The Heb races over the years

Before the Heb

The Heb was born out of the ashes of the Hebridean Challenge which ran from about 2002 to 2009. It was a complex and expensive 5-day race the length of the Outer Hebrides (either from Barra to the Butt of Lewis or vice versa). Nonie raced it in 2003 and 2004. I raced it in 2006 and 2008.

The Hebridean Challenge was, in turn, born out of the ashes of the Western Isles Challenge which ran from about 1994 to 2000. They were very similar but different organisers.

The Heb

The Heb is a simpler 2-day race over 200km on The Uists, a series of islands connected by causeways. There's a core route by bike which is mostly on-road but includes significant off-road sections and beach rides. There's a short kayak section each day and some serious hill runs over some unforgiving terrain. The whole course is achievable by the top competitors but the majority have to skip sections to get to the finish of each day in time (incurring time penalties). It was run by Durty Events.

2016

The first race (BBC). Nonie and I marshalled because we were curious about the race. Had a great time and resolved to come back and race it the next year.

A woman sits in a high-vis yellow vest with a dog.

Nonie on marshalling duties.

2017

2—3 September 2017

Nonie and I raced. I came 34th with a total of 26:16:53 (includes time penalties). The winning time was 14:32:26! Results

A group of people in running gear assembled beneath a wind turbine.

The race always starts at the wind turbine beside Lionacleit school.

2018

1—2 September 2018

Nonie and I raced again. I came 26th with a total of 24:37:38. Winning time was 13:24:36. Results

The weather was rainy and windy. 50 mph headwinds on the bike meant that, even on the flat, if you stopped pedalling you came to a halt within seconds. The bike along the beach section was particularly gruelling: 12km of cycling at walking pace. Memorable for sure.

A man in blue and a woman in red, in heavy rain and wind, looking directly at the camera.

Nonie and Bill atop the final hill, soaking wet and getting battered by the wind.

2019

31 August—1 September 2019

Nonie and I raced again and convinced some friends to join us: Colin Thompson, Steve Hunt, Russell Rowlands, Jon Whitaker, and Sue Couling. I came 14th with a total of 25:02:10. Results

The bow of a ferry in the foreground, islands in the background.

Approaching Lochboisdale on the ferry. Benn Mor and Hecla bathed in the sunset.

2020

Cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

2021

Cancelled due to ferry complications. Getting 150 people onto South Uist isn't easy if they cancel a ferry and the tight schedule doesn't allow for any wiggle room. We ended up going out (on a different ferry) and completing most of the course for fun. With Sue Couling, Jon Whitaker, and George Horsman.

A group of people standing in an almost empty campsite. Five people with bikes, the rest still getting ready.

The informal start to Not The Heb

2022

I raced as a pair with Colin Thompson and we came 12th (first male pair) with 17:49:13. With George Horsman, Jon Whitaker, Steve Hunt, and Clive Richardson. Results

Two men running along a beach.

Colin and me running along the beach on the north side of Vallay, the tidal island off North Uist.

There were rumours of a final race in 2026 but that is now looking unlikely. Seems like 2022 was the final one.