Well It’s been over a week since I last posted and I’ve got a fair amount to tell you about! I’ll try and avoid writing so much that I need to turn this into a Lord Of The Rings style trilogy, and attempt to keep matters to the point, rather than the usual waffle that my two or three fingered typing usually produces, which probably means I should get on with it now rather than wittering on! Before I do though, I’m listening to the self titled debut album by a band called Grammatics whilst I type. Now I may be slightly biased as I know the lead singer/guitarist from back in Yorkshire, but nonetheless, I thoroughly recommend it. Quite unique in sound (a cellist is part of the four piece) the group have had some fine reviews… ignore the 2 stars awarded by Q magazine though. The reviewer thought that the cellist was also performing female vocals on a couple of tracks, which she’s not. Q need to get out of there own big band worshiping arses and actually give some new talent some decent reviews… must cancel my subscription at some point!
Anyway, last Sunday (22/03/09) saw me at what was a very windy Alloa Half Marathon…
10:02 13.1 miles 1:30:02
1 6:17 2 6:22 3 6:51 4 6:45 5 6:23 6 6:59 7 7:02 8 7:14 9 7:04 10 7:12 11 7:14 12 7:00 13 6:36 .1(.18 on GPS) 1:05 (6:13 pace) Average 6:50 min/miles
I decided to go for it! It was advertised as a PB course so I figured why not, and go for it I did. I was flying early on and loving it. What the organisers fail to tell you however is that there are a number of big hills on this course, and, that from miles 5 to 10 you’ll be running straight into a headwind! It took it’s toll, and it was the wind and the hills that slowed me, not my fitness. I just couldn’t go any quicker. I was delighted with my speed over the last mile or so and finished really strong. A very positive, if not exhausting venture back to road racing.
The race was superbly organised and marshaled, and although I said afterwards that I wouldn’t rush back to run it again, I think I actually would. The wind wasn’t really their fault, and I reckon that there is PB potential in better conditions. There might be hills, but what goes up…
After the race (and having drunk and eaten everything in the goody bag) I ran two miles back up the course. Somehow I missed Mrs p, but the 2 miles back to the finish meant that I’d run 17 miles for the day (4 miles 33:40 8:28 m/m). Harvey spent the race in the car waiting for myself and Mrs p, So on Monday evening despite tired legs, I took him for a run to make it up to him.
18:00 5 miles not timed
I planned on just running three miles, but after the initial shock to the system I started to enjoy what was a fabulous evening on the trail. There was nobody else about, and the sky was a lovely evening shade of blues and yellows. As the darkness fell we headed back to the house having had one of those ‘this is why we run’ moments.
On the Wednesday (25/03/09) I decided against the club at the last minute as I was feeling a little under the weather and my focus for the week was Sunday’s long run on the WHW. So off me and Harvey headed for a nice easy (5 miles not timed) run with Mrs pacepusher which resulted in her having to do a tempo session. Still she was glad of it, and you can read all about it on her blog.
And so to Sunday (no, I didn’t run from Wednesday until Sunday… shocking!) and another run on the West Highland Way…
08:38 42.2 miles 7:30:49
Average 10:41 min/miles
We picked JK up just before 7am. The neighbours were quiet for once, but I couldn’t sleep, and with the clocks going forward, I only managed 4 hours sleep. Still despite this, and the ever present cold bug, I was feeling pretty good. We were first to arrive at Tyndrum, but others soon arrived and off we headed towards Fort William.
Tyndrum to Bridge Of Orchy
6.74 miles 58:50 Average 8:40ish min/miles
I had set my GPS incorrectly at first, so exact pacing isn’t that accurate over this section. I was at the front early on, but having stopped to take off my jacket, suddenly found myself at the back by a good few hundred meters and I had some chasing to do. The pace was pretty quick early on and I was worried about having to chase the group so early on, so when I caught up with Ian K, I just ran with him and left the others slightly ahead. It was good to catch up with Ian as I haven’t seen him since before last years WHWR. We chatted about various stuff and were soon in Bridge of Orchy where I stopped for just over a minute, and gave my rucksack which was bothering me to Silke, who along with Thomas, would make a very welcome back up team for the day.
Bridge Of Orchy to Victoria Bridge
2.77 miles 28:44 Average 10:22 min/miles
I set off up the hill with Ian and was feeling so much more comfortable without the rucksack – not sure why it was so uncomfortable on this run, it’s normally fine. Approaching the top of the climb, I began to run more sections and left Ian behind, soon catching Mike. After a brief chat, I pushed on. I could see JK and Richie ahead and wanted to catch them. I knew that the downhill section was the time to do it, so off me and Harvey set, catching them surprisingly quickly. The three of us then ran on together towards Victoria Bridge.
Victoria Bridge to Kingshouse
9.1 miles 1:24:49 Average 9:19 min/miles
Another short stop here (2:58) and off I headed… to catch JK who had set off a short time ahead of me with Ian K who hadn’t stopped at VB. I soon caught them, and as me and JK continued to run more and more of the climb, Ian soon dropped off the pace, and it was just the two of us as it would now be for most of the remaining run.
It’s never easy running over Rannoch Moor, but run we did, well for most of it anyway! We were happily walking up the final ascent when I saw Richie running a few hundred meters behind us. JK’s approach was, “let’s make him work for it”, and off we ran. He did catch us though, and again the three of us ran in to the next check point together to be greeted by Thomas (The Crazy German) who had now taken over back up duties from Silke who was now running with Mrs pacepusher.
Approaching Kingshouse
I stopped for a bit longer this time (5:32) making sure that both myself and Harvey had been refueled, then headed off once again to catch JK who had set off (again) just ahead of me. Glencoe was looking fabulous in the sun and with some snow on the upper halves of the hills – magnificent!
Harvey patiently awaits a biscuit!
Kingshouse to Kinlochleven
9.03 miles 1:41:59 Average 11:18 min/miles
I soon caught JK again and reaching the climb, began to munch on some salted potatoes. I had just had a Muller rice at Kingshouse so I was eating my meal backwards… It doesn’t seem to matter when you’re running though!
A little after halfway up the Devil’s Staircase we caught Mrs pacepusher and Silke. I asked Mrs p how she was feeling and… well, it was the usual response involving not feeling well. I was a bit nasty and just said, “keep eating, and keep going!”When she started to give another explanation I just repeated what I’d said and headed off after JK, a man on a mission up the Staircase. I meant well, and I wasn’t going to say, “well maybe you should stop then”, was I?
Thankfully Mrs p had taken some Gaviscon that Thomas gave her at the bottom of the hill, and they solved her problem. Also thankfully, when she reached Fort William having had a great run with Silke, she was also still talking to me!
On the other side of the hill it was JK doing the chasing as I bounded down all the hills. I was actually keeping things relatively steady and stopped a couple of times to let JK catch me. I didn’t want to run on alone, and knew there would be tough times ahead where the company would be needed. We both started to struggle a bit coming into kinlochleven, but had made pretty good time. 
Thomas was again a welcome sight though, with our much needed supplies. A tin of beans and some sports drink and after 6:07 minutes, I was off (after JK again!).
Kinlochleven to Lundavra
7.5 miles 1:27:59 Average 11:44 min/miles
I never really caught JK until a fair while after the initial climb. I was within talking distance at one point though and said I was letting him go on ahead. “You’ll catch me on the downhill”, he said confidently. I was feeling pretty tired waiting for my food to kick in though and wasn’t so sure.
He was never too far ahead and I knew as long as Harvey was running ahead with him that I was close enough (Harvey likes to be at the front, but will never be too far ahead of me, when the gaps get too big he returns to run with me!) It was only when JK was forced to make a brief comfort break that I finally caught him. It was now me that pushed on making the most of the downhill sections whilst JK would catch me again on the uphills. We worked really well together battling on through the headwind and the uneven terrain and soon reached the oasis that is Lundavra. 
JK had pushed ahead right at the end when I spat my dummy and refused to run the final hill. He was gutted when Thomas said that he had been up the hill a bit and had seen me leading the way… there’s also photographic evidence!
I was feeling a wee bit sick now and couldn’t face food. I filled up my water, drank extra water, and was ready for the off. This time leaving with JK after a break of 3:07 minutes.
Lundavra to Fort William
6.93 miles 1:09:32 Average 10:02 min/miles
We walked up the hill away from Lundavra in high spirits. We were both really pleased with our efforts over the last section and with a little over 10k left, the job seemed to be done. I somehow managed to stomach a gel walking up the hill, which was probably helpful as I was tired despite the high spirits, and spent much of the first half of this section following JK (unless the path headed downwards!) and only running some inclines because he did. I wasn’t getting left behind now!
The aim (well JK’s aim) was to complete this run in 7 hours 30 minutes. Running it in nearer 7:35 hours last year made this seem like a good target, so I joined in the fun. We were running well and the target was just about in sight. After the forest there’s a new part of the path, and the wide snake like path is now even longer. This suited me and off I headed downhill with a tired Harvey a little way behind me, but gamely running on. I didn’t see JK again until the leisure centre. I wanted to run all the way from the top of the hill to the leisure centre and I succeeded in doing so, as did JK, who finished a minute or so behind me and Harvey.
Both delighted with our run, we grabbed a shower in the almost closed leisure centre, then waited with Thomas for the girls to complete their run. As already said, they had a great run and you can read all about it here. Well done both of you!
Thanks to JK and everyone else I ran with for the company. I don’t think either of us would have posted that time John if we hadn’t been running/working together, especially over Lairig Mor! Thanks to Thomas and Silke for first class backup and photography (all photos used are theirs!), and for the lift back to Tyndrum.
Silke and Mrs pacepusher reach the leisure centre
Away from running, I should also mention that I had, and passed, my psychometric test for the Navy, and was given an interview date of the 1st April… this Wednesday! A subsequent phone call means that I now also have my medical immediately afterwards. Things are progressing quickly, and despite the interview date, this is not another pacepusher wind up as some people still seem to think. I really am hoping to join the Navy!
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