Isle of Skye Half Marathon 2013 (by Paula Wilson)

“Running upstairs, tripping on the last one & flying into the door frame, then ending up at A&E, perhaps not the best preparation for a half marathon just 6 days later!! I ventured up to the Isle of Skye anyway, having already pre-entered the race, hoping that my headaches would stop in time for the race on the Saturday morning.

Feeling ok during my warm-up, with the sun shining & the Isle of Skye pipe band playing, I lined up outside Portree High School with over 400 runners….a record entry for the 30th anniversary of the race. I had been warned how tough the course was, which we all found to be true as soon as the starter gun went off & we started on a hill that went upwards for the whole 1st mile. By now we were in the countryside & the reward for the hard hilly course was the stunning scenery throughout the rest of the race. Even though we were out in the wilderness there was plenty of support along the way with families outside their homes cheering the runners on, some with hoses to cool us down.  It carried on to be ‘undulating’ until mile 7 where there was a gradual hill that continued to mile 9 where it got steeper & carried on for another 2miles!!!! Halfway up the steepest part a woman had stopped her car, opened her doors & was blasting out ‘highland dance’ music while clapping & shouting ‘looking good’ ‘well done’ ‘keep goin’, I was really struggling at this point, but she almost gave me a skip in my step!! From mile 11 there’s a great flat, then downhill finish back to Portree High School, where a large crowd was there to cheer over the finish line, & you get handed possibly the best goody bag I’ve ever had, a great t-shirt (that fits me!), TWO Mars Bars, a homemade cookie, a 30th anniversary shot glass & a miniature of Talisker whisky. With a free swim in the pool, homemade soup & rolls & as much tea, coffee & CAKES all free for runners, was a great finish to a fantastic race.

The popularity of this race has grown over the years even thought it has a reputation for being a tough course, which only makes finishing it more rewarding & with excellent organisation, fantastic goody bags & great support from the locals, I thoroughly recommend it.

I finished in 1.42.15 was 90th overall, 2nd Vet45………..and no headache :o)”

P. Wilson (16/6/2013)