Thanks for you input, it's good to know the organisers are listening and welcome feedback.

Please understand that the points people are talking about are the small points which concerned them. This is always the case with these things as people are more likely to be vocal with complaints that with praise.

Apart from the few concerns expressed on this page I thought the event went off really well and hope the event goes from strength to strength in the future. Personally, I've almost forgot about how difficult I found it and am almost certainly going to participate again next year.

One quick reply however wrt Ian's comments on the 3rd - 8pm. Myself and qualified Event Safety Staff (Wilderness Medics / Mountain Instructors) and some marshals were in attendance until 11.15pm, all connected on comms on ensuring that everyone was safe and clear from the course - we knew where the last runners were. Although I am sure other 'organisers' were having a good time, and I'd certainly want them to be having a good time, I would also like to emphasise that we take the role very seriously. Furthermore, Myself and three other helpers were up (with the Police) until 3.30am on incident management with theoretical missing persons (no apparent dibber return).

I'm happy to see the comments, and I'm certainly not expecting you to appreciate everything that goes on behind the event. The important matter is that the parts that you see and get involved with are good for you, and there is obviously some room for improvement after this inaugural event. We'll do that.

Many thanks, Gary Tompsett, Race Director.

The other aspect of the event was that it brought out lots of inexperienced runners having a go at a challenge. The event was advertised as a 10k and so gave the impression that a fairly fit runner might be round in well under 2 hours max - not the 4 hours that some experienced.

I'm a regular hill runner and orienteer. In hill races of this length there would be a requirement (ususally enforced by kit inspection) that runners would have full waterproof body cover, a compass, whistle, emergency rations. There was no insistence on any of these and many runners were out in trainers for an event that was significantly tougher than most hills race (and after dark!).

It was a great fun event and I certainly did enter into the spirit as requested. However, I do think more consideration should have been given to the safety of the runners.

Thanks for your account of the event. I'm seriously considering forwarding these excellent comments onto the event organisers so as to bring to their attention the concerns expressed.

Like you say, this has the potential to be a great event but I think that they have been very lucky that the weather wasn't typical for this time of year as some people could have got into serious problems.

Four of us had entered the event as it sounded like serious fun and I noted on the web site that navigation was not needed due to excellent sign posting and the challenge of competing in the 10km race in darkness seemed like a good intro to adventure racing.

Seeing Rebecca, Hazel and Dave set off on the supposed 5km ( more like 8 km) at 5.10pm, I had a vision of them being back in just over an hour. However when the first serious runner arrived at 6.05pm it startled me as to how tough the course must be and I changed my tactics.

Pleased to say all my group finished before the 10km started so I was able to get some brief information of getting wet very early etc - but it was great fun and what a setting as the sun went down.

So Eagerly set off, but in a paced way and eased my way into the top 50 going up the first hill so I was not to delayed at the pinch points.

Agree with all the comments re the second ascent and did think of all the runners behind me as just as I started to descend it went dark. Navigation was a nightmare I did not see any of these vaunted reflectors and the odd bit of plastic tape. At one stage there was a pack of us running round Innerleithen looking for the route with street lights. What it must have been like for the other folk who were still heading up the second hill in the dark I really sympathise if they got lost or disorientated.

Also I think the organisers were incredibly lucky with the weather. Full moon clear skies. If it had been raining and windy I think there was a real risk of some injuries re the scree, exposure etc. The event did not seem to be adequately marshalled.

Finally as you say, no tankard issued or free beer and for the people still coming in at 11.00pm + to have no food or medals - yet there were plenty on the registration stall on the Sunday morning is very poor.

Personally I really enjoyed the challenge and the event and my kids had a great time in the afternoon on all the attractions.

Real potential to be a good one, I just hope the organisers take heed of the feedback and build on it for next year.

Considering a cycle tonight to get the old body moving again!

That summed up the day to be honest - one huge queue. Thing is I did enjoy it and would do it again but I think the organisers need to get their shit together and look after everyone until the very end.

Exactly how I felt Sandy. They could have really done with the first few km being on a wide track through the forest to allow people to find their natural place in the pack. I feel the whole course was too narrow and even in the closing kilometre I was being passed by people who were much more proficient at this kind of thing and should have really been much further up the field.

I made the same mistake at the Hog Roast stand and just couldn't believe that they didn't have a sign up to buy your token at the bar!

Much to my amazement, when queuing at the bar for a token and a beer the winners of the two events were being announced and prizes handed out - this was only about 10:00pm. The organisers seemed to be having a great time and I couldn't help but feel that they seemed to be ignoring a huge chunk of the competitors who were still out in the cold and stumbling about lost on the second hill.

Yeah, you're right. What happened to the tankards? To be honest I think the organisers were pretty poor as what was described on their website and what actually transpired differed in many ways.

The fact there was only one small catering van - plus the hog roast stand - was pretty poor and the fact the van ran out of hot food well before the majority of people finished the 10k was scandalous.

I also think the route could have been signposted better because if you ever lost sight of the person in front of you it became very difficault to find your way and numerous people were getting lost - like Isabel above.

All this aside, now that I've had a couple of days to reflect I think I'd do it again but would probably prepare slightly better next time.

Anyway, roll on May and the Nairnshire Challenge!