The Drovers Return

It’s Sunday morning, somewhere between 09:00 and 09:30, and I’ve just pulled into the Drovers Inn car park, ahead lies 31 miles on the West Highland Way, finishing the day in Kingshouse… I have a strange sense of de ja vu!

(You can blame Caroline for the title. Apparently it’s some clever reference to a pub in something called Coronation Street? Not sure what she’s talking about, but she thought it was clever!?!?)

Anyway, this week, after a bad day in the office last Sunday for me, it’s Caroline’s turn to complete the run. I thankfully, am only here as the designated driver! Last week, Caroline was ill, so stayed at home, whilst I joined JK et. al. for the 31 miles training run on the Way. I completed the distance, and in a reasonable time, but I was not happy with my run. To put it bluntly, I was hangin’ out my arse from Bridge Of Orchy onwards. I’d had a bad stomach all week , I had perhaps completed too many long runs in the previous weeks, I was wearing new shoes, it was windy, the day had a ‘y’ in it… whatever excuse you want! Truth is, I probably got a bit carried away and pushed the pace a bit (surprised?).

At the top of the forest above Crianlarich, I set off down one of the hills in my usual manner… and that was the last I saw of the other guys! I ran all the way to Tyndrum without walking (except when I Superman dived onto the floor having apparently not seen the big lump of tree sticking out the ground), and was feeling pretty good. Having read JK’s blog of the run, I had made 4 minutes on them from the top of the forest to Auchtertyre Farm, and that’s not that far… clearly I got a bit carried away, and hence leaving Tyndrum, I started to suffer. Anyway I lived to tell the tale, but had the usual, ‘never doing this again’ chat with myself over the final miles!

So this week was Caroline’s turn… and yep… she did exactly the same as me… I was so proud! As a result, she ran 24 faster miles, and then came to a grinding halt. Personally I think it will do her confidence more good to have run like that, rather than just plodding on through 31 miles… I’m pretty sure it mean’t she enjoyed it more too (well the first 13 miles anyway!)

In my role as support crew, I ran 20.5 miles! I did 9 miles out and back from the Drovers, 7 miles out and back from Bridge Of Orchy, and then 4.5 miles back and out, and then out and back, from Victory Bridge. When I ran on my own, I ran hard, I maintained a sub 8 m/m pace and ran all the hills… I had a great time! As things turned out, it was a really good days training for both of us!

We have a little something special (running orientated) planned for Caroline’s Birthday the weekend after next, but if I told you what it was, I’d have to kill you!!!