Saturday 14 September 2013

Amazing, inspirational, outstanding….epic!

Crying...
“2 minutes left” shouts George Reid as 30 or so assorted runners in all shapes, sizes and stages of disrepair make their way round the ‘small lap’ in the final stages of the Glenmore 24 hour trail race. 

I don’t know where I’m finding the strength, energy or will to run, but I’m spurred on by the cheering crowd and the knowledge that this really, truly was nearly the end, and with my tent peg end marker in hand, I ‘power’ up the final climb, and push the descent before the horn signals it’s all over.  


Thump…I collapse, sobbing uncontrollably on the grass, as Clark runs over to give me a big hug, and when we part, several others come over to hug, cry and celebrate with us.  

Epic, that’s really the best word to describe it I think!

'Team' photo
 There are so many good things to say about this race, and so many things I’m not going to remember.  And there’ll be many stories told by the other competitors, sharing their trials and achievements in the 12 hour and the 24 hour events, both taking place on a glorious September weekend at Glenmore Forest in Aviemore, a place close to my heart, with many a great holiday or weekend spent running, biking and swimming in the area.

The build-up to the event had been scary and exciting – a frenzy of activity on all the Facebook sites, with those who had taken part before reassuring those of us who hadn’t that the atmosphere and support made this an event like no other – “you won’t even feel like you’re racing”.

Clark and I didn’t travel up until Saturday morning – needing Friday night to pack (arghhh!! How much stuff?!?) and go out for dinner!  Luckily, the lovely Munro’s were lending us a tent and set up our base camp for us on Friday night at Hayfield between their tent and Sarah Self’s, so we’d be  all good to go after our 2 hour drive through the pouring rain (this was not the start I needed to my day!).  Thankfully, as we drove the final couple of miles, the rain stopped and the sun broke through, setting the scene for the rest of the weekend – clear skies, sunshine - Scotland at its best!

So, this was it..about to embark on the longest run I’d ever done – both in time and distance.  I’d set myself some goals – my main aim was to try and keep going for the 24 hours, with mileage targets of Bronze (<80 miles), Silver (80 miles) and Gold (80+ (even just a fraction)).  Silver was the goal I told everyone and that was where I was realistically aiming – I had NO intention of trying for the 100 miles the majority of the field seemed to be targeting – 80 miles was already 26 more than the furthest I had ever run, and staying awake would be a big challenge as I’m not good with sleep deprivation at the best of times!

And it was such a strange feeling getting ready to start…knowing we’d pass through base every 4 miles, this was an ultra with a difference – no need to carry a backpack stuffed with goodies, spare kit, phone etc.  All I carried was my Salomon soft flask, and on occasional laps a gel, handful of jelly tots or 9Bar.

Race briefing at 11:30am with a few solemn reminders of what we were undertaking from RD Bill Heirs and race medic Dr Andrew Murray (don’t take Ibuprofen for fear of death, don’t mess with Ada and don’t break the rules!), with a reminder of the great support we had at base, not just from our personal crews..…and the unveiling of the Guinness World Record Attempt (longest 3 legged race!)

The New World Record Holders!
12 noon, and we’re off….a mixed bunch of 12 and 24 hour competitors, from all corners of the country, in all shapes, sizes and levels of experience and fitness.  The concept was ‘simples’…..complete the 4 mile ‘big’ lap as many times as possible until 1 hour before the end of the race, when you would move onto the ‘small’ lap (about 0.2 mile) until the time runs out!
The big lap wasn’t as mind-numbing as people might expect – it breaks down into 4 different sections, making it easy to focus on getting from point to point, and the time really seemed to go by much quicker than expected.  The first ‘forest’ trail section is knarly and windy along the edge of the loch.  Section 2 is a wide forest ‘road’ higher up, with great views across the loch.  At the corner, the up-hill section begins (with the wonderful half-way aid station on this section, which was manned throughout by a number of cheery, supportive folk who always had a variety of beverages to offer – “free midge with every cup”).  And the final section was mostly downhill, and seemed to offer the best view of the stars at night!
Karen and I 'caught' walking

I’m not going to review every lap!  I don’t remember them all, and it’d probably make for pretty dull reading!  Moments that stuck out for me:

 - Karen Robertson’s great advice about setting markers for run/walk sections on the uphills

Gavin from Yorkshire who I blethered with on several laps, and then always had a cheery word to say when I passed him later on, despite him also saying every time I did that he was really suffering

- The feeling of relief at the sun going down allowing the temperature to drop – laps 4 and 5 I was starting to struggle in the heat

- Rolly, who ‘sacrificed’ his pace for half a lap to run me back to camp in the darkness because he had a great head torch on…and at that point I had none!  I was to later find out he came 2nd in the men’s race (thankfully it wasn’t so close a finish that his generosity to me cost him the win!!)

- At midnight, seeing the 12 hour competitors bomb round their short laps, and thinking/saying “there’s no bloody way I’ll be running when I get to the end” (and this clearly being a lie!)

- The bizarre feeling on several laps that so much time could pass without seeing anyone

- Clark coming out to run 2 laps with me (16 & 17) in the wee small hours to try and help keep me awake, despite the fact he was clearly in need of sleep, and his overall unfaltering support (it can’t be easy being on call every 45-60 minutes for 24 hours and being expected to be psychic!)

-      - David Meldrum chumming me round my 3rd from last big lap…and not nagging me when I couldn't run as much as we both wanted, but kept me entertained with stories
Ok, I will do 1 more f-ing lap...
but that won't stop me crying!

-   And Sarah Self, for stepping in to do my last big lap with me (the one there was no f*cking way I was doing) when it was clear I had too long to sit around waiting on the small lap opening!

I didn’t survive the whole 24 hours without a wee lie down – I attempted ‘sleep’ after 72 miles..the darkness and yawning got the better of me.  I spent the lap prior weighing up the idea of pushing on to get to 80 miles before a lie down, and then decided better to lie down and still have some miles to do to get to target as an 'incentive' to get back up again!  I had about 1.5 hours disrupted, cold lie down in the tent – should’ve got changed before trying to squeeze into the sleeping bag that Cori was hogging the bottom of!  Clark remembered later in the week that I was muttering away to myself most of that time too…but as yet, can’t remember what I was saying (pheeeew!!)!

Some point on Saturday, still managing to lift
my arms! 
Viki W 
So, I cried as I finished my last (f-ing bastarding, wasn’t going to do that one) lap…and then cried quite a lot during my 35 minutes or so of short laps.  

Support crews made me cry, the race team made me cry, Clark taking photos made me cry…..…and the sheer determination and inspiration of myself and my friends around me made me cry – Viki Williams bare footed, zombie-like state, still shuffling round; Noanie storming through her last big lap and announced as new course record (126+ miles in the end) and new ladies champion (2nd place overall);  Jo Rae, feet clearly hurting, but still pushing through…..and everyone, determined to get to the end. 
Jo Rae - think her feet were sore!






There are lessons I’ve learned from the event to take me through to next year’s goals but never before have I completed such an epic event, one where everyone gives such warmth, support and encouragement right to the dying seconds…one where you get to run with the elite field several times over the duration of the event, and they share words of support with you and the effort you are making…and one where everyone finishes at the same time!

I cried again at the prize giving…..for friends, for myself, and for the special award for Fiona Rennie (when times get tough mid-race I think of her guts and determination!) and (assuming I can beat the entry rush (this year sold out the first batch of places in under 2 hours I think)) I’ll be back next year to aim for the 100 mile goal! 
Crying...with Bill Heirs

Fiona Rennie - an inspiration to us all!
It still doesn’t seem quite real: I sat in the pub Tuesday lunchtime and quite casually said “yeah, I ran the Glenmore 24 hour trail race at the weekend; I did 95 miles”……


Epic!




Sunday 1 September 2013

6 sleeps!


6 sleeps the race director reminds us on Facebook today...and have you read your pre-race briefing pack.....have you got everything on the kit list (yes, including the anti-bear spray), have you seen the forecast of overnight lows of minus 3 degrees.....(and aside from that, can you get all the work you need to do this week done before stuffing the car to the roof on Friday night ready to whoosh up to Aviemore first thing Saturday in time for the pre-race briefing.....).   EEEEEK! My head is pickled with the hundreds of thoughts spiraling round and round! Pass me another paracetamol!  And as for the chances of actually getting 6 sleeps......

As I read the race report blogs from last year, I'm excited to be part of this crazy adventure....and then I pause for a minute and think "what? me? 24 hours? of laps around Glenmore forest?"...what am I thinking??!!



Well girl, reality check time....it's all part of the master plan....*insert wicked laugh*......and this year, so far, the plan has gone pretty well!  Furthest run ever at the Fling, Marathon PB at Strathearn, massive PB at the Devil.  Job done!  I said from the outset I wanted to be targeted on specific events, and I've tried not to deviate too far from that.

Photo from glenmore24.com


I'm not sure I've given a massive amount of thought into training specifically for the 24 hour race...more hoping that the consistency I've had this year and my guts and determination, combined with what sounds like an awesome level of support will get me round!


What I'm most worried about is sleep!  Or lack of!  I never feel I get as good a sleep as I should, and am a nightmare when sleep deprived - take this week for example...a late night/early morning mid-week and a late-ish night last night with a long-ish lie and I'm like a burst ball today (blaming it on taperitis and THE FEAR!).  I think I've tapered to extremes this week though and will remedy that with a 6:20am "blast" on Killer Hill with Bob and the dogs!


from sleepzine.com
Best I have a word with the wonder that is Support Husband before next weekend.....sleep deprivation = irritability, impaired moral judgement (?!) and obesity!  Interestingly, for the vertically challenged among us "Growth Suppression".....'nuff said!

So...back to the kit list writing and mental packing....!  This time next week I hope to be enjoying the start of my holiday week in the company and story-telling of fellow 12 and 24 hour runners, with our awesome support crews and friends in one of Aviemore's finest hostelry's...maybe with a wee beer or two....