The 2012 Carnegie Harriers Hill Running Grand Prix opened this year with The Carnethy Five Hill Race on Saturday 11th February.  This is one of the most popular hill races in the calendar and this year proved to be no different with all 550 places selling out in 55 minutes when race entries opened online at the start of the year. Why is it so popular one might ask? It attracts not only seasoned hill runners but also those who have never attempted a hill race before. Is it the fact that its in such a beautiful area? Or that its the first big race of the season so runners can test out their winter legs? Or is it the thought of that school dinner afterwards that has us all queuing up to enter? Who knows why, but its popularity certainly seems to grow year after year!

 

Registration takes place at Beeslack High School in Penicuik where the runners all mill about catching up with old aquaintances and maybe a nemesis or two that they haven’t seen for a few months, collecting their numbers, making sure they have all the mandatory kit,  then queue up to catch the school bus to the race start which is just near Silverburn Village. The race is just under 6 miles with an ascent of over 2,000 feet covering five tops in the Pentland Hills to be run in the following sequence: Scald Law, South Black Hill, East Kip, West Kip, and returning via the Howe to Carnethy – starting and finishing at the Old Kirk Road.

The start is something to be seen with over 500 runners in all their various colours charging towards the first gate, which this year seemed quite easy to get through which makes me think the gate has been widened. They then run along a narrow heather lined path before hitting the first calf burning climb up to Scald Law. Again the path is narrow here so many runners opt to use the heathery slopes to allow them to pass others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once at the top you are able to get running again and head towards the 3 small summits of South Black and the Kips before turning round and getting a good run all the way down to the Howe. Places are always won and lost on these climbs and the descents as every runner has different skills. There were a few falls this year as the ground was a little icy but a good hill runner just goes with the fall, bounces back up and keeps running. No stopping to check for bumps or cuts until after the race is finished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Runners then have the last climb right up to the summit of Carnethy to look forwards too. This is when the legs are burning and sheer determination to succeed takes over as you shuffle upwards, hunched over hands on thighs knowing that once you hit the last summit its downhill all the way to the finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A record 523 runners crossed the finish line with 12 of them being Carnegie Harriers led home by Derek Cassels who finished just over the hour. He was closely followed by Stevie King and then Sandy Bennnet. A welcome returner to the hills was Kenny MacDonald who had a fantastic return to running finishing in 1 hour 8 mins. Welcome Back Kenny There was the usual jostling for positions with Kevin Davie and Bill Duff playing cat and mouse up and down the hills and also Allan Macaulay and Kieran Morgan swapping places but both Kevin and Kieran managed to inch ahead over that finish line. Stevie Greer also had a strong run powering round the course to finish in a good time. The ladies numbers were slightly depleted this year but both Morna and Melanie did well on the course getting PB’s and Bill Fairley, the club’s ‘Most Improved Hill Runner 2011′ gave Carnethy a go for the first time. 

 

Carnethy 5 Hill Race, 6 miles, 2500ft
70th	Derek Cassells	01:02:00
82nd	Steven King	01:03:06
100th	Sandy Bennet	01:04:54
151st	Kenny MacDonald	01:08:50
270th	Kevin Davie	01:16:12
276th	Bill Duff	01:16:46
314th	Stephen Greer	01:19:27
342nd	Kieran Morgan	01:21:05
347th	Allan Macaulay	01:21:34
376th	Melanie Sinclair	01:24:13
421st	Morna Fleming	01:29:04
492nd	Bill Fairley	01:41:25

 

Once finished all the runners jump back on the bus and head for their well deserved school dinners. This is one of the outstanding features of this race is that all the runners get their school meal included in the entry fee and boy do they scoff it down after all that hard work. Goodness knows what the dinner ladies think! lol

So another great race and another great start to the Grand Prix. Well done to Carnethy Hill Running Club on such fantastic organisation and putting on a brilliant event that so many people can enjoy!

Full results of the race can be found here: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0016&RaceYear=2012

Barry Davie’s full set of photos from the race can be found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/104267860260025500877/2012Carnethy5HillRace?authuser=0&feat=directlink&gsessionid=nUae3IKfstf9bt3QMmJZLg#

Bob Marshall’s full set of photos can be found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/100951388816249026435/CARNETHY52012#

Many thanks to Barry and Bob for taking such great pictures of all the runners

 

The next race in the Hill Running Grand Prix is  Bishop Hill Race on Sunday 4th of March. For more information visit: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?RaceID=RA-0018

 

Until then, Happy Hill Running Folks