As I approached Melrose from the south the sky was a ragged mess with low grey cloud set in a petrol blue backdrop. I arrived at the Rugby Club HQ and signed on upstairs (for a change).
As with any short race that’s made up of a steep climb (450m) followed by a steep descent, the Eildon Hill race is a tough way to spend half an hour. The other 81 competitors probably shared that view.
Reading my own blog entries I seem to spend more than a
little time in my head and today I tried not to internalise the anticipation. We gathered for the
Gala Harriers affair on St Dunstan’s Green where the kids were having their
sack races and sprints. At around 3pm
when the race was due to start, a small troop of girls danced a maypole and
then something else to the accompaniment of an accordion, so it was possibly 15
minutes later that we eventually got off the line. As with any short race that’s made up of a steep climb (450m) followed by a steep descent, the Eildon Hill race is a tough way to spend half an hour. The other 81 competitors probably shared that view.
Once round the green then up the high street to encouragement from the locals and tourists. From there, it’s a straight climb to the first hill where I was told I was 15th having been just passed by a Shettleston lad. I caught him on the dip before the second hill and was then caught, in turn, by Charlotte Morgan and another. They seemed to be having a bit of a chat which was a bit of a liberty (in my book), considering I was having problems breathing, never mind forming words. There was then a split as we climbed the second short, blaeberry and heather clad hill with some opting for the track and some for the A1 direct route. I went for the latter, then, halfway up, saw from those coming up the track that the track route was marginally quicker (or was it just me going marginally slower). A further 4 got past me on the second climb near the top where I checked my watch and thought Kenny Stuart would have been finished by now!
Carnethy’s Paul Faulkner won in 31.09 from Brian Marshall (HELP
32:51) and former winners Damon Rodwell 3rd and Moorfoots Mike McGovern 4th.
Charlotte finished 14th and 1st
lady (35:38) from 2nd place Fiona Dalgleish of Gala 38:56.
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