What a better way to start the year than a 13mile (2600ft ascent) run over the beautiful Scottish Borders’ hills?!
Seven Shetts paid a visit to the Royal Burgh of Selkirk, on the banks of the Ettrick Water. All seven had their debut at Feel The Burns, a race which has seen some pretty wintry editions yet this time graced us all with what may well have been the sunniest January day- no shortened courses this time.
Selkirk Fund Runners put together an excellent event, with all the social distance measures in place but still with a very pleasant/social feel to it. There was soup, there were hot drinks and most of all, there were pies! All catered for a variety of dietary requirements.
In regards to the race itself, conditions were pretty good – sunshine, low temperatures, fairly dry ground, and a VERY runnable course.
Mark Thistlethwaite beasted the course and was first Shett home in 1:45:41 (32nd, 9th M40), followed by Alex Clarkson (41st, 1:48:15), Kevin “I’m Just Going to Jog Round” Brydon (44th, 1:50:19), full time bassoonist, part-time newbie-ish hill-runner extraordinaire Luis Eisen (46th, 1:51:38). The course suited Jessica Brydon who was 3rd lady home in 1:54:40 (58th) Well done, Jessica! From the Forth Valley contingent, Rod Reis finished 2:14:33 (139th, 40th M40) followed by Bryony McLeod (143rd, 17th Senior lady) in 2:15:40.
Congratulations to the winners, Carnethy’s Eóin Lennon (1:30:25) and HBT’s Morag McClelland (1:52:47).