Screel Hill Race 2008

Last year, this race was run on a beautiful sunny day, hill walkers were out in their droves and the world was content – BUT NOT HILL RUNNERS! Sunshine is fine when you’re on the top of the hill and basking in the views, oh but it hurts on the way up. This year however, it was lovely weather with the rain pelting down keeping the hill walkers well away and the mud underfoot would even have suited Tim.

A smallish field of only 39 runners hit the hill. Included in the 39 was Paul Emsley of Arran Runners with whom I had a great battle last year. From the off I felt pretty good and the first mile, which is on a steep forest granite chipped road went very quickly. Onto the hill proper and I had Tommy Begley in my sights – oops, I shouldn’t be near Tam! Ah well, take advantage while I can because Tommy is one of nature’s real downhill specialists. I passed him a fair distance from the top and opened up a bit of a lead before the cairn. Unfortunately, as already mentioned, Tommy is a downhill guy and whist I consider myself to be pretty useful going down, there was a sudden blur in my peripheral vision as Tommy flew past (musta bin the Red Bull).

Now we were into the realms of mud and glaur. Going up means you can avoid much of the wet stuff but not so on the way down – it WAS fun! Screel also has a wee sting on its tail as it does a quick detour back up the cliff to the top so that we get an even better final downhill. The quick detour entails scrambling ie climbing – looking for hand holds etc – great fun again! Then it’s all the way down to the finish. It’s an exciting end to a race because there’s no flat or final uphill on the way to the tape, it’s down, down, down. Exhilarating!

Tommy beat me by a fair way and another guy passed me on the way down. I passed three or four as I descended so I was a net gainer. I was a minute faster than last year and beat Paul Emsley so was well pleased. I think the winner was Adam Anderson of Carnethy (a frequent visitor to Ayrshire races) but I’ll need to wait for final results. (My time on my watch was 44:50 but needs checked)

At the finish the rain was torrential (which was nice). I managed to get a decent clean up in a wee burn before heading off for a wander round Castle Douglas which is a lovely town. The amazing thing was that when I reached Castle Douglas it was sunglasses weather. Oh what a perfect day!