Than a Monster Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, Great Britain
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More than a monster Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, Great Britain. 2 October 2005 By Caroline Sutherland battle fought on mainland Britain location. At this early hour the in 1746, vividly tells the story of only traffic is the passage of deer The magic, mystery and the defeat of the Jacobite forces and red squirrels, with kites and legend of Loch Ness and its led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. eagles soaring high above. famous monster have His army was crushed by captured the imagination of Government forces under the The start is on the high ground generations, and it is now Duke of Cumberland in less than between Fort Augustus and Foyers capturing the imagination of an hour – the time it takes to on the south side of Loch Ness – runners worldwide too. walk around the battlefield. the less-visited side of the Loch With its suspension bridges largely bypassed by the hordes of The fabled monster is only part of across the River Ness, old stone tourists who make the pilgrimage what attracts participants to the buildings, cathedral and castle, to Loch Ness each year. Scottish Highlands each October dating from the 1830s, it is a to race in a marathon that has pretty place to visit. On a beautiful clear autumnal earned itself a reputation as one morning 1164 runners lined up at of the most popular in Britain. Romantic, rugged, dramatic yet the start against a backdrop of After only four years the race now welcoming – no single phrase can purple heather moors contrasting attracts a field from across the describe the Highlands, as there with the craggy mountains The route now follows right along world, and has grown 122% from is so much variety within this towering behind and the autumn the Loch side for the next 10 2002-2005. The warm Highland unspoilt land. Loch Ness is an colours coming into play. miles, passing through villages welcome, first class organisation area of stunning scenery with with unpronounceable names and and scenic beauty are all magnificent mountains towering After the aerobics warm-up – a their Gaelic equivalents. Crowds experienced well before any over glorious glens, stimulating a surreal experience given the of welcoming locals and the drink Nessie spotting. sense of discovery where a rich setting – the field set off to the heritage comes alive and the skirl of pipes and drums. With the stations provide a distraction from Nessie spotting. The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon landscape inspires. course descending to the Loch & Festival of Running is based side, runners were warned to At mile 17 a lone piper heralds out of Inverness, the Highland There is much to visit and much take the first few miles at a steady pace. The first couple of the departure from Loch Ness. capital, just a short distance from to do: Castles, whisky distilleries, miles soon leave the rugged hills The route now heads towards Loch Ness. Although the first nature cruises to view dolphins, behind and pass into a softer the historic city of Inverness. impression of Inverness is that seals and whales, golf, salmon fishing, water sports, walking - rolling landscape of small Crowds of spectators greet of a modern town with few signs and running. farming settlements, green fields runners as they wind their way of antiquity, in ancient days it and meandering burns. Sheep, alongside the River Ness, which was a place of conflict. Clan The Loch Ness Marathon is run on horses and cows look up in flows out from the Loch into the Donald is said to have burned the a point-to-point course. The bus surprise as the pack moves Moray Firth and eventually the town at least seven times, while ride to the start is an unexpected through their pristine North Sea. Runners pass under Bonnie Prince Charlie’s forces highlight. The fleet of buses is environment. At mile five, runners the impressive shadow of destroyed the fort here in 1745. given a police escort, and they are rewarded with their first Inverness Castle, across the town The visitor centre at Culloden snake south through rolling glimpse of the famous Loch and it bridge, past St Andrews Cathedral Moor, scene of the last major farmland to the marathon’s really is as breathtaking as the and eventually into the Stadium remote but spectacular start brochures tell you. to finish. DISTANCE RUNNING January – March 2006 19 Result MEN 1 Simon PRIDE 2:30:17 2 Andrew FARQUHARSON 2:31:04 3 Patrick RUEDI 2:38:03 4 Ruairidh CAMPBELL 2:38:12 5 Sean COTTER 2:39:06 6James SNODGRASS 2:39:45 Former world 100km champion, While marathon runners are Kenya’s Zac Kihara, winner of the 7 Adam BREAKS 2:39:49 Scotland’s Simon Pride defended heading towards Inverness a Edinburgh Marathon, defeated 8 Christopher WILSON 2:41:38 his title but was made to work further two races are getting 1286 rivals in the 10km to win in 9 Stevie OGG 2:41:44 hard for the top prize, as local underway – the Baxters River Ness 30:45. Kihara’s compatriot Cathy 10 John J DUFFY 2:42:14 club runner Andrew Farquharson 10km and 5km Fun Runs. Mutwa won the women’s race for WOMEN 1 Julia MYATT 2:51:56 (2.31.04) was in contention for Following the success of the first second year in a row and smashed 2 Fiona MATHESON 2:53:24 most of the 26.2 miles. Pride marathon in 2002, organisers were her own course record by 71 3 Susan MCCANN 3:07:00 finally broke clear over the final keen to offer a weekend of races seconds in a time of 33:47. Mutwa’s 4 Fari SHAMS 3:08:53 eight miles and went on to win by and festivities and thus the impressive time was beaten by just 5 Alison CAMPBELL 3:13:37 250m. Switzerland’s Patrick Ruedi Festival of Running was born. The seven men in the race. 6Erica CHRISTIE 3:13:48 was a distant third. Former Seville 10km is a fast point-to-point 7 Angela JONES 3:14:07 and Belfast Marathon champion route. With a downhill section for With a world-renowned food 8 Margaret ANDERSON 3:16:57 9 Pauline WALKER 3:17:21 Julia Myatt was 63 seconds the first four kilometres it has producer as sponsor – Baxters 10 Niamh MOONEY 3:17:31 outside the course record when seen many personal best times Food Group – it is not surprising winning the women’s race. broken over its two-year history. that the pre-race Pasta Party has 10km earned a great reputation. MEN Another highlight for runners and 1 Zac KIHARA KEN 30:45 spectators was the Monster 2 Martin WILLIAMS GBR 31:04 Highland BBQ, which is an 3 Graham BEE GBR 31:38 WOMEN integral part of the annual 1 Cathy MUTWA KEN 33:47 Highland Food & Drink Festival, 2 Morag ROSS GBR 37:41 and open to the general public. A 3 Jane BARKER GBR 38:17 total Highland food experience, runners were given a complimentary BBQ ticket as part A trip to the Baxters Loch Ness of their race entry. There was Marathon & Festival of Running plenty of entertainment on offer won’t disappoint in terms of too. Live ceilidh music, massed scenery, clean air, history, myth pipes and drums and and legend – it also offers an entertainment made sure all unbeatable running experience. participants including non- What cannot be guaranteed is a runners and families were well glimpse of the famously shy catered for. What better way to monster…maybe Nessie will finish a marathon? reveal herself next year? DISTANCE RUNNING January – March 2006 21.