One of the many things I love about running is that it can
take you to places you might not otherwise visit and creates an opportunity to
meet folks who despite coming from many different backgrounds share the same
passion. I’ve been privileged to have put in trail time around the England,
Wales, various countries in Europe, Mexico, Australia, Mexico and the USA.
Every place has its own character but the more I have travelled the more I
appreciate the diversity and beauty of this wee bit hill and glen I call home
here in Scotland.
With my history being on the higher summits of Scotland, the
majority of time I went north of Glasgow but hill racing has taken me to
Dumfries and Galloway as well as the hills around Peebles. The Karrimor
International Mountain Marathon (now the Original Mountain Marathon) took me as
far south as Langholm back in 2003. Keen to get a Scottish Ultra in the legs
before the end of the year, I threw my hat into the ring for the Jedburgh 38
miler.
Nice touch to this event was it falling on the six month
anniversary of The Fling race where on Conic Hill, Katie and me first met ~ we
decided running Jedburgh to be a fitting way of marking that. From memory,
we’ve really only had one traditional “date night” but loads of amazing times
together ! We were to be joined by the full Team Hall with Jonny running and
Holly / Momma Crew on cheerleading duty.
The Two Breweries and the Pentlands Skyline were chosen as
training races and it was hoped that the extra ascent would translate into
extra flat miles but I was still very nervous as Jedburgh race day approached.
We settled into a little bit of luxury in the cabin which
included a hot tub (highly recommended as post race recovery), grabbed some
food a beer or two and sorted race kit. Maybe a throwback from the largely self-sufficient
nature of mountaineering and hill running but I’ve never really gotten on with
drop bags. For me, they only add complication and my preference is to carry
whatever I reckon I’ll need and supplement that with whatever the race
organisers provide at controls (although a few of Katie’s crisps and a wee Mars
bar thing were enjoyed just before the climb onto the Eildons).
Anyways …
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| Race registration |
Registration done and a quick YMCA styled warm up and we
were off. Firstly starting out of town but soon onto trails, over the shoogly
bridge and out towards the first checkpoint at Maxton.
Pacing was “social” and
I simply enjoyed running with Katie. We had been lucky with a dry start but the
dark black clouds indicated it wasn’t to last and when the rain arrived it did
so in style. Waterproof jacket on and into the mudfest ! Approaching Maxton was
good since it marked a chunk of achievement and smiles all round seeing Momma
Crew and Holly. They confirmed Jonny was running well and we headed off with minimal
fuss.
The next section had us along possibly one of the prettiest
trails I’ve been on – along side the River Tweed with natural woodland above
and around us. Couldn’t help but wonder what those trees had seen in their
time. Another checkpoint and a few hugs later we were starting up the first of
the Eildons where we met fellow Westerlands Runner Damon who along with the
Mountain Rescue Team were providing safety cover. The hills were steep but
short and I nipped ahead to get a wee action shot of Blondie descending on the
GoPro – a short domestic followed which I won’t bore the reader with …suffice
to say I was deemed to be in the wrong.
Coming off the last Eildon, it felt like we only had the run
back to the start left. Technically correct but that was still hours away.
Another checkpoint done and we maintained a reasonable pace back towards Maxton
but could see our initial target time slipping into the distance. The rain was
off, sun out so time really didn’t matter …life was good ! Back along the Tweed
and towards Maxton gave the opportunity to enjoy the views all over again.
Ten miles …only ten miles to go. Lovely race marshal pointed
up the tarmac hill, we smiled and my legs complained to the point I called “hill”
and a run became a walk …a fast walk but a walk none the less. I felt Katie was
looking stronger and felt a serious pang of guilt for holding her back. Next
few miles saw a shuffle when possible and a good few photograph stops on
anything that resembled a climb. Lovely thing about running through the trees
was that you could never really see that far ahead so morale stayed intact. The
last mile or so cruised by and we even managed to make up a place crossing the
line hand in hand.
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| Blondie, Beardy and Jonny |
The rest of Team Hall were there along with race crew to
congratulate us – that made crossing the line all the more special. The evening
was spent rehydrating, eating, chatting to fellow runners and aye, a wee soak
in the hot tub.
Huge shout out to Noanie, Angela and everyone involved in
delivering the event. This is the very best of ultra running ~ a grassroots but
super professional adventure organised by folks not to make money but born out
of passion to give folks something very special indeed.
In reflection …
I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the six months
since Katie and me met out on Conic. Lots has happened and running Jedburgh together
maybe mirrored much of the time since Katie first tugged ma beard …we work well
together, support each other, share the same sense of adventure, sense of
humour, sense of what’s right and wrong … and have each other’s back …at all
times. Sometimes the very best adventures are the ones closest to home and maybe they actually help define home. Katie put a truly touching a beautiful post on Facebook that actually
brought a wee tear to ma eye …a happy one right enough. I’d like to echo her
pride in that, every day I am proud to call her ma girl and look forward to whatever
is next in our story #brawtimes for reals.
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| #lifeisgood for Akabill |
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