November means time for Tinto. This was the second time I have done Tinto and my 3rd hill race. Compared to last year I was so much more prepared going into this years race. Last year I did half of Tinto, then Conic Hill. In the last few months, I have had runs in the Pentlands, 2 x Kilpatrick hills, Cairn Table and Tinto. So I was going in with a lot more confidence than last year and thought that I should be able to break 50 minutes.
I met up 6 other members of my club in Clarkston and we drove down together to Symington. We picked up our numbers and headed for the start. We had plenty of time to kill. So we took a walk up the first mile of the race reaching just before the route goes off a bit steeper up to the right. We also took a look at the fence which is maybe quarter of a mile to half a mile into the race. The fence does have a gate, but with 250 people trying to get through it, the fence becomes the way a lot of people get over the obstacle. We noticed to the left, the fence is pretty high and then to the right you could step over it. So battle plan made was to head right. We jogged back to the start and by the time we got changed and headed back to the start we were ready to go. Gary moved towards the front while the rest of us were right in the middle of the pack. Even though the first mile is gradual ascent, it is so important not to go off too quickly as hills really will take it out of you.
So off we went and I settled into a good pace. My tactic of going to the right and stepping over the fence paid off as I got straight over with no delay. It was a lot muddier this year with pretty big puddles on the lower gradual paths. I decided to not waist time looking for routes to avoid them and just go straight through them. Plus its always better and more fun to get muddy! I ran pretty steady all the way to the foot of the first steep section. Where it was hands on knees. The next stretch goes off to the right and its hard to get in a rhythm as it goes steep then gradual, steep then gradual. So you are walk then run. I was overtaking quite a few people along this stretch until the route turns left straight up a steep section which is where I seemed to be not overtaking and not being overtaken. Then the path splits and we go right to a section which I call the bridge as it unites the last steep bit with the final ascent to the top and most of it is runable. I was really feeling it in my calfs at this point but it was just a case of gritting my teeth and getting through it. Last year this is where the first guy flashed by me. This year Jethro Lennox who went on to win, flew past when I was just going up the first bit of the last ascent. This is when I realised I was doing pretty well and pushed on to the summit. There was a guy in front of my shouting encouragement to the people going down, he must have name checked everyone in the top 20! I recognise a few of the big guns but was impressed by his knowledge of all these hill runners. Just as I approached the cairn a guy was shouting out positions, I didn't quite make it out but it was something 9, I think either 79 or 89 and there were definitely not 3 numbers involved. I made it to the top in pretty much bang on 30 minutes.
I couldn't believe it, I knew even if I had a good descent I would get overtaken as I felt like I had really punched above my weight on the ascent. It took the first downhill for me to get into it, as I was still recovering from the ascent. Then where the two paths come together I took a slightly higher line, and I was so wanting to be on the lower line, and had a few tricky bits to deal with which slowed me down as I thought too much about it. Then although I was getting overtaken pretty regularly, I found a good stride along the bridge and then down the next steep ascent. Where the diagonal ascent was, there were a few bits where I put on the breaks, and in hindsight and don't think I needed to, but generally again I was running well. When I got to the gradual descent for the last mile, I knew I was almost home and was a lot more comfortable running through the bogs and the gradual ascent. I managed to hold my position and then overtook 2 people. I stopped my watch at 45.04 and tried to stop but momentum nearly took me into one of the volunteers as it was still a gradual slope. I was absolutely delighted! I had beaten last years time by over 7 minutes! Afterwards I caught up with how everyone got on, and found out all my fellow club members had got under 50 minutes, so a good day all round. I checked my time on the website this morning and according to that I did 44.53! I must have stopped the watch after the finish line or something.
I realise my descending is still not quite there yet. But looking at the big picture, I'm still a relative rookie in hill running and descending does come from experience (well in my case anyway!). I must have lost 20-30 places on the descent but it really shows how good an ascent I had too! Also because of the way hill racing works, you just don't know how many people you were holding off on the descent, as if you do look behind you, you are going to end up flat on your face. Overall this is by far my best ascent and descent yet and I ended up finishing 118th which is the first time I have finished in the top half of a hill race.
Showing posts with label Tinto Hill Race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tinto Hill Race. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
07/11/09 - Tinto Hill Race
Images taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottishhillrunners/
This wasn't just any race. It was not only my first hill race, but also my first race representing Giffnock North. I arrived about half 12 and registered and got my number in Symington. Unlike road races which cost between £10 up to £50 for marathons. Hill races are cheap. The reason for this is that no roads have to be closed and there are no goody bags or prize money (that I'm aware of). It is just simply a race to the top of a hill and back down again. The simplicity of it all is what I liked the most. Due to the simplicity it is also cheap at only £4. I then drove to the start about 2 miles away at the foot of Tinto hill where cars were parked along a narrow road parking where ever they could.
Having an hour to wait till the start I sat in the car a played the DS until about 20 mintues to 2. It was a cold day in November and although it was a bit cloudy the conditions were good. I went for a warm up jog along the narrow road and back to the car where I was having trouble deciding what to wear! Being a hill race you have to think about what the conditions are like up the top, which is like gambling! Especially with my lack of experience at this sort of event. At about 1.50pm the crowds started to gather at the foot of the hill from the start and I positioned myself at the back of the pack. I had heard there was a few people from Giffnock North also running this race that I have not met yet but I thought they would probably nearer the front of the pack and I later found out I was right.
As well as being my first hill race, it was also one of the quietest races I have done (with the exception of the weekly park run). There was about 300 people participating. Although the path up the hill is reasonably wide for the most part, its still not a road or anything like that. So it felt like there was just the right amont of people and spread out quickly.
And we're off. I got into a nice rhythm straight away. I had reccied the course a couple of weeks back so I knew what to expect. I knew the first section was a gentle incline and all very runnable with a few boggy bits. Then after half a mile is where it gets steep bits start and a power walk is nessessary. I found myself overtaking quite a bit for starter. After the first steep bit, it levels out again and returned to running. This repeated for a while, until there was a long gentle incline, which I am guessing was about a mile and a half in. At this point, I looked to the side for a second to see a flash of Prasad Prasad, the leader absolutley flying down the hill. There was then the steep ascent to the top which I fast walked. More and more people came flying down taking all sorts of routes. Just as I was getting to the top, I was gaining on a fellow club member who I must have only been 10 metres behind. The trig point is situated on a massive set of boulders which we ran right around but not up to the trig point. I had managed the ascent in just over 33 minutes which was 2 minutes slower the winners overall winning time! Simply amazing!.
Spot the Stu - Near the top of Tinto:
Then there was the descents and my first real attempt at a descent and you could tell! I started off down the steep bit and started quickstepping down out of control and ended up sliding on the small stones. It appeared my trail shoes were not quite giving the grip I needed but also my head was thinking too much about it. And I ended up taking it easy down the steep bits where needless to say I was getting overtaken left, right and centre. But I did my best to just concentrate on my own race. I enjoyed the gradual descents more as I felt comfertable striding out at these points. I ended up finishing in 52.40, meaning about 19 minutes for the descent and finished 249th out of 300.
I really enjoyed the race and it littrally is a breath of fresh air compared to road races. I definitley need to work on my descents. To show you the difference it can make. The guy from Giffnock North who I was just behind on the ascent. Finished in 47 something minutes which was 5 mintues ahead of me! But I had fun and there is always next year :-)
This wasn't just any race. It was not only my first hill race, but also my first race representing Giffnock North. I arrived about half 12 and registered and got my number in Symington. Unlike road races which cost between £10 up to £50 for marathons. Hill races are cheap. The reason for this is that no roads have to be closed and there are no goody bags or prize money (that I'm aware of). It is just simply a race to the top of a hill and back down again. The simplicity of it all is what I liked the most. Due to the simplicity it is also cheap at only £4. I then drove to the start about 2 miles away at the foot of Tinto hill where cars were parked along a narrow road parking where ever they could.
Having an hour to wait till the start I sat in the car a played the DS until about 20 mintues to 2. It was a cold day in November and although it was a bit cloudy the conditions were good. I went for a warm up jog along the narrow road and back to the car where I was having trouble deciding what to wear! Being a hill race you have to think about what the conditions are like up the top, which is like gambling! Especially with my lack of experience at this sort of event. At about 1.50pm the crowds started to gather at the foot of the hill from the start and I positioned myself at the back of the pack. I had heard there was a few people from Giffnock North also running this race that I have not met yet but I thought they would probably nearer the front of the pack and I later found out I was right.
As well as being my first hill race, it was also one of the quietest races I have done (with the exception of the weekly park run). There was about 300 people participating. Although the path up the hill is reasonably wide for the most part, its still not a road or anything like that. So it felt like there was just the right amont of people and spread out quickly.
And we're off. I got into a nice rhythm straight away. I had reccied the course a couple of weeks back so I knew what to expect. I knew the first section was a gentle incline and all very runnable with a few boggy bits. Then after half a mile is where it gets steep bits start and a power walk is nessessary. I found myself overtaking quite a bit for starter. After the first steep bit, it levels out again and returned to running. This repeated for a while, until there was a long gentle incline, which I am guessing was about a mile and a half in. At this point, I looked to the side for a second to see a flash of Prasad Prasad, the leader absolutley flying down the hill. There was then the steep ascent to the top which I fast walked. More and more people came flying down taking all sorts of routes. Just as I was getting to the top, I was gaining on a fellow club member who I must have only been 10 metres behind. The trig point is situated on a massive set of boulders which we ran right around but not up to the trig point. I had managed the ascent in just over 33 minutes which was 2 minutes slower the winners overall winning time! Simply amazing!.
Spot the Stu - Near the top of Tinto:
Then there was the descents and my first real attempt at a descent and you could tell! I started off down the steep bit and started quickstepping down out of control and ended up sliding on the small stones. It appeared my trail shoes were not quite giving the grip I needed but also my head was thinking too much about it. And I ended up taking it easy down the steep bits where needless to say I was getting overtaken left, right and centre. But I did my best to just concentrate on my own race. I enjoyed the gradual descents more as I felt comfertable striding out at these points. I ended up finishing in 52.40, meaning about 19 minutes for the descent and finished 249th out of 300.
I really enjoyed the race and it littrally is a breath of fresh air compared to road races. I definitley need to work on my descents. To show you the difference it can make. The guy from Giffnock North who I was just behind on the ascent. Finished in 47 something minutes which was 5 mintues ahead of me! But I had fun and there is always next year :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)