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. :-)