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.
