Callander Crags Race 2018

A fine team of Harriers traveled through to Callander today for the annual Crags Race, a low key hill race of 800 foot ascent over a total distance of about 3 miles.

Conditions were cold but as near perfect as they can be at this time of year with only the inevitable ice on some parts of the descent to prompt caution. The Harriers formed about one tenth of the field of 73, a great turn out. Against the background of a snow covered Ben Ledi, race organiser Alastair Johnston set the field off with a shot from his pistol and the usual 75m sprint to the foot of the narrow and steep path began.

The field spreads out away from the start.

Alan McLellan was well to the fore at the start of the climb with Joanne McEvoy and Russell Couper close behind, an order that would not quite be maintained to the finish! Making a more cautious start, junior Harrier Kai Wheeler led a tight pack of Frances and Geo Ferguson, Sandy Hayden and Gordon McInally around the first corner. Meanwhile Marion O'Connor and Mark Wheeler (Hamilton Harriers) had also slipped past.

Most of the Harriers were first timers on this course, except Frances, Geo and Kai who had some idea of how to pace it. By all accounts, places were constantly changing on the very steep climb with Joanne and Geo having a real ding-dong battle. However, always the gentleman, Geo did sacrifice some of his strength to give Joanne a little push up a steep slope that she was slipping down backwards!

Joanne and Russell challenge for the racing line!

A cautious start by most of the Harriers

Allan McLellan is comfortably clear in the final stretch.

By the time the Harriers came back into view inside the final mile the finishing order was already decided. First Harrier and surprising himself at how good he felt, Allan McLellan was looking strong as he powered through the forest trail towards the finish, crossing the line in 32:19 as first M60. By this time Joanne had stretched out a lead over Geo, crossing the line in 33:09 with Geo finishing in 34:34, beating his time from last year by 4 minutes (Geo revealed that he is a stone lighter this year and that certainly makes a huge difference to running performance). Next across the line, Marion O'Connor was pleased with her time (35:16) given that she has had the winter lurgy that has floored many people (including myself) over the Christmas period. Frances was also significantly faster than last year when weather conditions were atrocious, crossing the line in 36:12. Gordon started the New Year well with a time of 38:05 and hopefully he can get back to the form he was in earlier in 2017. Kai was next Harrier home in a time of 39:21, well up in the junior competition. Sandy Hayden started the day with a 2km swim (in EK, not at the race!) and was trying out new trail shoes for the first time in this, her first hill race. Sandy's time was 41:06. Russell Couper had completed the Strathclyde parkrun in the morning and would not have been at his strongest, finishing in 44:16. Earlier on, Mark Wheeler (Kai's dad) had flown past to finish in 30:00.

The event finished off with the traditionally well attended prize giving back in the McLaren Leisure Centre and then, as is also traditional, the Harriers retired to an establishment serving coffee and copious cakes! All in all, a great day in great conditions, all for a couple of quid. More of my photos in this album.
Alan

Snow capped Ben Ledi