Taylor puts field to shame at Rumster
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THE North Highland Harriers’ trail-running series started on October 23 at Rumster Forest.
The trails are held over the winter months on mainly traffic-free runs and are open to NHH members and non-members alike.
In total there are 12 planned with distances starting at 4.5 miles – as at Rumster – and steadily progressing through to the longest run, 13.5 miles, at Loch More in April.
For any of the runs which are in excess of five miles, there is always a shorter route available which means anyone can come along and enjoy the event, regardless of whether they are just starting out or a more experienced runner. A list of all the runs in the series and further details can be found on the NHH website.
The events are started on a handicap basis which is allied to competitors’ current average pace, and so becomes a moving average over the whole series allowing good competitive racing with every chance of the slower-paced runners crossing the line first!
Anyone who has not run the trail series before will be allocated a handicap based on either a recent 10k time (or similar) or, as a last resort, their first trail run time. Each runner’s handicap will be recalculated and adjusted as necessary after every run.
The starting list for the first trail saw most of the 29 runners going off at 10am which is the first starting time.
As the series goes on many of these runners will be allocated more realistic start times which will see them playing catch up with the runners going off before them.
The Rumster trail is mostly flat and, although it was a windy and sharp morning, conditions were good and many fast times were posted.
Fastest on the day was Mark Taylor on what he would call a remarkably short outing after his recent Quest challenge.
Mark was not satisfied with just posting a 30.12 min time for the 4.5-mile run, he also cycled to Rumster from Thurso and back after the event, putting everyone else who had travelled by car to shame.
Next home was another multi-eventer, Dave Spencer, in 30.55 min, followed in third place by Simon Harrison in 31.35 min.
First lady was Joan Henry in 31.49 min – a fantastic run after her first marathon outing recently in Inverness when she completed the race in a time of 3 hours 14.21 min to scoop first in the F40 category.
Full results and handicap results can be found on the NHH website at www.northhighlandharriers.co.uk/default.asp
The next trail run is at the Causewaymire wind farm on Sunday (November 6) and is five miles in length on another flat course. Anyone wanting to run should arrive before 9.45am ready to run at 10am.
Following on from the success of NHH in the first two years of the club, its AGM is being held next Wednesday, November 9, at the Blue Door Café at 7pm.
All members are welcome and refreshments will be available.
