The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Normand’s plan works to perfection
Carnethy Running Club’s Rachel Normand admitted to being surprised, but delighted, to have won the Scottish ultra trail running title after taking top spot in the women’s division of the Highland Fling 53mile race on Saturday.
The Edinburgh-based athlete, who comes from London, completed the course in 8hr 22min 23sec which was 30min quicker than she managed when finishing third in 2017.
Normand said: “I really didn’t expect to win.
“At Balmaha, after about 20 miles, I was lying in fourth position but I worked my way through and eventually pulled away on the rockier part of the route.
“I made a plan for the race and it went well but I’m still in disbelief because winning the Scottish title is just amazing.
“I don’t think I’ve even taken part in a Scottish championship race before. This is definitely the biggest race I have won.
“The course is beautiful,the scenery is spectacular and it looked so good because the weather was clear.
“It certainly helped to make the run feel better.
“My next big race is the Lakeland 50-miler in July but next year I’m keen to do the Devil O’ The Highlands race over the second half of the West Highland Way.
“One day I might do the West Highland Way race itself.”
Normand’s clubmate, Ireland international Nicola Duncan, who was third in the previous weekend’s Trac 15-mile trail race at Balmoral, finished strongly to take second position in 8:26:45 while Serpentine AC’s Gemma Carter was third in 8:46:54.
The 2017 race winner, Nicola Adams-Newby (Garscube Harriers), finished fifth in 9:04:17 but won the Scottish over40s title while Shetland’s Charlotte Black, 10th in 9:52:36, was silver medallist in this age group.
“In disbelief because winning the Scottish title is just amazing”