Well it's fixed for Friday 11pm start - for better or for worse - Thursday may have been a better day - looks a little windy on Sat - but fingers crossed for a clear morning so the moonlight will illuminate some of this stuff (that I haven't seen yet !!!)
Successful (I hope) report soon....
Thursday, 7 September 2006
Wednesday, 6 September 2006
BGR update
So the British weather carries on true to form... Saturday and Sunday look like they've moved to Thursday and Friday.
We will head down to the Lakes tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon as soon as possible after work. 6 hour drive down there from Inverness.
I'm hoping the area of high pressure pushing into the UK will stay there through Saturday and give us some good weather. Most important is a clear night, so the moonlight can show us where we are going. If necessary (pending bad wetaher on Sat) , I could start on Thursday evening, although this wouldn't be great
Will know more once Geoff Monk posts his mountain weather forecast for Thur, Fri and Sat at 5pm tonight: http://www.mwis.org.uk/forecast.php?area=6
Fingers crossed.
We will head down to the Lakes tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon as soon as possible after work. 6 hour drive down there from Inverness.
I'm hoping the area of high pressure pushing into the UK will stay there through Saturday and give us some good weather. Most important is a clear night, so the moonlight can show us where we are going. If necessary (pending bad wetaher on Sat) , I could start on Thursday evening, although this wouldn't be great
Will know more once Geoff Monk posts his mountain weather forecast for Thur, Fri and Sat at 5pm tonight: http://www.mwis.org.uk/forecast.php?area=6
Fingers crossed.
Tuesday, 5 September 2006
Bob Graham Round
So BGR day approaches... Looking at an attempt this weekend (9/10 Sept), weather permitting. Currently both Saturday and Sunday are looking good, but every day sees a different forecast...
Jenny is getting more nervous about finding the road crossing points than I am about running it... which is probably a good sign !
Legs a bit stiff after Braemar highland games race - one I'd care to forget..
If you haven't already sponsored me, go and have a look at: www.justgiving.com/swaz
Current weather conditions available here: http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/7days.asp
Monday, 4 September 2006
Lomonds of Fife 06
The new course, making the race feel more 'Long' than 'Medium' saw 10 Westies take to the Lomonds of Fife on Sunday 20th August.Don Naylor showed the field a clean pair of heels to win comfortably in 1.36.09. However the field got it's own back, showing everybody's butt a slope full of thistles on the final unique descent. Consequences of this (and new reccommended antidote) soon to be available in photo form, once Manny downloads his camera.
The "Highland Westies" staged a southern raid on the summer league points up for grabs, with Manny finishing 5th, suffering from injury (what do you mean as usual ?) and Swaz 15th. Jane Robertson finished 2nd Lady overall (and 2nd Lady vet). An off-form Cat Miller still managed 4th (2nd lady senior). Most enjoyed the new route, although the contouring off W
est Lomond and the long plod along vehicular roads through the forest were a little wearing... the single track and historic buildings adding another dimension to a fun race.Well done all - results on the shr site - please pass the Sudocrem.
written by Sore-Ar$e-Swaz on 21/8/2006
Strathpeffer HR 06
Strathpeffer Games must be one of the few events on the calendar where you get to tie your number (on stiff card) on with a lovely piece of blue ribbon instead of safety pins… It must also have one of the steepest climbs on the circuit – rivalling that loopy descent off West Lomond in Fife for gradient. The technique seems to be to grab as much wet bracken / grass as you can and chuck it over your shoulders into the face of the poor sod at your heels. If you are a bit of a mid-pack perambulator like me then there isn’t much left to hold onto towards the summit of Knockfarrel.
A fun descent through the nettley bracken tunnels, slippery wooden styles and cow-pat strewn fields follows before the lap round the games field to the usual rapturous Highland applause for every last runner.
The Tartan Terrors were out in force but Cambuslang’s Andrew Wright put in a record breaking performance to push their Graeme Campbell and Henry Blake onto the other podium spots. I finished 9th with 36m40 for the 4.2 miles / 900 feet about 4 minutes adrift. Sharon, Andrew’s significant other was first lady.
I also took part in the handicap 220yard race (a Westies first?), although the kilted starter put me on the scratch line at the back to my significant chagrin. This proved to be some of the best games entertainment as myself and Phil, the other hill runner who decided to have a go were left a significant distance behind, surprised by the speed of the marks-set-“bang”. The laughter seemed to get louder in direct proportion to the size of said significant distance all the way around the grass track.
The final affront was some bureaucratic kill-joy shoving a Scottish Games Association day membership form under our noses. Having grudgingly paid him £3 for a day licence, I pointed out the difference in attendance between the Hill race – almost 40 people from ages 15 through 60odd (no licence reqd) and the track events – less than 10 twentysomething ringers. Perhaps they could learn something there?
written by Scratch-line-Swaz on 14/8/2006
A fun descent through the nettley bracken tunnels, slippery wooden styles and cow-pat strewn fields follows before the lap round the games field to the usual rapturous Highland applause for every last runner.
The Tartan Terrors were out in force but Cambuslang’s Andrew Wright put in a record breaking performance to push their Graeme Campbell and Henry Blake onto the other podium spots. I finished 9th with 36m40 for the 4.2 miles / 900 feet about 4 minutes adrift. Sharon, Andrew’s significant other was first lady.
I also took part in the handicap 220yard race (a Westies first?), although the kilted starter put me on the scratch line at the back to my significant chagrin. This proved to be some of the best games entertainment as myself and Phil, the other hill runner who decided to have a go were left a significant distance behind, surprised by the speed of the marks-set-“bang”. The laughter seemed to get louder in direct proportion to the size of said significant distance all the way around the grass track.
The final affront was some bureaucratic kill-joy shoving a Scottish Games Association day membership form under our noses. Having grudgingly paid him £3 for a day licence, I pointed out the difference in attendance between the Hill race – almost 40 people from ages 15 through 60odd (no licence reqd) and the track events – less than 10 twentysomething ringers. Perhaps they could learn something there?
written by Scratch-line-Swaz on 14/8/2006
Fatboy Slim at Fyrish 06
Although the Rock Ness extravaganza obviously lured some of the entries away, Westies staged their own Fatboy Slim show at Fyrish on a mild and ever so slightly drizzly Saturday afternoon.
David SLIM Riach staged a surprise highland raid (en route to his Dad’s birthday celebrations in Thurso) and was rewarded with second place and 1st Vet (although he had to argue that one from the less than thorough organisers – funny, I can’t think of him as that age, either…). David covered the 7.9 miles of rocky forest track, firebreak and footpaths, in about 54 minutes Top honours went to defending champion Manuel BOY-wonder Gorman, who was first up the 1200 foot ascent to the monument on Cnoc Fyrish, leading David by about 15 seconds at the top. Manny stretched this lead to about 45 seconds by the finish line on the games field at Evanton.
Swaz FAT Fraser didn’t quite manage to catch fastest lady, Jill Irvine, but laboured in about 12 minutes down on David to finish 11th and snag the “virtual team prize” for Westies. Oh…. and Duncan (the real BOY) Gorman, finished a very credible 11th in the fun run.
Manny’s got some pix I’m sure he’ll download when he get’s a chance…
written by Fatboy Swaz on 26/6/2006
Tain Morangie Gathering
More trail race than hill race, my return to running further than the jog to the gym for more rehab provided encouraging results in the form of a fifth place on Wednesday evening.
Steve Worsley of Inverness Harriers claimed top spot, from Ross Bannerman (HHR) and an off form Franny Williams (HHR) in third.An encouraging field of thirty odd showed up despite the biting north wind and drizzle in the air to take on the 5.7 mile race up approximately 900 feet in the Mornagie Forest.
No pipe band or tug of war teams to dodge on the finishing straight - the games proper is held on the Thursday - a ruse I'm sure was developed by the Tartan Terrors to avoid other people showing up and winning !! A final crossing of the A9 adds a little spice in the last 500m of what is otherwise a bit of a tempo charge along fast forest trails.
First lady was some un-named youngster who looked like she was out for a stroll....she still finished in front of me, though...impertinent young pup...
written by Sliding-back-to-form-Swaz on 11/8/2006
Steve Worsley of Inverness Harriers claimed top spot, from Ross Bannerman (HHR) and an off form Franny Williams (HHR) in third.An encouraging field of thirty odd showed up despite the biting north wind and drizzle in the air to take on the 5.7 mile race up approximately 900 feet in the Mornagie Forest.
No pipe band or tug of war teams to dodge on the finishing straight - the games proper is held on the Thursday - a ruse I'm sure was developed by the Tartan Terrors to avoid other people showing up and winning !! A final crossing of the A9 adds a little spice in the last 500m of what is otherwise a bit of a tempo charge along fast forest trails.
First lady was some un-named youngster who looked like she was out for a stroll....she still finished in front of me, though...impertinent young pup...
written by Sliding-back-to-form-Swaz on 11/8/2006
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