The Mighty Deerstalker: Getting Mightier ...

Pyro / 22.03.2010

Since its beginnings, back in the mists of time (well, 2007 anyway), The Mighty Deerstalker has grown and grown. 365 people competed in the first 10km-and-the-rest race around the hills near Innerleithen back then. That field has now sextupled itself. So what has made this event such an astounding success?

The race format is simple: It's a trail race, with a few obstacles; be they water obstacles, balance beams, crawl nets or pipes. Everyone mass-starts, runs, and finishes. Not extra fuss or preening, just a simple "first round wins". However, to describe the whole race as "simple" would be a gross understatement.

The water obstacles, including a masochistic 200m wade against the current of the icy Leithen Water, chill the legs (and sometimes a bit higher) down to painful levels. The balance obstacles, while not high off the ground, can be slippery and awkward. The second major climb is up a steep slope of loose scree. The descents range from open smooth MTB track to so-steep-they-put-ropes-on-it wooded mudbank. This is definitely not a 'round the fields' cross country saunter. This is a course which pushes legs and lungs to the limit.

All this could go to explain the popularity of the event, but maybe there's something else. When course creator Gary Tompsett asked on the start line of the 10km race how many people were first time runners and how many were just here for the party, around half the field raised their hands and cheered. The longer of the two Deerstalker races has seen entries increase from 365 in 2007 up to nearly 1500 in 2010. The 5km race has had the same jump in entries, from 175 at the beginning to over 500 this year. Maybe the appeal is that this isn't a race for high-tech, expensive kit, just a pair of shoes, a head torch, and a good pair of lungs. Not for these racers the spangly gore-tex and miracle fabrics, just a healthy dose of tweed.

So, the format is simple-but-effective, the costumes are old-school, the racing is fast and furious, and the 'Beerstalker' after-party, with its rock-and-roll bands and local ale, is a must for anaesthetising those weary legs. Does that explain why you should be there next year? I hope so.

This years winners were:

5km Male - Steve Best, 00:53:19; 5km Female - Fiona Thompson, 00:56:12.

10km Male - Darin Dougal, 01:21:25; 10km Female - Mhairi Brown, 01:34:17.

Full results are available at the race website, www.themightydeerstalker.com and race photos are available to buy right here on Sleepmonsters.