This event was my 3rd out of 5 planned Ultras for 2015. It’s hard to believe that one year ago this event was my first Ultra, and now 2015’s event would be my fifth! My first experience of the Devil was awesome and I was hoping it would be as awesome second time round!
On the Friday, Hugh and I travelled to Tyndrum. We’d booked a Lodge at By The Way Campsite for Friday/Saturday and Donna and Dale were sharing it for the Friday night. It was great being able to sort out stuff for drop bags ready for the early start and be able to keep them cool and fresh in the fridge. I’d made macaroni cheese for dinner followed by dessert, washed down with some wine of course!
It rained heavily most of the afternoon and evening. We prayed for better weather come morning.
Everyone was off to bed quite early apart from me! I’m not used to early nights, but at the same time, I’m not used to VERY early mornings! Alarm was set for 3:45 am and I managed a few restless hours sleep due to being far too hot!
When Donna and I got up we were delighted to look out and see that it was DRY! But within 5 minutes of wakening, the heavy rain started.
I had my usual pre race breakfast and made final additions to my drop bags and hydration backpack. Waterproofs on and some flashing devil horns and I was set to head to registration at the Green Welly, just 2 minutes up the road.
This year’s race was under a new Race Director – John Duncan, aka Johnny Fling. A few changes had been made for the better…there was no longer the need for a 2 person back up team to support you and provide your food/water during the race, no need to carry map/compass/waterproof trousers. Two drop bag stations would be provided at Glencoe and Kinlochleven. There would also be water stations at Bridge of Orchy and Lundavra. This was fab news but I was delighted when Hugh offered to still come and be my support buddy. Top husband!
It was great to see a few familiar faces at registration and chat with a couple of friends who were racing it too. After a short briefing we were all outside and ready for the countdown, thankful that the rain had stopped!
At 6 am we were off! I had my pacer card made up with last year’s times so that I could keep myself motivated as I was looking for a good PB this year. I finished in 10hr 19 min last year, and was dreaming of a 9hr 30 min finish. I knew I had to keep my pace easy through the early stages so as not to burn out.
A few miles in and I was stopping for photos – I’m in a photo scavenger group and each week we have different themes………I needed a picture of a waterfall. I managed a few of waterfalls along the way!
I chatted to a young lad from Glasgow doing his first Ultra and then ran alongside Ron, Liz and Scott for a bit before reaching the first checkpoint at Bridge of Orchy (Time 1hr 6m 43s, position 141). A quick glug of fluid from Hugh and off I went on the climb over to Inveroran. I was glad there were fewer midges compared to last year!
I chatted alongside various different runners on the long exposed stretch across Rannoch Moor and ran for a fair bit with a guy called Mike, reaching Glencoe checkpoint together (Time 3hr 16m 58s, position 136, lap time 2hr 10m 15s, lap position 128). I ate my rice pot as I walked up to the café for a toilet stop and then grabbed my egg roll to eat on the run on the way back down. Hugh told me Donna was running well and about 15 minutes ahead of me at this stage. I then ran/chatted/ate with Alison McLaren for a bit as we headed towards the next big stage – the Devils Staircase! About 1 mile before, I got chatting to a guy about his tattoos on his leg (I needed a picture of a tattoo on a stranger for my photo scavenger group…….Dee will understand!). He kindly agreed that I could take a photo when we stopped at the bottom of the Staircase.
More food and fluid from Hugh and then off up the Staircase I went, passing a fair few on this stage despite walking most of it. Just before the top, the rain started but only lightly. Anne Wombil and Fiona Rennie were waiting at the cairn handing out sweets and taking pictures of us – they were dressed in colourful outfits with devil horns and raised lots of smiles from us weary runners!
Half way down the Staircase I met and ran with Spiderman, aka Ross Lawrie. He was running in his suit to raise money for CHAS and this was his 3rd event and would see him gain his “Triple Crown” status. Absolutely awesome! When we reached the start of the steep descent into Kinlochleven, we parted company as I was off……very speedily……so fast that I couldn’t stop or slow down for absolutely ages (I need to learn how to control my descents a bit!). I think he must have transferred some of his super powers to me! Again, I passed a few runners on this stage and reached Kinlochleven checkpoint in heavy rain (time 5hr 39m 50s, position 117, lap time 2hr 22m 52s, lap position 104) I fumbled under Hugh’s large brolly trying to shelter from the rain whilst topping up my hydration pack and scoffing more food – lovely devon custard and some tablet. Donna was still running well having passed the checkpoint about 15 minutes before me. Leaving Kinlochleven I knew what was ahead of me but also knew the next time I saw Hugh he would have his running kit on ready to support me from Lundavra to the finish, approximately 7 miles. This gave me a boost.
The rain was TORRENTIAL at this point and made for really slippy climbing on the steep ascent out of Kinlochleven. Not far up, I slipped and put my arms out to save myself but felt my back jarring. Thankfully it didn’t give me any trouble other than a few twinges for a minute or two. I passed a few runners on this climb and a few more on the long bleak stage across the remote Lairig Mhor. This part was so windy and exposed and the paths were flooded and the streams quite deep. I splish sploshed through them rather than skirt around them as my feet were so wet anyway! My hands were quite swollen and white at this point and my feet felt the same, as the water was so chilly. I had hoped to get some lovely photos on this leg of the route but my phone stayed safely in its waterproof pouch! I’d also forgotten just how stony this section of the route was to run on!
As I approached Lundavra , Hugh had run a short distance from the checkpoint to meet me. I didn’t stop, I merely shouted my thanks and waved to the marshals and volunteers at the water station, including my chum Nikki. (Time 7hr 30m 46s, position 107, lap time 1hr 50m 56s, lap position 72).
I was glad the rain had stopped and the sun had come out, so the jacket was off as we climbed out of Lundavra and into the forest section. This area was quite muddy compared to last year so Hugh and I just took it steadily so as not to slip. After a while I could see the clearing before the forest track and once on the downhill section of the forest track, my pace picked up again slightly and I passed a few runners and lots of walkers who gave good encouragement. I was aware of pain in my left shoulder and foundit comfier to run with elbows bent and hands pointing upwards on the downhills. I later realised the earlier fall was to blame for the painful shoulder. I had been keeping check on my pacer card and was well ahead of my 9hr 30min target and I was now looking to keep pace as I realised a sub 9hr might be possible! I was nervous about the final mile to the finish as new RD Johnny had made some changes and these included a HILL to the finish! The smiling marshals pointed us to the left and cheerily said “just 1 mile to go” and I could see the climb up Cow Hill ahead. It was walk/jog up here and supporters on route spurred us on. At last we reached the top of the hill. The views over to Loch Linnie were stunning, so the RD was forgiven! I started the very steep descent to the finish, leaving Hugh in my dust, as again, I just could not control the speed of my descent on the steep path! At the bottom we followed the red tape into the park to the sound of cowbells and mad cheers from the crowd. Hugh left me to make my way to the finish arch myself having done a fantastic job as support crew and runner (thank you x) I crossed the finish line in a time of 8hrs 56min 25 seconds. Absolutely thrilled to have smashed my PB by 1hr 25 minutes! (Finish position 104, 23rd Female, lap time 1hr 25m 39 s, lap position 67)
The finish of this race was such a contrast to last year. In 2014 I ran along the main road on pavement to the finish line, which was a tiny gazebo at the side of the main road. No finish flag or arch, no music or cheers, just a tiny group of supporters, no area to rest or chat and a bit of an anti-climax. The atmosphere at the finish this year was tremendous, with music, cheering, cowbells, lots of people, 2 marquees with food/wine/goody bags, and the other for a free post race massage. There was a great buzz about the place as each finisher came in and photographers were there to capture EVERYONE as they proudly crossed the line.
I congratulated Donna on her massive achievement – she finished in a cracking time of 8hr 37 min 31s and was even contemplating doing it all again next year so it wasn’t all that bad! We missed Ron and Liz coming in as we were away getting showered (had to get rid of the mud before we were allowed our massage!) Liz finished in a very respectable time of 9hr 56m 08s with Ron close behind in 9hr 56m 25s. Unfortunately, Scott had to withdraw during the race due to injury.
The male joint winners of this years race were Donald Campbell and Casey Morgan completing it in a time of …drum roll……5hr 28m 10 sec!! They had passed every checkpoint at exactly the same time, so I’m not sure if this was a partnership from the start or just how it panned out. The first female was Caroline McKay finishing in 6hr 45m 10s.
Ultra number 4 out of 5 for this year is in 3 weeks at Speyside Way. My fundraising to help build a new Hospice continues throughout the year and has been going well. Many thanks to all who have donated – it is very much appreciated
Angie