Trossachs Night Trail Race

Trossachs Night Trail Series organised by the Carnethy Hill Running Club

Wednesday 9th November 2016 – 7.15pm start

Approx 5.5 miles

Duncan suggested the first of the Trossachs Night Trail series runs to Margaret and I and we jumped at the chance to do our first race in the dark although for Margaret it turned out to be race through the Stirlingshire countryside to get to the start line! Unbeknown to Margaret a section of the road she was on to get to Aberfoyle was shut but thankfully after a couple of anxious phone calls she was back on track. Only problem was as Margaret came driving up through the town all the runners were assembling at the start line. Upon spotting her Duncan gallantly decided to turn back and meet Margaret to help her get registered. I didn’t see them again until the end. More on that later.

I waited at the start line with over 100 adrenaline filled runners many dressed in winter kit as it was only 2 degrees celsius looking out for Margaret and Duncan. I was beginning to have serious doubts about the strength of my head torch, most of those around me could double up as a car headlight! And we were off , a line of lights making a gradual climb into the forest. I was kept going by the fear I would get lost if I dropped down the pack. I found out pretty quickly my head torch was useless and I would have been better holding a candle but thankfully there were those with proper beaming torches casting bright light to show me the way, but weirdly lots of big shadows which made it hard to see too. Just as I was getting into my stride and feeling strong I went head over heels flat on my face after tripping over a rock! Much concern from those around me but I picked up myself fine and set off again although a little more gingerly. Later we came out on to a proper landrover track which gradually climbed for a good distance and I was catching up with some runners and managing to overtake. I was beginning to think “this is going to be fairly straightforward” before we took a left turn straight into a massive puddle and up a steep, slippery, gully of a path which reduced the group I was with to waking pace. There was some good hearted grumbling from someone behind me saying “why do we put ourselves through this, we could be at home watching TV and eating crisps.” I would have replied but I could hardly breathe let alone talk. The path levelled out and we were merrily back running again slopping through some muddy puddles. More landrover tracks and then back on some trails, down through a golf course and then downhill all the way not knowing when it was going to end, the beauty of racing in the dark, and then suddenly there was the finish line.

As I didn’t know if Margaret and Duncan had actually taken part or were waiting at the car I thought I had wait for a few minutes at the end. I was reliably informed by one of the marshalls that two people had started late so was pretty certain it was them, then they appeared through the dark. Was so glad they had both done it and enjoyed the experience as much as I had. Couple of lessons, cheap head torches from Mountain Warehouse don’t cut it and road trainers have no traction in steep muddy trails.

(although both their actual running times were much less)