The Keys to the Executive Lounge

It's an awfy long time since I blogged, and maybe I felt there was little to say....but actually, I think I'm more inclined to blog in times of "challenge", and things have been going pretty darned well this year...and I've been kinda busy!  But no excuse, and that won't help me recall my 'memories' in my old age!

Anyhow...the stories of this week...much phenomenal-ness has been shared already on Facebook, and other blogs, but time for the mini-adventure that was my week, and my 'race' (yes, I'm going to call it a race now it's over, instead of continually correcting myself to say "no, it's not a race, it's an event, I'M NOT racing...")

Two motivations this week...the second of my BIG events of the year, in my second run of the Devil O The Highlands...but interestingly the fear and build up tempered by the realization that "if" I ran 20 miles in the 5 days leading up to the race, the final mile of the Devil, would break me through the 1,000 mile marker of running this year (and Running Gannet would unlock the door to the fictitious "Executive Lounge")....as a stats junkie, there was no way I was going to let this one lie....

 So the more usual tapering, was replaced by a new plan....one consumed with where to fit those precise, vital miles into a jam-packed week!  That's not to say that I thus avoided any of the usual taperitis...grumpy, tired, everything hurts, danger of catching the lurgy (so Bob was banished!), not eating enough/correctly, dehydrated....blah blah blah...

So, with a final 3 miler on Friday morning, and the day off work, it was TIME!  Eeeeeek!  The whole day to get packed and organised....hours of fannying about, moving piles of clothes, food (enough to feed a small army of hungry anything), trying to get a wee nap, trying to fill, and re-fill beds in the cabin as people's plans had to change, checking and re-checking lists and bags...oh, and looking several times on Facebook to see if everyone else was doing the same (errr....yeah, they sure were!)

The condemned! (photo by John Munro)

So, Bob picked me up and we headed off to Tyndrum for the night, driving through the ominous "biblical" rain, before spending the evening having a good last supper scoff and catching up with pals at By The Way, and in the pub, before heading for a restless sleep and a 4am alarm call!

Up and at 'em, with a hearty breakfast, and a good laugh at/with Sarah and Bob (the latter opting for a long lie, some cheese on toast burning, and generally getting abuse for faffing around!).  There was a general nervousness in the air, which heightened as we rocked up to registration, meeting friends old and new, and all paced around anxious to get started, despite the somewhat hideous conditions!

I had 2 vague objectives for the day: (1) To be nicer to my support crew! Apparently I was a wee bit narky last year...and (2) Ideally to hit just sub-9 hours...both could prove a challenge!

6am...the count down...and we're off....5 paces of gentle jog...and then 5 minutes walking (well, it is uphill.....!!) before getting the "easy" first section (c7 miles) to Bridge of Orchy out of the way!  Objective 1 still in check, as I literally skipped and bounced through the checkpoint! 

Just to prove it (photo by David Mooney)

Arriving at Inveroran (photo John Munro)

Climb from BoO (photo by Fiona Rennie)

Straight through the checkpoint and up and over Murdo's Mount, greeted by the inspiration that is Fiona Rennie at the first gate, and managed not to trip over a guy that did an amazing 'comedy' fall on the descent. (he seemed ok...said only his pride was hurting!)

Heading out over Rannoch was wet and wild, but at least that drowned any potential midgies!  The shoes were struggling a bit on the slippy cobbles, but the highlights were the minute patch of blue sky (and the guys ahead all stopping to point at it!), the rainbow and the massive stag running across the moor.  I seemed to lose time on this stage, and by the time I got to the checkpoint I was 10-20 minutes behind my 'gold' plan.  I decided at this stage "stuff it, the weather's awful, stop looking at the watch and just run".  So after a few minutes being nice to my lovely crew, and assorted Ultra Dafties supporters, I trotted off down the road, with a handful of pretzels, a  caffeine gel and a bottle of coke, with the motivation to "just run".

Met Julie (in supergirl pants?) and Katy just past Kingshouse (after a moment to abuse Tim for sitting cosy in his campervan), and said a quick hello before motoring on (well, I think I was).  My fingers were really sore at this point with both rings digging into my swollen sausage fingers, and I spent a good 10 minutes trying to work out how to get the rings off, before giving up on the idea!  Passed Dave Hetherington just before the Aultnafeadh who sadly told me he was having to DNF due to injury :-(.

So, onwards and upwards, with the Devils Staircase ahead...and food the plan of attack!  Tried to get a good stride on and eat a 9Bar on the way up...both fairly successfully.  

And then...time for the secret weapon for the descent.....one headphone, and my new tunes!!

I had the most AWESOME time on the descent, stomping through the rivers that used to be paths, singing along, and passing a handful of people on the way.  Felt pretty strong, and I'm sure the beat of the music kept the rhythm going in my feet!  So much so it seemed, that I arrived in KLL to no support crew!!!

Thankfully, David Meldrum and some friends from Wee County Harriers were on hand to deal with my expletives and mini-strop, before my crew appeared at the far end of the village, with the necessary Irn Bru and Mrs Tillys!

I felt MUCH better climbing out of KLL than last year, kept fueling up, and kept ahead of a couple of guys who opted to stay in my slip-stream!  Onto Lairig and it was...yep...you guessed it....wet and windy!!

Not sure who the other chap in the photo is, but I tried to reel him in to keep running as much as I could, looking forward all the time to my Irn Bru from Jeff at the Wilderness Rescue van!  I can't help singing "follow the yellow brick road" every time I run across here!

I'm not saluting, my cap was about to blow off!
(photo by Jeff from Wilderness Rescue)

Enjoyed the next wet section too, down into Lundavra, where I expected to see my support crew.......Nope, they'd been replaced by David Meldrum again!!  This time, it turned out it was all John Munro's fault for 'parking' his car in the ditch and blocking the road!!  David supplied me with the eagerly anticipated can of Red Bull, and I was off....FINAL SECTION! Woohoo!!

I spent a good deal of the next 3-4 miles tailing/cat and mousing with a couple of folk, and mulling over in my head the memories of Clark who 'ran' with me this section last year and spent much of it saying 'but WHY can't you run it'...and actually laughing with how I felt so much better and stronger this year (oh, the power of caffeine, gels and tablet!!)

Final hill, and on to the fire road...final gel...and ready to run!  A support runner heading the other way told me "Well done, I think you're in the top 10 women".....Holy Crap! I've never been top 10 anything, EVER!  And as if I wasn't motivated enough by that, I'd promised myself a wee glance at the Garmin...and it said 8hrs 9 minutes!  Holy Crap! How did I do that!?!?

So, off I motor, passing the guy I'd been tailing and then a couple of girls on the way down the hill....could I really be in the top 10 women?!  Can I sustain this pace?!?  I'm GOING TO BEAT MY 9 HOUR ASPIRATIONAL TARGET!!

Keep drinking....have some tablet.....keep running.....and finally through Braveheart and onto the tarmac....less than a mile to go...and I can run it!!!.....Through the 30mph sign and the finish is in sight.....the crowd go WILD (well, maybe I'm making that bit up....but there was definitely clapping and some "Woohoo")...

Sleep running... (photo by Clark Hamilton)

And it's done!  A MASSIVE PB at 8hrs 41m!  A bit of blubbering and hugging!  And a nice cup or two of prosecco from Lorna!

So that's my story!  A quick wash, change and clapping at the prize ceremony - much respect to Noanie (3rd lady) and Jo (4th lady, 1st Vet), and all the other winners!  Then back to the finish to cheer Helen, Bob and the other finishers through their final steps, each overcoming their own personal devils and demons to cross the line!  Overall I was 63rd of 134 finishers.....and I was 10th lady!  (Good job I overtook a couple of girls on the fire road eh?!)

Job done, good times!