It’s 4:30am in Harvey’s Granny and Grandad’s house, and I’m woken by three alarms in quick succession of each other. I think to myself, ‘I don’t want to do this today, and I don’t have to!’ As a walker would say to me later in the day, “Is there a better way to spend your Saturday?”, he was in positive mode, but my reply was negative, although only joking, I said, “yes, I could be at home watching the football with a beer!”. That’s how I’m feeling now lying in bed though. I don’t have the desire to do this today. Nobody cares, it’s Mrs pacepusher’s day as she goes for her first ultra race, I’m just along for the ride. She’s first to rise, ‘I’d better at least go and cheer her on’ I think, and follow her out of bed. Pete provides the coffee and it tastes good, I’m up now at least!
I get dressed (into my running kit), I’m not going to tell them I’m pulling out until I get there, then I’ll admit defeat, I’m just not in the mood! I eat a couple of scones on the 10 minute journey to Milngavie. They don’t go down well! I have some egg sandwiches for later, I’ll save them for lunch though as I’m not going to run.
Arriving at the train station, a very relaxed Mrs p registers, gets ready, and is soon set for the off. I’ve seen a few familiar faces and I’m starting to think I’d better run now that I’m here and people have seen me, but I still don’t want to.
Before I know it, the 6am start is away and I need to sort my head out. I see a few more faces, some old friends – The Consani Three, Davie Bell, WeirRunner and friends, John Steele et. al. – and some new – Subversive Runner and Ultra Running Collie and his Dad! – and I’m registered, wrist band on (with some help from Sonic) and I’m now officially starting! I look at an excited Harvey being looked after by Pete, and I think, ‘alright boy, let’s do this!’.
Milngavie to Tyndrum
07:00 53 miles 09:24:57
Average 10:40 min/miles
Let’s break it down…
photo courtesy of Subversive Runner
Milngavie to Drymen
12.12 miles 1:39:00 Average 8:09 min/miles
I’m waiting to start at the front of the pack, what am I doing? It’s 7am and we’re off. Harvey is waiting for me a little way up the track with Pete to avoid the busy start. I can’t wait to get him… he’s the reason I’m doing this now. I have some banter with The Crazy German over the first few hundred meters, I’ll not see him again until the finish now. I grab Harvey and settle into a decent pace witha couple of English lads, one from Manchester (I didn’t get their names) and we chat away. The Carbeth Huts come and go, as does the Beechtrees Inn, and we’re soon approaching Drymen, a little ahead of schedule. As planned, I’d run the whole section, including the big hills, and was now feeling up to the challenge… “Let’s do this!”. Just before Drymen, there were about 6 of us running together (all team England!) and we were talking Marathons. I asked Manchester bloke what his time was, “2hrs 50, this year”, was the reply. ‘Oh Shit!’ thinks I, and a tactical stop at Drymen let the group head off without me. I can’t get caught up in other peoples races today. It’s my run… in my time!
I would see all of the group again bar the original two (Manchester bloke and his mate) and would pass them on my way to the finish. I forgot to stop my watch at first, so was actually into Drymen in just over 1:38:00, I also didn’t lap the break so my times for this and the next section include whatever time I spent refuelling. I swapped water for sports drink, grabbed an egg butty and headed off towards Conic Hill.
Drymen to Balmaha
6.88 Miles 1:07:53 Average 9:52 min/miles
Total time – 2:46:53
I ran to the climb, and then ran a majority of it, before walking and starting to eat my egg sandwich. 2 small bites and it was donated to the birds. I just couldn’t stomach it. I started to run again, and ran as much of the section as I could before the climb up Conic Hill, although I ran some bits of the climb too. Things were not good though. About 2 miles short of Conic I’d begun to feel sick, really sick, and my head had started to pound with every step. I couldn’t carry on feeling like this, could I?
I met Billy The Shoe and a guy I would later discover was called Craig during the climb. I didn’t know either (other than Billy’s blog) but chatted to both as they ran up the hill past me. Running up Conic? nutters! Craig, hearing I was struggling, said, “you’ll pick up, you’ll be fine and you’ll catch me later”. Whatever! Talk to the hand! I was having none of it!
I passed Billy again on the way down the otherside of the hill, he didn’t want to damage his quads so early on (I’m so lucky with my quads… I can batter down hill and never (touch wood) have any problems). Although Billy finished less than two minutes ahead of me, I didn’t see him again until the finish. Another mile and I would of had him though!?!?! …just wait till the WHWR fella!
Ariving in Balmaha, I was surprised to see Mrs pacepusher at the cars, our support crews being parked together. Mrs p’s parents were looking after her for the day, whilst her Aunt Lesley and partner Billy would be looking after me and Harvey. She was running well and enjoying it, but I hadn’t expected to see her so soon. Billy tried to get me to eat, but I explained that I couldn’t… I think my words were, “I feel like shit, Billy. I can’t stomach anything”. I drank water, and took water, a gel and some grapes with me, leaving ahead of Mrs p. Billy looked concerned! My break had been 2 mins 29 secs, just the kind of length I wanted any breaks to be, although I wasn’t planning on having many if I could help it!
Balmaha to Rowardennan
7.83 miles 1:22:12 Average 10:30 min/miles
Total time – 4:11:35
I tried to eat my grapes on the climb away from Balmaha but I couldn’t stomach them. I was biting them and taking the juice then spitting them out. I figured it was better than nothing, but in the end, I donated most of them to the compost heap. My head was still pounding and I was drinking loads. I was wearing a base layer and a T-shirt as I had been from the start, at no point did I feel too hot, but I was drinking much more than I would normally, and this was worrying me. I think certain WHWR doctors have (quite rightly) made me a little too aware of some of the dangers us ultra runners face!
I plodded on, still maintaining my speed and my targets, but I wasn’t in good shape. I would be one of many to suffer today, but unlike Ultra Running Collie’s Dad, I’ve been here before, and was sure it would pass. I played cat and mouse with a guy from the Marines and shared some friendly banter – his tattoo gave him away! There was no way a guy from the Navy was going to beat me given my current waiting game on my application and (non) dodgy knee, even if he was a hardcore soldier rather than a guy that sat around on a boat or a sub all day! I didn’t see him again after Rowardennan… victory numero uno for the day!
Almost exactly halfway to Rowardennan, I was pleasantly surprised to see both pacepusher support teams parked up. I guzzled from my 5 litre water bottle and poured some on my head, again not because I was too warm, but because I hoped it might ease my pounding headache. I also filled up my water bottle ready for the next few miles. Pete and Lesley heard me moaning to Billy, and suddenly pain killers were thrust upon me. I hadn’t even thought of that! But from now on, they will always be a part of my supplies. They eventually cured the headache, but the sickness remained. I’d also waisted a couple of minutes here (well not wasted, they were invaluable, but I’d lost time!) Without this stop I would probably have been exactly on schedule. Thinking about it now, without this stop, I may have been 10 minutes slower to Rowardennan, and thus, behind schedule!).
Over the next few miles I passed a few 6am starters. One female commented on my attractive pacemaker (Harvey), I felt too ill to reply, ‘you’ve got a better looking one now!’ as I passed her. I also saw Davie hall and Race organiser extraordinaire, Ellen, through this section… apologies for moaning both! Ellen was great, and was really supportive. I thanked her afterwards for her comments, they really kept me going at the time. Rowardennan finally arrived, and I ran in feeling headache free, but with a pain in my stomach that would remain until Tyndrum where Dr Crazy German (as she has now been tagged) would tell me to, ’step away from the coke’, and take some indigestion remedies!
I spent 6 minutes here. Much more than intended, but as the photo below shows, they were needed!
I managed to eat a Muller Rice, but never believed that I wouldn’t see it again soon, drank some full fat coke (actually Pepsi, it was on offer in the supermarket!) and Harvey had some dog biscuits. Reading what Charlie (Ultra Running Collie) ate throughout the day, I feel almost guilty about the measly 4 gravy bones that Harvey ate here!
Rowardennan to Inversnaid
7.26 miles 1:15:37 Average 10:25 min/miles
Total time 5:33:13
Leaving Rowardennan I met a guy that introduced himself as John (I think!). He was a Geordie, living in London, and running with Sonic for the Italian team! I was confused. He was a nice guy and we pushed on together to the hill. I ran as much of the hill as I could, though at one point had to let John head off. he was better on the hills than me. He said, “You’ll catch me on the downhill section”. Did he know me better than I thought? Was he an avid reader of the crap that I type into this blog? No! he was just (in his words) rubbish at running downhill! He was right and I did catch him, and by the second hill he seemed happier to walk. We pushed on together (thanks mate, you kept me going!) until the path narrows and the real fun begins. Hitting the really steep short descents, I was leaving him for dead, and I felt like he was fighting to stay with me. Eventually, I was on my own and running well. I suddenly felt well too, and was now really enjoying things…. and I was still on target!
I should perhaps point out that my ‘running time’ target was 9 hours. This did not include breaks, and was pushing it a bit, so my actual aim was to break 9 hours 30… hence the punching of the air when I finished!
About a mile short of Inversnaid the guy ahead said, “told you”. It took me a moment, but it was Craig again. he was a really nice guy and we ran into Inversnaid together. If I’m honest, I slowed a little to run with him, but I was happy of the company and there was still a long way to go. At Inversnaid, I dumped my potato (still no appetite), put my peanuts, raisins and chocolate drops in my pocket (where they would serve only to pull my shorts down until Beinglas where they were dumped, uneaten!) guzzled water and refilled water, and took sports drink, then off, after 2 mins 46, still with Craig.
Inversnaid to Beinglas
6.64 miles 1:26:15 Average 13:00 min/miles
Total time – 7:02:15
We continued to run on together, the company always appreciated through this section. Harvey was running well and was finding plenty of places to grab a drink, but as always the going was slow. I was leading, and we were doing OK, but as a guy wizzed passed us, Craig said he would take the lead to try and catch him. I didn’t care and figured I’d just let him go. But as he seemingly wasted energy running over bad ground, I walked, and stayed right with him. At this point though, I cracked my toe off a large rock. I won’t repeat what I said but it hurt and I couldn’t feel my toe anymore! Craig was concerned, “you ok?”, to which I think I said something again unrepeatable about the pain! “Do you want me to send someone back for you?” said Craig. Now I know he meant well but, Blimey! It was only the wee digit on my left foot. Did he not know I ran further than remained on a badly sprained ankle last year? No. He didn’t! I said I was going to finish now whatever, especially with only 15-ish miles to go. He made reference to Drama Queen’s exploits in the WHWR and my wee pinky toe felt all proud of it’s little self and got a new attitude – he stopped hurting so much and let me run… past Craig, past the aforementioned guy that flew past us, and past a relay runner (to whom I said, “all down hill from here mate”, as we turned the corner up a hill – oops! wrong bit! – sorry!) and into Beinglas. The support here was the equivalent of reaching Manhattan in the New York Marathon – amazing (actually I am moved typing about it! yeh, smaller scale but truly fabulous!). I know there were problems with parking etc. but WOW! superb… in an ultra! (seriously Mr Beinglas Farm, wake up and smell the coffee you could be selling, charge for parking if you want, light a barbeque, whatever… you could be making a fortune and helping out a couple of races, Fling and WHWR, and supporting tourism and your campsite at the same time).
I stopped here for 3 mins 40 for some fuel (liquid… aahh Pepsi!) then set off again… then came back again! I thought Harvey was limping, and a guy sat with his bike (who I later discovered was supporting Geordie John) agreed. I handed Harvey to Billy – he apparently went back to the car and promptly fell asleep on the back seat. I was heart broken to leave him, his big eyes just said, ‘I’m alright, come on let’s go… don’t leave me’, it still upsets me now! He didn’t care about his medal, or being first dog (I did though!) he just wanted to keep on running and exploring. I was gutted, but I couldn’t risk injuring him anymore. I think that the fast downhill to Beinglas had awakened a problem he had after the last 42 miler we did that had obviously never settled. So on I went without him… devastated!
Beinglas to Carmyle Cottage
4.03 miles 45:43 Average 11:21 min/miles
Total time 7:51:39
There’s now a fair amount of people to chase, some 6am starters, including American Jamie, who I’ve got to know during training runs, and a couple of fellow 7am’ers. My mind set is now saying ‘I want this!’, ‘I want sub 9 1/2 hours!’, ‘I want (sorry JK – purely friendly competition) to beat JK, and I want his club record’. I repeat to myself, “I want this” in my head as I start to pass people. I meet Mr Red (I was running with him into Drymen, I don’t know his name, but he was wearing a lot of red, including his cap!) and chat, then pass him, I’m running well. I’m strong… I F***ING WANT THIS!
Thanks to JK (Mr J ‘too much time on his hands’ K - only kidding!) I would later discover that I was the 19th fastest person over the final stretch from Beinglas to Tyndrum!
I run through Derrydarroch Farm, ‘You can’t do it without back up’ the lovely Allybea is there, “are you not too hot?” she asks. I don’t care now if I am or not, but I think I said yes! Pete and Shelley are there, prior to returning to Beinglas after the parking issues have calmed down, “you’re catching John (JK)”, he tells me. I don’t believe him, but I like the idea… I REALLY F***ING WANT THIS!
I stop at Caryle Cottage for 3mins 44secs, and despite the pain in my stomach, I know I need to eat. Gels have kept me going until now, but I need something more solid. I force down a rice pudding and request my club vest be ready at Auchtertyre Farm, then off I go, with a “see you in an hour”… Harvey is OK, I’m told, although I worry that they are just telling me this. Many runners have gone back past me, including Jamie and Mr Red, but I know I’ll pass them again.
Carmyle Cottage to Auchtertyre Farm
5.53 miles 1:02:18 Average 11:16 min/miles
Total time – 8:57:43
Sure enough, after the initial climb I pass Jamie and co. No time to stop and chat though, I’m on a mission. I reach the Nasty Farmer’s area having run as much as I could, as fast as I could. There’s a woman sitting there, “I think you’re all mad”, she says. I reply, “we’ve been promised free beer at the finish”, and she seems to understand! On I go… I see Mr Red… I’m not stopping running until I reach Bogle Glen, I think about TV show Monarch of the Glen again, as I always do here. I start the climb and I think about how Hector looks like my dad, how Duncan makes me laugh, and how Lexie, well… I go back to wondering how Mrs pacepuher is getting on! Last time I was updated she was going OK… she was going to finish I knew it. I’ve given her stick in her training, but only to try and push her on (sometimes only those closest can be the harshest!) . I pass Mr Red at the top of the climb and push on. I pass George Reid, “can’t stop, I’m on a sub 9:30 mission”, I say. He tells me he’s settling for 10:30 and I push on again. I love this section, I love the downhills, I’m flying… I WANT THIS, I’M HAVING THIS!
I cross the A82 and decide I’m not walking until the gate after the farm. I’m still hitting just over 8:00 min/miles, and I’m still strong. For the first time I’m glad I don’t have Harvey with me. Having him on the lead through the farm would have messed with my pace. Too fast if he felt good, too slow if he was struggling, ‘He hates being on the lead’, I think to myself. I pass two groups of kids. Living in Linwood I await the abuse, but both crowds give me a huge cheer and it feels good. I’m almost there, Auchtertyre Farm is in sight, as is Billy with his camera, producing one of my all time favourite photos of me running (although Billy would later say he was concerned that I was holding my side/stomach).
I didn’t lap the GPS here, but I quickly changed into my club vest, swapped water for a remaining half bottle of sports drink, and headed off… I thought I had about 31 minutes to break 9hours 30mins.
Auchtertyre to Tyndrum
2.64 miles 27:14 Average 10:19 min/miles
Total time 9:24:57
I ran like a man possessed out of the farm… I was not going to miss out on a sub 9hr30 now! the whole way I worried that I might not make it. If I walked, I walked fast, and when I ran, I ran hard. Upon first sight of the forest (one of my favourite wee sections of the Way) I spied a bright orange wig. This guy had shot off at the start and I hadn’t seen him since. He was now my motivation. I ran hard, seeing that he was struggling… I wasn’t going to be beaten by a clown! I ran as fast as I could through the forest section that I love. Orange Wig saw me coming and started to run, but he was spent, and as I passed him, I knew he wouldn’t follow. To the final gate, “is the finish on this side of the road?”, I ask, the reply of yes spurs me on, and I’m pushing and pushing to the finish, I call Harvey to follow me to the line over the last few meters, but Billy holds him back. I worry about him, but drive on to what is now one of my favourite race finishes! As Debs would later say, “you looked very determined at the end there”. I’d looked like that for the last 12 miles! I REALLY F***ING WANTED THAT!
photo courtesy of ‘Fling’ web site
Oh Yeh! …and Kilbarchan AAC (Me and JK with a big chunk of help from guest star, ‘The Crazy German’) came second in the team (1st 3 runners count) competition…
It’s not a small trophy, we’re all just very big!
…and tied first for the Coors Trophy (largest number of finishers) with Central and Newport and District. Newport taking the trophy as we and Central were demoted to runner-up spot as they had two females to our one… a Stewards Enquiry on that one I think!
Thanks go to Ellen and Murdo for organising such a fabulous, friendly, (more than) value for money race, and to all the marshals, time keepers, race doctors, sponsors etc.
A huge amount of thanks to Lesley and Billy for supporting me… you were first class, and to Pete and Shelley for supporting me and Mrs p throughout!
Congratulations to all finishers, first timers and 4th timers alike, and commiserations if you had to pull out. If you ran your socks off (The Crazy German), ran them off too soon (Sonic), Hit the dizzy heights of the podium (Sharon, TCG), ran your first ultra (Mrs p, WeirRunner) or didn’t perhaps get the time you hoped for (JK – two sub 10hr finishes in 2 years… can’t knock that!) well done to all!
Unless I’m stuck on a submarine, I’ll be back next year with bells on!
