Two Breweries Hill Race Report

28th September 2024

Something about this race compelled me to put a few thoughts down (which turned into a few paragraphs!).

After the Ben Nevis Race earlier in the month left me feeling slightly deflated – I had hoped for a faster time and really struggled in the heat – my confidence was low going into this one. Anyone who has tackled the Two Breweries knows how brutal it is: 19 miles with 1,600m (5,300ft) of climbing over rough terrain, much of it pathless. Like all hill running events, it requires self-navigation – no handy flags to guide the way!

I had finished this race twice before: in 2018 and then in 2022 with a PB of 4:09, following training for the West Highland Way that same year. But this time, my goal was simply to finish without damaging my body. Just over a year postpartum with the twins, my body is still dealing with some lingering niggles, and my weekly mileage isn’t what it used to be for obvious reasons!

The weather forecast looked not too bad and I was excited for some heather bashing! After enjoying some coffee and home baking in Broughton (organised by Macmillan Cancer Support), we took the bus to Traquair for registration and the noon start. I found a quiet spot in the walled gardens to organise my bag and take a moment to relax before the race.

Standing on the start line, I felt nervous but also mentally at peace, knowing there was no pressure; it was all about enjoyment. I couldn’t help but smile at how liberating it felt to leave the house with just my own gear, without worrying about food, snacks, clothes, nappies, naps or general child logistics!

The start was fast, as always. I settled into the middle of the pack, feeling strong and relaxed on the first climb, as we battled through shoulder-high bracken. I tried to conserve my legs on the descent down Birks Hill, focusing on getting the best line before the next climb. I took on some food and remembered how painful this race can be!

The miles flowed across Stob Law and up the stinger of a climb to the top of Whitelaw. I absolutely love the downhill section that follows, smiling all the way to the bottom and reaching Stobo in about 3 hours. I wasn’t paying much attention to timing at this point, as I was enjoying flying down the hills!

Coming into Stobo

From experience, I knew the section from Stobo to Trahenna and then to the finish could make or break the race. As I started to calculate my potential finish time, I thought, I could comfortably come in around 4.5 hours, which would be about 20 minutes off my PB – and I’d be delighted with that!

Memories of previous years came flooding back and I knew I had to just keep a steady pace through the trees. I passed a couple of people and, thankfully, remembered the left turn just in time! Picking a decent line through the long grass, I reached the bottom of Trahenna – the beast of a climb – and got my head down to the top.

It’s not a long climb, just incredibly steep! This year, we couldn’t take the direct route up the middle due to tree plantations and deer fences, so we followed a faint track to the south of the hill. Reaching the top felt great and the sun even tried to peek through as I checked my watch: it read 3:45. I was shocked to realise I was so close to my PB!

Fuelled by adrenaline, I went for it on the descent, bounding along the traverse and down Ratchill. I couldn’t believe how strong I felt and that I had a real chance of matching, or even beating, my previous time. With one mile to go, my watch read exactly 4 hours. I gave it everything I had and, somehow, crossed the finish line with a 1-minute PB!

Honestly, I could have cried! I was so buzzing crossing the finish line! It’s mind-blowing what the body can do – but even more so, what the mind can push you through. So much of this running journey is a head game. After a confidence knock earlier in the month at Ben Nevis, this felt like such a win. I hadn’t felt ‘strong’ in what seemed like forever, and getting a PB here felt like a game changer. It was the moment I felt like a runner again.

The beer and home baking are always welcome at the end of this race and I managed to sample some before heading home to jump back into parenting mode!

Repping the Tinto vest