A little repetition

First of all thanks to everyone that has welcomed me back to blogging world.  Didn’t think that my mutterings would be missed.

Today we decided to forget running on the road and a repeat of yesterdays useless session.  So we all dusted off our spikes and headed to Kelvingrove park for some cross country reps.  Yeah you heard right, during our lunch break.

The route that we ran was 450m.  The first 200m on a gradual downhill then onto a short sharp hill with the last 200m odd on a gradual slope to the finish.  Sounds easy.  Well times it by 10 and only take a 1minute 10 secs recovery.

After kicking up the mileage this week my legs weren’t feeling like this but they needed some speed injected into them.  The first 4 were easy enough but I took the 5th a little easier as I was struggling with the recoveries.  6,7 and 8 were all fine and the 9th felt very comfortable and fast.  I really struggled on the 10th with my legs turning into jelly.  Also on the 10th the police arrived.  Possibly to move us if we did any more as I am sure the 5 of us were starting to cut up the park with our spikes or maybe they just wanted to eye up college birds while they sipped coffee and ate doughnuts.  :-)

The run back to work was awful.  My legs buckling as I ran up the hill at St Vincent Street.  Tough session but well worth it.

Slippery Slope

Out for another lunchtime run.  Today was meant to be a fartlek session but we had to change it to just a run due to the conditions.  Very slippery.  Actually I am surprised none of us didn’t end up in the river or injured.  We kept plenty of people entertained on the route with the gypos that are normally resident on the Kelvin walkway laughing at our attempts to run on the ice.  Most of the time it felt like we were running at under 6 min pace due to the slipping and Bens heart rate monitor was showing the same effort even although the watches were saying barely under 8 min mile.  Did think about going to club reps at night as well but felt a bit tired and thought I would keep something for reps tomorrow.

8.74m in 1:08:14 @ 7:48/m

A strange route with us trying to miss the most icy patches

Recovery Run

A nice easy recovery run with Ben at lunchtime.  Felt even easier when we saw the usual crowd running reps around Kelvingrove.

8.52miles in 1:00:52 @ 7:08 /mi

Legs a bit stiff but nothing too bad.  My back is a bit sore from yesterday and I have felt very hungry all day.

It is now exactly 200 days until the race.  Not that long. :-)

On my way again

WHW TRAINING RUN : BEINGLAS TO INVERSNAID, BACK TO BEINGLAS, UP TO CARMYLE COTTAGE AND BACK TO BEINGLAS

DISTANCE : 22.74 miles,    TIME (RUNNING) : 4:07:21,    TIME (TOTAL) : 4:31:36,   PACE : 10:53 / mile,   ASCENT/DESCENT +582.8 –589.2,  WEATHER : CLEAR, ICY, 1C

201 Days to go

It was strange to be going to a WHW training run by myself.  My usual partner in crime has hung up her running shoes and is now indulging in the usual pregnancy delights of swimming and chocolate.  It didn’t feel good to be with out her but also I didn’t have someone making sure I was there in time or packing my gear for me.  So 20 minutes before I was meant to be at Beinglas Farm I raced out of the house and raced up to our meeting point.  I think I may have cooked it too much as my dashboard is now lit up like a Christmas tree and telling me it needs some loving care at the local Honda garage.

Back to the run and it was great to be meeting everyone again.  The usual faces there again apart from Neal.  Caroline informed us all that he had the flu (not manflu I fear as Neal would not have missed this for anything).  In the next breath though Caroline pointed out that there was three footy games on and he was watching them.  Perhaps it was a case of manflu after all.

We all lined up for the mandatory JK piccy.

(courtesey J Kynaston, Someone (not JK) complained last year about me using one of their photos. Hopefully this helps)

John counted at least 35 of us.  A turnout that Garscube would be proud of on a training run. I have to admit that I was very dubious about doing the route to Inversnaid with so many of us.  In the end I didn’t need to worry as we broke up quite quickly into a few different groups.  I spent most of the run to Inversnaid, talking to John.  We spoke about training for next years WHW race and were it went right or wrong last year.  He had such a wonderful run this year and so it is good to talk to him and see what helped him.

I was telling John that today I wanted to take it easy.  That all went to pot when we met Murdo just before Inversnaid.  He told us that a group of three was well ahead and before I knew it I was saying “no problems JK and I will catch them later”

At Inversnaid we caught up with the fast group of 3.  Sharon, Davie and Russell.  A quick gel and we were off again.  I ran along with Caroline for a bit and then caught up with Sharon and Davie.  Sharon was rocketing along.  I chatted with them for a while before I saw another group just ahead and so I started to try to catch them up.  The path was very icy and a lot of people were falling so you had to be very careful.  Just when I caught up with the two fast guys I slipped and bashed my toe.  The big toe that I had lost the nail from during the WHW race.  Immediately I thought I had done some real damage.  I was nearly in tears as one guy asked if I was okay.  Trying to be macho I nodded and made it look like it happens every day.  I limped on and came back into Beinglas again and straight onto the section to Derrydaroch.  I hate this section.  Most people hate the section before from Inversnaid but from Beinglas to Derrydaroch is just a nightmare.  You feel like it should be easy but being predominately uphill it is very tough. 

I struggled on but I was worried that I made an error.  There was no-one in front of me and no-one behind.  Had everyone stopped at Beinglas and not told me?  By now I thought what the hell.  May as well run all the way even if they have.  Passed Derrydaroch and on my way to Carmyle cottage.  The snow was deeper and the path was icier.  Some bulls decided it was good to stand on the path and wouldn’t move.  I had to weave inbetween them thinking that at any moment one of them would kick out and end my hopes of competing in next years race.  At the underpass I turned back and headed towards Beinglas.  At last I saw some runners and knew I was doing the right thing.  The run back down to Beinglas is really easy and at last I really started to enjoy myself and pick up the pace.  Then I met Caroline going the other way to Derrydarroch.  I have to admit that I thought she might find the run hard but she totally proved me wrong and had a terrific run.  Well done Caroline. 

Slowly we all finished and gathered in the Inverarnan for a pint and tried to warm ourselves up.  Here I managed to catch up with a few people that I didn’t get a chance to talk to during the run.  Thomas and Silke and Ian as well.  All of them looking like they had excellent runs.

Note to John.  The name stickers were a great idea in theory.  The only thing was that everyones stickers fell off apart from mine.  So every time I passed someone they said “Hi Marco, How are you?”   I didn’t know if I knew them or they were just reading my name badge.

Cant wait for the next run.  :-) 

Dunbartonshire XC Championships

In preparation for tomorrows first West Highland Way training run with the team I decided to go for a quick 6 mile cross country race.  Good planning, yeah!

After reading Toms Blog with a picture of his spikes after his cross country race I thought I would post a picture of what your spikes should look like after a proper cross country race.  Dunbartonshire XC isn’t for wimps.  Ploughed fields, 18 big up hills, loads of mud and 6.33 miles.  Tom this is what your shoes should look like…

After a couple of weeks training at lunchtimes with Lins, Jamie and Ben I am finally getting my speed back and strength for uphills.  I finished in 41 minutes today and still to see the results.  Ben was first (well done Ben) and I am certain our mens team came first too.  We have a strong team and so I was over the moon to be 5th Garscube home.  I felt like I ran well within myself with an eye on tomorrows West Highland Way run.  Really looking forward to it and really looking forward to seeing my old chums.

Debbie was at her yoga today.  I think that she has stopped running now and is now swimming instead.  She is doing great and we only have 7 weeks to go now until there is 3 of us.

Training starts now

That's it.  I have had my rest.  I have eaten the 16 thousand calories that I burnt during the West Highland Way race. (too be honest, probably more than once over)  I have had my holiday abroad, I have hillwalked and relaxed.  I have enjoyed my summer.  I needed it.  Away from serious training, away from racing, away from running.  No need to blog and no need to bore everyone with tales of ultra running.  I have spectated at a few races and watched my friends run spectacular times.  New PB's and race records.  I have watched them all go from strength to strength.  They have all done fantastic and I am so pleased for them.  Some have managed the triple crown of West Highland Way races, some have even won them.  Others have continued their magnificent WHW runs with more magnificent runs during the summer.  Some have gone from supporting to running and have now decided to enter an ultra themselves.  Sure I have run on and off but I have done so in my terms and nice and relaxed.

But after successfully entering the 2009 West Highland Way Race I have to get my ass back in gear.  Just before I went on my holiday I ran a 10k.  I filled in the application form.  It asked for my PB and I wrote 34:40 and then it asked for my expected time.  I put in 40 minutes.  I didn't expect anything better.  I had been hillwalking the day before over 2 munros and had only gone along to the race because Debbie had wanted to.  The first half I just ran relaxed.  My legs stiff from not doing faster than 7 minute miles since the London Marathon in April.  Then I felt good and picked up the pace.  How surprised was I when I got 36:39.  It may as well have been a PB.  I was over the moon.  Maybe I hadn't lost too much of my fitness.

I went on holiday for two weeks to Vietnam.  A wonderful place with wonderful people.  I feel privileged to have visited before it become a tourist hotspot.

When I returned I was back at training with the club.  On the Tuesday it was hillreps.  Just a short easy hill of 150 - 200m.  By the end of 10 I felt sick and dizzy and could hardly run back to the car.  On the Thursday we did a tempo run.  I felt better but had dropped a pack. 

On the Saturday I did a hill run with Rob, Athole, Ian and Euan.   The original plan was to run from Corrour Station but this was scrapped when the traffic was so bad that we would have missed the train.

A quick re-write of the plans and we decided on the mamores.  Here is a wee video of our route.

It was also a chance to try out my new Inov-8 Mudroc 290's.  Debbie had bought them as a present for me and they were all shiney as I took them out of the box.

As this was Athole, Rob and I's first proper hill run we decided to start at the Mamore Lodge, a move that cut out a couple of hundred metres of ascent. 

The first 5 miles was along a track past Loch Eilde Mor.  By new shoes rubbed a bit on the heel but I expected this as all the reviews I had read said that people felt rubbing on the heel when new.  Then the proper ascent began.  We missed the start of the track and so it was off road and bog from the beginning.  The shoes then started to prove themselves with excellent grip.  I on the other hand could feel the lack of fitness but I kept the pace steady.

We climbed the long North west shoulder of Sgurr Eilde Mor with the sun threatening to come out all the way.  The promise of views keeping us going up the long slog.  But it wasn't to be and we reached the top in 2hrs 22 min and a distance of 9.15 miles.  It was cold but the downhill soon warmed us up and I found the Mudrocs had excellent grip and I was able to keep up with Ian on the way down.  I was having great fun.  We reached Coire an Lochain and then immediately went straight up Sgurr Eilde Beag.  The climb was relentless but very quickly we were at the top.  It was drizzly and cold but we were all in good spirits.  Now we could get some running in and we were able to run good parts of the ridge to Na Gruagaichean.  There was a couple of bits of easy scrambling on the way.

After we reached the top we had a bite to eat and then took the decision to head straight down to Alt Coire na Ba.  It was a very steep grassy slope with a few cliffs to avoid but my new shoes stuck to it like glue and I was first down to the track.  Then we had an easy run along a track to the car.

14.6miles 4 hours 45mins 1,305m ascent

When we reached the car Rob had bad cramp in his quads.  It looked pretty sore but probably not much of a surprise since he had only ran a marathon 2 weeks before.  All of us were knackered but soon felt better when we used the free showers at Kinlochleven's Ice Factor.

West Highland Way Race

The week before the race was great.  I felt so at peace, relaxed and enjoying eating the calories I would need for the race.  I knew that some people were nervous about it and the blogs reflected it.  The training was done and no amount of worrying or last minute training would help.  In my eye everyone was a winner but I knew that there would be blood sweat and tears before the end.

Even Debbie was more relaxed than usual and I was glad.  Debbie and I took the two days before the race off.  To prepare the admin for the support teams and relax.  After two days of watching West Highland Way DVD's and race videos I was dying to get started.  My legs were heavy and ached with lifelessness but I knew or hoped that this would be blown away with the cobwebs when we started.

MILNGAVIE 1AM

The start was electric.  Debbie and I arrived in Milngavie for 11:30pm.  Rob in my support team was already there and so was my Mum and sister Lisa.  I was really touched that they came out to see me go.  My mum was worried about what was to come but tried her best not to show it.  The rest of my support team arrived, Athole who with Rob had been my support for the Devils, and Davie Aitken who has run the race before.  My support team was fab and I really owe them big time.  Straight away they sat me down and wouldn't let me do anything while they packed the car up and prepared the gear.  My legs were itching to go so I kept standing up and moving about much to my teams disgust.

Dario, the race organiser, did the briefing which I turned up for at bang on 12:30 and ended up standing and queuing to get in.  He went over the usual stuff but also talked about the weigh in process.  The more I see and talk to Dario the more I like him.  He is a great wee guy and according to everyone I have spoken to has brought this race on leaps and bounds.  I think that he may be colour blind though as all the merchandise for the race is the brightest fluorescent colours ever.  You wont get lost in the dark with any of it on.

Back outside and it was barely 15 minutes to go.  I was getting worried now as I still didn't have the nervousness that I thought I should have by now.  I was just looking forward to it.  Like a kid with a bar of chocolate.  I spoke to some of the people that I had met and trained with over the last 7 months.  JK, running fabulously at the moment and looking relaxed, Thomas looking good and over his hamstring issues, Ian B relaxed, composed just like a man of his WHW experience would be and his wife Ally B gave me a big hug. Neal who I was worried about after his two 10k races in the week before.  Brian who I was hoping would complete in his third year of trying.  Davie Bell who I had no worries for.  He was a trooper and I knew he would get to the end.  Mike was here and I wasn't sure how he would be but he seemed to have no real issues in the weeks before.  George another person I knew would be just fine.  Then there was the others that I hadn't seen or trained with for a while or at all.  Murdo, Graeme, the two old Jim's, Hugh, Gavin, John.  I saw them all and hoped that they would all finish but I knew that the numbers were against that and some would not.

I said bye to Debbie and hoped that she would be okay and her foot would hold out.  I knew that she would have to have a limb hanging off to quit so I knew I would see her in Fort William at some time.  I lined up towards the front of the pack and without warning we were off.

Milngavie to Drymen

It took me at least 10 to 15 seconds to get my watch onto the right setting and started.  I didn't expect the start to be like that.  I expected a fanfare or Dario shouting 3-2-1.  But we all just seemed to go at bang on 1am.  I half expected us all to be called back with a false start.  Up through the village centre and passed a few surprised locals.  There was well wishers all about and my mum and Lisa were at the corner just before the darkness of the woods.  As I entered I could still hear my mum shout "That's my boy Marco"  I was a bit embarrassed as I knew most of the runners would know who she was talking about.

Everything worked.  My legs felt light and I felt great.  Onto the first hill and I jogged straight up it.  I was relaxed and glad that we had done the night run of this section only a few weeks before.  I knew it like the back of my hand and so quite a few people going in wrong directions only to be shouted back by the rest of us.  No use doing extra when you have 95 miles to go.

Before I knew it I was at the front of the lead group, although later on I found out that there was one or two guys that must have sprinted the beginning only to tire later on.  I was speaking to Alan Reid who I was sure seemed to be holding back because I knew the way and he didn't.

Slowly all the chat disappeared.  This was surprising as I really thought we would be talking for ages.  The loch at Carbeth was lovely with mist rising above it.  I felt lucky to be alive and very happy to be running the race.

I ran into Carbeth and realised that it is nearly impossible to recognise your support team when you have a headtorch on.  Luckily they were calling out my name and the handed me my cheese sandwich.  I decided to eat from the off and so it was just to keep my stomach going and not because I was hungry.  Alan again was going the wrong way but he stayed with me.  As we came past Dumgoyach I turned my head, half expecting the group to be all split up, but it wasn't and there was at least 40 bobbing headtorches right behind me.  This freaked me out a bit and I decided to lay off the pace a bit and so down towards the old railway that leads to the Beech Tree quite a few runners overtook me.  I expected some of the gang to catch up with me, or at least John and Thomas, but they didn't an I was worried that perhaps I had got carried away with the pace and they were being sensible and I had blown it.  Just then Kate overtook me and I decided to stay with her.  Hoping that she would pace it all well and knowing that I have run with her before in Wuthering Hike and was able to stay with her comfortably.  It also worked to my advantage as she had to open all the gates for me.  I felt bad at this but the gates really do my head in so I didn't dwell on it to long.  I reached Beech Trees in 1:03:42, just quicker than my planned 1:05.  I was amazed at the amount of support teams that were using the Carbeth and Beech Tree's as stops.  I honestly had felt bad at asking my support to be there and thought that I would be the only idiot.

More gates and I let Kate do the opening still.  She hadn't lost her temper yet so I left her to it.  She did go the wrong way a couple of times and heard her muttering that she didn't like headtorches.  I was starting to need a pee but didn't want to stop and get stuck behind the main group so I continued on.  We reached the road that leads to Drymen and at the first hill I lost Kate.  Not sure where she went but there was no more gates so I decided to press on.  I blame John K as he said on the Fling that when he went up the hills he would count to a number before walking.  I couldn't remember the number so ended up running up them all the way to Drymen.  I kept trying to remember it through out the day but couldn't.  Again I was running with Alan.  The pace was easy and I felt great.

Again Alan nearly went the wrong way at the cut off from the road when you get to Drymen and again not remembering the magic JK number I ran up the grassy hill.  Davie from my support met me at the hill and I ran in with him asking that I just wanted more energy juice and a cheese sandwich. 

Drymen to Balmaha

I couldn't believe the cheers as I entered Drymen.  Everyone was shouting my name and I was nearly in tears.  I didn't know half of the people and I couldn't see anyone because of the headtorch.  All I could hear was "Come on Marco" "Looking great Marco".  It was fantastic.  There is no race in the world that everyone knows everyone and we are all friends.  As Alan and I ran out of Drymen He even commented that I had brought my own support bus.  Maybe people got to know me from the training runs or my blog.  What ever it was I felt inspired and I just want to say thank you to all the support teams that cheered me.  It was fantastic.

Alan and I overtook a runner as we went up the hill to the forest.  He looked tired and perhaps had gone off too quickly.  Had I?  At the top of the hill I looked back.  Not a single runner behind us.  I expected some people but there was none.  Running straight through Drymen had worked.  No need to ever stop there.  Half way through the forest I was able to stop and pee.  I expected to see someone come around the corner at any minute but there wasn't.  Alan had run ahead and I didn't expect to see him again but as I started to run he had waited for me just further along the trail.  As Conic Hill approached I kept thinking that it shouldn't be this easy.  I hadn't felt out of breath and my heart rate hadn't been that fast at all.  This whole run was like the slowest training run.  Actually slower than that.  Don't get me wrong.  I wasn't feeling cocky and I knew that the pain would be later.  I had never ran more than 54 miles.  The race for me would start there and not here.  Alan started to talk more about himself.  He had been a 100K runner, his marathon time was 2:20, he ran 20 miles every day.  EEK, say no more.  Was I totally in the wrong place?  Conic Hill was a skoosh, and I was glad to have ran it only a week before.  At least this week I was closer to my 1:20 race time.  I was up and over in 1:10.  The view from the top was beautiful and as we came down into Balmaha Rob met me and said that there were 2 guys ahead of us.  No need to push this pace was perfect.  Into Balmaha and again everyone was cheering my name.  I felt like a celebrity.  I just hope they weren't saying "He's gone too fast".  Dario high fived me as I ran across the car park.  I still felt fab.  Again I had a quick hand over of gear and was away within 10 seconds.

Balmaha to Rowardennan

I overtook the guy in second place.  It was Jody from the WHW DVD.  He was walking and seemed to have a massive backpack.  I took my break as I walked up the steep hill out of Balamaha.  My shin started to hurt.  It was the same problem as I had during the Islands Peaks race and seemed to affect me when running at speed.  The lump had never gone away but the pain wasn't too bad so I ignored it and went on.

It looked like Dario had positioned marshals along this section because people had been cheating in years before and taking the road.  It was good to meet some people as I ran along and again Dario was there with a high five.

My support team met me a few times when the way goes onto the road and replenished me with coke.  It was fantastic and I had a burst of energy that made me feel on top of the world.  The woods were eerie at this time in the morning.  I was by myself and suddenly something large and red ran between the bushes in front of me.  "Most likely a red deer" I told myself, but it freaked me out and all of a sudden my mind was filled with stories of big cats roaming the countryside.  Talking of frights, I bet there was a few campers that got a fright when they heard all the runners running past their tents at that time in the morning.  Not the drunk neds at Sallochy Bay though.  I ran through with half of them still up from the night before, looking disgustingly at me through bleary eyes.  Then the way was blocked by 5 or 6 of them.  As I got closer I noticed that they were in fact drunk university students and so I pushed passed them without fear of being walloped by them.

Running into Rowardennan and I was met by Davie and again I planned to just go through.  I checked into the checkpoint and continued walking.  I had been struggling to eat my Lucozade bars and so decided to just take the gels from now on and so asked my team to bring me a couple for the Inversnaid stage.  Pity they brought more bars.

Rowardennan to Beinglas

As I left Rowardennan I saw Silke, Thomas's wife and support.  I asked her what position I was in and she told I was in 4th.  I later found out I was in first.  Don't worry Silke I didn't try to catch the runners in front.

On one of the hills that I had decided to walk up I met a wee old man who was obviously out for a quiet walk.  I started to talk to him and he asked me where I had started from.  Hoping he would ask me that question I smiled and said "Milngavie"  "My God was the answer" I could tell he didn't quite believe me.  "Just ask the 100 odd runners behind me" I replied. 

As I came into Inversnaid I started to have a bit of a low point and was starting to have more and more walking breaks on hills.  I was overtaken again by Alan.  Up until that point I had thoughts of a top 10 position but now as my body ached and I struggled I was just happy with completing it.  At Inversnaid I picked up my bag that was left with the Trossachs Search and Rescue and continued on.  Fearing the dreaded Inversnaid to Beinglass section in which I had always heard so many stories from Ian.

The section ended up fine.  Although by the end of it I was dying to see my support team.  I was overtaken by another 2 runners and just as I entered within view of Beinglas Kate overtook me too.  I never saw Jens Lukas overtake me but I guess that he did around here somewhere.

Beinglas to Tyndrum

After now my account of the race is a little less detailed.  In some ways I was a bit spaced out but also because I should have written my account earlier and not a month after the race.

At Beinglas I took my first real break.  At least 10 minutes.  I really didn't want to but my body needed it and my support team had a chair and food layed out.  I tried to make it short and continued on.  I met my team again at Derrydaroch but it was just a check and I remember them shouting they would meet me at Crianlarich.  I spent the next 2 miles trying to work it out.  My brain was mash.  "They can't meet me at Crianlarich, the WHW bypasses it" I thought.  But my support team was as usual on the ball.  They walked up from Crianlarich to the WHW with a box full of goodies and met me there.  I took some juice off them and walked up the hill.  Rob accompanied me up some of the hill making sure I was okay and checking that I was fine.  I later found out that they had been worried about me when I was in first but where now much happier that I had dropped some places.

As I entered Auchtertyre I saw someone who looked very familiar.  He was cheering me through and I ran past him smiling.  "Hi Ian" I thought.  IAN?  Why was Ian here?  In his civvies.  It dawned on me that he had dropped out.  I tried to ask what had happened but he was having none of it.  He was here to see everyone else.  I knew it must hurt him big time to do that but that was the measure of the man.  To him it was more important to see his friends run the race than dwell on what had happened to himself.

I had another sit down here and my support team fed and watered me.  But I was a million miles away.  What had happened to Ian.  It wasn't just me that was wondering.  The news was reverberating throughout the race.

Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy

I was off again and eventually reached Tyndrum.  Thank God.  I was at my favourite and easiest section.  Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy.

But it was also another landmark.  I was now at the furthest distance I had ever run.  53 miles.  The run towards Bridge of Orchy was tough and I felt like I was running while trailing tyres behind me and giving a 20 stone fat man a co-carry.  This shouldn't feel like this I kept saying to my self.  This section is downhill.  What the hell am I gonna feel like when I get to the real hills.

I felt spent when I got into Bridge of Orchy but I had a plan.  I asked my support team to give me a food bag full of food.  I would walk the  hill to Victoria Bridge and use the break to eat.

Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse

My goody bag was great.  It had potato and biscuits and sweets all mixed up.  But the energy flowed into me and I felt better by the downhill section to Victoria Bridge.  When I got there my support had a chair out and I decided it was sock change time.  I spent ages sat here and watched as Murdo passed and shouted that I looked awful.  I felt awful and really didn't feel like getting back off the seat.  I eventually got my socks changed and my team ejected me from the seat.  Just like I had asked them to but at that time I was wanting to curse and curl up in a ball to sleep.  I couldn't believe how quickly I went from a high to feeling like shit.  Was my race starting to come undone?

I started the long run from Victoria Bridge across the Rannoch Moor to Kingshouse.  The whole thing is all up hill, very gradual apart from the big hill at the beginning and end.  Another section that I love during training but during the race I had a nightmare on.  I had to walk up most of the first hill.  Every now and then looking back to see if anyone was catching up.  And eventually someone did.  They went past at what seemed like a hundred miles an hour.

NO!  I am not letting this happen.  I am not surrendering to this race.  I started to jog and then a quick jog and slowly I caught up with him.  It was Phil Mestecky.  And Phil... you saved my race.  Thank you.

I had used up all my energy catching Phil and struggled to keep the pace going.  I slowed down and expected Phil to pull away.  But he didn't.  He recognised my name when I introduced my self as he is in the same club as Ian.  "Did you know that Ian has pulled out" he said.  The shockwaves were still reverberating.  He stayed with me and said we would try 5 mins walking and 25 mins running.  I was dubious that I could run for 25 mins but agreed as I just needed to walk at that time.  We walked and I gathered my energy in what felt like the quickest 5 mins ever.  Then it was off running again.  And oh how it hurt.  But all this time Phil was patient with me and slowly we made our way to Kingshouse.  It was 20 mins of running and I was dying so we cut the running bit short.  I was so relieved as we walked quickly up the last hill before the descent into Glencoe.

Phil's wife met us on the way down.  I hadn't really spoken to many people so it was good to speak to someone and it made the pain not go away but at least seem distant.

 

Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

At Kingshouse my support team were as usual all ready for me.  Apart from my 3 guys Athole, Dave and Rob.  Alex from Springburn was still up following the race but also Mark McColl from Shettleston was there too.  I just remember that he looked funny because I never see him in anything but running gear and here he was in a pair of suit trousers.  But there was one person I didn't want to see at Kingshouse.  Mike Thomson.  He had pulled out.  The highs and lows in the race are amazing, the highest moments are when everything is going well but the lowest moment was never when I felt bad for myself or sore.  It was always when I saw someone pull out.  First Ian and now Mike.  I knew there would be casualties but I didn't think I would be affected by them.  I started to wonder how my other friends were doing.  Please let there be no more.  What about Debbie?  Everytime I asked my support crew where she was I got the same answer.  "She was doing great at the top of Loch Lomond"  I started to think that they were hiding something now.  Debbie and I had made a pact that if one of us pulled out then we wouldn't tell the other.  I looked about Kingshouse.  Had she pulled out and was hiding somewhere?  My support team had made me soup.  If Debbie was about she would be cursing.  "Soup never helped anyone run. A waste of time eating it" she would say on training runs.  I disagreed and added to my food plan.  Sorry babe, but the soup was fantastic and gave me loads of energy.

I was out of Kingshouse before Phil but knew he would be right behind and would catch up soon.  But I felt great again and had a really fast section to the devils staircase.  It might have been because the 2nd girl was right behind me or because I saw the 1st girl in front of me.  It was Kate Jenkins and she was walking.  I passed by her and asked if she was okay covering my ears as I knew whatever she said would be colourful.  She was finished and I spoke to her support team and they looked like they already knew that.  Maybe they were glad as I heard she really puts them through their paces.

Anyway my team were at the Devils Staircase.  what a great job they were doing.  A quick t-shirt change and I was off up the staircase.

I felt fantastic and was able to get quiet a good pace all the way up meeting Athole about half way up for a quick refresh of drink and food.  In no time I was at the top and desperate to get back to running.  Down the hill I started.  "Ouch".  the shin was getting very sore now.  "When did I take my last lot of painkillers for it?"  I asked my self.  Trying to calculate it was hurting my head.  It felt like I had been running for days.  2 hours, 5 hours, 30 mins.  I didn't have a clue and hoped my support would know.  Running just wasn't happening for me.  I got to the bottom of the first hill.  Just before it goes back up again.  I looked around and away in the distance was Phil and the first woman.  If he passes now I will never keep up with him.

Walking wasn't too bad though and so I pushed it up the hill.  But the downhills were now killing me whether I walked or ran.  Walking seemed to actually be faster than running as well.

The hill down into Kinlochleven is very steep and rocky.  Every step I had pain running up my leg.  If I could just grit my teeth and hold on to Kinlochleven I said to myself.  There I could have more painkillers and get myself sorted.

Phil overtook me.  He looked strong and I wished him well.  I wasn't keeping up with him this time.  Not long after the first placed woman went passed.  I didn't care.  The pain in my leg was distraction enough and as I limped into Kinlochleven I was nearly in tears."I will get painkillers in Kinlochleven"  I met my support team and thankfully they saw my pain and brought a seat over to the checkpoint for me.  "Weetabix"  "Give me Weetabix" I demanded. 

Kinlochleven to Fort William

ate my weetabix and then nursed my sore leg.  It was red and swollen.  Very strange looking.  Was it a stress fracture?  Chris the Doctor saw me rubbing it.  I asked him what he thought.  He asked me a few questions and said it wasn't a fracture and I was fine to go on.

I jogged round to the hill out of Kinlochleven.  "Damn I forgot to get the painkillers"  How could I forget them I was in agony.  For some reason I didn't go back for them.  I walked up the hill and met Davie Aitkin at the top.  He gave me more food.  "Do you have painkillers?" I asked.  Really hopeful.  "No".  "Oh, it's okay.  I should be fine to get to Lundarva"  But inside I was broken.  My leg was agony and I couldn't run at all.  I started my long walk to Fort William.

No-one passed me at all for the next few miles.  I was surprised.  My pace was awful. I couldn't jog downhills.  My leg was too sore for that.  Uphills was a no go either.  And flats was getting more and more difficult.  I was lucky now to be doing 1 minute jogging and then 10 minutes walking.  As I closed into Lundarva still no-one had passed me.  Where was Thomas?  I hadn't seen his support team for ages.  I kept thinking he must have passed me already and I didn't notice.  "Oh no"  I thought.  "I hope he doesn't think I was rude to him not saying hi"  What about Neal.  I kept seeing his support team at every checkpoint.  "He can't be too far behind"  I thought. 

Then I looked back.  I could see a small figure in the distance.  "That must be Neal" I thought.  A few minutes later I turned around again.  I was walking but the figure wasn't any closer.  "It must be a walker" I thought.  "Even walkers are catching me"

Then I could see the smoke from Lundarva.  Once I get there I only have 6 miles left.  "I am gonna do this"  I turned around to see the walker.  All of a sudden they were only 400 meters away.  It wasn't Neal, it was John.  John has had a fantastic year and I wasn't surprised to see him catch up with me.  He passed me with the biggest smile I have ever seen.  After Ian I think of John as the person who is Mr WHW.  He eats, sleeps and runs for this race and I can think of no other person that I would rather see overtake me.  I smiled.

 

Probably not as big of a smile as John but I smiled for him.  Then I thought.  No I can keep up with him.  Yes.  So I started to run. 1 meter. 2 meters. Crack.  I stubbed my toe on a big rock. Splash. My other foot landed in a stream.  Great.  Now I have one sore shin, one sore foot and the other foot soaking.  "See you later John" I thought as I went back to my walking.  But John had done me a favour.  Now I was in 11th position and could have someone support me.

I met my team at Lundarva.  6 miles to go.  Rob joined me for this stage.  I am sure he wanted to at least jog but I couldn't.  we walked the entire section apart from 200 meters at the end when I gritted my teeth and ran. For the pictures.  :-)

I had done it.  20 hours and 47 minutes after leaving Milngavie, I had run, walked hobbled and dragged myself the 95 miles to Fort William.  I was happy, sad, sore and on top of the world all at the same time.  My support team were there.  Dario was there.  I checked in.  Just as I had seen countless people do on the DVD that I had watched time after time.  And then Dario offered me a whisky.  And it was beautiful.

But where was Debbie.  Surely my team had to tell me something now.  But still the same answer.  She was doing well at Beinglas.

Later on as I hobbled to the hotel that we booked I heard from Debbie's team.  She had hurt her foot and was having to walk all the way from Bridge of Orchy.  Sheer determination would bring her through to the finish.  I was so proud of her as she had gone through 2 full nights to get to the finish.  when I finished I didn't feel like spending another 10 minutes on the WHW.

One last note.  I just want to thank everyone that got me through it.  Firstly my support team.  For giving up their weekends and seeing the crabbit side of me.  Thank you Athole, Rob and Davie - I couldn't have done it without you.  Thank you to my wife Debbie.  For telling me I had the ability to do it and for shouting at me when I needed it.  Thank you to my Mum and sister, Lisa for coming to the start to wish me well.  Thank you to Paul and Murray for volunteering to be on my support team but unable to make it in the end.  And thank you to all my new family.  Ian, JK, Thomas, Silke, Neal, Caroline, Davie B, Tim, Brian, Mike, Dario.  Thank you for all the training runs.  They were fantastic.

Last but not least Jez.  Thanks mate. Weetabix at Kinlochleven Rocks!!

Will I do it again.  You bet yah.

1000 miles

It was my last run today before the big one and this was a big one.  My 1000 mile of the year.  It was a mixed session of 200m sprints on grass and then hill reps.  For the 200m sprints I took at a fast but easy pace but for the hill reps I made sure that I just jogged up and down the easy incline.  I hit my 1000 mile towards the end to a big cheer from everyone that was out with us.

I was glad to do my 1000 mile before the race.  I really didn't want to be running through Milngavie at 1am in the morning cheering.

Did a wee search on the Internet for pictures of past winners of the West Highland Way race.  Found the winners from 2004 on their way to the awards presentation.

My Times

Okay I am nearly last to post these and I have to admit I am hopeless at it.  Here are my times that I would love to run the WHW race in.  I have just concentrated on each section and so there are no rests and I will not try to catch up if I go behind at all.  I have never ran over 54 miles and so I have given myself extra time towards the end as I don't know what state my body will be in.

Is it too optimistic?  I don't think so as long as everything goes to plan.  And I mean everything.  Food, liquid, energy and of course barring injury.  Perhaps being a race virgin and without all the years of experience that the other guys have, has made me cocky.  I hope not but a week from today we will see if I am being foolish or not.

Cold feet. Cold ears.

It was fartlek training with the club tonight and a great chance to loosen up the legs a bit.  Tonight's session was in Mugdock park.

Would my new hair cut make me streamlined?  All I felt was very cold.  I think I will need a new hat for the WHW race.

Stevie took the session tonight and so the fast parts of the fartlek all ended up being timed efforts with one minute being the smallest and two being the longest.  The first, one minute was easy enough and I was able to overtake the rest quite easily but I realised that wasn't beneficial for me and I took the rest easier.  I was surprised when I started to catch up with the fast lot towards the end which showed that although my speed is all gone my endurance is still good.

Breathing feels a bit sore and legs are heavy and numb.  All part of the taper process and I am sure it will be okay on the big day.

Went back for a massage on the Wednesday morning and Christine commented on how much better my legs and feet are than last week.  She said that I had done well not to run and to take it easy.  I felt a bit guilty as I had been enjoying watching TV with my feet in hot water.

Scare Cut

Preparing for the WHW means a lot of admin and preparation.  Top of the list has to be the hair cut.  So off to the barbers for a budget cut which offers superb streamlining (although my ears don't help there) and cooling (believe me it's cold).

I have to admit I am still not used to it and Debbie sure isn't.   The things that I have done for this race... :-)

 

DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS?

I've made my bed, now I'll lie in it...

Lets just hope I don't die in it.

It's been a while since I posted.  I am finding the tapering very difficult.  Corpses have more energy than me, condemned men are faster than me and the West Highland Way race couldn't be further from my mind.

Everyone is posting about sleepless nights and every now and then Debbie looks at me in terror and says 10 days to go.  But I have never been so relaxed.  Of course I am having issues.  My legs and especially my feet are Christine, my sports masseur's, worst nightmare.  I feel like I have the cold and no matter how much sleep I get I feel tired.  At the moment I feel a million miles from the West Highland Way race and a billion miles from being prepared for it.

Perhaps work is taking me away from it.  Our company was recently taken over and so in great timing all the work started last week for it.  But to be truthful it's just the taper that's doing it.  I have to find my love of running again and I think that on race day it will come back with avengance, hit me square on the face and for 50 glorious miles I will love it.  The next 50 I will hate it but hopefully if it all goes to plan my love of running will come back when I get my goblet from Dario.  Actually writing this has proven to me that my love is still there.  I am welling up at the thought of receiving my goblet.

On Saturday, it was Garscube Harriers West Highland Way relay.  Just a social event in the running club's calendar and an excuse to run the WHW. Again!

Debbie had elected to run the Lochside from Rowardennan to Beinglass and I was going to run from Beinglass to Tyndrum.  I always thought my section was easy until I did the Fling run.  Then I noticed how much uphill there is on it.  I know that it will be tough here on race day. 

We drove to Rowardennan for Debbie to start her section.  The midgies were really bad.  So any support teams reading, bring your midge nets and midge repellant.  Lots of it.  Just as Debbie started we met Mike from the WHW family but didn't have much of a conversation through the clouds of biting insects.  Debbie was off and I had the leisurely drive around the loch to Beinglass.

By the time I started my run it was hot. Very hot.  And the section I was doing doesn't offer much cover until after Crianlarich.  Rob, Euan, Alex and I started off at 11:15 and straight away Rob said that he was just running at a leisurely pace.  I should have stayed with him but thought I would run with Alex and Euan for a bit and then fall back and run the end with Rob.  It didn't happen and I ended up running the full thing with Alex and Euan.  Well not with them as Alex was always a minute in front and Euan a minute behind.  I had one 500ml bottle of energy drink with added electrolyte because of the warm weather.  The more I drank it the thirstier I got.  Euan and Alex were well dehydrated by the end.  I think that I will swap between water/electrolyte and energy drink on the race

My times for the run were

Derrydaroch    25:51

Crianlarich      49:08

Wigwams     1:19:31

Tyndrum      1:40:08

A little bit on the fast side.  I did walk up all the big hills and didn't ever feel like I was really pushing it but by the end I was glad it was over.  The heat was a nightmare to run in but I soon felt better after a big ice cream.  Debbie picked me up after her run and looked fantastic without a hair out of place.  She didn't even look like she had run and I was so glad she hadn't had too much bother with her foot.

Metcheck has a 14 day forecast.  Race day looks like this..

Hey John, you might get that view from Conic Hill after all.

RACE PACING

Everyone is starting to post there race plans.  I am struggling with mine.  Should I take the start ultra cautious?  Should I keep up with certain people at the beginning?  I haven't got a clue what to aim for.  I want to enjoy it and most of all finish it.  Hell, yes I have ambitions and dreams for certain times and I will post some but I don't want to get too wrapped up in it.  My support team will probably disagree though.

Late Call

Just like the religious program from years ago that was on late at night and had a minister contemplating life and religious matters I have decided late on to jot down some thoughts about tonight's run.

Tonight's run scares me.  Not the dark or the mileage, both of which I have done before.  I am totally happy about running in the dark even by myself and I have total faith in my headtorch.  What scares me is my leg.  It hasn't been sore now since Saturday.  The swelling has all but gone and the hair is on it's way back.  I have had 6 days off from running and my legs feel great.  They have benefited from the enforced rest and all the little niggles that all runners have and ignore have gone away.  I even started to get phantom niggles that I have never had before.  But what scares me is what happens if the pain in my lower leg comes back again.  Do I take 12 days off and hope it goes away?  What affect will that have on my training?

After a month of fantastic weather our night run is planned for the first night of horrible weather.  Oh well.  Everytime John K runs this section it seems to rain and so we will probably get the rain on WHW race day.  May as well get used to it.  The aim tonight is to run to Drymen in 1hr 55mins.  Around about 9.5 min/mile pace and around about WHW race pace.  It will be good to experience this section in the dark at that pace.  Then if my leg allows the plan is to run back to Milngavie.

I am also looking forward to meeting up with everyone.  It feels like a long time since I have seen them and it will be good to catch up with them.

Sleeping with the Enemy

 

 

Since the Islands Peaks race I haven't been running very well.  I am injured.  Yes, four weeks to the big one and I have a swollen lump on my shin across the tendon that goes from the top of my foot.  No worries I had felt it niggle after my fling run so I am sure it will go away again.  On Thursday I went out and ran just over seven miles but the last two were a nightmare with pain around the tendon and my ankle.  Straight away I decided I needed time off running and started to ice and take nurofen.  I surfed the net and found that it can be a common injury for Ultra-Marathoners or runs that have a lot of ascent.  Heck, the peaks had both.  But after a few days the swelling went down but the hair around the area all fell out and now looks like a small plucked chicken.  Weird.

Today though it felt sufficiently better to go out with the Lomond Mountain Rescue to support a charity walk up Ben Lomond.  The charity was The Rangers Charity Foundation which is a worry because I am a Celtic supporter but it is for charity so it's for a good cause.

My job was to go to the top and check off each person as they made it.  What I didn't know was that they were taking the Scottish Cup to the top so that each charity walker could have their picture taken with it.  So each Ranger supporter posed for a picture and each of them quipped "It should have been the UEFA cup"  There was of course a lot of Celtic comments but there was no way I would say anything.  Not out of fear but because no matter what team they supported each and every one of them had raised a lot of money and had made it to the top of the Ben.  Good on them I thought.

Connal, the chap that organised it, didn't take a hand off the cup all day.  He seriously looked worried about something happening to it.  I don't blame him as it is 114 years old.  I asked if it was a replica and they told me it was the actual one that Rangers won the day before.

Anyway he needed to do something and asked if I could hold onto it for two minutes.  Well at least one Tim got his hands on the cup this year. :-)

The Scottish Cup and me on top of Ben Lomond

I also just want to add congratulations to everyone that ran this weekend.  Caroline for a fantastic PB, Neal for surviving Edinburgh un-injured, John for getting 1:25:56 beating his goal for 2008 of running faster than 1:27 for a half and Ian for running 2 marathons.  Stornoway and Edinburgh.  Well done Ian.  Also thank you Ian for inspiring me to writing on my blog when he sent me an email wondering what happened to my posts.

The great ship Kookaburra

Just a small note to thank everyone for their good lucks and congratulations for the Scottish Islands Peaks Race.  We finished at 7:30am on Monday morning.  Although we came in last we did finish.  There was a few boats that didn't make it.  We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and if we ever do it again we will have a much better idea on what to expect.  The jump up to this sort of challenge was immense and we all pulled together through thick and thin to finish.  Full report to come but for the meantime I couldn't resist posting the picture of our boat from the top of the mast again.

A full report of our trip that includes the sailors point of view as well as the runners can be found at http://fb5.blogspot.com

Congratulations must go to Chris Upson and his boat Blue Chip who won the event an amazing 23 hours ahead of us.

Finishing party ready!

Its our finishing party! One runner and one sailor. Will we do it again next year?
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Check the view John

The summit of Goatfell. Hometime now and a beer at Troon.
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The ferry

Maybe we could just get the ferry back. Looks a lot less bouncy!!


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Paul wasn't happy to learn it was another 14 miles

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Charlie goes bananas!

Charlie tidying the cabin.
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Top of the first pap of jura

Bloody feezing!!!!
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Motherwell score!

Motherwell equalise plus boatfull of Celtic supporters equals joy all around.

Come on Motherwell!!!

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Morning has broken

Two thirds of the way to jura. The runners after not much sleep, tired, the sailors after no sleep, tired and cold. Weather is cloudier and colder.
Spirits are high.

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On the top of Ben More

At the top. All down hill from here. In more ways than one!!
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On the way to the top of Ben More

Lovely weather all the way to the top

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We are here!

So the first run is finished and now we are sailing up to mull.
The sailors are doing a fab job and we hope to be at Salem for 17.30 for the 23 mile run up Ben More.


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T minus 1hr 50 minutes

What do you do when there is less than 2 hours to go until the start of the big race. You get your runner to wd40 the windex on the top of the mast.
Any excuse for me to get a harness and go up the mast. Eeek. It is shall I say slightly uncomfortable.


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Thank you

We just want to say a BIG thank you to Nicola and Tom for there hospitality and feeding us full of carbs before the race. Funniest thing was Paul realising that we are running nearly 30 miles with 3000 feet ascent tomorrow. Never mind the 30 odd we run the rest of the weekend.

Now going back to the boat for an early night.





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Sailors eat pasta

Its our last meal. Will it be our LAST meal?
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The good ship Kookaburra

Here is our good ship the Kookaburra.
Where we will spend the next 4 days.
Don't tell anyone but I feel sick already and we haven't even set sail.

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All ready for sailing

I have setup my blog so that I can now post from my phone. Hopefully I will post during the Scottish islands peaks race this weekend.
As you can see from the picture my last day at work doesn't involve any work. I am planning routes and shopping for equipment. The weather this weekend is looking great for running but the light winds won't be so good for sailing. Never mind, I will hopefully bring some books to read instead.
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A run in the E'fling Highlands

For some reason Neal and my E'fling Highland Race wasn't as well attended as the Highland Fling race a week before.  Our version has a number of advantages over the more well established run.  Our version was free to enter.  Not that Murdo and Ellen's version is expensive because it is probably the cheapest race per mile that I have ever heard of.  Our version has a variable start.  If you are late the race waits for you.  Pretty good if your name is Davie and you forget your shoes.  The weather is always better.  This is because if the race organisers (Neal and I) wake in the morning and it is raining then the race is off.

But there are some disadvantages.  There is no Ultra-Racing mega stars like Jez or Lucy.  This may be a good thing though as it stops idiots like me trying to run with them in the first 10 miles.  There is no cottage to get showered and changed in.  In our version I am not sure of the cleanliness of the stream next to Brodies in Tyndrum that Neal and I used to clean our tired feet. There is no medal which makes our race have a minimal carbon footprint.  There is no Champagne but hey, we are all athletes and that would be a poison to us.  But after all that there is one way that Neal and my race will never compete with the real thing.  The total friendliness of the organisers of the fling.  Something that Neal and I and our sour faced up at 4 am pusses cant compete with and the reason that at 6am in the morning Neal and I lined up to run our very own Highland Fling.

To be fair we weren't completely alone.  Debbie was there to support us and she is excellent at it.  Getting up earlier than me and making me breakfast and making sure my shoes are on their right feet.  Believe me at that time in the morning I really could mix that up.

And so we started.  Lined up like the start of a 100 meter race, Debbie counted our countdown. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. No klaxxon for us to signal our start though.  The pace at the start would have made Jez shudder.

Through Mugdock and I was feeling like it was going to be a struggle.  I didn't feel well rested and started to wish I hadn't done an 18 mile run on the Thursday.  To be honest the pace was probably far too quick and I had to remind Neal to slow down.  Not that he was pushing the pace as he had to remind me just as much.  Things got worse though when we met another runner.  Kitted out in his Asda shorts, penny black shoes and freebie t-shirt the guy looked us up and down as Neal and I met him at a junction.  Us draped in our technical space aged garments but doing a pedestrian jog Scotland pace.  The guy took advantage and tried to bury us in his wake.  He was probably doing no more than 9 minute mile but he was leaving us and our new found cautiousness for dust.  Neal and I are not known for holding back and soon the pace picked up as the man spluttered after overdoing it.  We passed him smugly both knowing that our lack of self control may be what stops us from finishing today.

We met with Debbie at Carbeth Huts.  I am still not sure if this is a good place for the support team to meet me but I think that it may be good to check I am okay on race day.  A few photos later and we continued through to Beach Tree.

I was pleased to see that the section past Dumgoyach was starting to dry out.  All winter it had been a mud bath but now it was at least passable without getting wet and muddy.

Before long we were at the Beach Tree Inn.  We stopped and I ate some bits and pieces.  I didn't feel like eating but I was trying to force myself.  We must have spent a good 5 minutes here.  Not the sort of thing I want to do on race day.  I took some grapes (an idea stolen from JK) and like JK I found them great to eat while on the run.

We reached Drymen in 1hr 55 min.  I still felt quite lethargic but chatting continuously with Neal made the time feel very quick.

Debbie was at the wrong place at Drymen and I felt guilty that she had to run to her car and drive over to us.  I felt like eating was a bit easier here and had some beans.  They come in pots like the ones you get with yogurt in them.  Perfect for ultra running and perfect when you are sick of sweet stuff all the time.

Through the forest from Drymen I was starting to feel alive again.  I can't believe that it always takes me over 10 miles to warm up nowadays.  Neal was needing one of those Neal toilet moments and remembering the last time I was trying to talk him into going sooner rather than later.  He decided to go at the bottom of Conic Hill.  That suited me as I was able to get a good rest coming up Conic Hill but also meant that we were a bit slower going over Cronic Hill.  Like Neal said in his blog, the problem with running with someone is that when they take a break you are forced to take a break and vice verser.  Today I wasn't that bothered.  We were in this together through thick and thin.

At Balmaha I again wanted to eat more.  But this time I had a treat. My cold cappuccino coffee.  mmm lovely.  But it wasn't enough so I had a milkshake too and topped it off with cheese.  Off we went again.  Straight away I was feeling bad.  I had no energy and felt flat.  Neal started to pull away from me especially on the down hills.  I tried to keep up barely holding on.  This continued and my head started to ache.  Was this one of Ian Beatties low points?  Ian always says you can have three of them in a race.  I started to feel sick now.  Why?  I had barely ran 20 odd miles.  Nothing.  But something was wrong.  I was holding on for dear life to the back of Neal as we ran into Salochy car park.  Thank God Debbie was there.  An angel waiting to help me. 

I needed nurofen for my head and water to try to calm my stomach.  Off again to continue to Rowardennan but before we got over the bridge out of the car park I was sick.  In full view of all the neds in the car park.  Debbie and Neal rushed over.  Three girls walked by me and Neal heard them say that I looked terrible and they bet that Neal had made me do it.  I had blown it big time.  Again and again I was sick.  Mostly energy drink coming up.  My throat was burning with the acidity of it all.  I sat on a rock, my head between my legs, tears streaming down my face and Debbie trying to help me.  But instantly I felt better.  I got up and Debbie swapped my energy drink for water.  Neal and I were off again.  I would make up my mind at Rowardennan whether I would continue or not.

By Rowardennan I felt great.  But this time we had another long stop.  12 minutes.  I really have to get the stops to be shorter.

On towards Inversnaid and because it was such a nice day the crowds were desending on the WHW.  It was mobbed and running was difficult as we tried to pass walkers.  One walker screamed when I passed her and then 2 seconds later screamed as Neal passed her.  A little over exaggeration I thought.

We walked through Inversnaid as a little break.  Neal was starting to struggle but we wanted to get through here as fast as possible and back to the reach of the support team.

The weather now was roasting and Neal and I were using our WHW buffs to cool us down.  Dipping them in streams and putting them on our heads.  The cold water was fantastic as it dripped down our backs.  There was still loads of people and it was getting annoying having to come off the path to overtake the walkers.  No one seemed to move and no one asked us where we had run from.

This section was Neals low point and I could see that the heat was bothering him.  But soon we would be at Beinglass and away from the Loch side.

As we got closer to the end of the Loch I started to go ahead.  I thought that I would get to Beinglas and get stuff sorted for us both.  As I ran into Beinglas I saw a figure crouched on a rock taking pictures of me.  Strange I thought.  But then shouts of encouragement in a German accent gave it away.  It was Thomas.  As I went over the bridge I saw John K, his wife and Silke too.  They had all come to cheer us on.  I felt very emotional that they had come all this way to cheer us on.  I turned around to see Neal running behind me barely 5 seconds between us.  He was back to his old self.

By now all times where out of the window and to be frank I didn't care.  We were on the West Highland Way on a gorgeous sunny day with some of my best friends.  People we had only just met while training for the race but who I hoped would be my friends well after it.

Debbie of course was there too.  Running about organising me and I had to laugh as although Neal now had his own support she was organising him as well.

Although I could have spent all day there we still had the small fact that there was still 12 miles left to go.  Thomas said that he was going to run with us for a few miles as well.  Brilliant.  All three of us had our skins on but for some reason Thomas hadn't worn shorts over his.  "I feel naked" he said in his German accent.  I laughed as images of dodgy German porn flashed through my head.  Anyway to save Thomas any embarrassment I have photo-shopped him some shorts.  The real image is available on request.

You never realise how much of the route up from Beinglass to Crianlarich is up hill.  But after 40 odd miles it really is.  We spluttered on with Thomas who was still recovering from running the fling the week before. 

At the A82 crossover Thomas left us and I had to make a call of nature.  I think the bumbag had been hitting of my stomach all day because what came out was inhuman.  I felt a lot better leaving it behind.  Neal had gone on and I struggled to catch him up the hill.  I passed a young woman that really wasn't at the pinnacle of fitness no matter what scale you use.  "I thought I was knackered until I saw you" she remarked.  I just smiled while I imagined hitting her over the head with a rock.

By now both Neal and I were starting to struggle and as we reached the Wigwams we both had longer and longer walking breaks.  When we reached the checkpoint Debbie spurred us along by saying that if we finished in the next 30 minutes she would buy us a beer.  To be honest I wanted to soak my feet in the beer and really could go a chicken sandwich.  Looking at the watch though we had just under 30 mins until it was 11hours.  That was enough to pick me up and Neal and I ran into Tyndrum neck and neck supporting each other as we had all day.

A quick dip of the feet in the river and we were off home.  2 hours in Bank Holiday traffic.  It was all a bit of a downer as we past places that we had fought to run past only hours earlier.

Thank you so much Debbie for being the bestest support ever.  Thanks to John (Neals Support) for driving us home and big thanks to John K and his wife, Thomas and Silke for the invaluable support at Beinglass.  Of course thank you to Neal for helping me get through the whole run and not falling out with me in the process.

Thanks to John Kynaston for making this video of the day as well.  Thanks John. :-)

A different view

I was really looking forward to this.  My plan is to run the Highland Fling with Neal on Monday but in the meantime, since I have a few days off training I would be supporting Debbie on a run from Beinglass to Kingshouse.  Not only that but we are also away for the weekend in our new caravan.  Now before you all laugh and ask me where my slippers and pipe are please listen.  When Debbie told me she wanted a caravan I thought that she was bonkers.  And when she said that she wanted to buy it on eBay I was calling the looney farm.  But I have to admit, and all credit to her, it is a great idea. 

We spend most weekends away from home. Running, hillwalking and drinking in the Clachaig.  Tents are fine but it can be a chore and also the dreaded midgies.  Debbie's way of thinking was why not have a home from home.  Filled with our gear but not too expensive that you didn't mind leaving it in the middle of nowhere or going inside with muddy feet.

And so without knowing a single thing about caravans we bought the new Consani mobile on eBay.  Okay Debbie would call it the Martin-Consani mobile but I think that sounds rubbish.  Double barrel names are for people too well off to be slumming it in an eBay caravan.

Our first introduction to caravanning didn't go to well.  My 2.3l petrol guzzling mean machine was reduced to a pedestrian Sunday school picnic pile of junk.  Not sure if it was the caravan or the weight of the amount of stuff that the two of us actually need for one weekend away. 

Buying your caravan on eBay does have some disadvantages as well.  No-one tells you about some extras that make life easier.  One such thing is called a stabiliser bar.  It is meant to stop the caravan shaking itself to bits when you go over 30 miles an hour.  Although my 0 - 60 time was now about 30 seconds there was times I did manage to get some speed.  Only to be rewarded by the teeth grating shaking.  Luckily Debbie wasn't here to witness this as we needed two cars for the weekend.  She isn't the best passenger when I drive and I am sure that this would have had her effin and blinding at me all the way up the Loch side.  Yes the Loch side.  I went from never towing anything to towing a caravan up Loch Lomond.  Great introduction.

By the time we met at Tyndrum my nerves were shattered and I was in no mood to be messing about with where we were going to stop for the night.  In the end Debbie and I had a heated discussion before we ended up at Bridge of Orchy.  More out of my inability to reverse with the damn thing than anything else.  Okay I sound like I hate it but as the weekend went on I grew to love it.

At Bridge of Orchy we found a perfect spot with a beautiful view of Beinn Dorain.  We had something to eat and then watched a film in bed.  Luxury.

SATURDAY 3rd MAY

BEINGLASS to KINGSHOUSE

We woke up early on Saturday.  The weather was meant to be raining but it wasn't actually too bad.  If anything it was a bit warm.  Debbie got ready and I took her to Beinglass Farm for the start of her run.  I was really looking forward to a nice relaxing day reading and making sure that Debbie had everything she needed.

Debbie looked very strong as she started out and I drove ahead to Derrydaroch.  I had to park the car away from the West Highland Way so there was no way that I was able to read so I decided to go down to the Way so that I definitely didn't miss her.

I took some pictures of cows while I waited.  Moo.

Debbie hates cows and I was wondering how she would be when she had to run past them.  I saw her in the distance.  She was running really well and was soon up the hill and asking me to take extra clothing out of her backpack.  So support is waiting waiting and then bang everything happens at once.  Anyway there was still time for more pictures.

 

 

Debbie is really good at the checkpoints and stops.  Something that I need to learn.  She was through Derrydaroch in record time.

Now I had some me time.  What would I do.  I went up to Crianlarich and bought the papers and some munchies.  Debbie had left me with loads to eat  but I can never let a bargain go and two tubes of pringles for £2 sounded good.

Off to the wigwams and I settled down to read the paper.  I had loads of time.  Maybe I could have a nosey around the shop too.  After a bit I looked at my watch.  Oh no where has the time gone.  10 minutes until Debbie will get here.  Just enough time to prepare all her gear.  At that precise moment there was a loud knock on the window.  Debbie was flying and way earlier than I expected.  Oh no I was failing at being support already.  I got out of the car to see Debbie running into the distance with shouts of "Your a rubbish support team" and a West Highland Way walker laughing at me.  I had failed miserably.  How does Silke make it look so easy?  How does AllyBea do it?  Definitely not the way I was that was for sure.

I caught up with Debbie in the car.  She was smiling so I wasn't in trouble.  She gave me her backpack to fill up for her and hand back by Tyndrum.

At Tyndrum I laid out everything that Debbie would need.  I needed to make amends.  I didn't need to worry.  Debs was smiling away when she came in and decided a quick change of socks was what was called for before refuelling and away.  Another quick stop for her and something that I have to learn.

With the caravan still at Bridge of Orchy I headed over and sat in the comfort of the van.  Bliss.  Now this is why we got the caravan.  I was seeing the pluses to it.  Sitting reading the paper making a coffee as I watched out for Debbie.  The view was astounding and the position of the caravan was right on the way.  If Debbie wanted to she could come inside for shelter but I knew she wouldn't so I made her a coffee in case she needed it.

Another fast stop and she was away again.  I retired back to the caravan to finish my coffee.  If only it was possible to have the support teams with the caravan on the big day.  No that's a stupid idea.  I would end up with 10 hours of breaks.

Eventually I started to move and drive to Kingshouse.  Good timing as when I nearly got there Debbie called and asked me to meet her at the ski centre.  I arrived early and looked out for her up the hill.  After about 10 minutes I could see a small figure blasting down the hill.  Debbie was running strongly and looked in great shape.

I grabbed Debbie's backpack and she continued on to the finish.

Debbie finished the run fantastically. Very strong and running very well.  Tomorrow she would be running from Kingshouse to Fort William and I was hoping that she hadn't gone to fast today.

We drove back to the caravan, our new home from home.