Carnethy 5

OK, So I'm almost a month late, but it is never too late to say "What a race"!

If you don't know, the Carnethy 5 hill race, near Edinburgh, is a top notch event. For a sport that really shines in nice weather, to get 550 entrants in February is good going. Well, me and my pals thought so, so we travelled down from Aberdeen to a wet and windy Edinburgh.

Unfortunately my sister had to pull out due to injury, but another club member filler her place. It was also my missus's first ever race - fair play to that.

The race itself is just over 6 miles, to and from a very cold patch of moist tussocky grass on the south side of the Pentland hills near Pennicuick. The name derives from the fact that there are 5 summits to traverse, with 2500ft of climbing between them.

This year 460 runners completed in the cold and what turned out to be very windy and damp conditions. For me, the going wasn't too tough. I found the wind only really got me on the summits and I was moving fast enough to take my windproof off. Unlike most competitors I had a rucksack, so at least my back was warm! Also, being a big guy the wind never knocked me off my feet.

I found the icy/ frozen mud patches on the way down tricky. If they can be avoided, there was really no problem though. As for results, beating 75min was most pleasing.

It's best to try it to experience it! Results are here. Find the photo report - it is most fun.

I borrowed this picture of my missus finishing last from Carnethy...