Warm Weather Training...Ding, Ding, The Highland Fling...Round 3!

Yesterday I completed my third Hoka Highland Fling, the 53 mile trail ultra race from Milngavie to Tyndrum...the first 'half' of the West Highland Way.  I mean no disrespect to the event talking about it as a 'training run', and I think that's actually how the race originated 10 years ago, as a progression to the WHW race in June.  Regardless, for me that is how I've treated this Fling, and last years too.  It's a clear line in the sand about whether I'm going to be ready for the full WHW or not...it will be my longest and toughest 'training run', and yesterday fulfilled all my expectations, and then some.

 

I had a couple of aims this year - 1) less faffing at the checkpoints and 2) to run a PB. Tick.



Donald Sandeman finishing. 
Photo Clark Hamilton.

 The event goes from strength to strength every year, and with something like 1,000 entrants this year, I don't know how Johnny Fling, Noanie and the army of marshals managed to remain so calm. 

From race hotels, multiple sites to register, chip timing, drop bag stations, fearless marshals stopping us getting run over at crossings/carparks, post race ice-cream/soup/beer/showers, reasonable entry fee with goody bags filled with tech t-shirts/medals/prosecco/buffs, photographers everywhere, finish chute that makes you feel like a superstar.....the list is almost endless!    

In the week before the Fling, the forecast was looking a bit ominous, despite mid-week temperature hitting 20 degrees.  Cool would be good, wet and wild less so......  Cleary Johnny Fling had a word with someone and after a cool-ish start and some light drizzle, the skies cleared, the sun shone, and if anything(sorry to all the people I moaned about this to), it was a little hot for me at several points!  I'm just not acclimatised to running in the heat!

 

My tapering went a bit more extreme than planned, and I didn't run or train all week for one reason or another...I don't think it did me any harm, and maybe even helped....I did a good job of using the  excuse of stuffing my face all week too though.  I also didn't have time to start my prep until Thursday night, so I delayed my travelling through to Milngavie until fairly late on Friday night to try to alleviate the stress that was starting to build, knowing I had drop bags to sort, kit to organise etc etc.  Clark, as ever, was on hand to drive me through, and after a quick dash in to registration (some hugs and a quick blether with Sarah, Ada, Alice and Fiona and Rachel) he ditched me at the hotel.  £68 for about 8 hours seems a bit pricey but saves an even earlier alarm call, and it's an easy walk to the start.  Went to see Helen and John, and had a quick dram to avoid catching any of their germs...and then straight to bed with a 4:05am alarm call...eeek!

 

Peaked out the window....light drizzle...mild-ish....Hmmm, kit??  A couple of changes and I opted for the most flexible options (and avoiding panicking and putting my thicker waterproof on!).  X-Bionic shorts/t-shirt/vest/arm sleeves, compressport calf sleeves, dirty girl gaiters, Hoka Rapa Nui, drymax socks and a lightweight wind/shower jacket and thin gloves.  Good choices!  Jacket was off before Drymen I think and the arms came down and then off a little later.  There were a couple of light showers (hail?) nearer Tyndrum but never came to much and the kit caused me no issues.  I kept the gloves on all day, using them to wipe sweat, dip in streams to cool my face...and wipe the rice pudding/gels etc off when I slittered!

 

I was feeling a little weird...I think the enormity was bubbling up inside me...This would be my longest run since I dropped out of Glenmore, and I think there's always some questions how the day is going to shape up...  I checked out and walked up to the start alone...the street and hotel was quiet (I checked my watch again to see if I was too early/late?!).  Nearer the station car park and walking past the tunnel, the butterflies jumped in my tummy..  Drop bags delivered to the right vehicles and a fanny around like an amateur trying to squeeze by big duvet coat into my finish bag.  Thankfully Davie, Julie and Janette came to my rescue!

 

Said hello to a few folk and then kind of stood on the sidelines and watched the world scurry around me, some familiar faces but many I didn't recognise.  I think I was just focused, and contemplative of trying to run a PB.



 



With about 10 minutes to go, the race briefing gave us a quick heads up of litter, birthdays and starting waves.  I shuffled into the second pen for runners aiming for 10-12 hours, to the faint strains of Loch Lomond by Runrig.  Probably a little near the front of this group, and I edged back a little, bumping into Rhona Red Wine Runner, as she was saying a good luck/cheerio to hubby Graeme and sending him to the 12 hour+ group ;-)

 

10, 9, 8......Go....and the elite wave were off.  Nervous shuffling....and a couple of minutes later we were off.  Eyes prickled with tears.  And breathe....deep, calm breaths.  Move slowly...and if the breathing rate increases, ease off......'If you think you're going to slow, slow down'....

 

I felt pretty strong and steady on the stretch to Drymen.  A couple of times I wondered if I was going a little quick, but my heart rate was reasonably low, breathing was easy and I didn't push it.  I focused on trying to keep the pace good, and to glide up some of the inclines I would previously have walked.  Marginal gains, marginal gains a mantra for the day. I remember being surprised how many people sounded like they were already busting a gut so early on.

 

The reception at Drymen was great, with loads of cheering and noise. I grabbed a quick water and pushed on through.  Conic was looming under the blue skies.  I'd been nibbling on some banana loaf so far, and one wee block of cheese, drinking regularly (kola or strawberry nuun intermittently).

 

Descent from Conic - photos by Ian Anderson

Conic passed smoothly.  A hot climb, and the relay runners started to pass, blasting up the climb.  The ground was dry which made the descent easier.  Part of Clark's advice on improving time had been to try and go a bit quicker on descents and I put that into practice, mindful of not trashing my quads this early on, and eating more cake...inevitably when there was someone to take pictures!

The checkpoint at Balmahahaha went in a blur.  Janette had my drop bag ready, Karen filled my water, and Helen (who sadly, but wisely had pulled out of the race) helped me with my rice pudding.  I think I was in and out in about 2 minutes, chewing a mouthful of Haribo infused rice pudding washed down with coke as I went back onto the trail.

Along the next stretch to Rowardennan the temperature was rising.  Nothing much to report, still focused, trying to relax, and generally a bit inwardly focused (apologies to anyone I might not have been overly chatty to other than a wee hello and well done).  At Millarochy a few folk in front of me missed the sign for the beach but were out of shouting distance....and it won't have made a massive difference.  At the steps about a mile or so before Rowardennan a girl fell, looked painful but she said she was ok....I promptly then almost did the same (clearly thinking 'don't fall, don't fall' isn't a good idea...must make me more likely to fall) but managed to recover before hitting the deck. Pheeeeew!

The checkpoint was mobbed.  Cars clogging the road, being assertively directed by Angela, who ensured I didn't get run over!  Again the plan was to be in and out....Sean filled my water, I guzzled my coke and stuffed everything else into pockets on my bag.  I'd decided the half-way reward was to get my tunes on, and that caused me some faff digging my phone out of it's waterproof bag, unravelling the headphones, trying to squeeze and re-squeeze everything into the front pockets while walking out of the checkpoint (note to self either pack less stuff or get a bag with more front pockets!  This was a theme from all subsequent checkpoints!)

And so it continued...in 3 miles I'd be at 30, and then it's 'only' 23 to go. Ha ha, the logic is great.  Climbing with a strong march and brief shuffly runs.  Marginal gains, marginal gains.  I passed a few folk I wasn't expecting to on this stage (Alan Robertson being one I fully expected to come blasting past later in the day!).  I felt pretty strong for about the first 5 miles of this section and then had a wee wobble.  Tried to keep the head, and focus on the goal.  I was still on for a PB if I keep going, especially the downhills and flats.  Even on the climbs, while they were hot and I was getting grumpy, I was still powering on in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes it's so much more about keeping the head than anything else!

Usually I love the technical stretch of the lochside, both before and after Inversnaid.  Yesterday I did find it was a little 'busy'....runners getting stuck in a wee convoy which makes it harder mentally and physically.  Those in front disrupt your pace, and those behind make me a little stressed.  You win some, you lose some.  I think I lost a wee bit of time and oomph here, not sure if it was that or the heat still.

Inversaid, again in and out fairly quickly.  David Ross's team sorted my water and bag contents, and I managed to source a wee glug of 'sick persons' Lucozade for a change of taste.  Disappointingly, I'd put coke in this bag too, and not one of my Red Bull or Coconut Water...both of which were in Beinglas! I chucked away my pancakes and banana cake...probably not a good idea.

Photo from Ross Lawrie

Somewhere on this section, I rounded a corner and came across Spiderman...also training for WHW, raising money for CHAS and posing on a rock, as you do!

TheUltraAmazingSpiderman

This section I think I struggled most, and mindful that I didn't think I had eaten enough started pushing more fuel in.  At the Angels playground (when spookily 'Born to Run' had just been on my ipod) I stopped for a wee hug and a gaze down the loch.  Chap behind asked if I was ok (ultra runners are lovely about making sure everyone is fine), and I just explained that it was all Dario's fault I was there.  Maybe I can't 'blame' him forever....it is true though, and I'm eternally grateful for it!

Bizarrely, the descent to Beinglas got clogged up with a wee convoy of runners...mostly walking (?!) the descent.  I managed to get passed, almost tripped, recovered and enjoyed some clear trail.  There were 2 hugely cheery boys up a tree about quarter of a mile out, giving one of the best whoop whoops of the day and the supporters at the checkpoint were awesome too.  I almost cried again!

Rachel (and mad Monty dog) were marshalling here, and despite my goal to grab and go, I had a sit down, acted a bit pathetic about what to eat/drink/do, and generally faffed for  few minutes longer than intended, without really taking in any food (had my kids mango/pineapple coconut water and got wired into the Red Bull (silver one!)).  Worth it for the hug and 'snog' though..  Ha ha.

Windy, hot, walk, shuffle, walk...onwards to Derrydarroch and some 'hello's' with the Strathearn Harriers supporters...and a second encounter with the Moonerty's ultra-roo tied to the bridge!  The next stretch isn't a favourite of mine.  I'm not sure why but I don't like the flattish bit along the river, and then its up and up and gradual incline all the way through cow poo alley, over the rocky rubble to the big gate before the rollercoaster.  Hard to get a rhythm, and wary that the rollercoaster is looming! 

Had some Kendal Mint Cake...it's proving quite good for clearing the claggy taste you get in your mouth, as well as clearly being a big hit of sugar!  At this point I thought my PB was out the window, and wrestled with scaling back or trying to plough on.  The stubborn in me opted for the latter! Power walk the inclines, shuffle the descents...up, down, up, down...I'd forgotten how many wobbles there are here....

Down to the road crossing and the Garmin clicked 50 and just over 11 hours....I didn't believe it was only 3 to go (and even asked Tim if it was) and I was still doubtful of sub 12. as I figured it was nearer 4 miles, despite having run this section countless times!  Man up, push on.  I ran the tarmac to the farm, and then walked into the headwind across to the wigwams, using the excuse I was stronger walking.  And then onto the final stretch, and I knew the PB was back in contention. 

The Pipers
Photo by John Arthur

I saw Donald ahead (you couldn't miss him dressed like that!) and was firstly surprised, and then remembered he'd been injured recently.  I watched where he and Craig were running or walking and tried to do the same, not thinking I would catch him, but I did, just at the clearing.  We exchanged a few words, and then they let me go ahead...promising that Donald would photo bomb my finish straight. 

Maybe that was the motivation I needed, or the sound of the piper and the kind words from the supporters and I pushed on.  Round the final bend and into the finish chute, bedecked in flags from every nation, a  red carpet and cheering crowds rattling cow bells and offering high-fives. 

Try. Not. To. Cry.

Clark was taking the finish photos...it was a tough call not to blub until just after the line.

A flurry of hugs and "well done"s.  And a seat.  And some tears.  And then some ice cream (thanks Noanie!).  And then some beer.  Then soup.  This is great progress, I had an immediate appetite!

Davie M then sorted out finding my kit bag and helping me change before hypothermia set in (good practice for him for June :-)).  Some more chatting and congratulating folk, most of whom seemed to have PBs - Caroline and Sandra had championship medals and I was there to see Rhona storming in to a massive PB.  So pleased for everyone!

And then I was baltic, and Clark was still on duty.  Noanie had kindly offered to let me shelter in their cabin (even if it did confuse Johnny's brother when he came back and found random me sitting in the lounge area), which was awesome as the car was away round at the Real Food Café.  It was right on the finish line so I stayed wrapped up, drinking tea and watching the mix of emotions as people accomplished their goals, be that PB's or otherwise.  Very emotional!

Another amazing day, with fabulous people and brilliant organisation.  I hope everyone involved takes time to give themselves a pat on the back/huge cheer/hug/vat of beer etc!

Next year (yes, I'm already thinking of another entry), I'm going to try and be organised and get accommodation to stay for the after-party.  It's just the right time to kick start the motivation for the year, even if I don't go for the WHW again next year.  And such a good atmosphere...so many good things could be said, it's not easy to say or remember them all!

Thoughts/Learnings:

• I generally felt better coming out of the checkpoints than I usually do.  Able to get moving sooner.  Mostly I think the quantity of stuff consumed was more manageable.
• Kit choice was good.
• Is my pack right for ensuring I keep snacking in races with no support crew (I have the UD SJ)....or should I just be more decisive and assertive about my drop bags.....the contents are there for a reason...eat it!
• Heat...not necessarily my friend....and when it's hot I need different drink/food options (support crew and car full of options makes a girl complacent...).  It was tough going in the heat, and I think most of my time I made up in swift checkpoints and gains in the first half.
• Be positive about progress...I was definitely running more yesterday, especially in the first 35-ish miles, and even after that, my descents and flats were better
• Get to the hoody stall earlier!

I'm sure there is a million other things I could/should say or remember, but it must be time to eat/nap again!  DOMS not too excessive today - had interestingly sore biceps this morning and a rubbish sleep (too much caffeine yesterday).

Finish position 313/647.  11hrs 38m 46sec.  20 minute PB.  In the heat.  Happy days, very pleased!

 Garmin Stats