2008 Hill Running Grand Prix Race Series Agreed

Don’t you think it would make a more interesting series if it was compulsory to do a race from each category, short/medium/long? I’m sure we used to do that a few years back.
At the moment it would be possible to complete the series not having to run much over 10 miles in any race. Wouldn’t it be better to up the challenge a bit this year? Anyone else agree?

I would support Richie’s comment.

I would support Richie’s comment. So we would need at least 4 races in each category with at least 2 in each category to count with another race or 2 to make the total 7 or 8 to count

Thanks for your comments.

Being a new relatively inexperienced hill runner as well as a committee member I thought that the point of the grand prix events (As with all aspects of our club) was to try and encourage people to get out and run.

I for one would rather see new people out in the hill completing short to medium races than the usual 4-5 hill runners turning up at the long events.

With regards to the SHR events, we have included 3 events but felt that after last year it was not the best idea to include them all. (From our Club only one person completed the series to collect their commemorative mug). If people want to participate in the SHR series they will regardless of the fact that they are not in the GP.

I’m sure all the comments will be discussed at the next meeting and an update will be issues to all concerned.

Interesting comments, it seems that the main priority of the hill GP is participation, obviously nothing wrong with that. If there were mandatory races to complete in s/m/l categories it wouldn’t stop newcomers from participating in hill racing it would mean that if you wanted to complete the series you would have to develop your skills in order to do so. The danger is that in its present form the Hillrunning champion 2008 could do as counting races :-

Carnethy 5 (6 miles)

Bishops( 2.5 miles)

Falkland Hill (3 miles)

Maddy Moss (6 miles)

Manor Water (9 miles)

Meall a Bhuachaille (6 miles)

Tinto (4.2 miles)

Well marshalled races which, unless hit by the worst of Scottish weather, present only a challenge to fitness (you’ll never need to get a map out on any of these, or think where you can get water, or how much food will I need, or use a cunning route choice to gain a couple of places).

Hillracing is not just about running fast up hills, its about mountaincraft skills, route planning, technique, it’s as much about using your head as it is fitness. Often the slower runner can outwit the racing snake by making better route choices etc. that makes it a more even contest and gives everyone some chance.

What I’m trying to say is that by encouraging people to do more challenging races they will aquire more skills and get much more of a sense of achievement from the sport.

My imaginary champion running the above races will have done no more than cross country with hills.

I don’t mean to criticise the races chosen in the GP, we’ll argue about that forever, I just think it would produce a champion with all the qualities of a good hillrunner if we had mandatory categories.

Regarding The Devil’s Burdens, my original comment was “I think the hillrunning captain should pick the team” this was a general comment and not a reference to 2008’s team.
Just thought I would clear that one up.

I appreciate all the hard work that committee members, events organisers and all who contribute put in, but whats wrong with the rest of us expressing our opinions now and again?