2024 Beast Race

Participants arrived in their droves to take part in what was another fantastic Beast Race. An overcast day at Knockburn Loch was the setting of this epic race. With another sell out year, the popularity of this local 10k obstacle race doesn’t seem to be shifting. With food/drink vendors, spectators and volunteers at the ready, the first wave of race goers took to the hills at 9.45am. With waves going every 15 minutes, the new revised route quickly became scattered with participants.

Whilst the first few kilometers are ‘dry’, the hill incline and Stags leap obstacles worked on making the legs heavy by the time they reached the Beast Bog… it smells like it sounds! The first dip for racers, the Beast Bog required you to wade in to thick, boggy water up to neck deep and make your way 10 meters or so until the exit into the forest. Some downhill parts of the route gives the glutes some respite however, it isn’t long until it’s interrupted by the ankle biter and sand bag carry, amongst other obstacles.

It’s not until nearly 7k that you get to clean the Beast Bog off you and experience the balmy 14C temperatures of Knockburn Loch. Although chilly, it’s a fun part of the race both to watch and take part. From here, participants are in and out the water making the last section of the race feel a little tougher just before being turned orange at Clay Clag.

One last dook in the Loch and a slide down Drainpipe rat soon made everyone’s clothes and skin colour a little less orangey so crossing the finish line had a little more glamour!

The race attracts various levels of fitness and people from all walks of life however, the finishing results also show it attracts people of elite fitness. The first place finishing male crossed the line in an astonishing 49 minutes and 47 seconds, with an equally impressive top female finishing time of 58 minutes 52 seconds!

Well done to everyone from Prime Four who took part and congratulations to all participants who crossed the Beast finish line.