Foolishness of Alcohol!

We should never underestimate the power of strong drink. Earlier this year, over a glass or two of some delightful Chilean Cabernet, I thought I was having a civil conversation with my cousin Vernon however he believed he had managed to convince me that I should run in the Bennachie Hill Race. Last year I had generously sent him a cryptic e-mail that had invited (lured) him into the Caledonian Challenge (a 56 mile walk on the West Highland Way in 20 hours) and he obviously thought that he should return the favour. His recount of our evening was that I immediately leapt at the chance, and that is why I suspect the alcohol was taking effect.

Fell running (or hill racing) is a simple sport; you run up hill and then when there is no more uphill you run downhill. Maybe I should revise the previous statement to ‘a simple sport in principle’. Running downhill is deceptively difficult at times, at least compared to falling over which is ludicrously easier in my experience.

The Bennachie race takes place on Sunday in charming countryside. It is near Garioch in Aberdeenshire. The race is about 8 miles and climbs three local hills (about 1150 feet of ascent). Vernons wife Hannah is my  cousin and it is family folk lore that before World War I our grandfather used to run up one of the hills to impress his future in-laws. Having seen pictures of him and read of his exploits in the Great War there can be no doubt that these tales are correct. The race route is particularly picturesque and affords a fantastic view down on Pittodrie House, where  my father was brought up by his grandmother.

Vernon Gale with Bennachie in background

2004  1 Hour 31Mins

Vernon has spent the past two hours looking up at a picture of Bennachie that adorns his wall, interspersed with scouring the web for weather forecasts. The first one suggested that the weather would be poor on Sunday so undeterred he searched for four more. The emerging picture is a bit grim. He has tried to convince me that when he worked at Outward Bound he always used to talk about bad weather as being ‘character building’. I suspect that both of our characters are already fully built, but Sunday might provide a kind of extension (or possibly a conservatory).

I’ll report further next week but any excuses will be gratefully received!!!