Ding Ding, The Highland Fling

Like escaped criminals we ran, with our ankles tagged, and determined hearts and minds.  We ran with hope, some for glory, or away from pain, away from demons, each with our own story, our own journey, reasons to be there and reasons to believe.

This was my second year at the Hoka Highland Fling (53 mile ultra from Milngavie to Fort William along the WHW), and a monumental milestone in my plans for this year.

After struggling with calf issues for the last month, even being on the start line was a massive achievement.  Many times over that period I had doubted I would get that far, never mind finish!  And if I wasn't at the start, that would be game over for the WHW race in June!  

However, I did the rehab - I dropped the mileage right back, I went for sports massage, I self-massaged, hydrated, stretched, foam rollered, cross-trained....and was pretty darn annoyed (and probably pretty annoying)...but, it's rehab for a reason....and while it's a big case of 'suck it up', it's worth it in the long run (no pun intended).

I did the bulk of the rehab running in road shoes, and as the forecast for Fling day was looking ominous, that was the next big question....switch back to the cascadia's or stick with the cumulus road....

I opted for the latter...slipping and sliding a bit was less of an issue than a lack of cushioning causing the calves to seize up.  I'd also bought some new calve sleeves (purple to match my waterproof) and some new drymax socks.  In hindsight, I could've worn shorts...but I didn't want to pin my race number onto them as they're fairly new...

Friday night registration in Milngavie...a chance for a wee catch up with old friends, and some more food (I'd been scoffing all day Friday) with Alan, who had come across with me to save logistic problems.  An early bed, with kit and breakfast laid out ready for the 4am alarm call.  A decent enough sleep and I woke just before the alarm.  It seems to take a ridiculous amount of fannying around to get ready, force feed yourself porridge and coffee, dress, check and re-check the bags...and you always forget something.  

Emma Hamilton, me, Alan Doig

A short walk up to the train station, drop bags dropped (check, double check that they're in the right car), and lots of hugs and nervous pacing.

A 'ding ding' briefing from Johnny Fling, paying homage to Iain Beattie's song, covered by Running Gannet (many many times) and we were off!  Great crowd there to cheer us on our way, a respect to David Mooney and Julie Docherty who seemed to be almost everywhere throughout the day to cheer us on!


My main goal was to finish safely, not broken, and with that in mind I was cautious to hold my pace slower, and on a few points during the day consciously slowed a fraction.  Emma, Alan and I ran together for a while, and in between various pee stops etc.  Emma and I then ran most of the day together (albeit in the latter stages more for company, with a headphone in, rather than chat).  I don't think my patter was on good form yesterday, so fair play to Emma for sticking near me!  I knew she would be much stronger on the downhills near the end, and as it happened, beat me by a few minutes. As her first big ultra, and longest run to date, I'm sure there's great things to come from her in the next year!

People often ask me how I handle running for 12 hours, but really the day just flies by.  You're either eating, wondering when and what to eat, concentrating on not falling, wondering about your pace (trying not to run someone else's pace), playing mind games about whether that sore bit really is sore, thinking about the next checkpoint or whether that person up ahead is so-and-so...

Photo by Stuart Macfarlane

I was slightly slower to Drymen (12 miles) than last year...there's a lot of flat and tarmac on this section, and in all honesty it's the most boring part of the route.  The field spread out quickly, and aside from sinking ankle deep into the mud when I went for a quick pee, a stop to take my jacket off, and hearing from Karen D that she'd fallen and hurt her hand (covered in blood and mud), before long we were at Drymen....where a great crowd cheered us through.....let the trails begin!

Top of Conic ((c) monument photos)

Onwards to Conic and we seemed to breeze up it fairly well, rewarded with the cloud lifting and a view across Loch Lomond that makes you happy to be alive.  Dropped down into Balmaha (and Emma was way ahead) to the checkpoint to be greeted by UltraBob, who I think I just barked instructions at and threw my jacket at (sorry Bob!)....hoping there was to be no rain for the rest of the day!  This proved to be a wise decision!  

I also think I got the drop bags nearly right this year...eating, or replacing everything at each checkpoint.  The only thing that wasn't floating my boat yesterday were the pretzels.  Otherwise, a combination of cheese, mini rice pudding, gels, haribo and coke/irn bru (250ml bottles) did the job.  At Balmaha I also had an Ella's Kitchen apple/pear/baby rice which went well, and at Bein Glas a can of Red Bull, which was ok....but not great (caffeine good, taste rank!).  I also carried some Mrs Tilly's fudge (life saver at Bogle Glen) and drank about 1.5-2L of nuun (Kona cola / berry).  I'm not sure if this was enough liquid (at Inversanid I remember saying I was thirsty)...maybe I just needed a different taste.

Along to Rowardennan (27 miles), and progress felt good.  I felt stronger on the hills than I remember.  Just before the checkpoint, one of the spectators shouted 'Are you Amanda? I read your blog!'...awesome!  (and sorry, I didn't ask who you were, I was kind of thinking about cheese and haribo!).  I was aiming to get in and out of the checkpoints quickly this year - last year my Garmin stats seem to suggest I was stationary for almost 50 minutes!  So, a quick scoff, a chat to Angela who would be running a stage of the relay, and I tried to get her to text Clark, and then couldn't remember his number!  Emma and I left the checkpoint together (Alan appeared to be having a sit down chit-chat and picnic....).  Another thing I noticed yesterday, was that Emma got back into the running quicker than me after the checkpoints...not really sure why...

Over half-way done!!  A quick chat with George Furmage (not sure my answer to his question about whether this next bit was hilly or not would have helped him....), and then the long climb out of Rowardennan and off to Inversnaid.  I like these next 2 stretches...you really have to concentrate on the technical parts to avoid tripping, thumping into, banging your head off rocks/trees and the like, and it's a couple of paces running, a wee scramble, a wee clamber, a wee run...  My feet were a wee bit sore on the rocky bits (and I did kick a couple of things I shouldn't), and there were a couple of 'uh oh' moments on some of the bigger climbs up that I felt either calf tighten...but thankfully no lasting problems (or the 2 paracetamol I took at Inversnaid killed the pain!)

Photo by John Kynaston

In and out of Inversnaid (34 miles), refueled and stocked up, after a friendly welcome from Sandra McD, Iain B and John K.  It's always quieter at this one as it's a nightmare for people to get to.  All the checkpoints were really efficiently manned to help us transition as smoothly as possible.

At Bein Glas (41 miles), you almost feel like you've cracked it.  Less than a half-marathon to go, but you know it's more like 3 hours if you're my pace!  Final drop bag, and last chance for supplies.  And some friendly support from Sam Crowe of the Skye Wee Grumpy Runners relay team, who kindly helped me find my phone (to text Clark with my ETA)  as my sausage fingers weren't fully functional by then!  Also had a wee sip of Emma's vodka/coke here...not entirely sure that was a good idea....

Again it took me a few miles to get going from the checkpoint.  We joined up with Lucy, and for a while I was just holding on until some energy kicked in.  Karen Robertson went flying passed us just after the Falls of Falloch....clearly recovered from her recent injuries and running like a dream (she put it down to the sugar!)!  And I almost fell a couple of times, but managed to stall myself.  

Cow poo alley was mostly avoidable this year...and no cows!  And you start to get the feeling of the finish...but there's still the rollercoaster to go.  I seemed to be on my own for a while here and passed a couple of guys.  

My quads bizarrely were cramping on the first big climb from Bogle Glen which seems to go on FOREVER....but a square of cheese seemed to help.  I caught up with Mike Adams on the downhill, just after Emma had gone storming passed us...he was cramping a bit too.  Dave Hetherington then went storming passed too, and once we'd crossed the road there we were in a close-ish group of Dave, Emma, Knoxy and me.  

It was pretty sunny by this point, and I was just counting down the final 3 miles...I was looking to come in slightly ahead of schedule over this last section, but knew 12 hours was slightly out of reach. There was no point doing anything 'crazy' at this stage, and I was more than happy to still be running!

The finish was even more spectacular this year, with a long stretch of red carpet, flags, cow bells, cheering crowd..... And yes, I cried......I tried to hold it in, and Clark was taking pictures told me to 'fecking smile'....hmmm.....can't imagine those photos are going to be nice!

Finished 323/499.  12 hours 6 mins 39 seconds (about 8 mins slower than last year, less time 'stationary', but slower average moving pace).  Not broken!

A great finishers goody bag - bottle of prosecco, tech t-shirt, buff...and beer, water, soup, massage, showers etc.  Amazingly good value for money!

A few more sweaty hugs, a sit down and cocooned myself in my duvet coat.  Wee bit of cramping and a drop in body temperature.  Clark had left Cori in the car along in Tyndrum and was keen to get back to see he was ok, and the shower queue was massive, so we made a stealth like exit...home for Chinese and a lie down.  It took me until 10pm to build up the courage for the stairs and shower...chaffing, thankfully, wasn't as bad as anticipated!

Could I have kept going for another 43 miles? Well, there's a few more weeks before I have to, and yes, I think I could... A few things to think about before then, and definitely no sitting down, as that's when my temperature always drops.  

But it's hard to compare, as yesterday I knew Tyndrum was the end....on 22nd June, I know Fort William is the end.  

Today, I feel tired, and only a little sore...maybe there's day 2 DOMS to come tomorrow, but I don't care!  Mission accomplished, job done, see you on June 21st!  

Bring it on!