Long run in the Ochils

Gordon · Long run in the Ochils

I'm planning to do the Ochil 2000s race on August 23rd, which is one of the two A Long races in the SHR Championship. There's more race info at http://www.shr.uk.com/RaceDetails...96&System=Metric&Month=8. Will has already entered (entries limited to 160, closing on August 11th, by the way, in case anyone else is interested).

It's a 28k race, which is a lot for me, and the navigation can apparently be tricky in the second half, so I'd like to do a recce/training run sometime in the next few weeks. However because the route starts in Glensherup and finishes at Stirling University, a recce run really needs two cars.

So, finally getting to the point, would anyone like to join me on a very long run in the Ochils on one of the following dates?
July 19 or 20, August 2, 3 or 10 (all Sat or Sunday). I can also do weekdays, but I assume most other folk can't.

I reckon we'd need an hour or so to leave a car at Stirling Uni then drive to the start, perhaps 5 hours for the run (Bob Hughes ran the race in 4.14 last year), then an hour to retrieve a car and get home.

Please let me know if you are interested and when you are available.
Thanks

SprintFlint · Long run in Ochils

Gordon

I'd love to accompany you on this wee trek. Unfortunately can't do this w/end, and Cath's away with her cello and the campervan for 10 days which takes in your August dates. All she's leaving me are the kids, so unless I can rope my Mum in, I'm stuck. I'll get back to you though. It wasn't one of your dates, but any chance on Sun 27 Jul?

cheers
D

Gordon

Doug

I'm hillwalking in Ardgour the day before, but that won't be too tough so July 27th would be okay.

Does Sunday July 27th suit anyone else out there?

Will Manners · Ochills Recce

Gordon, will struggle with this. James' birthday on Saturday and i am working Sunday - back late afternoon. We are away on hols for two weeks on the 25th July, so my best bet is going to be to try and fit a smaller section in at some stage - perhaps even by bike! I could perhaps do a late afternoon (depart Crieff 4.00pm ish) / evening version next Monday .............

Gordon

Will, thanks for that but I'm sorry this Monday's no good for me - I've a Comrie Hills Relay meeting in the evening and I'm doing Corbetts in the Loch Arkaig area on Sunday and daytime Monday.

Let's touch base again after your holiday (have a good one!)

The 27th looks possible for Doug, me and perhaps Phil M. Anyone else? Digby? Bob? Adrian?

I am happy to throw in the idea that the day should also include pub and pint (and yes, it will be my round!)

If doing the whole race route proves too much of a time commitment, we could alternatively consider doing the western two thirds from The Law to Stirling Uni - still two cars but only about 18 k distance.

Incidentally Doug, what's all this about cellos, campervans and uxorial abandonment?

digby

I cannot do the 27th. I think I would be more enthusiastic about a portion of the overall than the whole thing. Is an evening run over half the distance, towards the setting sun, unrealistic?

SprintFlint

Hi Gordon

I'm still up for Sunday, if you're happy with that. If it's on, we should talk logistics one evening this week. Our no. is 679 786.

Yep, Cath's playing in a week-long concert (now that's an audience with staying power!) and abandoning the nippers. Given you're a fit young thing, you could carry Ru and I'll take Kirsty.

Speak soon

cheers
D

Gordon

Digby, I think it might be feasible but only with a fairly early start.

For example, from Tillicoultry, climbing the Law then following the race route to finish at Stirling Uni would be close to 12 miles and 1300m ascent, so maybe up to three hours plus travel time.

kona

Hi Gordon,

It's rather too far for me to run, I fear, but I quite fancy doing the route as a long walk sometime.

Would you intrepid chaps be able to do me a favour when you go and reccy the dog-compatibility of the walk? Namely, how much of it is through sheep-infested fields, and whether there are dog-unfriendly stiles to cross (esp. involving barbed wire etc)? My dog is too heavy for lifting over fences, and she doesn't exactly have collie-like agility when it comes to navigating stiles....

Cheers,
Kona

Gordon

Just in case anyone is interested....

Doug and I did the Ochil 2000s route today, in deeply sweaty weather that went from mild and misty with smir to warm and misty to hot, humid and partly misty and finally to full-on hot.

20 miles, 1520 m ascent, 11 tops, 6 hours all in, including rests, route discussions and rerouting. No small amount of bog and tussock after Ben Cleuch. Running it for real in anywhere near 4 hours seems a serious challenge!

We both ran out of water with a hill and several miles to go, looked at some very unappealing water in Lossburn reservoir and decided to soldier on unwatered.

Kona, Doug may have more to contribute on the dog-friendly aspects of the route, but what I noted was as follows:

The route goes through much open hillside with very large expanses of unfenced ground. There are sheep everywhere, but in varying numbers. On the descent to the Menstrie burn there are fenced fields full of sheep.
The earlier sections of the route have deer fences with dog gates. and the fences further on tend to be of the four wire strand variety, through which I expect a dog could be helped to squeeze?
Hope that helps.

digby

For myself, ken, I find dog squeezing rarely helps.

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