Because I Can: July 2016

Photo by Team BAM

I didn't deserve to have a good run at the Great Glen Ultra last Saturday.....training, let's just say had been more miss than hit since the Fling at the end of April. The wall planner was filling up with big red crosses instead of green ticks! And what started as a well earned rest and recovery, turned into a busy period at work, where I seemed to be away every week for at least a day, and usually overnight, and inevitably involving early mornings, late nights and over-indulgence (even if just of the coffee and cake variety).

Photo by Gordon

Yes, I know I should be stronger and avoid some of these things which are in my control, but sometimes my control button isn't there, and I guess that's when the training 'obsession' slips back into an 'eating' one.

And before I knew it, there was the small matter of pacing my sister-in-law around The Strathearn Marathon mid-June (which I've never got round to blogging about, but did in a successful sub-5 hour time, which she was rightly delighted about for her first every marathon!), and then rest before crewing for John at WHW Race (see previous blog), and then taper/recovery to be in some sort of shape for GGU.

I didn't know much about the route, having only managed to get a training run on the last 38 miles or so from Fort Augustus one sunny weekend at the end of May, and that let me know how tough the climbs in those latter stages were going to be! I'd been told by many that it was 'beautiful' and 'as hard as the WHW' but even that hadn't scared me enough to commit as I should have to the training I would like to be sitting here saying I had done.

So, that aside, and with a sufficient amount of last minute prep (booking campsite on the day) etc I finally packed myself and enough kit and food into Danny (d'Vito) and headed up the A9 to Inverness on Friday afternoon. This, as an unsupported race, was to be a solo trip. There are no support crew or outside assistance allowed in the race, and this would be easier if Clark stayed home (and besides which the forecast was for peeing rain all weekend, which doesn't make for pleasant support duties!)

I got to the campsite about 4:30pm and had some food, and tried to settled down for a couple of hours sleep. My mind was racing, and in one of my toss-and-turns I noticed that Fiona Rennie and Pauline Walker were setting up camp next door (in the peeing rain!). At about 8-ish I got up and decided to have some more food...to ensue I reached the start line fuelled up, and in the hope that my body rid itself of some of the contents before the 1am start time. This is not an easy time to start a race! I understand why it's the case, but it's not easy to get your body into the rhythm that it needs to run in the middle of the night (it's not something I ever practice!)

The buses were due to take us from Inverness sports centre at 9:30pm sharp. Inevitably, someone was late, and he rushed on board at about 9:40, apologising profusely. I had a front seat in the small bus....I get travel sick so being in the front is better, albeit the journey along the twisty roads to Fort William was never going to be great. And it wasn't! I tried to sleep to no avail, and I think the driver successfully hit every pothole in his path!

I think it took about an hour and a half to get to The Moorings Hotel, where we bundled off the bus, were cajoled into getting our drop bags into the correct areas, and then sent off to register, handing in the medical forms in return for our number, and some words of encouragement from Ada and Alice.

Now the wait....

I sat with a bunch of very accomplished runners....Mike Raffan, Jenni RJ, Lorna & John Maclean, Alan Cormack.....and tried to stay calm. My belly was still very full, and my head still spinning from the bus...

We were heckled outside at about 12:30pm and walked across the canal to the start line. It was pretty chilly at this point, and I wondered if starting without a jacket was a wise move. I was wearing my salomon skort and vest (the chaffing from which caused me no end of grief later in the race), my purple WHW ronhill tshirt, xbionic arm sleeves, thin gloves, new drymax socks, Compressport calf sleeves and my speedgoats. I did have a skip cap on but had to change it due to needing to wear a head torch, so just a buff around my head.

Bill conducted the usual style of briefing...don't fall in the canal (it looked bloody cold and deep), don't try to swim the canal if the swing bridge is open at the finish, look out for each other....and I don't remember much else apart from the lame joke....What do you call a man with one foot in the house and one outside the house? Hamish.....

I was really nervous now. And we had about 10 mins to shuffle on the spot, waiting for the start... And then the countdown and we were off.

Whoooosh everyone shoots off up the canal path...slight incline, easily runable, and not really that dark (I turned my torch down to low and was never sure whether it ever got truly dark, or the sun was already coming up). I was conscious I wanted to start conservatively (and my stomach was still full, and achy, and my calves, Achilles and feet seemed unnecessarily sore) so I watched as everyone went ahead...people I would usually run with, and I let them all go. I'm also not used to running so much...what I mean is that the first 6 miles are all flat canal....I'm used to run a bit, walk some hills etc etc

At the end of the canal, I get into rhythm with Donna Leslie, and chum her for a wee while (and through the spooky woods). She was running well, and I was sorry to hear later that day she had dropped out. Getting to checkpoint 1 at about 10 miles, Mike (Adams of BaM) asked how I was doing and I moaned a bit..."slowly slowly catchy monkey" he said, and I kept that mantra certainly for the first half/two-thirds of the race. I topped up my bottles with Tailwind but didn't eat much of the bag contents (left my croissant behind) and carried a wee bag of bits with me to nibble on, including my Ella's baby banana brekkie which as a last minute purchase served me well during a few checkpoints this race (as it has done in the past...I really must try to remember each time what works best!)

I turned off my torch on the next section and settled into a more comfortable rhythm, and a toilet break final making other stuff feel better. As the day lightened I did start to pass people and that improved how I was feeling. The rain got heavier, but I didn't feel cold, so I just kept the same layers on and kept on with moving forwards.

Bill (of BaM) was at checkpoint 2, singing a poor rendition of the Rainbow theme tune...just to keep us amused. Similar story with the bag contents, and a quick transition as it was peeing down. There was a big climb out of the checkpoint (I think I passed comment here, and again after Invergarry, that I thought someone had said the first 30 miles were all flat....clearly I should pay more attention!). We didn't head where I thought the route went here, so that kept me pondering...especially when we appeared at Invergarry and went left and then up another sneaky wee trail I never knew was there....

The section before Fort Augustus was an unexpected lull. I was actually falling asleep on my feet (I was trying to convince myself I was having "micro naps" and they would do me good...as long as I didn't fall in the canal!)....and I was starting to get chaffing where ladies don't want chaffing, and this was not pleasant so early on in the race. The bike marshal guy appeared and we were having a nice we chat...and he asked did I need anything? Just Sudocrem was my answer! And while he didn't manage to magic that, he did find some Vaseline in his first aid bag, so I had an impromptu fumble canal side and that eased the issue for the time being! I think the damage was already too badly done by this stage though!

I arrived into Fort Augustus along with Lois, and was greeted by Ada, Terry and Beardy (Graeme Kelly, who was spectating Katie). Ada skilfully filled my bottled...more Tailwind, and I think I had my Starbucks Espresso Double Shot can (or half of it) here. I knew the climbs were coming. And I was glad!

I left just ahead of Lois, and for the rest of the day we were pretty much in eyesight for most of the time and she looked to be having a brilliant run.

I loved the climb up out of FA, and felt stronger than on the day I had reccied it (it had been way hotter that day). The views from the top are stunning, and the path doesn't relent. I could see Katie Hall way ahead, a vision of purple, and it wouldn't be until just at the Invermoriston checkpoint I would catch her (she flew down the killer descent like a wee mountain goat, while I cursed and thumped!). I kept reminding myself I wasn't as fit as I would've liked and therefore the aim should be to enjoy and get to the end!

At Invermoriston, Helen and John had the tunes going and a no nonsense approach to get you in and out. Hugs administered (I remember telling Helen I was stinking, which I was). Bottles were filled, along with a warning that I wasn't drinking enough. Food was told to be eaten. Rubbish was segregated for recycling. My 'excess' baggage (map, head torch, waterproof trousers) were taken to be sent back to the finish line. And I was politely told to get the feck out of the checkpoint. So I did! Again Lois left with me and we walked for a short while onto the next big climb. I think I was munching a wee bag of 'fish & chips' crisps as I went.

There was a slightly different route than I'd done in my trial taking us up onto the High Route here but it was well signed, as was the whole route...I was surprised (other than the wee bit on the first section into the spooky woods) to hear later that a few folk had got lost. The bit I wasn't looking forward to was after the Troll Bridge, where the climb is just stupid! And it didn't disappoint. However, with a couple of applauding tourists at the top, I had to just keep moving! Eventually the path joins onto the 'low route' and I remember it was getting pretty warm by this stage and I was feeling a bit of another lull. I also caught up with John Maclean (like from Die Hard, only tougher) and Pauline Walker along here, and thought that if I could just try and hang onto their heels for a while that would hopefully pull me along. We ended up in a wee group of 5 or 6 and that really helped keep me moving, and although I wasn't contributing much to the chat, it was a steady pace and good company, and Pauline was good with keeping us thinking it wasn't far to the water station. And soon, we happened upon Angela and Brin, a luxurious oasis of water, face wipes, hugs and jelly babies to help us on our way!

And then as I followed Pauline away from the checkpoint, on came the rain again, fiercely beating down.....I think she paused to put on sleeves or a jacket and I got ahead for a while, with my head down just trying to march on. The shower soon passed, and by the last stretch to Drumnadrochit checkpoint I was roasting again! Pauline, John etc caught me here.

I was desperate for Sudocrem again and none was to be had. So I tipped out my drop bag while Karen OGrady topped up my water and Tailwind. I don't think I ate much. I recall someone trying to lift my crisps, so I had to put him right, and it wasn't until I left the checkpoint I realised I'd not eaten/taken my Ella's baby food pouch and wonder if someone snaffled that while I wasn't looking. I took my wee bag with mini sausage roll, mini scotch egg in it and think I ate them on the trot along the road. By this point, my pack pockets were stuffed with random bits I'd not eaten, including my fruit/nut biscuits which had been working well in training! Don't know why I just didn't feel like eating them.

I tried to hang in with Pauline on the road section. It was hot and flat and seemed to go on forever. Seemed rude to walk this when it was so runable, but we both mentioned looking forward to the turn onto the trail when we could justify a walk! We caught Andy OGrady here and chummed with him for most of the rest of the course. And also passed Helen, who was setting off for her training run. I remember thinking who is this young girl clearly just starting a run, ponytail bobbing along.....and then realised it was Helen!

HUGE climb ensued, and wasn't nice. I think I warned Pauline and Andy that I might start saying some bad words...the REALLY bad ones, and Pauline said 'we'll just say oh deary me'....'hmmm....oh VERY deary me' maybe!! And I did try very hard not to descend into bad language...I may have said a couple of F***s at the top though. Another younger guy joined us on this climb, and for maybe a mile into the more open track that follows. He was chattering away quite the thing (I wasn't in any state to be very responsive), and made me chuckle when he asked Pauline if she'd done many ultra's.... "This is number 87" she says.....tee hee hee....

I was starting to need another toilet stop.....and dreading it, knowing how the chaffing was.....just before the final checkpoint and I could wait no longer and had to dive into the undergrowth. Holy ****, that stung. Actual tears and more pain than, well who knows what, it was just bloody sore! More lube next time!!

Jenni and Fiona were manning this checkpoint (still no Sudocrem or Vaseline) and again, offered support, an extended stay if wanted, but I knew I had to move on. Pauline departed (post beer) with a wave and 'you'll catch me soon enough', and I knew that if I could it would really help, so I pushed on, and caught her and Andy in the hippy cafe woods (through the tunnel designed for midgets!)

This team was to serve us well for the next stretch along the road and up into the final woods, each taking a wee turn with a motivational push, and keeping the train rolling. We were starting to speculate about our finish....if we all crossed the line together, how would BaM decide the order (coin tossing (wouldn't work with 3), sprints and hurdles had been mentioned in the race notes....it's a race, not a hand holding competition!!).

I'm not sure quite where we pulled away from Andy on the long section through the woods, but we lost him somewhere, and had a good 'speed' on at this point ("at the middle of the end" said Pauline). We thought we had less than 4 miles to go, when we happened upon John Munro who was running back to meet Helen, only to be told '4.75 to go and it's all downhill'. Damn! Pauline mentioned she was hoping now to get in under 16.5 hours...and this would mean only about 45mins to get this done. Tougher than it sounds when we'd already run 67miles!

The hardest bit was the steeper descent after the wee loch, and my legs were buckling under me, I knew we were dropping speed and this was impacting Pauline's goal, but she was happy to continue with me, and so I really tried to put everything into it. "We are at the D of End" she said..."D of death" said I...."but with a little d" was her reply. I tried to channel some of her sister Fiona Rennie's strength, and I think that helped me, as it always does!

I also wasn't really sure where the finish was...I knew we finished on the track, but imagined we entered the stadium where I had during the marathon years ago....round the other side from where we actually did. I was imagining lots of tarmac and imagining the pain. My feet were throbbing, I could feel the inside of both heels spongy like they were full of fluid.... Past the SNH building and down the track, into the houses and the rain came on....refreshing I said, and Pauline told it to give us all it had (and it did....!!)....along the golf course, howling gail ensued (with Pauline resorting to some proper bad words!), and still we ran.... To the steps....a little walk up them and regroup Pauline advised...and then onto the canal. We could see Bill waving from the other side, and Ruth Howie with her usual enthusiastic support whoop whopping us along.

Matching stride after stride.... Was the bridge going to swing open?... (No, it had just closed)....... How close to 16:30 were we? (It went)

We darted between the cars and down the lane. I was delighted to see the stadium gate was right there...we turned left, and then right onto the track...whoooooooooosh Pauline was away....there would be no second chances on a photo finish! I gave chase as best I could, and whilst I closed the gap a fair bit, I wouldn't ever have caught her the speed she was going (buoyed by all the cheers of those waiting at the finsh who recognised her distinctive kit and not me!), and she was well deserved to finish ahead of me, as I'd really needed her dragging my ass those last (30?) miles!

Relief, joy, pain.....it was done!!!! 71.7 bloody hard miles, and mostly pretty enjoyable ones! A great race with a mixed bag of terrain. And that Brucey bonus of a 1am start to add to the mix! I admit, the tarmac stretches do nothing for me (although they add to the mental and physical challenge!), but the climbs and trails go a long way to make up for it. I also personally will try to avoid the bus journey if I'm doing the race again. People shouldn't underestimate or dismiss this race. Get it into your 'to do' list! I think I was 'lucky' this time that I found a buddy in Pauline and that I am pretty bloody minded to get a job done. I really didn't want a dnf as I felt this was somehow my CCC reprise, being my longest run this year. And while I didn't ever think of dnf'ing, I would've been much slower had things not turned out the way they did.

After some hugs and chat (and scrounging some more Vaseline from Sean!), I went back round to the campsite for a shower and a mugshot and coffee, and then bundled myself in many layers and headed back round to support those finishers still to come in. Although the rain got increasingly worse, a hardy wee bunch of us sat and had a few beverages, cheering right through to the valiant final finisher. By then I was burst....shuffled back round to the van, and tried to sleep it out....with little success (overdosing on caffeine and sugar all day, topped off by prosecco cocktails doesn't make for a restful night!)

The next morning, the race hosts a formal prize giving for all runners (most of whom had stayed) and there was a great crowd. I struggled a little to hear all the commentary (I seriously think I need to get my hearing tested...since I started flying so much again recently it's been really bothering me) and every finisher received a whisky glass and whisky from BaM, to go with buff, tshirt, goody bag etc already received. There were lots of spot prizes, and all the marshals got gifts too...quite rightly so...they have a harder job than the runners I think!

I didn't stay for the pub lunch gathering, as I knew I had a long drive home and a holiday to pack for....next year I'll factor that into my plans....
Overall a great event....and I'd definitely do it again...it's a challenge I think I could improve at, given some better focus on my training in the lead up, and now knowing what the whole route entails. I think it has given me the boot up I needed though to realise I can't just get through on my stubbornness and past experience...I need to dedicate the time, on training and in the diet!