Frostbite Trail Series 2014-15

 Frostbite Trail Series

The Frostbite trail series is set up and run by the Falkland Trail Runners, self titled the 'psycho squirrels'. The  series runs over four races roughly once a month from November through to February. The top three races counting towards an overall score. You enter all four races and for £22 and you get to run around the trails of Falkland Palace four times covering 3.4ish miles a time and 'enjoy' a total of 16 stream/river/estuary crossings. Not only that, they throw in a shiny medal, some water, and even a wee protein bar.




Anna and I signed up to make sure that we ran through the winter months but it kind up snuck up on us all of a sudden. The first race on November 23rd came up quickly. With Anna run down with a cold I took a MTFU tablet and went via train and cycle (I can hear my Grantham friends screaming 'Does he still not drive?' sadly, NO!). The cycle was reasonably straight forward, not too taxing and made me feel a bit of a bad ass cycling to a race. Really I should have cycled all the way without the train, but lets be honest that would have broke me. Anyway, back to the race. Arriving into Falkland I was amazed to see signs and Marshall's everywhere directing people from the parking in the centre of Falkland to the start in the grounds of the palace.

This was well organised.

At the start area there was a really friendly atmosphere, but a LOT of club vests. Now of the few races I've done before club runners have always been friendly but they have also always been quick. So I was a little nervous that I might be totally outclassed but it turns out the mix of runners was really good, from some really quick ones to everyone else. With me hoping to be somewhere in the middle (almost average). At the start the MC/race director did a great job of getting everyone in the mood and was funnier than most.

at the start area, before the madness

Race 1


Once the race started we did two laps of a field  to split us up a bit then we went out onto the trail for two laps of the large loop before a final lap of the field to finish. The route was varied with some tarmac at the start, then we headed downhill towards the trees and the first stream/river crossing. It was a distance that ensured you had to make a conscious decision about whether you try and jump it, or just run through. I went safe and just ran straight through. Short legs make these decisions easy. Coming out of the stream there was a cruel quick and sharp uphill with that got muddier and muddier.

steeper and deeper than it looks.  Photo credit to Gordon Donnachie

We then continued round the trees and then went back through the stream which was slightly less deep but no less cold. After another short sharp up to get over the bank and another log we hit a gradual uphill back to the field. I found this uphill really hard, my quads took a pounding over the short sharp ups and downs but thankfully being a  short race it was over quickly. The second lap was more of the same but I was able to pace myself a little better knowing what was coming and to save something for the end. As you came back up to the field we did a final lap with some more commentary for the MC giving people a wee lift heading into the finish. The atmosphere at the finish was great and the sun allowed people to hang about and chat to friends. All that was left was for me to pack up and cycle back to the train, motivated by the knowledge if I didn't catch the next one I would have to wait another 90 mins.

I Finished the course in 29:37 coming 75th/188.

Race 2

If the weather for the first race was perfect then race two was very different. Anna was feeling better so with the bike safely locked up we drove through to Falkland. The weather was really windy and with heavy rain forecast it was going to be a cold slog. Anna was a little nervous about the water elements and as I was still trying to complete Marcothon so I decided to run with her. The route was the same and as I knew what to expect I could enjoy myself and we blethered round until we got to the first stream estuary. The bad weather meant that the water was noticeably higher so you got really, really wet. After the second water 'feature' we headed back up hill and I think Anna also felt it hard on the legs and the lungs.

Photo credit to Cris Wilson

After a little walk we started the second lap and took on the stream and logs jumps with more vigour finishing strong but the weather was bad enough for us to head straight back to the car after collecting out medal, even managing a wee jog back into Falkland to make sure we didn't get too cold. To the credit of Falkland trail runners they dealt with the bad weather brilliantly despite it being too windy to put up the finishing line or gazebo they used the cricket club for registration and general loitering instead.

Anna and I came home in 112th and 111th/179 with a time of 33:11 (before my dad asks, no I didn't let Anna finish before me) 


Race 3

Knowing that because of work commitments I wouldn't be able to run in the 4th event I was keen to try and beat my time from the 1st event at the 3rd event. The weather was promising to be horrid with some snow the day before at high ground and heavy rain forecast for the 11am start. Thankfully the rain held off for most of the race but the organisers made the decision the day before to change the start of the race from the field  to the duck ponds.

Photo credit to Gordon Donnachie

This and several other changes to the route meant that I spent the first lap not laving a clue where we were going but it was a great route and in my opinion better than the original (both were fun though). With more up and down trail, less tarmac and the 2nd stream crossing moved to nearer the finish line it probably suited me a bit better. The start crept up on me a little as I was expecting a little more chat from the MC again but I'm not sure I could have waited much longer in the cold. As we went over I passed a few runners but seemed to settle into a good pace and matched most of the people around me except a few that flew passed me on the first down hill where I went over my ankle slightly. I managed to keep running and the pain disappeared quickly. The path through the Forrest was really boggy but great fun to run through. Not knowing where we were going next kept me on my toes. After about half of the first lap we rejoined the old route and went through the first crossing of the stream which surprisingly felt lower than before short legs meant I still ran through it. As we were more spaced out the log jump straight after was much easier as you had room to move. The last uphill was still harder than it should have been but I just need to run more hills. The second lap was hard and I seemed to yo yo a few runners making a small gain on the few ups. I slipped on the last stream but managed to make a couple of final place gains in the last sprint to the line.

Photo credit to Gordon Donnachie

I finished in 28:14 mins coming in 46th/157. Anna smashed her previous placing and finishing in 32:01 in 88th/157

A medal so good it ended up on the christmas tree

For this race the Falkland trail runners had hired the village hall and it seemed to work really well as there was a central place everyone could get changed and use the toilets etc. 

As the course was different I don't think I can compare the first and third race times despite my placing improving dramatically. I think it would be dangerous to look too much into that. I'll have to wait until the final race to see my overall score but hopefully I'll finish around the middle of the pack. I'll certainly be entering more of the Falkland trail running races, of which there are many.

Below is a screen grab of the two routes.

 The first being 3.39 miles with 142 feet ascent. The second being 3.49 miles and 157 feet ascent.

Route of the first 2 races

Route of the 3rd race

Ultimately I'm happy that over the three months of the series I continued to run and train. These races being part of the motivation.

Thanks again to Falkland Trail Runners, all the Marshall's, volunteers and masses of people that helped out at this great event. There is a real sense of enthusiasm at these races and it was a great introduction to winter racing. There was also a huge amount of photographers and videos made around the event which is an added bonus and makes it good to look back on. I'm a big fan of taking photos of these sorts of events as I think they will make great memories and provide something to look back on later in life. So thanks again everyone.

Good luck to everyone competing in the final event in February .

Some videos below made by Malcy M
Frostbite event 1

Frostbite event 2

Frostbite event 3

Next up is the Forfar Half Marathon which I'm really looking forward to. I'm not sure I'll be able to beat my last time but we'll see on the day.  If you read the blog and are there on the day please feel free to say hello.

Next post on the Blog will either be about the Forfar Half or I might try and write something on BIG running V's WEE running that I've been mulling over since reading Running Free by Richard Askwith.

Cheers