Cameron in action at the 2021 Blair Castle Trail Weekender
In this interview series, Ahotu will be speaking with the people behind some of the most unique races across the globe. Weāll be discussing the history of the event, challenges and how to overcome them, attracting sponsors, reaching new runners and more!
Thanks for joining us Cameron. As founder of Outsider Events and the Blair Caste Trail Weekender you have built a great portfolio of events across Scotland. Could you introduce Outsider Events and the Blair Castle Trail Weekender for those who aren’t familiar?
We officially launched Outsider Events in November 2020. Itās been a bit of a mad time to set off with an events company ā in a time where, for the large part Covid restrictions havenāt allowed us to do the very thing weāre trying to get off the ground. Itās kind of been a double-edged sword though because the other side of that I feel has allowed us more exposure. In the height of event season, there are so many cool events all around the country, itās easy to get lost amongst these. However, in a time when there were literally no events on, I think it almost created a blank canvas that enabled new events and companies alike to gain that exposure that may have been more challenging in a full event calendar.
We launched Blair Castle Trail Weekender last June with the aim of delivering a trail running festival weekend that caters for all running abilities. With trail races from 5km right up 60km, the weekend saw many people take on their first trail races, right through to GB international runners smashing out the KOMās.
Alongside the trail races, we have overnight camping, outdoor yoga, the Red Bull guys playing tunes from their DJ truck with the Castle and Cairngorm Mountain range as our backdrop, plus the glorious Scottish sunshine made a guest appearance too.
As one of the younger race directors on the scene you have built an impressive range of races, how did you get started?
Iāve had a range of event-based experience, from running the events programme at a care home to leading Mountain Bike and hiking trips in the Caribbean and Iceland. On paper, these are polar opposite environments, however they both share that element of bringing people together ā thatās what I love about events. Since I set off in the event world at the age of 17, Iāve had my heart set-out on starting my own events company. Throughout these various experiences, my head has continually been ticking with event ideas and cool locations ā it was just a matter of time before one of these plans gnawing away in my head became a reality.
I organised my first event as race director in September 2019 ā Stow Triple. An event that first came to mind as a kid immersed in bike racing, wondering āwhyās this race not been done before? Iād love to do that!ā – from there, things snowballed.
You also organise a number of unique cycling events, do you find there are big differences in organising a cycling event vs a running event? And is there a difference between runners and cyclists as participants?
Weāve got a couple cycling events in the calendar, with some new oneās on the horizon. Itās interesting, I personally find the running community far more engaging than the cycling world. Itās a difficult one to judge though, as thereās definitely a much larger running market out there.
I also think thereās a mentality in cycling where many feel āWhy would I do an event when I can just go and ride the route myself, for freeā? I donāt think that applies to folk racing seriously but for your mid-field/non-competitive cyclists I feel thereās an element of this mentality. Whereas, with running I think itās far more goal oriented, and a large part of these goals is invariably races and events.
2021 was the first edition of the trail weekender, how did it go and is there anything you are planning to change for 2022?
It was great. A real logistical juggling match in the build up to the event with restrictions continually changing but it played in our favour with restrictions lifting literally the night before, allowing us to have a full field. We were fortunate that the date was always going to be the 5th & 6th of June so didnāt have to do any re-shuffling in that sense. It was just a case of really pushing the event and trying to gain as much exposure as we could.
This year, weāre hoping for a restriction-free event and are looking to develop the evening entertainment with live music and family friendly activities, guided trail running, plus a wider range of event partners and catering experiences.
You’ve got a range of distances on offer from 7k up to 60k, with some challenging elevation on the routes. Are your races only for experienced trail runners or suitable for all?
Yes, weāve got 4 race distances on offer over the course of the weekend. A real underlying focus for the event is inclusivity and we believe thereās something for every level of runner. Our shortest race is 7km on straight-forward terrain ā ideal if youāre looking to dip your toe in the world of trail running. However, our 60km Full Tilt Ultra is a bit of a beast, taking in 2 Munro summits of Ben Dearg (1009m) and Carn a Chlamain (963m). A proper testing route with some truly stunning scenes across the vast Cairngorm Mountain range.
The event is set amongst stunning Scottish landscapes in the south of the Cairngorms national park. Where do your runners tend to come from?
We had such a range in 2021, literally, all over the UK. This year, itās cool to see some sign-ups from further-a-field too as international travel-restrictions ease. Blair Castle is so accessible being ideally located just off the A9 and only a short drive from all Scotlandās major cities. It also has a train station too, just 5 minutesā walk from the event village which weāre encouraging attendees to use.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for runners when attending and choosing races. Do you take any measures to reduce the environmental impact of the Blair Castle Trail Weekender?
Weāve got a range of measures in place to try and minimise our environmental impact of the event. This year, weāre not doing T-shirts and opting for an Eco-medal instead. Runners must bring their own bottle/foldable cup to re-fill at feed stations instead of using plastic single-use cups. Weāre also actively seeking partners with a similar approach to sustainability.
What can participants expect from the Blair Castle Trail Weekender?
A weekend of running that has something for everyone, staged in a truly iconic setting. Festival frolics and general good times!
When is the next edition taking place and where can our audience find out more information about the weekend?
Weāre gearing up for the 2nd edition of the Trail Weekender, taking place on the 4th & 5th of June this year. Our main source is the Outsider Events webpage www.outsiderevents.com and social media channels https://www.instagram.com/outsider_events, where you can keep up-to-date with any event announcements. Entries are also open on our website and Worldās Marathons – https://worldsmarathons.com/marathon/blair-castle-trail-weekender
Thanks for speaking with us Cameron, we look forward to seeing your events continue to grow and wish you all the best with the 2022 edition!
Interested in taking part? You can register for the Blair Castle Trail Weekender on Ahotu – Blair Castle Trail Weekender
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