Glen Clova Extreme Duathlon 2018

Read Cathy MacDonald's experience of this extreme duathlon - which is for a fantastic cause, raising money for all those hardy souls who volunteer with Tayside Mountain Rescue.

The term Extreme is Tayside Mountain Rescue’s (the organisers) way of saying this is a significant event that you have to be prepared for so a strict kit list and skills including competent map reading is required.

Extreme for me represents
1. Please no extreme weather this year (2017 was brutal)
2. Extreme enjoyment in being challenged 
3. Extreme joy that there is no swim ? 
4. Extreme pride that we live and can race in such beautiful countryside

Glen Clova has become a regular event for me and I stay the night before which allows me to register, have my kit checked and feel super organised.

There are normally a few gym buddies from Good Health & Fitness and this year there were 5 of us sharing the experience which always starts with a hearty breakfast.

On Saturday morning I prepared my bike by wiping down the ice that had formed on it overnight, zipped up my 20 layers of clothing and was immediately thankful that the sun was breaking through and it would be a fabulous day.

27K BIKE – 14 RUN – 6K BIKE 
The first bike route runs from Clova Hotel in an anti clockwise loop, it continues beyond the hotel and along the single track road to Glen Doll.

The route is shared with normal weekend traffic. The locals know the event well and are supportive so most cars slow up but picking the right places to overtake and avoid pot holes requires some extra attention on the narrow road.

The road was dry, the conditions were fresh with gusts of wind and while I loved the bike ride and felt very strong my heart dipped a bit when I had to work on the down hills on the last stretch towards Glen Doll. At least the wind should be behind us on the way back, right!!

Transition works well when it’s dry and I have to admit that I compared a few sections to 2017 and spent most of this year smiling broadly with an inner ‘weather celebration’

The hill run route extends from Glen Doll Car Park through the amphitheater, up Corrie Fee then southwards to the summit of Mayer. A downhill section follows to the saddle between Mayer and Driesh and then it’s uphill again to the second summit and a second munro. If downhill running is a favoured part of an event for anyone then the next few miles are to be enjoyed as the route goes down the Kilbo Path returning to Glen Doll car park. It is rocky, requires light bouncy feet and it is fun.

I normally do this event with my training partner but there was a difference in our bike strength this year and we agreed that I should go ahead on the bike and he would catch me on the hill so unusually for me I headed off on a solo run. My ethos is walk/jog the ups, jog/run the flats and run hard on the downs which serves me well.

Surprisingly I felt very strong on the hill and didn’t require a rest at any stage. The views were amazing and there was a lot of laughter on the route making every step of this event an enjoyable one.

At key points on the route marshals note participant numbers and by the time I reached the top of Mayer I asked them to convey a suitably cheeky comment to my running partner suggesting he hurry up before I finish the event as a solo. There were a few groups around me and we played cat and mouse for the whole run – they’d pass me on the ups, we matched the flats and then I’d pass them on the downs. Onwards to the second top and on the way down my ‘event buddy’ appeared. Decision time – lose 7 minutes waiting or continue solo!

We were both really keen to complete the event in under 4 hours and until now we had always crossed that finishing line together so a quick decision and we buddied up for the last few miles.

Returning to the bike transition we quickly changed footwear and looked forward to having the wind behind us for that last 6k bike – isn’t it amazing how the wind changes direction so readily!

We finished together, completed it in 3h.56.39 and felt strong and happy. Roll on 2019 – the date is already set for 21st September and I recommend this as a fulfilling event to round off any summer season – Extreme in many ways.

Thank you for reading. Cathy.