steep, wet techy trail and the sun in our eyes! I had no idea where I was putting my feet but kept up with the Moray guy in front eventually getting past him on the last climb.
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| Just before the last decent back down to the field |
Jack Travellyen wasn't far behind and I thought he was closing in until I looked back half way across the bottom field but he was too far back to do anything on the last flat trail back to the finish.
Stuart was just a few seconds behind Jack.
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| Home straight! |
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| Stuart |
I crossed the line in 45:50, 5th overall and 1st V40! Boooom!! Stuart was only seconds behind finishing 7th overall and 3rd V40. Next Deeside in was Smiff having got passed Ord on the steep decent through the trees from Cnoc Mor.
Back at the shinty club for coffee and cake was great and catching up with the usual suspects and folk I'd not seen in a while was good craic including Graham Briffet and hearing his grim tales of the OMM he and Dave Kerr had just competed in coming 2nd overall in their race!
Prize giving was a free pick and I chose the Shiraz out of the chocolate, Rosey and beer. No brainer! ;)
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| The Deeside homeless and some guy having a fit |
Another quality day racing but probably my last race (I know I said that ater MAB) this year. Although the Lochaber winter series was mentioned today.. hahahaha.. Just can't stay away from this racing lark! Which reminds me, off to enter some Sky races! Shazzaaam! :)
*All race photos courtesy of HHR
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