Cape Wrath Challenge Week Posted by Lilly Click here to return to HH News

The Cape Wrath Challenge Week, NW Scotland

Question 1: If you’re planning to run the most northerly marathon on mainland Britain, what should your race preparation be in the final week before race day?

A. After a careful 2 week taper, your final week should include a couple of short slow runs, a deep tissue massage and pasta loading from 2 days before the race
B. Your final week should involve running in four different races in wild and spectacular Scottish scenery, bagging a couple of Munros, maybe some sea kayaking, plus perhaps a few lemonades at a pub quiz and a beach barbecue 

Question 2: You have just taken part in the above marathon, what should you do as post race recovery straight after the race?

A. Take an ice bath and ensure that you take on some protein and carbs in the hour after the run
B. Snooze for an hour before putting on your glad rags for an evening celebrating with 200 other runners at an energetic village ceilidh that includes a post race buffet sourced from highland fare, with locally caught seafood to rival the best that Padstow can offer

Choose answer (B) for both questions and you get a taste of the Cape Wrath Challenge Week!

This was my sixth time at the Cape Wrath Challenges which takes place in and around Durness, a tiny village in the far north west of Scotland. Annually it attracts people from all over the UK to experience unrivalled local hospitality and community spirit, amazing race logistics and runs of varying distances in beautiful mountain and coastal scenery. For the princely sum of £50 you can take part in as many or as few of the following races as you like:

Monday: The Loch Eribol Half Marathon or 10k (you are transported around the shores of the loch from where you run back to the finish and lunch at the village hall)
Tuesday: The hill run (6 or 4 mile options) – offroad race and with lovely coastal views
Wednesday: “Round Durness” – a 9 mile offroad race
Thursday: The fancy dress 3 mile beach run on Balnakiel beach with the local primary school kids (having left my Abba costume at home in the laundry basket, I was forced to craft an emergency fairy outfit from a curtain pelmet and foil, all of which held together surprisingly well running along the dunes – MdS runners take note !!!)
Friday: Umm, rest day
Saturday: The Cape Wrath Marathon - this is a stunning run on the wilderness of the Cape, either run individually or as relay teams of 2,3 or 5. The most northerly marathon in mainland Britain, it includes a ferry crossing across a sea loch to get onto the Cape followed by a 22 mile run to the lighthouse and back (with climb of 2500 feet) before a return ferry crossing and then an undulating 4 miles back to the village hall.

As well as all of the above, the village lays on a welcome reception, a pub quiz, a Scottish dancing lesson (in readiness for the Ceilidh), guided walks, sheep dog demos (!) boat trips, kayaking, a beach barbecue and bonfire and the aforementioned Saturday night post-marathon ceilidh, buffet and prize giving. More than enough to fill your day if you have too much energy left after the races.

This is a great event, set in stunning scenery and well worth the effort of getting to Durness. But what really makes this event so special is the people - all the villagers who organise the week, and the old and new faces taking part (100 people are there during the week and on marathon day, this doubles to 200). Next year will be the Tenth Year of the Cape Wrath Challenges and promises to be a really special week.