An experiment with gravity ...aka Maddy Moss Hill Race

One of the best mid-week hill races in Scotland is the Maddy Moss Mash. I started doing it just before I joined Westies ...in fact it was at the Moss that I decided to join the club.

Every year I have reckoned to make up for being "nervous" on the descent (for nervous read sh!t scared) that a full on effort for the climb up the Law and Cleuch is required. This time I opted for holding back a bit at the start then wind things up a bit. Chose a position towards the back and really enjoyed the track leading to the wee bridge where the climb begins. Passed fellow Westie JD on the just above the bridge and tried to keep Iona Robertson in sight ...and failed ! Topping out onto the ridge leading to the summit of Ben Cleuch I had a great wee battle up to the cairn. With the legs feeling a bit fresher than usual I felt able to push things a bit on the run down to Andrew Gannel hill ...down the single track confidence was growing but I let a couple of guys who were at my heels run through. Dropping onto the wee technical rocky bit it all went ...well downhill. I reckon I stepped onto a bit of bracken which had nothing but fresh air under it. Managed at least one complete somersault before bouncing a couple of time. Picked myself up a bit winded, disorientated and with a bit of a sore shoulder. Heard a MRT member shout "are ye awright" ...I replied "aye" ...he responded "naw ...not you !". One of the runners who I had let through had come a cropper slightly lower down. I checked to see if he was ok (he was) before continuing towards the finish. Was chuffed to find that despite my wee experiment with gravity I was a bit quicker than last year.

Cheers to Johnston for the lift and banter !