More about the Barrathon 2013

Chris is more than up to the challenge!
After hearing rumours that the committee were thinking of setting up a prize for the club member who had competed in the most northerly run in the UK this year, I determined to try to win!
The Barrathon is actually 2 races – the first is on a bleak February evening – the cyber race – when you try to enter – all the places were taken in 6 minutes this year. The other is at the end of June.
Having got though the first hurdle the travel to Barra is an experience in itself. The best way is to fly from Glasgow – on a little 2 engine plane, where the co-pilot doubles up as the stewardess, the door is left open so you can see the controls, and you land on a beach!
The course is the total length of the A888 as it circuits the island – conveniently just about 13 miles. It is unremittingly rolling with some long drags and a good incline which rivals the Marchington Cliffs at 11 miles – and a downhill to finish. The views are lovely and the wind fierce – luckily the rain was only a drizzle not the promised downpour!
The other good thing about the race is the food – included in the price was local crab and salmon, as well as more food than you could possibly eat – and a desert!
The runners are friendly and the support good bearing in mind that half the island population (just over a thousand) must have been involved in cooking the buffet! The Barrathon is apparently part of the Heb 3 – to win a prize (and a T-shirt) you must compete in 3 of the five races based in the Hebrides – I’m voting for these to be in the club championships next year! These are hosted by the Stornoway running club who have the misfortune in having to run in tartan shorts!
Oh, and the times – well the winner did 1 hour 13 mins and 13 secs (apparently his fastest half marathon is 65 mins). Conscious of representing the club in a foreign nation, I followed the club rules (“Code of Practice for SDRR members competing in Scotland” page 47 paragraph 69, c) which stipulates a slow start – which should allow the runner to overtake rather than be overtaken (I wish I’d read this fine advice before going to the Edinburgh Marathon). This did of course mean that I lost contact with the lead runner almost immediately, but I did a reasonable 1 hour 38 mins and 8 secs – missing out on the Vet 50 prizes by a couple of minutes – but a very enjoyable run and finishing a respectable 27th out of the 250 runners.
http://www.barrathon.org.uk