White Cow Woods 10k
26th December 2008

Christmas saw us in Aberdeenshire this year, and the opportunity of a cross-country race in Mintlaw was too good to resist. This was definitely a low-key event, with 60 runners competing in the 5k and 10k events. The 'Race Director' turned up around half and hour before the start, placed a single direction arrow and it was one lap around the freezing White Cow Woods for 5k and two laps for the 10k. Our race numbers were written on the backs of our hands, with the entry fee donated to charity. With no further ado we were off. There was a second helper at the finish to record times (we had to shout out our numbers as we passed). No marshalls, no drinks stations (apart from iced water at the finish), just the organiser and his assistant. Not quite sure why we need so many helpers for our events? It was a thoroughly enjoyable event, and I even managed to pursuade my neice to enter her first running race. Then Viv and I cycled the 30 miles back to Whitlam along the disused railway line.

Dave Holt