Glentress 10k and 1/2 Marahon
A few weeks ago, I signed up for my fist multi day run: a combination 10k night run and 1/2 marathon the next morning. The run was in Glentress Forest, which is near Peebles, in the Scottish Borders. My friend, who came to cheer me on, and I took a bus to and from Glentress from Peebles, where we stayed Saturday night.
pre 10k
The 10k started just past Glentress Peel Cafe, where everyone had huddled inside to keep warm and listen to the pre race talk. The race organisers counted all of us as we filed out of the cafe and into the cold starting area, then gave a countdown and we were off. I started out at the mid to front of the pack, and kept a fairly steady pace throughout, although I slowed down a bit partway through so I'd still have some gas in the tank for the next morning's half marathon. I didn't want to blow my first multi day.
We started off with a bit of uphill, then it leveled off to a flat stretch, then up, then a short down, then flat, a little more uphill...and so on. Total elevation was about 1,200 feet, according to my watch. The course continued in that vein for the first 4.5 or so miles and then we hit a steep downhill. This part was awesome. I ran down pretty quickly, with only my headlight glow to guide me, leaping over rocks and roots and swinging my arms like crazy for balance. It was a lot of fun. The path led into the forest, and the dense trees made it hard to see the runners in front of me - I could only see a dim red light: the back of a headlamp. Whoever was behind me was pretty far back, and the path was winding through the trees. I got a little concerned (read: scared) that I would lose the person in front if me - an irrational fear since the path was well marked with reflective signs and glow sticks - but a fear nonetheless, and it propelled me forward in a renewed effort to catch him. I did, right in time for another huge downhill. Again, such a fun downhill! I took a moment to look up at the stars as I was sprinting downhill (mistake - I nearly decked it) and then, very quickly, was back at the Peel Cafe and the race was over. Mae was there cheering at the end, as were some other people I met during the run, which was great (the running communities both here in Scotland and in California are so receptive and encouraging, its amazing). I normally don't have a cheer squad at my runs. Another woman thanked me for being such a good downhill lead, which was really nice too. I got a snack, picked up my medal and then we headed back to the bus stop. My total time was 56:54, for a placing of 59/284.
That was one cold bus stop.
Glentress on Sunday morning.
Sunday morning pre-race
The next morning, we headed out to the bus stop again ready to head to Glentress, but the bus had other plans: because the buses run less frequently on Sundays, it was over an hour until the next one. We ended up getting a taxi. We got to the Peel Cafe in good time, and once again listened to the pre-race talk before heading out onto the trail. The first three miles were really difficult for me: it was freezing (about 29F or -1C) and, probably due to a combination of the cold and slightly sore muscles from the night before, I was very stiff and my legs were cramping. The first 5 or 6 miles were mostly uphill (total elevation gain for this 1/2 marathon was about 2,800 - the most I've ever climbed in a 1/2!), and for some reason those first three uphill miles really took a toll. But, once I got to mile 3.5, things got much better. We were all climbing up a steep hill, most of us walking by that point because the ground was steep, frozen and slippery, and as I hiked I looked around and saw that we were in a truly stunning place. A few runners stopped to take pictures, and I decided I would too.
The view at mile 4
And from the other direction.
After climbing and climbing and climbing, we reached the top, and then it was mostly downhill for the second half of the run. This part was great, with lots of single track through the forest. The forest paths were very dark, the trees growing thick and dense, and the snow on the ground made it seem incredibly bright whenever we emerged from the tree cover.
Between the ups and the downs was a long flat stretch on a rocky road studded with frozen puddles. We had to step through the freezing water, soaking our shoes, to get past. This was my least favorite part of the run. The terrain was rocky but not technical, so it wasn't that fun to run for me (my preference is for technical hills, especially downhills, and singletrack), and it was around miles 8/9, so I was a little tired, getting a bit cold, and overall lacking in motivation. The run was taking longer than I expected because the ice made it very slippery, and I was having to walk some parts and run more slowly than I usually would. I was in this slightly disheveled mental state when a fellow runner came up behind me and said she had been pacing herself off of my pace, the run some walk some strategy, and that it was a pretty good strategy. We started talking, and ended up running most of the rest of the run together. That companionship really boosted my mood, and came at just the right moment. So thanks to that runner! She ended up giving Mae and me a ride back to Edinburgh, which was very kind, after the run. Once we had finished the race (ending on the same exhilarating downhill as the 10k had finished with the night before) we took a hot shower. There are showers at Glentress, and a hot shower has never felt better. While I was showering, Mae bought me a latte at the Peel Cafe (best supporter ever!) and we ate some snacks and watched the awards presentation before heading back home. My time was 2 hours 24 minutes, for a finishing place of 161/259.
climbing, climbing climbing.
The tree branches white with snow.
The race organization, marking, and aid was excellent, and I would strongly recommend running races put on by High Terrain Events!
