In the lead up to this run I thought Angie Mackenzie was mad when she said she was so excited for it and couldn’t wait to run it again.
I on the other hand was looking for ways of not doing it. Never run further than the Lairig Ghru before so this was a big leapt into the unknown from me going from 26.6 to 42(almost 43). Shared a chalet with Angie and Hugh at By the Way the night before and prep began. Contents of bag drops decided and which checkpoint they were going to, there was no science involved in this for me just where did I think I would feel like a pot of custard and where did I think a ham and ready salted crisp sandwich would be welcome, it was more important to me to decide where my trainer swap was going to take place. Holes in one faithful pair and discomfort with my newest pair was high on my list of priorities. Kit check performed, bags packed and repacked, a lovely meal of mac
and cheese, apple pie and cream meant we were sufficiently “CARBOED” up. Now it was time to socialise with other runners and invited 3 other girls to the chalet for a chinwag and it wouldve been rude not to have offered them glass of wine – just to help them sleep mind. Alarm clock set for 0345 and first ones up were me and Angie, the boys (Dale and Hugh) chose to have a lie-in til 0405.
The rain from the previous day had appeared to have stopped hallelujah!!!! til the tell tale pitter patter started again at 0415, oh well in for a drooking afterall. Breakfasted then off to the Green Welly to register where there was a great hub of excitement and nerves all rolled intogether. Hugs shared with many runners met on previous shorter runs, and went to join the queue for the ladies. Amazing no queue for us girls but the boys one, well lets hope they all had good control. Moment of terror then engulfed me when my garmin refused to switch on, had a spare but it only had a battery life of 5 hrs. You didnt have to be a genius to work out that I was going to take considerably longer than that to run 42 miles. Thankfully a quick reboot from another runner, Victoria Hunter, got me powered back up again whew. 0600 and we were off, and the rain had stopped. My plan was to walk the major ups, run the downs and have a wee toodle on the inbetween parts giving myself an estimated 10hr finish time.
Got chatting to another runner soon into the run , no surprise there, but found myself being quite strict with pace. was very comfortable but found in training that if kept chatting then my pace would increase so kept hanging back as i didnt want to be dead on my feet by the end.
The run to Bridge of Orchy I remember quite well and it was fairly decent running terrain with slight undulation but nothing that made you think you had to walk to conserve strength, quick trot down the hill with a wave to Dale and Hugh and off i continued to inveroran (think that what it was called) midgie land apparently, which inturn took me to the first bag drop point at Glencoe – mile 18. This was like being in runners celebrity heaven with the marshalls all being top ultra runners and record holders. In fact it was Paul Giblin, who holds the record for the West Highland Way , who took the lid off my tupperware box and held it for me as I grabbed a snack. Think it says a lot that these very credible runners give us their time as well and greet everyone as if they know them personally. Ok custard eaten, trainers and socks changed, top of water by Dale and off we go on the next journey only 24 miles to go yippee. Met another runner on this undulating section and I asked him if this was the Devils, he very honest and a tad too quickly replied NO. damn that joy was still to come then. Ran with Jim from around 19.5 miles and had to climb a few gates as neither of us had the strength to open them, and had a good wee blether along the way with both of us keeping an eye on our pace.
The weather was still beautiful for running so every mile run meant a mile less in the anticipated downpour. Dale and Hugh were at the bottom of the Devils which signified the halfway point and Jim told me it was pointless to try and run it but to walk it with purpose so that became my mantra further on “walk with purpose” At the top of the Devils Staircase we were met by Fiona Rennie , another superb runner marshalling and what can only be described as a devil wearing a tootie frootie covered onesie waving a cowbell and handing out jelly beans a surreal moment considering id already passed spiderman!!! Now for the descent which would lead us into Kinlochleven, this was quite tricky rocky terrain and Jim and I were glad that the rain was still holding off for this section and that the deluge didnt start until we were half a mile from the checkpoint . 28 miles done only 14 left. Didnt realise at this point but I was gaining places with each stage of the run completed and still felt fairly comfortable. Jim and I parted compnay here as we each went to our “feeding stations” Dale quickly getting my drop bag open and replenishing my camelback and giving me additional gels for the last section.
Have to say that this section i did experience a blip probably from around mile 30 to 34, and had to rely on my walk with purpose mantra qute a lot. The ascent up the “hill” leading out from Kinlochleven seemed to go on forever and thats when the rain decided to give us its best accompnaied by strong biting winds. Angie had told me that the terrain was better than Lairig Ghru but im afraid i had a tourettes moment when i did call out into the wind just exactly what I thought of this suggestion. more rocks here than on the moon (pinched another runners phrase) and if there was a path under the river then that would be grand im sure. I was also condiderably hampered by the fact that id had to take my glasses off and im quite blind as a bat without them so this did slow me down a bit.
Suddenly about 2 miles out from Lundavra the wind and rain seemed to stop simultaneously and the sun appeared – hurrah!! By now my watch had alerted me to the fact that i was on low battery and I was keeping fingers and toes crossed that Dale and Hugh had made it to Lundavra as they were both planning on running with us repectively for the last 7 miles. (dale s watch would come in very handy.) Theyd made it, and with a quick hello to Robin Wombill and Nicky who were marshalling and a cheerio to Hugh, Dale and I were off. I had already warned Dale that i would be quiet at this point and had given early apologies if I swore, had also reminded him of my plan to walk, the ups run the downs and just keep going in the middle. This section was undulating initially and root rutted so I was more concerned to begin with that Dale coming back from injury didnt do any further damage by accompanying me, I soon forgot about that tho as I concentrated on relaxing on the 3 mile serious downhill section that would bring us into Fort William – oh the quads were screaming going downhill especially when i checked my watch and saw i was running at 7.34 pace, Dale advised me to rein it in thankfully.
Reached Bravheart carpark where I was hoping that the sting in the Devils tale was a threat and that we werent really going to have another mile climb – it was no joke but the bonus was as you were climbing you could see and hear the finsh so your brain could comprehend that the end was near. Dale left me at the entrance to the leisure centre field so i could finish solo. Amazingly with the cheers of the spectators and the ringing of the cowbells i was able to put in a sprint finish to the line. finish time of 8hrs 37mins and 31 secs, way under my 10hr plan. Johnny “fling” the race director greeted me with an hug immediately and asked how i enjoyed it,-AMAZING was my reply, loved it aprt from my wee blip.
The food supplied at the end was superb as was the water,wine or beer option. Massage girls did a sterling job and every single marshall/ helper was fantastic and made you feel they were rooting for every runner individually.
Will I do it again – Absolutely!!!!!!!! and Angie Mackenzie you are not bonkers after all, as i now share your enthusiasm with this run. I feel like I have joined a whole new family and have lifelong friends. I hope that this will inspire some to give this a go, if you can do a marathon then just eek it out a bit and Join Angie and I on the start line next year.