On the 16th May, Iain and Tristan, both part of the Senior Endurance Squad, made the trip north, to the Spittal of Glenshee for one of Scotland’s classic hill races. While many races are won and lost on the descents, the Glas Tulaichean Hill Race offers something a little different: a race that’s all about getting uphill as quickly as possible. With 670 metres of climbing packed into just 7km, the route heads straight for the summit of Glas Tulaichean, a Munro overlooking the spectacular Perthshire and Cairngorm landscapes.
The race began with an immediate reminder that this was no ordinary road race. A river crossing just 200 metres from the start ensured every runner had wet feet almost from the off. Warm sunshine made it a pleasant enough experience, although the soggy shoes lingered throughout the climb.
For Iain, the appeal of an uphill-only race was obvious.
“With a tendency to roll my ankle running downhill, there’s definitely something attractive about a race where the hard work is all in one direction!”
Starting steadily, he watched some of the front runners disappear into the distance before settling into a strong rhythm. Higher up the hill, the field stretched out and the race became a series of individual battles against both fellow competitors and the relentless gradient.
Meanwhile, Tristan was discovering that a 7km hill race can be far tougher than its modest distance suggests.
Having spent plenty of time around Glenshee previously, he thought he knew what to expect. Registration took place in a barn on the Dalmunzie Estate, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere before the start. However, an experienced hill runner’s pre-race advice perhaps hinted at what lay ahead: despite being only 7km long, competitors should expect a finishing time similar to their 10km race time “plus a bit”.
After a relatively gentle opening section and several river crossings, the route pitched sharply upwards. With only a brief downhill respite midway through, the remainder of the race was a sustained climb to the summit. The exposed estate track stretched directly up the hillside, meaning runners could constantly see those ahead as the steep gradients compressed the gaps.
“It felt like racing in slow motion,” Tristan reflected. “The focus was simply on maintaining a sustainable effort all the way to the top.”
The hard work was rewarded by spectacular views from the summit of Glas Tulaichean, with sweeping vistas across the Cairngorms and surrounding hills.
After crossing the finish line, runners enjoyed a more leisurely descent back to race headquarters, where an impressive spread of refreshments awaited. Tea, cakes and snacks never tasted so good after a long climb, and for Iain and Tristan the day was rounded off perfectly with strawberries and ice cream from a farm shop on the journey home.
The results made the trip even sweeter. Iain finished an excellent 4th overall and claimed the V50 category prize. Tristan also made the top-10. Full Results here.
Both runners praised the organisation from Hawkhill Harriers, who delivered a friendly and well-run event in a stunning setting. Perhaps an opportunity for a larger CAAC contingent in future.
As Iain put it:
“It would be great to come back with more CAAC runners. We might even have a shot at the team prize next time!”
Write up by Scott Jenkins, CAAC Publicity Officer
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Very well done guys – great pics and story too, hats off to all!😀👍