Feeling the 'Pain' at Traprain
After the excesses of the Black Rock and ensuing libations I somehow was talked into running the Trapain Law hill race the next day. Standing at the start line, head still a bit fuzzy, legs aching, with the taste of sand in my mouth I still couldn't believe I was about to embark on this Adventure.
Gillian and I were joined by CAAC hill running stalwarts COB, POB and Phyllis (HBT boo!!). It was a pretty hot day and much of the course was like running through a jungle, very overgrown, low branches, vicious insects, river crossing and a rope pull up the Law, was more like an Indiana Jones movie than a run. However it was great fun and a very scenic and beautiful course. I was in no shape for a fast run, however Gillian took off like a whippet in search of lost treasure.
COB aka Tarzan (in his CAAC away strip of a hairy chest) came 4th, 3rd (MS), Phyllis came 1st Vet Woman (HBT booo!). Gillian was 3rd female but alas no Treasure.
Results and photos on the Carnethy web site :-
Dean
Well done all, always quite fancied this one being an East Lothian boy originally, but sounds like a real toughie, hills and I do not get on. Brilliant performances all round, especially after the Black Rock the night before. I am especially impressed with Phyllis getting first Vet Woman, sneaking under my smelly armpit at the end of the Black Rock Race the night before obviously had no adverse effects, only joking!
Traprain is a firm favourite of mine, although I have missed it for the last 2 years for the sake of a weekend of LAMM endurance. The river crossing is often amusing, someone nearly always falls in completely, and there is sometimes a warning of swarming bees at this point too. This never puts people off however. Yes Dean, the hands on scramble up the Law is another highlight, but the very runable descent is exilerating. Being the East Linton summer festival, the relaxed atmosphere is great, as is the retro rock band who play there. Well done all.
Yeah the band where playing Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy as the race started
Thoroughly enjoyed this race, there was a lot to be said for getting a good start though as passing places alongside the river were at a premium. Didnt quite have my hill legs with me, but the long runnable descent to the river got them going again. The section along the river certainly had you having to keep attention levels high as the path dropped away in places and to there was a couple of sections where you had to literally bend in half to get under the low hanging branches!. Will definitely aim to return next year.