Whatever floats your boat

My next challenge before the WHW race is the Scottish Island Peaks race.  It involves a team of five divided into 3 sailors and 2 runners.

The race starts in Oban with a 5 mile race for the two runners.  When they finish they join up with the rest of the team and sail to Mull.  The runners then run 23 miles up Ben More before again returning to the boat to sail to Jura.  The runners then run 18 miles over the Papas of Jura before the team sails to Arran and the runners have a 15 mile run up Goat Fell.  Over to Troon and the whole team has a 100 meter sprint to the finish.  The race starts at 12 noon on the 16th May and doesn't have a finish time.  We hope to finish sometime on the Monday.

This weekend was the first time that our team, the Firebird 5, had all been together in the same place at the same time.  In fact some of the team don't even know each other.  And so it was time for a training weekend and some male bonding but with no alcohol.

TEAM FIREBIRD 5 (L-R - PAUL, KENNY, ME, KEN, CHARLIE)

SATURDAY 19TH APRIL

Paul and Kenny picked me upon Saturday morning and it was off to Rhu to meet Charlie and his Dad, Chas.  We loaded the boat and after what felt like an eternity we where off.

The boat belonged to Charlie's dad and it was Charlie that appeared to be doing the driving most of the weekend.  As we reversed from the pier in Rhu I thought for a moment that we were going to hit it but Kenny pushed the boat away.  Chas hardly even raised his head. 

We used the motor to go to Inverkip and pick up the last of our crew members.  Ken Brown.

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER BUT COLD

And so our crew was complete.  Kenny our sailing captain, Charlie who has impressed me with his enthusiasm for the trip, Ken our new replacement who I used to go to school with.  The running team was Paul my wee brother and still on a high from the London Marathon last week and of course me.  Chas was the provider of the boat and of the knowledge that hopefully will see us through.

We sailed all afternoon to Lamlash in Arran.  Sailing is tough.  It's cold with not much to see or do.  What it does give you is a feeling of immense freedom.  Like a 17 year old with his first car and the world is your oyster.  All of a sudden every island is there to be explored, every coast, every nook and craney.

MAKES ME FEEL SICK LOOKING AT IT STILL

But when we got to Arran there was no exploring to be done.  The sea was too rough to attempt the planned dinghy landing.  It was infact so rough that one of the sailors, Kenny, was sick over the side.  Well at least I could be sick without fear of embarrassment.  We retreated to the relative shelter of the Holy Island and over dinner we discussed what we would do.  In the end we decided that we would make another attempt at landing and if it wasn't successful would continue sailing.  As we headed to ward the pier I started to get changed.  This was a big mistake.  Now I was turning green.

Again we aborted the dinghy landing.  I was pleased as I felt sick enough on the boat never mind the dinghy.

So we sailed out of Lamlash bay and I retreated to my bed.  Feeling sick and just wanting to sleep.  I text Debbie who was on a night out with her sister and then fell asleep in my stinky diesel cabin.

MY CABIN.  SICK BAG NOT INCLUDED.

Later on I woke up and felt guilty at not really doing anything on the boat.  I went on deck and although it was a cracking night with the full moon shining I immediately felt sick and so returned to my bed and back to sleep.  Later on I was awoken by the engine starting (right next to my head) but I was so tired and sick that I didn't care.

SUNDAY 20TH APRIL

I woke up.  A look at my watch and it was just after 6am.  I tried to move my arm.  I couldn't.  A sickly pain travelled through my shoulder and down to my elbow.  Damn.  Must have been sleeping on it all night.  The pain will go away soon I thought.  It didn't.  Then I remembered banging it the night before.  It wasn't sore at the time but that must have been it. 

I had slept all night in all my gear.  Waterproofs and even my lifejacket.  I needed to pee urgently.  I was surprised.  I had hardly drank anything all of the day before but it had been over 12 hours since I had been.  I looked out of the porthole.  The sea was calm and I could see a pier.  Where the heck are we I thought.  I staggered to the toilet in agony with my sore shoulder, disheveled from sleeping with all the gear on.  I woke Kenny by accident.  He still looked rough from yesterdays sail and throwing up over the side.  He laughed at the state of me and asked if I had slept in my lifejacket.  "I promised my wife I would keep it on" was my reply.  Not being a particulary good swimmer Debbie had made me promise that I would keep it on although I am sure she didn't mean in my cabin.  My pee was like treacle and I was embarrassed that someone might have to use the toilet after me.  I went back to bed a read my book.  The first time I was able to as it was now flat calm.

BREAKFAST TIME

A couple of hours later we were all sitting around the table having breakfast.  Another good meal prepared by Kenny.  The sailors had sailed us until early in the morning to the north end of Bute.  Did we still want to get out for a run?  I checked the maps and decided that we could run across Bute to Rothesay in about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.  Just over 10 miles but a lot off road and Paul and I still recovering from the London Marathon.  In the mean while the sailors would sail the boat around the island and pick us up.

Kenny rowed the dingy with Paul and I in it.  I was so glad to be off the boat that I could have kissed the ground.  I felt sick, hungover and very fatigued.  How would I feel in the actual race?  No wonder that every runner I had ever spoken to had talked about it being the hardest thing they had ever done. 

OUT OF THE SAILING GEAR INTO THE RUNNING GEAR

The run across Bute was tough.  There was a lot of climbing at the beginning and with no trail to follow it was across heather and bush.  I had elected to wear shorts and so within an hour my legs were cut to shreds and felt like I had sunburn.  My shoulder was so sore that I was unable to move my right arm and that made balancing difficult.

Both of us were very tired after the marathon the week before and decided to change the planned course onto an easier road route.  But on the road the wind was a nightmare although we did overtake a couple of cyclists who were clearly having more trouble than us.

At last we were in Rothesay and met up with the boat for our trip back to Rhu.

2:48:19

London Marathon

MY RESULT  DEBS RESULT   PAULS RESULT

I tried to hide it but I am sure that a lot of people could see right through it.  I was scared of this marathon.  Training has been going well but it has been training for the West Highland Way rather than this marathon and so I travelled to London very apprehensive and feeling under trained.

The journey down was nice and relaxed.  Debbie and I had met Neal and Caroline in Central Station and we talked running the whole way down south.  Debbie and I had a relaxing night and went to see Dirty Dancing.  I was a bit worried about this but I enjoyed it and it was certainly better than some of the films that Debbie has made me see in the cinema.

The expo was good and I had been looking forward to it.  We met loads of people that I knew.  Met up with my brother Paul, saw Kate from Achilles Heal, Matt from Run-4-It, Gerry from Clydesdale, some guy with a WHW top and of course Neal.  Again.  I think that he must have thought we were stalking him by now.  Like Paris we probably spent too much time at the expo.  I was determined to buy something new and gadgetry.  They had sold out of the new Garmin 405 and the Nike store had none of their new watches and so I decided to buy a new rolling pin.  Not just a normal rolling pin but a new fangled American gadget for massaging your muscles called the stick.  Maybe it works or maybe it doesn't but it feels great when you use it.  I would recommend it to anyone with muscle soreness.  (Thomas, perhaps it might help your hamstrings)

The Stick

 

 

Anyway I digress and should really be talking about the marathon.

Debbie and I got up early and left the hotel for 7:30am.  Taking a leaf from Thomas's book I had hot cross buns for breakfast and I must say that it seemed to work.  From then on I just drank energy drink.  I was starting at the Green start and Debbie was at the Blue start and so before getting the train we had to say an emotional goodbye and good luck.  On the train I met up with the lads from Bellahouston.  Andy and Emma Birnie, Scott and his wife, Nick Reid, Russell and a few others.  It was good to meet up with some friendly faces for the way to the start.  I called Debbie and she had met up with....  yes you guessed it Neal and Caroline.  At least I couldn't be blamed of stalking.  I was amazed how many people I knew in the 35,000 people running.

The weather was lovely and warm and so I found a nice bit of grass and lay back to listen to my Ipod and switch off.  It was great.  I was in the middle of thousands of runners but a million miles away.

I met Chris Upson and he looked like he was recovering after the Balloch Clydebank Half.  That was good and he would also be aiming for a similar time to me.

After a quick 2 minute warm up I squeezed myself in the starting pen.  After 15 minutes standing about and waiting on someone to pee on my shoes we were off.  Not much of a start.  The clock just went to 9:45 and the crowds seem to move forward.  No announcements or anything.

The Green Start is the good for age start and so most people running from here are serious runners apart from the celebrities that are in front of us.  I passed a Daily Star model and then Big Brother winner Kate Lawler who was dressed in her pants with a male companion also dressed in his pants.  Anyway someone beside me shouted "Nice Ass" in which she fluttered her eye lashes and full of herself replied "Why, thank you"  The guy replied "Not yours, his." pointing at her male friend.  You should have seen her face drop.  I had a wee chuckle and continued on.  It was getting like spot the celebrity as I passed Amanda Holden as well.  Then passed some true celebs.  The Masai Warriers who certainly don't believe in deodorant.

Past all the celebs it was now time to pick up the pace and get going.  I caught up with Andy Birnie and Russell from Bellahouston and ran with them for a bit.  As the miles went passed I noticed that I was bang on time for a 2:45.  Could I keep this up?

I was in awe at the amount of spectators that lined the route.  They where everywhere.  Hanging out of windows, waving flags and even some still wearing their PJ's.  There was also the odd person that oblivious to the marathon would try to cross the road in front of you.  A two finger salute telling you that come hell or high water they would be going their usual route to get their Sunday papers.

Onto Tower Bridge and Shaun from work had warned me about the only real hill on the course.  The one on the bridge.  After 12 miles of downhill and flat running I actually felt the slight incline and then had a tough section over the bridge.  The crowds were heaving at this point.  Onto the dual carriageway section and I could see the elite woman on the other side Liz Yelling not doing too badly and then closely followed by Haley Hanning who was then followed very closely by a camera crew.  I wonder what it feels like to have TV cameras follow you.  You wouldn't be able to scratch your bum and snot rockets would certainly not be allowed but then again Paula Radcliffe has got away with much worse.

Back to the race and it was into Canary Warf.  I didn't enjoy this bit as much.  The crowds were still fantastic and with the tall buildings making the cheering echo it felt like I was in a packed stadium.  I grabbed a fruit flavoured snake gum from a spectator and started to eat it.  Bad idea.  It lasted three miles and was congealed to all the tops of my teeth.  I spat out what was left but felt the sugar hit me and it provided me with much needed energy.

Up until 18 miles I was bang on the pace for a 2:45.  Then on the 18th mile I slipped 30 seconds.  Then the 19th another 30 seconds.  It had started to rain very heavy.  Freezing driving rain with a wind that just appeared.  I wondered if this slowed me or if it was just that lull you get at this distance.  Then I heard Paul's girlfriend Gillian cheer me on and that lifted me but by then I knew the 2:45 would be beyond reach.  Hopefully I could still beat my PB though.

Out of Canary Warf and the course double backs on itself.  I could now see the masses of people.  One of the DJ's on the route shouted out "Everyone on the right you are nearly finished" pointing in my deirection, "everyone on the left, ha ha ha... you have miles to go"  Charming I thought.  I wonder if they will invite him back next year.

22 miles gone.  Only four to go as we headed towards Big Ben.  My pace was slipping all the time but I was now passing Championship runners.  The ones that had blown up.  This gave me some more energy and I pressed on.  At 23 miles a Moray Road Runner overtook me.  I then passed him, but then he overtook me and looked far stronger.  I decided to do something that I have never trained for.  In a last minute decision and due to the fact that I bonked on the last WHW run, I had decided to take a gel with me on the marathon.  Just in case.  I hate gels.  The sticky goo gets in my fingers all over my face and I just hate that feeling.  These gels were different.  They were in small plastic tubes and really easy to take without getting it everywhere.  I opened it and sooked the gel down.  Amazed that it actually tasted okay and disappointed that there wasn't more.  Instantly I felt alive and overtook the Moray runner.  I didn't see him again although I checked the results and he finished about a minute odd behind me.

Past Big Ben and towards Buckingham Palace and now you get the big banners.  600m to go 500m to go.

With 200m left I was saw a flash of purple.  It was a Bella runner. Nick Reid had overtaking me in revenge for piping him past the post in the Balloch to Clydebank Half.  No way I though and I sprint finished the marathon passing Nick in the process and totally forgetting that Debbie had told me that no matter what I do in the race I have to make sure I smile at the finishing line.

What was my time though.  whew.  2 hours 48 minutes and 19 seconds.  A full 23 seconds off my PB and I had rekindled my liking for a marathon.

At the finish I sat with the guys from Bella for a while and then slowly shuffled over to the baggage collection to meet Debbie and Paul.

On the way I met Gavin from the WHW crew and he had run just over 3hrs 10min.  I then met Neal who had done an impressive 3hrs 10min 39 secs.

I was starting to worry as I hadn't seen Debbie yet.  In the end she had just really struggled to get from the finish to the baggage area.  She had finished in 3 hours 31 minutes.  A marvelous PB and 17 minutes off her previous.  Then I met Paul who had done 3 hours 36 min and 2 seconds.  An excellent first marathon considering he had been injured for most of the training and had to make the jump from track running.

On the way back to the hotel Debbie and I went for a Starbucks.  Still in our grotty clothes and Debbie still wearing her medal.  The man serving us was African and looked pretty much like a Kenyan.  He saw Debbie's medal and with a massive smile on his face asked if she had won.  She tried to convince him otherwise but I am sure that he didn't understand and will one day tell his grandkids about the day he met a marathon winner.

Soaking Stoneymollan

I was really looking forward to getting out on this run with Paul today and we had arranged it weeks in advance.  The idea was for a tough hill session.  Something that would really test us, would separate the men from the boys.  A real blood sweat and tears run.  Paul arrived a little bit later and by that time the lure of the XBox had called.  With Debbie at work I had the house to myself and took full advantage of it.  Well after my chores. ;-)

Anyway in the end our 9am run ended up an early afternoon one, thumbs sore from XBox footy.  (which I won).  I had had a cold so wasn't full of beans for this and the weather was pretty miserable as well.  So I decided to pick the old faithful Stoneymolan route.  Something not too hard but also a good intro to Paul for what the Scottish Islands race may be like.

It's a great wee 7.5 mi run behind Alexandria with fantastic views over Loch Lomond when it is actually clear.  For Paul and I it wasn't with wind and rain and very wet under foot.  I think that Paul recognised the fact that he might need to spend some money on a nice shiny pair of trail shoes.  The route down takes in the Stoneymolan Road which is a good downhill section as the photo shows.

Time taken 1:07:51