Pentland Skyline

11th October 2009
Results

My 8th year in a row at the Pentland Skyline, and my 70th race for 2009.

It was super-cold and windy before the start, but improved as the race went on, getting quite warm by the end. The first half was hard work with a ferocious headwind making the descent from Carnethy quite amusing, given that you had to lean sideways into the wind at an improbable angle to make any forward progress.

Given the strength of the wind, I just pootled along conserving my energy for hopefully a faster return leg with the wind on our backs.

I seemed to gain a few places after leaving the Drove Road, passing 5 folk and getting pretty close to catching Duncan Coombs of Edinburgh Uni who must have been fading fast.

The race concluded the SHR Long Classics Series. I've just posted a report on the SHR website, and calculated the final scores. Strangely enough, from the 11 races in the Long Classics series there were 9 different race winners. The only people to win 2 races were Andy Symonds (who won the series) and Al Anthony.

Pentland Skyline

6th October 2007
Results | Photos
16 miles, 6200ft

Incredibly warm sunny weather for October.

I had a fairly quiet uneventful run, setting off steadily and jogging round steadily, albeit with increasingly sore feet towards the end. I arrived at Flotterstone alongside Al Anthony and Grant Stewart, and just behind Billy Minto. Steven Fallon who had started super-fast was just ahead on the long slog up Turnhouse. Al and Grant soon vanished off into the distance to finish 2nd and 3rd. I eventually passed Steven on the drove road, and caught Billy on Harbour Hill. Other than that I never saw another runner from Flotterstone to the end, so I was happy enough plodding along at my own pace, finishing in 2:49:14. Ellen had a great run as 2nd lady in 3:11:53 in her first attempt at the race.

Pentland Skyline

8th October 2006
16 miles, 6200ft
Results  |  SHR Report
Borrowdale took the honours with Jim Davies finishing first, closely followed by Scoffer Schofield. Last year's winner Joe Symonds could only manage 3rd place. A clear winner in the ladies race was Claire Gordon of HBT in around 2:56. For the second day in a row, I finished one second behind the first lady, in both cases mis-timing my sprint finish.

Pentland Skyline

9th October 2005
16 miles / 6900ft
Results
Pretty unpleasant weather for the Pentland Skyline. Cold and windy, with squally showers. The worst section was from Turnhouse to West Kip running into a strong westerly with heavy rain. Thankfully it stopped raining for the return leg.
The race was won by Joe Symonds, with Stewart Whitlie 2nd and Simon Peachey 3rd. Jill Mykura was 1st lady.
I finished 11th in 2:52:22 behind Suart Simpson and Bruce Smith. I just managed to sneak back in front of Luke Arnott on the climb to Allermuir near the end. Other Westies runners, in no particular order, were Steffen Gorgas, Swaz Fraser, Dave Rogers, John Donnelly and Martin Reid.

Photo courtesy of Carnethy Hill Runners