Mud, sweat and cheers on Glencalvie Challenge
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Runaway Highland cattle, ankle-deep mud and low-flying helicopters made the Glencalvie Challenge one to remember as a first-time entrant.
I knew most of the 39-mile route having previously enjoyed cycling from the Black Bridge in Ross-shire through Strath Vaich and Gleann Mor to Ardgay in Sutherland.
It’s a fabulous mountain bike route that gives a great sense of adventure and can be linked by public transport at both ends, with a bit of forward planning.
So the Glencalvie Challenge duathlon caught my eye, taking a similar route from Glencalvie Lodge through to Strath Vaich before switching to an 11-mile running circuit via Black Bridge, Inchbae and Strathrannoch then cycling back to Glencalvie.
What I didn’t account for was the difference between tootling along at your own pace and going for it in an organised event! I was fair whacked by the end of the course, which took me dead on five hours.
The winner of the dual challenge, Dave Cummins, finished in three hours, 37 minutes. At that time I would have just been starting my second bike leg!
The course begins at a car park at the end of the public road beside Glencalvie Lodge, from where you can access a number of tracks and paths through the surrounding estates. A smooth track leads through Amat Forest towards Alladale Lodge before the route goes left to cross the Alladale River and climb steeply between the trees to reach Gleann Mor.
There was a bit of a headwind along this stretch but I assured myself it was better to have the wind behind on the way back later. Getting into the spirit of things I enjoyed a few mini races with other competitors but the atmosphere at the event was very friendly and most of us weren’t here to break any records.
One of my favourite parts of this route is the bridge near Deanich Lodge but unfortunately the track deteriorates beyond the lodge as it climbs up into Strath Vaich before a long fast descent. I had to have my wits about me on the loose and rocky surface but enjoyed the buzz that comes with mountain biking at speed, focusing on balance and plotting a course along the track ahead.
It still seemed a long way along the length of Loch Vaich as thoughts started to turn to the running part of the challenge ahead. That came soon enough, after a wee break at the transition point for those of us not in too much of a rush.
Near the start of the run there was a big stretch of thick, gloopy mud that had to be waded through and soon after that a couple of Highland coos stood in my way on the track. They moved aside easily enough but after the next gate there was a whole herd of them waiting for me, including some very young calves.
I’m always wary of cattle so I slowed down to walking pace waiting for a few other runners to catch up and face them with me! The guy who caught up first said he was brought up on a rare breeds farm and just kept running, so I stuck with him. The cows bounded along, running and jumping about until finally deciding to cross the river and leave us to get on with our crazy endeavours!
The rest of the way to the Black Bridge was downhill on tarmac, then we turned left onto the A835 for a couple of miles to Inchbae where the route went left up into Strath Rannoch. I paused for a drink at the checkpoint before continuing up this lovely strath, which I hadn’t visited before.
It was here I was taken aback as a yellow RAF rescue helicopter flew up behind me, so low I could make out the faces of people inside it. It flew right overhead before following the track a little further and then climbing above the trees and away to wherever it was going... I was assured afterwards it was on an exercise and hadn’t been called out by the organisers!
I was now at a point where I was passing people who had taken up the walking part of the Glencalvie Challenge, which follows the 11-mile route we were tackling but starting at the Black Bridge. They all offered encouraging words as I shuffled slowly past but I was especially pleased to bump into a few friendly faces I knew who work at the Special Care Baby Unit at Raigmore Hospital where my two young daughters have both spent time. After walking a while for a chat I kept going, past the houses at Strathrannoch where the track goes right then left after a gate before fording a burn. Here was another checkpoint before a hill – which I admit I had to walk some of – leads you up to 350m above sea level, then back down to the transition point again.
I’d had some dark moments struggling through the last bit of the run and, while I was looking forward to getting back on the bike, it took a while to get going again – in fact, my GPS later told me that first mile back on the bike averaged just 4.5mph! Well, there was a big hill to climb...
Thankfully things got better but the rough track along Strath Vaich and up into Gleann Mor was a real struggle for me. It was only when I got past Deanich Lodge and over the bridge that I felt I was making progress, as the track improved and I felt that wind on my back. Those last six or seven miles brought back the adrenaline rush I needed to keep going and I pushed myself to try and get within the five-hour mark.
The small but perfectly formed medal I received at the finish is testament to a great challenge, one that I found in parts mentally and physically demanding but ultimately satisfying. There was a great camaraderie between competitors and with volunteers, adding to the good humour of the day!
Many thanks to the organisers, the Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden, and to the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team which provided support at the event.
* If you fancy taking on the challenge, next year’s event takes place on May 10th 2014. Contact ian@rotarychallenge.co.uk to register interest or keep an eye on www.rotarychallenge.co.uk
And if that just wasn’t enough...
Highland Cross
My next challenge is possibly the biggest one I’ve tried yet – a 50-mile duathlon consisting of 20 miles off-road running (with some seriously hilly bits, I’m told) and 30 miles road cycling.
The Highland Cross is a coast-to-coast event linking Kintail on the west to Beauly on the east. Over the years it has raised millions of pounds for various charities across the north of Scotland.
I’m hoping to add to that total when I join my team-mates, Matthew McCann and Iain Blackburn, on the epic adventure on June 22nd.
If you can, please visit my sponsorship page at www.justgiving.com/JDHighlandCross and donate what you can. You can also follow updates on my training on the page.
I’ll be sharing the experience of my first ever Highland Cross in Active Outdoors the week after the event, so hopefully I’ll still be in one piece by then!
5x50 final day event
This year’s 5x50 Challenge ends on Sunday and thousands of us have been running, cycling, walking and even kayaking our 5km (and sometimes much more!) a day to stay active and help encourage a healthy lifestyle.
The final day event in the Highlands takes place on Sunday at Bught Park in Inverness starting at 10.30am when fellow challengers can meet up and run or walk the 5km Parkrun circuit.
Paralympic gold medal winning rower David Smith is expected to attend, along with my fellow columnist Nicky Marr and former Commonwealth Games cyclist Roddy Riddle, who recently completed the gruelling Marathon des Sables despite having type 1 diabetes.
Organiser Ray Wallace has even threatened to bring cake for the competitors, as he did last year!
