The RBL Major Series: Scotland 10Km, 2016 Review

By Philip Crosson

Saturday 4 June 2016 The Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, near Stirling    

The predominant memory of last years Scottish Major Series was that it was so cold, rainy and windy, I had trouble untying my shoelaces at the end of the race because my fingers were freezing!  

This years event promised to be very different due to the great weather we'd currently been enjoying in Scotland and the fact that the Major Series had undertaken significant change. Not only has it been rebranded to associate itself more with the Royal British Legion, new obstacles and format had been announced. The result has elevated the Scottish Major to a completely new level and raised the bar on how an OCR should look and run in my view.  

Registration was quick and easy online via the active.com website. A choice of either the 5K or 10K route to choose from and plenty of information on where the event is, how to get there and what to expect once you arrive. Indeed, signposts for the Major started to appear by the side of the road a few miles away from the site which offers reassurance to drivers that they're going the right way.  

The build up to the race comes from the Major via a few emails, all with the military theme and based on the premise that you are recruited to take on a mission to complete the course with the support of his troops.

The Cardoss Estate is a private farm with over 4000 acres and includes a river, ponds, plenty of muddy ditches, fields and fences. Upon arrival, parking is free guided by marshals and the event village is a short walk away.  
 
Upbeat music plays over the tannoy system with occasional advice announced by the Major. You recognise the Major because he looks exactly like his cartoon image on all the materials and website; a commanding figure in military uniform complete with huge moustache a la Blackadder Lord Melchett style and cane - great fun!
 
Included in the village is the registration tent, changing tents if required, toilets, a free car-keys/phone bag drop, MOMA porridge stand with free samples , Red Bull representatives handing out free cans, Blacks sports store and stands selling hot or cold food with a table and seating area and bar. A huge map of the course was also on show, medics available and a photo area to have your free photo taken at the end of the race.  The feel and vibe of the village was great and this is where people congregated prior to their start wave.
 
The Major announced the waves every 15 minutes and the Army PT Instructor put you through your paces in the warm up pen.  Once finished, the Major marched in front of the wave to the starting point where he fires his gun and let's you run through the thick coloured smoke bombs that have been thrown on the starting line. Quite the spectacle!
 
The new 10K course format involves running through 5 zones; Basic Training, Air, Land, Marine, and Extraction Zone.
 
A few hundred metres in the Basic Training Zone and the military PT Instructors are shouting “15 press ups”, then run to do 15 squats, then another short distance to do 15 burpees!  Then on to the tyre field before a chance to get into a stride running over uneven ground to the first big obstacle; MOMA Perilous Porridge Pot wall. This was a huge block where you climb up one side of the block (the pot) along the flat roof, which was a cargo net made out of canvas belts, then down the other side. An original obstacle in my experience.
 
Balance beams, cargo net wall and cargo net crawl, postman’s walk balancing on a rope between 2 trees featured in the Air Zone, which led to the Land Zone.
 
This zone had various muddy ditches, some quite deep. Spider web, a barbed wire crawl through thick, wet mud and a run through a boggy area found you being squirted with water from soldiers in full camouflage gear - I genuinely did not see them coming. A chance to throw a hand grenade (potato) into baskets tested your aim; and if you failed - 5 burpees! 
 
A common feature of the course was sound effects, such as rifle fire and battle cries or well known rousing military tunes being blasted from several hidden speakers which really added to the theme and effect of the event as you went round the course.
 
The highlight of the Marine Zone featured wading into the river where 3 large inflatable logs floated in front of you. The only way through was under the logs and although the water wasn't freezing, it still took your breath away as you went fully submerged under each log.
 
Running into the Extraction Zone encountered a series of high over and under beams, a series of floating mats to run over in a pond, a huge slide (photo opportunity), tunnels to crawl through, a log carry and a mock front of a house where you could either go through the windows or climb through the blocked doorway. Every now and then, flames would appear from the top of the wall. Again another original obstacle.
 
Eventually the finish was in sight and the last hurdle was a massive A-Frame wall with ropes. Marshals willing and helping you along if you needed it.
 
There were marshals everywhere. Clearly an advantage the Major Series has is access to cadets, volunteers and the British Military Fitness teams throughout the region and their friendly banter, support and advice is a huge plus for the Major Series.
 
The finish line takes you into the village where you receive your medal, T-shirt and goodie bag. An impressive bag it is too with a can of Red Bull, sachet of MOMA porridge, Hi Five gel and electrolyte tablets and discount vouchers advertising Blacks Sports store.
 
A chance to get a bite to eat and drink, not forgetting to pose for your free souvenir photo - all photos available online after the race.
 
This was a fun, challenging course, well-organised and well run.  Considering the parking, car-key drop, porridge, race timing, spectators entry and finish photos are free and the excellent T-Shirt and goodie bag, this is a great value event at £40 (or £35 for the 5K), if you took the early bird price.  Last minute entry came in at £59 with a range of prices in between depending on how late you register.
 
Attention to detail in areas such as communication, the layout of the course, the obstacles and the event village has raised the bar in how a good OCR ought to be delivered in my view, and I for one will be happy to take part again next year.
 
Philip Crosson