A Curate's Egg - the Traprain Law Race

As the classic Punch cartoon would have it, this race is excellent in parts.  Of which there are four. 

The first is fast and furious from the start, out through East Linton, and along the river to the crossing point.  Be sure to push on early so as not to have to settle for a crap position in the train along the no-passing path.  Part 1 rating: good - felt fast at times and hit the river 3rd.



No, I didn't fall actually...



The second part starts with a slippery grass bank up from the river (with squelchy feet), before a steep tarmac road, and a more gently inclined field (but with long grass). 

After what seems like a steeper incline after the road, it properly kicks up past the quarry (Traprain Law looking like a cake with a generous quarter cut out of it).  In past years it followed the fence, with a rope laid down to aid runners, but this year we took a line further left that actually didn't have much to recommend itself over the original (a repeat next year was voted down at the prize-giving).  Part 2 rating: terrible - I walked a significant proportion of it because it hurt and was rubbish, and LOADS of people passed me.



Yes, I'm an attention-seeking dick...



Topping out is of course welcome, but there is little time to be happy about it.

The third part begins with a need to overcome Nature's preservation instinct and throw yourself suicidally down a steep path faster than is remotely sensible.

The descent continues down the road towards Haddington, before taking a series of zig-zag tracks back down through the fields to the river. Part 3 rating: mixed - took one guy off of the main hill, but then three processed past me on the tarmac like I was driving Miss Daisy.

The fourth part is as fast as you can muster from your remaining stores of energy and enthusiasm back along the river (albeit it is a longer stretch from the bridge back over the Tyne than the outward leg to the wet crossing), and then back through the town to the Memorial Park.

Part 4 rating: excellent. I managed to take back a couple of places, and defend myself from other attacks from the rear.   But more than that, James came 1st overall, Stuart took 1st M50, Rhona won 1st W50, and the DRC men's team managed another 1st (and this time legitimately!!!).

Team East Lothian

[As you can probably tell, most of the photos aren't mine.  Thanks to Bob Marshall, Lesley Marshall, Richard Taylor, Cathy Holms, Syd Woods and Jen Matthew.]