THE HARRIERS HERALD No. 271, September 2015 Editor: Sue Francis
Contents, features, reports, results
Thursday night schedules for September and October Race results & reports: Great Wilderness Challenge 25 – Jonathan enjoys a tough race in Scotland; Harwell Half – Jonathan and Ryan tackle a tough local race Webmaster’s article – Mo features: links to find new training routes; essential pre-run preparation; list of local and interesting races Thanks to Jonathan and Mo for this month’s articles Copy date for next Harriers Herald – 30th September
Thursday night schedule for September Thurs Thurs Thurs Thurs
3rd 10th 17th 24th
Aaron to lead Nick and Colin to lead run with Team Kennet Jonathan to lead Handicap Race
Thursday night schedule for October Thurs Thurs Thurs Thurs Thurs
1st 8th 15th 22nd 29th
Pete O to lead Sus to lead Lucy to lead Tom to lead Handicap Race
Race Results and Reports Great Wilderness Challenge 25, 15thAugust Jonathan A friend from Edinburgh suggested that I enter the Great Wilderness Challenge 25-mile race, which is held in North West Scotland, to raise money for the local charities. The race meeting is held at Poolewe, but the start is at Corrie Haile (A832) which is near the Dundonnel Hotel. So, up for the challenge, I said “yes”. On the drive on the way to Poolewe there was a storm and it was raining up to Gailoch, which did not bode well for the next day. I met my friends at the Smiddy Hut, which is few 100 meters away from the Dundonnel Hotel. They had prepared an evening race meal consisting of two types of potatoes, lots of vegetables and sausages with homemade gravy. Tucking into this and catching up with each others news, we also discussed the next day’s weather, and my friends assured me that there would be sun with rainy spells. The next day we set off at 7:45am to the village hall to register and collect our race numbers. The weather was indeed sunny and almost calm, apart from the midges, which were in frantic state eating into our skins. There were many people milling around also collecting their numbers. There are four races to take part in: 25 Mile run, 25 Mile walk (following the same route), 13 mile run and a 6 mile run. The walk followed the same as the run, but they had started a lot earlier. This would prove useful as the runners and walkers cheered each other, as we passed each other. Chatting to other runners it was clear that many people had done this many times before and therefore knew what lay ahead. There was free tea and coffee at the start and I had a coffee with a few free chocolate biscuits. We checked that we had the required items, which were waterproof jacket and trousers, map of the race, food, compass and a first aid kit. I changed rucksack, with my friend lending me his spare one as it was a better race model than the one I possessed. The race starts 15 miles down the road from Poolewe village hall, so we were all marched on to the coach that would take us to the start. This was a scenic drive around the coast with the sun shimmering on the sea. We also
HH September 2015
1