Glenshee 9* (*well, 1 really) hill race
I was *super* nervous of this race. Spent the whole day before feeling sick and didn't sleep overly well and really struggled to get excited on the drive over. Been struggling with food the last couple of days, not sure why really.
Initially, the start climb on the track felt horrid, and then the tussocky ground saw me hit the deck a few times - found this terrain really challenging and spent a lot of time on the outside of my left ankle and now the muscles up the side of my shin are very sore. Seriously considered chucking it when a guy who id been chatting to and another lady came hurtling past me at a rate of knots...so depressing!
I guess due to lack of experience so far, I fell over a lot when I would put my foot on something that turned out to be wetter/deeper than I thought, or falling off of thin cambered track...but, having said that the trail was awesome in the end.
I struggled on the downhills, constantly braking and losing my feet in wetter parts and on grassy slopes downhill! The best bit here was that those guys that had hurtled past me, were now in my sights and on the climbs, I caught up with them and passed them which was great for me.
There was a lot of landrover track which I was grateful for, the wind didnt pick up until the loch on the far side really and you were fooled into thinking why the organisers had short-coursed it.
On the first mega steep climb, I came across these guys one of which who was sat on the only rock joking about saying ''Im not having any fun any more!!'' - so funny, so when I passed him I shouted back, "Im having zero of that right now too, this is definitely type II fun!!''
But it turned out that the mega steep climbs were a really strong point for me, all I was doing was walking as fast as I could sustain, and was passing people left right and centre, only for them to take me again on the downhills but I was definitely gaining ground as opposed to losing it.
At the top of the ridge i dont think my ponytail touched my shoulders the whole time it was that windy
Managed another mid-pack finish, got 40th position out of 66 overall, 6th out of all 14 female entries in all categories and 5th out of 10 in the ladies in my category - the lady in 4th beat me by 2 seconds... 2 SECONDS! We had a bit of a hilarious sprint finish!
Nice race report here from Westerlands CCC
Facebook Album by Debi Ives here...
Overall it was a great day actually, it got very wet and cold about 15 mins after I finished with some others and then it started to chuck it down, sideways in sheets, so I felt very sorry for those still running.....good on them! A complete headcount and everyone back safe though so its all good.
Thanks to the guys for organising, and thank you to my friends Adam and Shep for lending me a pack for the race - without that I would have been stuck!
Disasters of the day were.....tussocky ground, i well hurt my legs and was soooo slow!! Strava FAILED to record ANYTHING....! Rage!!
Wins of the day ... the race was great, i met some awesome folks, had an epic free meal at the end, and got out even thought the weather was awful! :D :D :D
Heres to the next one...
Initially, the start climb on the track felt horrid, and then the tussocky ground saw me hit the deck a few times - found this terrain really challenging and spent a lot of time on the outside of my left ankle and now the muscles up the side of my shin are very sore. Seriously considered chucking it when a guy who id been chatting to and another lady came hurtling past me at a rate of knots...so depressing!
I guess due to lack of experience so far, I fell over a lot when I would put my foot on something that turned out to be wetter/deeper than I thought, or falling off of thin cambered track...but, having said that the trail was awesome in the end.
I struggled on the downhills, constantly braking and losing my feet in wetter parts and on grassy slopes downhill! The best bit here was that those guys that had hurtled past me, were now in my sights and on the climbs, I caught up with them and passed them which was great for me.
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| The initial trudge! Photo:Debi Ives |
On the first mega steep climb, I came across these guys one of which who was sat on the only rock joking about saying ''Im not having any fun any more!!'' - so funny, so when I passed him I shouted back, "Im having zero of that right now too, this is definitely type II fun!!''
 |
| Down to the corrie Photo:Debi Ives |
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| Route map |
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| Summit Video...I should not be here! |
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| Uber tan lines....mostly mud but they are real! |
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| Carn Aosda Summit |
But it turned out that the mega steep climbs were a really strong point for me, all I was doing was walking as fast as I could sustain, and was passing people left right and centre, only for them to take me again on the downhills but I was definitely gaining ground as opposed to losing it.
 |
| At last road crossing Photo:Debi Ives |
Managed another mid-pack finish, got 40th position out of 66 overall, 6th out of all 14 female entries in all categories and 5th out of 10 in the ladies in my category - the lady in 4th beat me by 2 seconds... 2 SECONDS! We had a bit of a hilarious sprint finish!
Nice race report here from Westerlands CCC
Facebook Album by Debi Ives here...
Overall it was a great day actually, it got very wet and cold about 15 mins after I finished with some others and then it started to chuck it down, sideways in sheets, so I felt very sorry for those still running.....good on them! A complete headcount and everyone back safe though so its all good.
Thanks to the guys for organising, and thank you to my friends Adam and Shep for lending me a pack for the race - without that I would have been stuck!
Disasters of the day were.....tussocky ground, i well hurt my legs and was soooo slow!! Strava FAILED to record ANYTHING....! Rage!!
Wins of the day ... the race was great, i met some awesome folks, had an epic free meal at the end, and got out even thought the weather was awful! :D :D :D
Heres to the next one...
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