Deerstalker Run

(Above) official route map (erm borrowed)

(Above) computer drawn route I did

(Above) Elevation profile of route

Actual Distance: 5.5 miles (8.85 km)
Highest: 1378 Feet
Lowest: 455 feet

Checkpoint Punch Split
Checkpoint 1 00:41:56 00:41:56
Finish 01:16:57 00:35:01

Time: 1:16:57
Position: 34 (provisional)

Yesterday I completed the Deerstalker with Helen and Mandy from work. When we got their I was a little worried looking up at the hills around us and after looking at the map which is the top image of this post (we borrowed it) it didn't make me feel much better. But I was determined to do it.

We registered and got our SPORTident tags, then we had a quick wander around and sat in front of Traquair House in the sun relaxing. As the starting time approached we went to get ready, we started to wonder where Mandy had gone because she wanted to get changed in the toilets rather than the car.

We made our way down to the tents and stood about for a while before we noticed people heading to where the start obviously was. We were stood around at the start for a while looking up the bank at the first obstacles a wall of straw bales.

Eventually we set off at about 5:15pm and ran to the bales which I leaped straight on top of then had to teeter on the edge because a lass had fell on the floor on the other side. I lost Helen and Mandy over the bales so slowed down to wait for them for while the caught up.

After the bales we ran along the road towards the Pond, on the way there was some guy telling another how he should be running, as he was some sort of personal trainer (could of been) he was doing my head in. We got to the pond and I think everyone got a shock, before the race the guy had mentioned about waist deep water (thought he was joking), it was almost waist deep and several people fell over (including Helen I think). From here I lost Helen and Mandy I looked back for them but couldn't see them. They had told me to just leave them if I had wanted to, so after a minute or so of trying to spot them I decided to just go. I kept quite a steady but very slow pace up the bank (most were walking). I walked 2 short sections up this bank and caught up to the guy giving the running lesson, he was telling the bloke with him to keep running and basically looking a prat waiving his arms from side to side (does that help?). I was gonna ask the guy he was ordering about if he was getting on his nerves but decided better of it.

Eventually we came to a flatter section (slightly) with a gradual bank that stretched for a fair distance but then I noticed people heading off to the right straight into the wood where normally there would be no path. I followed them up but unfortunately everyone was walking or better description would be sliding going up here. I wanted to run up but couldn't get past them. I thought this was going to be be where the first checkpoint was (I was wrong) we then headed back down the the track I had been looking along and carried on around the corner.

Again the track went to the right and up a steep hill I managed to run past a few people up the beginning of this hill, but we then came onto an area where the woods had been chopped down and it was very uneven underfoot so had to follow the path, everyone was walking in front so I had to as well. After what seamed an eternity the path become wider just as we entered the trees again, I ran past a few people here. Then the next obstacles were ahead. The first obstacle was tree hugging, there was wood around the trees that you needed to step from between each tree and a rope overhead to hold onto. You could only go as fast as the person in front of you and she looked quite unstable ;-)

The next obstacle was balancing over several thin logs and blanks, some people avoided these but I wanted to do them as its part of the fun. There was a badger run I think they called it next, it was basically a tunnel you had to crawl through in the mud. Then a bit further and I scrambled up a wooden frame (wall) and had to jump from the top (about 7 foot), I could here some people saying it was too high. I might of got the order of the obstacles muddled up!

Then a short run up the bank and there was some strange music playing as you scrambled through the trees I'm sure there was some sort of obstacle here but can't remember what it was. Then there was a clearing and the checkpoint was straight ahead. I put my Dibber (SPORTident tag) into the checkpoint but couldn't hear if it made a noise as someone else did it at the same time. So I had to do it again to make sure and the Marshall checked it with me.

It was a short run along the track before there course went to the left and down a mountain bike trail, where we turned left there was 3 bottles of Lucozade and I was wondering if this was what they were calling the drinks station but decided against picking one up as it could of been bottles of piss for all I knew.

I enjoyed this next section running down the hill and followed some lass with "The Outsider" on her back before I eventually decided she as going too slow and over took her. I then followed another lass for a while before deciding again she was going at slightly too slow of a pace. We joined back onto the trail we had been running along earlier but about quarter of a mile further along it. The route then headed down through the trees where the wasn't any normal path it was just a route through the trees, again I really enjoyed this but got stuck behind a few people. A lass appeared from the trees to the left, everyone thought she had been for a wee but she had got lost (so she said). We headed down towards the road where there were some nets but we were directed around them (for some reason), a couple of people slipped down the bank here (Mandy too I think).

Once over the road I slid under the crash barrier and down the little bank to follow the river to the foot bridge then bank along the other side of the river this section was quite long and I pulled a lead out from the people behind me (not that I was really trying to). I could see someone in the distance ahead of me but they must of been at least quarter of a mile ahead. I think I went wrong at the next section just before the river crossing, I went a little further than I needed to, oops. I waded through the water which was shallow compared to the earlier pond.

Then it was through the trees to the drinks station, picked some up as I ran but it was in a cup (why when its a run). I took a sip but it tasted horrible (High5), I forced some down to keep my hydrated. The next section wasn't too bad it was still flat, I then approached the sump and a couple of people directed me the right way. It was through a tunnel under the road and the water was waist deep here, it was quite stagnant as well. I clambered out of the beck (up a gate I think it was) then over Tweed Bridge. I knew I couldn't be far from Traquair house because I could remember us driving over the bridge on the way there.

As I ran through the next bit totally alone with no one in sight, suddenly the house appeared ahead and I knew it was nearly over. I still didn't feel too bad considering what I had just covered. I ran along the side of the house and thought I could hear someone approaching in the distance behind. Once I joined the road there was someone sat down having a breather before the last slight incline. I could see a load of people gathered ahead near the toilets, the slapping of feet behind me got louder and I could tell there was someone on my shoulder. Someone at the side of the road shouted "you can take him". I wasn't having that so I increased the pace slightly and the slapping of the feet behind increased too. The people only looked to be 100 yards, so I sprinted at the top speed I could manage, which was surprisingly fast. I couldn't hear the slapping feet anymore. I got to where the people were standing and started to slow slightly then I realised it wasn't the end. I had to run into the field and around a taped finish (shit). I ran still fast towards the taped run in and the bloke on the mike said something about me sprinting so I ran even faster around the corner past everyone. Everything was a blur at this point because I was feeling dizzy and sick. I got the finish line and the lass was pointing to the checkpoint machine. I waved my had past but of course I have to put the dibber into it. I struggled doing this as my sight had gone blurry and felt like I was going to puke.

I dibbed my tag then walked 5 yards further on before puking up for the next minute just after the finish line. I was sick because I had ran so fast over the last 200-300 metres.

I handed the tag in and was given my print out and I got a total shock when I found out I was 34th (1:16:57) I had no idea I had done that well, I was expecting to be towards 100 or something. I picked up another free drink, that horrible High5 stuff but ended up throwing away. I waited at the finish line for a while for Mandy and Helen but there was no sign so decided to stand near the toilets where I had thought the finish was when I was running in. After another 5 minutes or so I saw them come into view, Mandy looked to be struggling while Helen looked fine (well, maybe OK). I jogged around the corner to meet them (still had plenty of energy), a couple of people tried to direct me through the run in thinking I was finishing the race but waved my finish ticket at them, lol.

When I got the finish where Mandy and Helen were I saw them getting a medal, I hadn't been given one. I must of missed it when I was being sick. So went and asked the lady for one :-)

The sum up for the day was that we all thoroughly enjoyed it and I was certainly surprised how well we all did. It was a lot better than I expected and was great fun going over, under and through the obstacles. I will be back next year I hope (10K maybe?).

Oh we did the 5k but according to the computer it was 8.85K (5.5 miles), the computer sometimes shows slightly more but not by much, it will be at least 5 miles. The times look incredibly slow for something that long but it ain't no road race and there were many obstacles.

We all agreed that we were pleased we weren't doing the 10K, you can see the route of the 10K on the the top image if you click on it. It goes up a nasty mountain in the dark. I may attempt this next year if I can continue to improve my fitness (not sure yet).

I will keep an eye out on the official website for the full results as well as photos. Helen and Mandy finished 82nd and 83rd in about 1 hour 30 I think? well done :-)