The Highland Cross is a fabulously well organised event. With 720 people entering the event, there is a huge challenge to looking after the well being and safety of the competitors whilst they cross Glen Affric on a track which is mostly inaccessible by even the most hardy of landrovers - not to mention the logistical nightmare of getting everyone to the start, their bikes to the changeover, and ensuring everyone is reunited with their belongings at the end of the race. I know this from my previous entries, I know this from my younger years helping out at Camban Bothy passing out water and Gatorade, and I was reminded of it again this year as the weather gods couldn't quite decide what to throw at us.
The underfoot conditions were 'soft' to say the least, this translated into 'wet, slippy and difficult' as soon as a very drizzly head wind hit us as we came round the brow of the hill section. We'd been horribly misled by waking up to glorious sunshine and, despite the forecast being for sunshine and showers, the sun deserted us after approx 4 miles running and was never really seen again. I don't know if it was a good or bad year from a casualty perspective but I saw a few folk who had twisted knees/ankles on the treacherous ground and the support helicopter certainly had to land on a few occasions. I was very grateful for the network of radio volunteers who man the route every few miles and can get warm blankets and medical help to folk whilst a plan for helping them get off the hill is put together. I made a point of thanking every one I saw as well as the teams of volunteers who hike into these remote spots just to hand out water and cheer support as we rush past in pursuit of our own personal goals. Whether or not my wheezing thanks could be distinguished as a word I'm not entirely sure but I hope they understood!Despite the difficult running conditions, I have to say that I felt really strong and enjoyed the event immensely this year. I suspect this has a lot to do with being better rested and looked after before the race; however even in bad conditions the run section is beautiful, which makes it so much more enjoyable than it would be otherwise! As a team we had agreed to run at our own pace and would see each other at the end, over the first 4 miles of track to Glen Licht House we leap frogged each other whilst we found a comfortable pace but once we hit the steep hill pass of Allt Granda Colin surged ahead leaving Jo and I struggling to navigate our way through folk who were walking the single track path in front of us. However once the hill section was done I was able to find a steadier pace and slowly started to make good progress, finally catching Colin at the 10 mile mark of Alltbeithe Youth Hostel. From this point the track becomes much easier with the majority of river crossings complete (!) but the continual Easterly head wind was starting to wear me down; and for the first time ever I was looking forward to the Yellow Brick Road section where I hoped to get some shelter from the trees! I ran the whole distance (apart from sections of the hill where it was unsafe to pass people so walking was a necessity) which is something I've never been able to do before, completing the section in around 3 hrs 30.
Behind me Jo finally caught Colin at mile 18 and they both hit the changeover in around 3 hrs 45. Jo had a very quick changeover and got a good lead on Colin, who had no idea he was so close behind me. We had calculated that based on our expected cycling speeds I needed to be over 20 minutes in front of Colin at the changeover to get to the finishing line before him! Somehow I knew he was on my tail and my little legs have never pedaled so fast; spurred on by the chase, along with the the extra effort I had put into bike training this year, and the loan of Mum's race bike, I achieved the 30 mile cycle section in under 2 hours – my best bike time ever by a long way – and I was in front of Colin by just 3 minutes! Jo crossed the line around 1 minute later, all of us finishing in under 5 hrs 40 giving us a hugely respectable team time. A brilliant effort all round.
There is nothing quite like the experience of cycling into Beauly where the whole town turns out every year to cheer the competitors on as they complete the last mile into town. I read in one of the papers on Sunday that they believed the crowds to be fans of Pippa Middleton who entered the race this year. I would like to correct them in that respect: the locals always come out in force for the event which supports local charities and has been taking place for the last 29 years, they deserve recognition for being out in all weathers for all the competitors and we are very grateful for their cheering – it means the world as you approach the finish line after expending every ounce of energy you have. Never the less its great to see such a wonderful event getting publicity from someone who is becoming a star in her own right, I believe Miss Middleton is a very accomplished athlete and she certainly finished the race is a superb time of 5hrs 05 minutes so she deserves the recognition for that – even if she did 'cheat' by getting a helicopter to the start line rather than joining the rest of us on the bus at silly o'clock in the morning!!! 
At the end of the race, we are treated to a buffet prepared by the 'Ladies of Beauly' and this year's prize giving we were also treated to the wonderful sounds of a German Brass Ensemble – one of this year's team entries was from a trio who play with a German Opera. It was an absolutely fantastic end to a fantastic day, and the memories of the wind and rain are already fading. I've heard Colin mention that 'next year' he is going to be quicker at the Changeover.. so I fear that this won't be our last Highland Cross; maybe next time I might beat Mum's record of 5hrs 15 but for now she remains the family record holder and I shall continue to wonder if I'm nearly there yet!
Participating in an event like this requires much dedication from many people so I'd like to make some thankyous. Firstly Thanks to my Mum (Norna Hall) and Stepdad (John Hall) who were a very welcome support team on race day, and particularly to Mum who set me this silly challenge in the first place in 2007 to beat her time which I'm STILL trying to do!! Thanks very much to Angela Mudge & Knead to Relax for their support and helping get my muscles ready for the race. Thanks to Colin for being cajoled into being part of the family team and being patient with me during training! thanks to Gordon Stewart our previous team mate who we were very sorry to have to replace, we hope we did you proud; and thanks to Jo for stepping in at the very last minute with no specific training and still managing to get in a superb finishing time, not to mention raising some money too! A great big thanks to Calum Munro and John Fraser and the huge team of volunteers at Highland Cross for putting on yet another superb event;
and most of all thanks to YOU for your support and donations. You can still sponsor us and check out our total at Just Giving - it's for great causes and is the reason that we put ourselves out in the rain and do it atall!
Our photos of the day are on Flickr for you all to see
