The Mighty Deerstalker
Traquair House, Peeblesshire - 17th March 2012
We have released futher 100 places into Deerstalker 5km.
Click here to enter now.
If you have entered the event as a team of 10 or team of 5 you have until Monday 12 March to enter your team members' details. Please see your email confirmation for advice on how to do this. After this time the account will be locked and you will be unable to add or amend any details, and if they're not filled in, your mates will not be able to take part in the event.
After the sell-out success of 2011’s event, it’s almost time for another turbo-charged roller-coaster of a run.... in tweed.
The best becomes even better. As the flagship event in the Notorious Night Run series, the course will feature all the thrills, spills and hills you’ve come to expect, with regular wettings and obstacles like “The Rack”, “The Scree” and “The Tunnel” to push you to the edge. But, with a cap on entry numbers, we’re more confident than ever that you’ll stagger back, grinning like crazy folk.
Fancy dress is part of the fun, with tweed and tartan at the top of the what-to-wear list. When the gun goes off, a rampage of wool-wearing runners will storm along the tree lined avenues of Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, and towards the many challenges that await them.
Whether you sign up to the daylight 5k (and the rest) or the torchlit 10k (and then some), you’ll pit yourself against the landscape of the breathtaking Tweed Valley: followed by our Notorious after-party, with legendary live music and local hospitality, and a comfortable conclusion as you drift soundly away in our onsite camping area.
For the 10k, don’t forget your head torch: we guarantee you’ll need it.
- 2012 Prices
- The Venue
- The Event
- The Course
- Weekend Timetable
- What to wear
- Safety Matters
- Tackling Obstacles
- Prizes
The Run |
Standard price |
10k |
£45.00 |
10k - Team of 5 |
£40.00 |
10k - Team of 10 |
£35.00 |
5k |
£35.00 |
Camping/Party Price - £10 per person - SOLD OUT
Traquair House dates back 1107, when it was a hunting lodge for the Kings and Queens of Scotland, and has become woven into the history of the nation. One of the features of the house, The Bear Gates, have remained closed since 1744 after the house was visited by Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the 5th Earl of Traquair vowed never to open them again until a Stuart king was crowned in London.
For more information on Traquair House, and their calendar of events, click here.
For full details on finding the venue, click here for our “Getting there” page.
Two distance choices, with both runs featuring plenty of challenges, the Deerstalker events are intended to offer any reasonable runner the chance to test themselves. They’re both a genuine all-terrain undertaking, but the onus is on fun.
If you’re part of a group, you can include a club or team name in the entry form, but since we record your individual time, you can run at your pace.
The Deerstalker 5k (and the rest) – A day-lit dalliance
Starting at 1400pm, our 5k run is still a genuine test, but it’s roughly half the distance and runs in daylight, so caters to those newer to off-road running, or wanting to “test the water”. Using sections of the 10k course from start to finish, it’s got all the fun, but less of the physicality, with the added bonus of being able to see where you’re going!
The 5k route features a well-signposted drink station approx halfway.
Run duration between 50mins and 2 hours.
The Mighty Deerstalker 10k (and then some) – A torchlit trial
Starting at 1730pm*, the MIGHTY Deerstalker is the one to go for if you want the full nocturnal badge of honour. We give you all the features of the 5k, but send you further afield into the disorienting darkness!
Further, higher, steeper, wetter and wilder and don’t forget the headtorch - you’ll need it to overcome all the natural and manmade obstacles the course will throw at you. As the lead runner reaches the final peak, a huge firework will be set off, to signal their homecoming to the awaiting crowd at the finish!
The 10k route features two well-sign posted drink stations.
Run duration between 90 minutes and 4 hours. Be prepared!
*Start times may be adjusted forwards or back depending on light levels. Aim to be ready 30mins beforehand, in case of a very overcast day.
The Deerstalker Afterparty
After all your tweedy trials, it’s time to refuel, “rehydrate” and relax. We’ll have local food and drink available throughout the day for you and your spectators, so once over the finish line, grab some nosh and make a beeline for the Party Tent. After the informalities of Prize Giving, we leave you with our live bands to party until midnight. Stay on-site in our camping area, or designate a driver to get you home safe. Perfect.
Friday 16th March
1600 Parking and Campsite opens
2200 Gates close, strictly no access
Saturday 17th March
0800 Parking and Campsite opens
1030 Registration opens (for 5k and 10k)
1345 Registration closes
1400 5k(and the rest) starts
1415 Registration reopens (for 10k)
1715 Registration closes
1745 10k (and then some) starts*
2045 Prize giving in Party Tent
2100 Live music in Party Tent
2330 Catering and Bar close
0000 Party Tent closes, Event Village cleared, “Thank you, and goodnight!”
0000 Gates close, strictly no vehicle access.
Sunday 18th March
0730 Catering opens in the Event Village
1200 Campsite and Parking area closes
*NB we may adjust this start time, depending on light levels.
In honour of our auspicious surroundings, we feel it befitting to dress appropriately. Expect to rub shoulders with Lairds and Ladies in their country finery, Rob Roys in sporraned splendour, and a whole host of woolly wonder. By all means accessorize with waistcoats, pipe and hunting horns, and we encourage everyone to wear a hat. Deerstalkers do it in tweed.
However, please remember the physical demands at the heart of this tomfoolery. Consider your fancy dress choices in respect of the activities, the weather, and other participants; keep it safe and fun for everyone.
Some suggestions:
- A technical baselayer will help regulate your temperature.
- Off-road, or Trail shoes are more likely to keep you upright.
- Lower leg cover may offer protection from the odd scratch or scrape.
- In very bad weather, we may insist you start with full body cover.
- We strongly advise you carry basic emergency provisions, and a whistle to summon aid.
For the 10k, you will need a good headtorch, with fresh batteries!
If you’re short of any kit, click here to check out deals in the Rat Race Store.
Bring full body cover options with you, should the weather deteriorate in the final hours before your run, and seriously consider the other recommended items mentioned in the website, such as energy snack, drink, first aid kit and whistle – all contained in a small pack or pockets. There is a water stop on the 10k, but please do not solely rely on this if you think you will take a while to complete the course.
During your run look out for the signs of others on the course seriously struggling or injured and report this to the next course marshal, event first aider, or bail-out with them, to a point of help. If you see someone in trouble: HELP, you are the nearest person to be able to assist. In reality, incidents like this are extremely rare, and you will be amongst hundreds of people having a jolly (if not strenuous) time. Any participant who gives up their race to aid a fellow participant will receive a free event entry next year.
We’ve tested and practiced all the obstacles in this event ourselves, and now we require that you tackle them sensibly, and with the knowledge that you can make decisions independent from any verbal instruction from marshals that may be present. Here are some guidelines for safe practice that you must note;
- Consider bypassing an obstacle if you lack confidence, have appreciable fear or are - carrying an injury
- Ensure that the approach, and the obstacle itself are clear from obstruction
- If there is a marshal giving instructions, pay close attention
- If choosing to help participants, do so carefully, with their consent and without ‘launching’ them
- No stunts or ‘showboating’ should be attempted
- Pay attention to your surroundings, keeping head, arms and hands clear of any protrusions
- Spot your landing before jumping or lowering yourself from any obstacle
- Land with both feet. Bend your knees to absorb any shock
- Move away from the obstacle promptly
- Complete the obstacle ONCE only
- Do not rush. Do not barge or jostle with other participants. Do not drink the water
- Remember to smile!
You can find full T&Cs here which do mention some safety matters’
Timing will be conducted by electronic chip tied to your shoe, which we’ll give you at registration, and collect at the finish. Please use as instructed.
You’ll receive a tech t shirt before the start (you don’t need to wear it in the race), and each finisher will hobble away with a medal to wear with honour.
Prizes to the value of over £500 will be awarded to male and female runners recording the fastest times, in the form of adventure sports kit to the value of:
| 10km 1st Stag - £80 | 10km 1st Doe - £80 |
| 10km 2nd Stag - £50 | 10km 2nd Doe - £50 |
| 10km 3rd Stag - £25 | 10km 3rd Doe - £25 |
| 10km 1st Bambi (M16-17) - £30 | 10km 1st Bambina (F16-17) - £30 |
| 10km 1st Old Stag (M50+) - £30 | 10km 1st Old Deer (F50+) - £30 |
| 5km 1st Stag - £50 | 5km 1st Doe- £50 |
Other Resources
Take look around for more information about the Deerstalker event, or any of our other Notorious Night Runs via the “Notorious Series Homepage” in the menu at the top left of this page.
If you’ve read enough, click here to enter online, and we’ll see you there!