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...This was Chris's 3rd visit and Nigel's 2nd, and it was great to meet up with some familiar faces who return to this event year after year, and greet the organizers who have become good friends.
The challenge week is made up of five races of varying terrain and distance, but you do not need to compete in all events. There is also a packed social program including nature walks (to see Puffins), Quiz night, Scottish Country dancing practice (ready for the Ceilidh), Sheep shearing, Beach BBQ, Spooky Walks, and the not-to-be-missed final night dinner, Ceilidh and presentations. The Challenge week is quite unique and the magnificent scenery on the north western tip of Scotland, along with the friendly and sociable local community, makes this event very special. It is no surprise that so many runners return year after year. One intrepid 64 year old even cycled from Essex to Durness before the event (about 650 miles) and swam across the Kyle of Durness for a warm-up!
Monday: 10K (very undulating)
| Chris
| 48m 22s
| 14th place
| | Nigel
| 50m 26s
| 17th place
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Quiz night: Our team came 4th out of 20 teams
Tuesday: 5.5 mile Hill Run (one big hill and back)
| Chris
| 43m 03s
| 42nd place
| | Nigel
| 46m 40s
| 60th place
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We then decided to "relax" in the afternoon by climbing a nearby 2600ft mountain named Arkle, which involved a 12 mile walk and nearly 6 hours of hard climbing. Apart from a compass malfunction and a slightly scary ridge traverse, this was a brilliant climbs with magnificent views across the western islets toward the Outer Hebrides.
Wednesday: 8.5 mile Round Durness Run (undulating trail)
| Chris
| 71m 49s
| 40th place
| | Nigel
| 76m 01s
| 53rd place
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Thursday: TARGET ZERO 3 mile beach run (no watches). Closest to predicted time wins. They got the tide timings slightly wrong this year, which meant a calf deep paddle for about 200m.
| Chris
| Predicted time 27m 20s
| Actual time 26m 50s
| 30 secs difference
| 15th closest.
| | Nigel
| Predicted time 29m 30s
| Actual time 29m 22s
| 8 secs difference
| 7th closest.
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After this race, Chris and Nigel joined several other loonies in some impromptu sea bathing. The sea temperature was estimated at 7°C! But it did help to relieve our sore muscles.
Friday: REST and RELAX
Saturday: Marathon or Marathon Relay (very undulating)
The FULL marathon is a unique race. It starts on the Cape Side of the Kyle and proceeds out to the lighthouse (11.5m) than back to the Kyle (23m) over very undulating terrain. At this point, the watch is stopped and runners wait to be ferried across the sea to the Durness side of the Kyle. It's then out of the boat and off to run the final 4 miles to the finish in Durness.
| Chris
| (Marathon)
| 4h 06m 23s
| 45th place
| | Nigel
| (11.5 mile 2-man relay leg)
| 1h 38m 23s
| 8th place 2-man relay
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Chris's marathon time was exceptional. This is a tough course on rough tracks and over very undulating terrain, but the scenery more than makes up for it.
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