The Speyside 100 is a 2-day trail run event taking place in the Cairngorms National Park from Saturday 25th to Monday 27th May 2024. The route passes through the lush valleys of the River Spey, known for its whisky distilleries, diverse landscapes, and iconic wildlife. With 500 participants starting and finishing at Boat of Garten, this event offered a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of the Scottish highlands. This was an LDWA event

Ruth Johnson took part (and fair play to her) This is her adventure:

On sat 25th May I took part in the Speyside Way 103 miles event, starting from the Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms. The route had to be changed three months ago, due to capercaillie nesting, which sadly took out a chunk and now involved an out and back on a disused railway line, with the rest bring moorland and forests.

470 people lined up to start with bagpipes to send us off. Everything was going well and we were discussing what a reasonable time we were going to do, considering the terrain, when we hit the bogs on the hills of Cromdale around mile 25, everything changed!

Everyone started to get awful blisters, even though we were looking after our feet. Due to the wet, heat and the compacted hard forest trails and stones, we were doomed!

Pretty much from 30 miles we struggled along trying to block out the pain of our feet, stopping at the first aid a few times to get our blisters dressed.

One of the worse sections where a farmer had put a 3 foot wide barbed wire fence full of stones, rocks and metal chain gates took around three hours to get through. Can't lie, I did want to cry!

The night time was great, sunset at 11pm and rising at 3.30am.

The food and the people at the aid stations were amazing and we had great fun and conversations which really helped dilute the miles.

We were so glad to get to the finish 37 hours 40 mins. My body felt fine and lack of sleep isn't a problem for me and I even sort of like the dark moments in a 100 miler, but the misery of blisters was another level again that I never want to repeat!

Will I do another one, probably!

The Burrator 10K is a fast, flat route that is almost all on tarmac. It’s also one of the most beautiful 10Ks in the country and won a Racecheck Silver Award in 2023. The race is on closed roads & starts right on the Dam bridge.

The stunning setting is also perfect for a PB. It starts about 1K south east of the visitor centre and does one complete loop of the reservoir and then 2/3rds of a second loop before finishing at exactly 10K about 400 metres north of HQ (the visitor centre). There is just 90 metres of climbing on this course and we’re sure a top runner in good conditions could break 30 minutes. However it’s also ideal for fun runners and beginners and many competitors notch up PBs here.

“On arrival it was abundantly clear that it is a popular event. With 659 runners in the 10k and 50+ in the 1k and 2k fun runs it was pretty manic finding parking. It was well worth the trip for the beautiful surroundings, and it was well supported and well organised. The race start was very busy, so getting to the front is key especially as there are two small gates to negotiate early on. This could definitely hinder any PB attempt. “

Alex Sparks was the first Trotter home in an amazing time of 34:30 taking 2nd place overall with a PB to boot : Next was the ever improving Tim Pratt getting back to his very best finishing in 8th, with a time of 36:18, taking 1st senior 20 category : Steve Weeks next up finishing 27th , 1st V45 in 40:13 : Closely followed by Ben Elphick in 33rd with 40:49, a new PB by 47 seconds. First female Trotter home was Susanna Goffe , 1st senior with a new PB of 42:14. Chloe Weeks finished 2nd senior in 43:56. Debbie Elphick took 3rd in her age category with 47:19. Steven Major 51:26 . Adam Doherty pacing his Wife Michelle for her first 10k in a time of 1:03:45. Rumour has it Adam’s pre race fuelling of choice is an ice cream. 

Fire Fighter Charity Trail Run 10k took place on the Friday evening of the 31st May from Princetown. The run started from the station at 6pm and proceed along a marked route on the former Princetown railway line and there where plenty of firefighters cheering along the way!

Fighter Charity provides vital assistance to firefighters and their families in times of need

Cheryl Dunn Quoted:

The firefighter charity 10km trail run had beautiful views and a really enjoyable course most definitely seemed like a great run for people who wish to try there first trail run everyone was so friendly and great bbq after . My time on Strava was 57.17 which I was happy with felt very comfortable untill the hill then took a bit of time to get back to that place again but feeling stronger each time

Those that ran where:

Paul Sharples, Shaz Sharples, Cheryl Dunn, Vicki Hayles, Teresa Holmes, and Kate Heaton: No times at going to press.

The 3rd round of the Exe 5K Series was held on the evening of June 4th. Callum Price and James Saunders made the short trip to Exeter to take part. The route started and finished at Exwick Park, and followed paths and cycle tracks on a two lap loop. Weather conditions were changeable with sun, showers and a moderate breeze making the straight along the river quite testing!

Callum, making his debut at this event ran well, clocking a time of 00:26:46 to finish 135th.

James has a 10k race coming up, so used this race to help build his pace. James finished 45th in a high quality race, clocking a time of 00:18:57. A well organised event with races in July, August & September to come.