Devils Burdens Relay - Lost in the Mists of Time

Chas sets off into the murk on leg 3

David Herbertson lines up for the start

The forecast for the east coast was for fair weather and sunny spells in comparison to a driech West of Scotland. So it was with some disappointment that the weather and visibility got worse and worse the closer we got to Falkland for the start of the Devils Burdens' Hill Relay. Although this was Calderglen's first attempt at this event, we had prepared well with several recce trips in the preceding weeks and were fully equipped with maps, compasses and all the compulsory safety gear. Furthermore, as Kenny Leinster had competed in the event 4 times previously and was a member of the local club (Lomond Hill Runners), the organisation of our teams was in safe hands and we even considered that we might stand a chance in the veteran competition.

The start went off in two waves one hour apart with the faster teams going off in the later start. The team that I shall retrospectively call our "A" team were off in the first wave with David Herbertson on leg 1 from Falkland to Strathmiglo, Frances Maxwell and Andy Henderson (this leg had to be in pairs for safety) on the toughest leg 2 from Strathmiglo to Kinnesswood, Chas Steven on the extreme climb out of Kinnesswood and down to Holl Reservoir on Leg 3 and George Stewart left under the supervision of Joanne McEvoy on the final, paired leg back to the finish in Falkland. I'm not sure what David Herbertson was on (maybe that is not the start line in the picture) but he flew through the first leg in around 32 minutes (31:47 officially) and 5th position in the first wave. Frances and Andy then set off on the tortuous second leg, climbing into the mist. Despite the poor visibility, Andy and Frances' navigation was spot on and they both emerged 1:45:54 later at the bottom of the very steep descent off White Craigs to hand over to Chas. Frances looked as though she could have run for miles more but Andy admitted to being "beaten up" (by the course, not Frances I think). The support car only just managed to get George & Joanne round to the start of leg 4 before Chas came flying down the road (45:07) and then it was off onto the muddiest section of them all where George apparently struggled to "get a grip". Nothing new there.  However, Joanne pulled George around to a very comfortable finish for the "A" team, finishing the final leg in 52:00. The team finished 63rd overall in 3:54:50. Very well done.

Davy Watt with a bag of bricks to slow him down

On paper the "B" team were going to be the faster Calderglen outfit. But, as it turns out, not if the paper had a map printed on it. With the fastest runners in our team deployed on the "solo" legs 1 and 3, it was up to Davy Watt to apply the pressure on leg 1 and this he did admirably with a top dozen finish in around 28 and half minutes we think (28:34 official time). Meanwhile a local runner had jokingly warned us of the "Beast of Balgedy" one of the many big cats or panthers regularly reported to roam the hills of Fife but as none of our team were worth eating, we felt safe enough!

Kenny and Billy were a particularly safe bet on leg 2 with plenty of experience of the event but were indeed put under pressure by being handed a more or less top dozen place out of around 60 teams in the second wave. As they set off through the muddy field start, we headed off in the car to the leg 3 changeover in relaxed mood. It was a steep, slippy climb up to the changeover point at leg 3 and a very cold place to stand but the atmosphere was fantastic as the first and second waves were arriving here at about the same time meaning that around 120 teams would come through this point with all their support teams gathered there too. Little did we know that we would personally see all 120 teams come through this changeover though!

Last confirmed siting of Kenny and Billy at the start of leg 2

Kenny had estimated they would complete the leg in around 1:20 so I got ready for leg 3 about 10 minutes before this and joined the masses gazing up the mountain for a glimpse of our incoming team. The target time came and went and after several false alarms it dawned on us that something was wrong. Several experienced teams were reporting that people were going way off course everywhere in the mist up top and indeed this was confirmed several minutes later when the police appeared saying that someone had dialled 999 to say they were lost (rather than ringing the event organiser as they should have). Two teams had reported themselves lost in this way but not our team. We gave their mobiles a call only to discover that they were both ringing in the car. After several hours had passed we knew they were definitely lost and by this time only a handful of teams had to come in and be accounted for.

Jim & Eddie at the final summit. They know where they are going!

Gradually all the teams were accounted for except our team. After some discussion with the event organisers, police and a bizarre telephone conversation with a police operator trying to spell out the name "Billy" to them (apparently this is an unusual name in Fife) we agreed to leave Davy with the car at the leg 3 changeover in case they turned up and to liaise with the police whilst Eddie Reid, Jim Holmes and I ran legs 3 and 4 to the finish, keeping an eye out for them on the way and advising any marshalls on the course that we were the last ones and to leave their stations.

Half way through the run we got a call from Davy to say that the police had called out the mountain rescue (2 teams apparently) and shortly afterwards we heard the helicopter. We agreed that this at least lifted some pressure off of Eddie who could see his West Highland Way episode being relegated to the history books. We were reasonably confident that given their outdoor experience, Billy and Kenny were just lost and would make sensible decisions to get back down to safety but it was still worrying not to hear any news of them, particularly as the visibility was poor, it would be dark in a few hours and there were some very slippery, snow covered sections and steep slopes. We carried on to the final summit and as the cairn came into view, we received a text message to say that they had been found safe and well and were not providing an afternoon snack for the Beast of Balgedy. What a relief. The last mile and a half was a happier run and it became clear that another chapter in the Calderglen book of navigation had been written. We had run the last two legs strongly but were still pretty fresh when we crossed the line where the organisers were kind enough to record a time for us (even though we had not taken over from our leg 2 runners). Billy & Kenny had beaten us to the finish and were helping the police with their inquiries whilst we tucked into the wonderful soup, teas and coffees in the village hall and rehearsed the banter to which Kenny & Billy will have to become accustomed for years to come. It transpires that they descended from the summit of West Lomond too far to the East and missed the track across the glen to the next summit, ending up on a golf course somewhere (I don't think it was the Old Course at St Andrews but the legend may record that it was in the same way that Eddie never quite made it to Oban on his WHW excursion but we say that he did).

We can laugh now but this just shows how easily things can go wrong in the Scottish hills in Winter, even when it is two experienced outdoors types with all the gear. A huge thanks to the race organisers (Fife AC) for remaining focused on trying to keep track of everyone in difficult conditions, to the police and other rescue services involved, to the Harriers teams for remaining positive and for fantastic efforts all round (Billy and Kenny were running for well over 3 hours for example) and to Kenny for introducing us to this great event.  We set a number of records too; first time the "fast" team has been comprehensively cuffed by the not as fast team, first DNF for Jim Holmes, most external assistance required to find two harriers, etc.   Don't worry, we will not be venturing very far from the club on Monday until we all get our sense of direction back.

Taxi for Leinster and Buchanan

More photos from Joanne and myself in this album. Eddies photos to be added soon.
Alan

Devils Burdens Arrangements

These are the details we discussed tonight at the final meeting for the Devils Burdens.

The registration time is from 8.30 and the start times are 9.30 for Team A and 10.30 for Team B. Therefore Team A are leaving from Calderglen at 7.15 am. with 2 cars. Team B are leaving from Calderglen at 8.15. and only need 1 car as Alan is going direct.

Each team will deal with their own registration.

Given that the race is a relay there will be the need for dropping runners off and picking runners up at each crossover point. Each team will arrange this.

Each runner needs to carry some minimum gear. This includes:

Hat,

Gloves

Windproof jacket

Running tights or leggings

Map, a print from the website is OK

Compass (can be shared with team mate) DONT BUY ONE

If you have a bumbag it is easier to carry and lighter otherwise a small rucsac is fine.

If it is cold it would be a good idea to wear a long sleeved top with your Calderglen vest on top with your jacket in the bum bag or worn.

The race will involve much hanging around regardless of what leg you are in so it would be a good idea to have plenty of spare warm  gear to change into at the end of the race.

There will be soup and rolls at the end of the race in the village hall at Falkland but you may wish to have something to eat and drink while waiting on other runners to finish.

It should be a good day with  good weather hopefully  and some fun in between the hard work.

Kenny

2013 MEMBERSHIP FEES

Membership fees are due from 1st January.
This years fees are Ordinary £70, Family £114. These fees are inclusive of Harriers and Sports Club fees
Please arrange renewals in January after which if ive not heard from you I will be asking you directly.
Again we do understand this can be a difficult time of year financially so if anyone is not able to make payment in January then speak to me directly so we can work out an alternate payment time.
I have no desire to be chasing members for fees for the next four months so please speak to me I wont bite. If anyone is not going to renew then can you please advise us in writing.
If fees are not paid by January 31st then you will no longer be able to compete as a member of Calderglen Harriers until fees are paid unless an alternate payment time has been agreed.

Russell

FEES ARE NOW OVERDUE

HARRIERS MEETING 14th FEB

Your committee have called for a meeting to take place on Thursday 14th Feb after training (approx. 9pm). This meeting is to pass on some important information regarding our finances which would not be appropriate to write on this Blog or pass verbally to individuals or small groups. Please try to attend.

John McBride hits 50

You are all probably thinking, I thought John already was 50 and you would be correct. But now John has joined Russell in the 50 parkrun club. Well done to John, the vast majority of his 50 have been at the not so easy Pollok Park parkrun. Well done John.
Alan

Masters XC - Forres

Photo courtesy of Danielle Glendinning on Facebook

For once a "clean" cross country! Three Harriers made the long journey north for the Scottish Athletics Masters Cross Country Championships in Forres on Saturday. Russell Couper and Stuart & Maud Waugh made their way up on Friday and stayed locally overnight. I was delayed in Sweden with work and didn't get home until 10:15 on Friday night and so my options were reduced to a leisurely drive up on race day. The scenery was at its winter best on the way up the A9 with the snow-capped Cairngorm mountains particularly spectacular. A snow covered B road over the moors provided my final challenge before dropping down into a beautiful, sunny day in a snowless Forres.

Russell had already picked up the numbers and with a few hours until the race there was plenty time to run a complete lap of the course to try to get the legs and lungs working. To my surprise, the first 1.5 km on grass was firm under foot and completely mud free before climbing onto a network of woodland trails very much like Chatelherault. I even managed to keep my road shoes completely clean during the warm-up, the course was that good. So no excuses there!

The ladies and M65 plus race was off first over a distance of 6km (a partial lap within the park and then the full, woodland lap). A very competitive race ensued, eventually won by Edel Mooney of Lothian, winner of our trail race last year. Then it was time for our race, two full laps totaling 8km. The flat grassy start promised a crazy initial pace. However, when the start gun went, I couldn't go with it anyway, crazy or not, there being no power or spring in the legs and I was going backwards. Last week I had plenty of power in the legs but just lacked fitness; this week I lacked everything! However, it was one year ago at this event that I allegedly suffered a defeat at the hands of Russell on account of a technicality so I had to keep going to the finish this year. It wasn't until the final quarter of the race that I was able to pick up some pace and pass some people, managing to open up gaps on those who had been around me throughout, even managing a sort of sprint finish to make up a further place on the line. I finished in 32:19 in 49th position (12th M45), somewhat disappointing given my overall top ten finish 2 years ago. Stuart ran well and could have been even better had he gone for trail shoes rather than fell shoes; the course really was firm.  In a very competitive M60 field, Stuart was 6th in a time of 37:14. Russell would have preferred mud but even so was comfortably ahead of the Hunters Bog Trotters duo in 46:14, who then proceeded to congratulate him on running well for a 55 year old! You never know if Robin Thomas is serious or not.

There were plenty of supporters around the course which was so professionally set out and marshalled by Forres Harriers. We were also pleasantly surprised and delighted to hear the very vocal support of former Harrier Neil Green who moved up to Inverness about a year ago. Neil passes on his regards to all the Harriers and it is great to know that he keeps an eye on our activities via the blog. A big thanks to Maud and Neil for their support on a cold day. The event will be back here in a few years and I would thoroughly recommend this as a potential Harriers weekend away. If you need further tempting, check out the local catering facilities!

Alan

John Walker - The 3.49.4 Man

Hi guys,
One of my Saturday morning cycling group was relating the tale of the $2 relay race fee. He was the team captain for his local running club when the great NZ John Walker was a member. On a local relay race he was in charge of collecting the race fees. Mr Walker was not forth comming with his $2 and my friend is still looking for the said Mr Walker. Note to Russell, always remember to get the race fees before they become famous!