THE great thing about the Cape Wrath Challenge is that despite the competition it is not over the top and intense.

It is a race week organised by runners for runners. Folk are happy to talk about running without worrying they are becoming too obsessive. Equally, the week is sprinkled with a host of social events - a quiz, walks, abseiling, boat trips, Scottish dancing. It is a wonderful environment to meet new people and to make friends. It is why runners travel from all over the country year after year for this annual pilgrimage to the far north coast of Scotland.

Typical of the laid back atmosphere of the week was Thursday's race known as the Target Zero Balnakeil to Faraid Head Beach Run.

This race not only attracts those taking part in the challenge, but runners from the village and dozens of schoolchildren. Many were kitted out in fancy dress. We had mermaids, Neptune, a ghost, and runners kitted out in their nightclothes!

The run is three miles along the beach, through the dunes and back, and you have to guess your predicted time. Running without a watch, global positioning system, or any sort of ready reckoner, the idea is to get back to the finish by Balnakeil Church closest to your target time.

Working on the basis of seven-and-a-half to eight minute miles, I'd predicted a time of 23 and a half minutes for the fun run.

Fortunately the weather was kind and sunny. Within an hour it had turned foul and rainy, and a planned barbecue on the beach had to be abandoned as we all retreated indoors that evening to the village hall for food and sanctuary.

But that afternoon, runners set out along the beach. Water very soon seeped into running shoes, and carrying the blister from the day previous, this didn't help matters. That didn't detract from a very pleasant run along Balnakeil Beach where I finished in just over 24 minutes and some 90 seconds outside of my time. Not bad, but way off the mark. One runner managed to finish within nine seconds of their target and another, incredibly, was spot on with 21 minutes exactly. Surely there should be a steward's enquiry!!