Monday 30 December 2013

Ray's 60th Birthday Glee Run

Most of the gang during post run tea and cake

It was the legend's birthday....the infamous Ray McCurdy was turning 60 on 21st December, and Stan had quite rightly started the ball rolling on a Glee Club run with Ray in attendance to celebrate (and then there was a pub visit, but I wasn't able to make that).

So, a cold, wet, windy morning saw 21+ intrepid runners rock up to the Braeval carpark just outside Aberfoyle, in anticipation of a run which was billed to be anything between 15 and 20 miles, depending on who you were talking to.  After the usual amount of faffing about, introducing ourselves to people we previously only knew on Facebook (or people who knew me because of my lovely black/turquoise running tights), being aghast that Noanie and Lorna were still in shorts, and debating that 'most' people really only wanted to do 15 miles,  and that 'of course' Donald and Alan knew the route, we were off!

The speedy ones shot off up the hill at their usual chipper pace, while I quickly fell into a more sedate pace, somewhere near the back! After the first big climb, we regrouped and bumped into Stan and Ray, who had taken the sneaky wee 'short cut'...this gave me the opportunity to fall into pace with Ray and the start of what turned into a good long chat!  Whilst I knew he was 'the legend', I have to say until this run, I really wasn't quite aware of his achievements - 119 ultras completed, 17 marathons short of 200 and many other things I'm sure I should remember.  And he has a wee story about all of them, with dates, places, people.....jeez, I'm lucky if I can remember where I ran last week, never mind the last 30+ years of my life!!

Somewhere not many miles into the run, the split happened....the speedy ones (remember, they knew where they were going) disappeared, and there were about 6 of us at the tail end, until Jason headed off up the wrong track, didn't hear us shout....Lorna, Johnny Fling and Stan went to find him, and Ray and I kept a wee shuffle going...until the next junction where I couldn't remember where to go.  Then the heavens opened, Ray and I stood about for 5 mins, and then Stan appeared.....Jason was lost, Lorna and Johnny were hunting him down...and we 3 would carry on, unlikely to catch the big group...but at least Stan knew where we were going!

And so it would continue like that for most of the run.  The pattern emerged (because Stan knew..), that we should mostly run 10 meters behind Ray (not because he's a legend, but because that was the best way to keep him moving), so we had a good blether, climbed over several massive fallen trees, had a wee sing song (well, Ray and Stan did) on the way up Dukes Pass ("Oooo-weee Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" and "When I was younger so much younger than today" etc...you get the picture...Ray has quite an extensive back catalogue) and never saw the others again.  Naturally, we assumed they were way ahead of us, and would be there when we got back to the car park....even if they'd taken the 20 mile route....

Well, you know what they say about assuming.....

As we shuffled back down the final slope, dreaming of tea and cake which we thought would be there waiting for us....not a soul to be seen..... Hmmmm, are they hiding in the bushes/in the cars as a surprise (at this point Ray still wasn't aware of cakes or pub visits)....but no....

On checking phones, it became apparent that the remaining 19(ish) people had been lost...not just once....and ended up being a good 20 minutes or so behind us, and doing 21+ miles..... Oooops! (and a sigh of relief I wasn't with them...that might've killed me!)

Much hilarity and cake munching, and another great Glee run.  Cementing in my mind that running is a great leveler, and great fun.  It was also pretty humbling, when you think about how materialistic many of us are (me, I definitely hold my hands up at this), with our fancy kit, new shoes every few months, GPS watches, etc etc...and there's Ray, running along quite the thing with odd trainers on each foot, not a care for fancy kit, just gets on and does the job - and what a job he's done, with a race history like his, no wonder he's "the legend"

Ray, I salute you!

Friday 13 December 2013

Another step closer to the goblet

The coveted finishers goblet
Good things have happened this week!  After an anxious month, and then several over-excitable days, the entry list for the lucky 265 individuals was drawn, and I was lucky enough to be offered a place in the 2014 West Highland Way Race!!  

The excitement was immense...I didn't know whether to laugh, or cry...or both (I think I did)...and then had several drinks to calm my nerves whilst catching up with the Facebook frenzy, hearing the news spread around the country, of those lucky (and some unlucky) in this next stage of their quest!

So, that's that then.....every run from now truly takes me another step closer to my 2014 goblet....a challenge I'm ready to face head on, one step after another!  (I'm stealing that 'another step closer' from Sarah Self who I think said it to me in the early hours/last laps of Glenmore this year....another step takes you closer to your goblet... (Sarah thankfully will be part of the Hamilton WHW Pit Crew in 2014!))

There's no hiding place in training for this, stepping out into what could ultimately be a life or death situation (cheery huh?!) and not wanting to let myself, my support crew, or the race organisers down!

Following my successful entry, I was asked by John Kynaston if I'd take part in the WHW podcasts - a wee 15 minutes or so chat every couple of months to follow my progress as a newbie in the race!  OMG!  Exciting, and scary...but John very quickly made me feel at ease on the Skype call (and I'll almost forgive him for taking my picture (I was just back from a run, fresh out the bath, wearing PJ's and a hoody!!)).  I've not summoned up the courage to listen to it yet! 

So, the training gains real focus now...I'm still in the Marcothon after 13 days (beating last year's performance), although some days have been a challenge!  Clark is going to draw me up a training plan for WHW, taking in the delight that is the Highland Fling in April, and dealing with the complications of life and work in between....and I'll do my best to follow it!  I'll be getting back into the gym to build up some strength as well as properly putting my mind to shifting a few pounds!  Main thing is getting some good long runs on WHW scheduled in (some of these come from the WHW training weekend, and 2 fling training weekends), some back-to-backs, and some more night running!

Can't wait!  Feckin' excited!!

Designed by Clark Hamilton


Saturday 7 December 2013

Cimmerian Conic Canine Caper (or crazy things you'll do for a pint!)

Anyone who knows me well, knows that mostly on a Friday night I'll be horizontal on the sofa, by the fire, glass of wine in hand....well, not last night!  

David Ross (he of the best big hugs in Scotland...the world??) had organised an Ultra Dafties night run from Drymen to Balmaha and back (via Conic Hill of course!), with a wee pit stop half-way in the Oak Tree Inn (log fire, hot soup, friends and beer!)...what could be nicer?!

There should've been a cast of around 20, plus many many dogs...as the date drew closer, and the weather more minging, people dropped out one by one (including David himself due to injury), and by 7pm there was a short-list of 7 hardy souls and 2 dogs jiggling around the car park in Drymen trying to keep warm (whilst waiting on Ally, who appeared to have taken the scenic route!).  Cori dog had been relegated due to the conditions (sheep, steep hills, ice underfoot and being harnessed to me doesn't make for a happy combo!)

David had come to see us off, and count heads for soup (he was staying in the Oak Tree with Lorraine, along with the Munro's and would be there to see us at our half-way point!), and with hugs all round, we set off up the WHW path, where we quickly bumped into John Munro, who had run over from Balmaha to meet us.  John warned us of ice, and fallen trees...oh, there are fallen trees he chuckled, as he bid us fairwell, opting for the road route back to the Oak Tree!


We very quickly came across the first trees, which, with headtorches made for entertaining path finding.  Brian was chief trail blazer, quickly finding the best routes and guiding us through.  The early pace was pretty brisk...and having eaten before I came out, had a busy and over-indulgent week, and carrying enough emergency kit to save me from starvation, hypothermia and ice slicks, I felt I was going to have to work hard to keep up for the duration!

It's always strange in the dark trying to work out where you are, but a great feeling to be exploring and adventuring, with the scary sheep eyes peeking out of the darkness at you!  

The path got increasingly icy the closer to Conic we got, and David, Noanie, Gannet and I got into a wee convoy calling out warnings of 'Step' and 'Ice' with almost every breath.  As we got near the summit, the sleet and snow started, and we were slipping back every few metres...but the ice never deep enough to justify getting the kahtoolas out!  Pretty much everyone slipped, stumbled on fell on the steep descent, and we split into 2 groups, heads down, and off piste, with the grassy tussocks a safer option than the slick path!

So we made it to the Oak Tree, its welcoming glow shining across the Balmaha car park.  We were later than planned, but the staff welcomed us in, let us strip our wet gear and hang it by the fire, and quickly brought us drinks and their delicious homemade tomato soup.  Islay and Sam were not so lucky....the no dog policy meaning they had to stay outside...Islay was less than impressed! 
Before too long, it was time  to head back out into the darkness, having agreed the sensible option was to take to the road back to Drymen.  The front group set off at a blistering pace (sub 7 min miles I later found out), and there was no danger I was keeping up with that!  RG, Islay and I took our position as back markers and trotted along, chatting away.  Big thanks to RG for waiting on me when I needed a wee walk when the soup and cider were sloshing too much in my belly!  My knee was also starting to ache at this point - it's been a bit tetchy since Glen Ogle...bit of tight calf issue, ITB, and the impact of having had heels on all day I think!

We survived our great Friday night adventure, making it about a 12 mile round trip!

The drive home was foggy, sleety and icy...so sufficient amounts of driving like a granny required!  Surprisingly found it REALLY hard to get to sleep - my knee was throbbing, so a rub of biofreeze and some paracetamol required to finally knock me out.  Today I've felt burst!  Managed a wee 3 mile run to keep ticking off the Marcothon requirements...and then had a wee disco nap.....ahhh it's a hard life being old......





Sunday 1 December 2013

Reflections

Loch Ard
I thought November had been a fairly 'light' month of training, but I've just checked the trusty Garmin page (you have to allow me some leeway, I am a statistician/analyst to trade!) to find I actually ran over 21 miles more than I did in October (same actual number of runs, just a bit longer on average (I guess that's the Glen Ogle influence), and at a faster average pace!)

And over 10,000 calories burned from the running alone...although somewhat disappointingly, I just googled to find out something relevant about that, and it's only equivalent to 27 glasses of champagne.....how sad!?!?

It's been a strange month - been trying to get a bit of 'routine' back (as I'd lost a wee bit of oomph in the run up to Glen Ogle), which usually means early starts for me to avoid getting bogged down by work later in the day. Training has ranged from 6am frostbite on 'killer hill' with Bob to 5:30am running through Braco Castle estate just me and the dog (worrying about monsters hiding in the woods) and a lot of days thinking it would be cold, when really it hasn't as the skies were blue and the sun shining, but still a chance to rummage through the kit drawer and look out some winter favourites...including the fluro jacket, and also some forgotten gems (like just how many buffs I own!)!  No chance to use the kahtoolas yet unfortunately - bring on the proper winter!! 

I've also been trying to get back in a better eating plan, and thus, back to Slimming World....the lure of a glass of wine by the fire in the winter does my waistline no favours!  And there's been some lovely runs at Aberfoyle with Glee Club and separately with Clark, who, even when injured remains a great supporter of my training, even when I feel guilty for going!

Image from www.marcothon.com
And now it's time for Marcothon again (or Marcothin as I keep typing...which would be no bad thing....I'm still fighting to shift some of the extra pounds I added over the summer!)

It's great to have the motivation to get out on some of the more challenging days in December...and hopefully I'll succeed this year (I missed about 3 days last year!).  

It's amazing how challenging it can seem some days to get out for 25 minutes or 3 miles!




Entries for WHW have closed, and our fate is now in the hands of the selection panel, and most likely a ballot, given there are over 300 entrants for 265 places!  
It's great to be part of the build up this year as a potential participant, rather than my previous position in organising/doing the sports massage! And either way, I'll be there again in 2014, whatever the outcome of the ballot is!  I'm already looking forward to some great days out training in the spring - wishing the days away already - and have signed up to the WHW training weekend in January, and the Fling Weekends in Feb and March....thank heaven Clark is soooo understanding (crawl, crawl....)

Anyway, enough mindless ramble....I'm just waffling, trying to fill time until Glenmore 24 entry opens in 94 minutes......EEEK!!

Saturday 16 November 2013

Tick followed tock followed tick followed.....


The road to Milngavie starts a long long way before 22nd June...and I wonder if this is a key part of the psychological journey we must take to succeed in our ultimate goal of crashing through the leisure centre doors, whether that is 15 or 35 hours after (for those of us lucky enough) the start.

For me there have been month's of journey already....I'm not sure when, over the course of many years of involvement with the race, and my progression to ultra distance my thinking changed from 'never' into 'maybe' into 'I REALLY want to (and CAN) do this!', but here I am 16 days after submitting my entry, anxiously counting off the days until a higher power makes that ultimate decision for me!  

It was a mental challenge waiting for 1st November when the entries opened, having made the decision and completed the 'required' entry criteria (often surprising myself with performances along the way)...there was no need to enter on day 1, but the temptation was almost strong enough to stay up til 00:01 to get in their early! (I didn't!).

And now we wait...all 218 who have entered so far...when that number gets past 265 we know there's a ballot, and some will be disappointed, and others elated, excited and scared in varying measures (OMG I hope I'm in this latter group!)

Meanwhile, we train, we go about our 'normal' lives, and we wonder...

Some of us will already be securing hotel rooms for the start/finish, asking for time off work, and lining up support crews...while we start to think schedules, diets, cross-training and other races (the start of December could be a double disappointment - Glenmore 24 entries open and will likely sell out at record speed!)

So we wait, we grow mentally stronger, knowing this will help us get through the 7 months from acceptance to race day to finish.

Waiting...with our fingers and toes crossed....


 

Sunday 3 November 2013

Boing!


 
I've been meaning to blog for the last couple of weeks and never quite got round to it...I had 2 themes..."weebles wobble" and "boing said Zebedee", so anyway, here we are, and with some sofa surfing, justified by yesterday's ultra, time to begin the tale....
 
It's fair to say over the last month or so, I've been having a wobble about the impending Glen Ogle 33.  Following Glenmore, while I wasn't "broken" I was tired for considerably longer than anticipated.  That combined with manic times at work, I was finding it hard to get back on the wagon and get any decent training done. 
 
I did a couple of challenging runs, including missing supporting Clark run the Aviemore Half to try and sort my head out with a solo run around Ben Ledi's lower slopes with Cori dog, and a "Bob Special" of 5.5 hours in the pissing rain around Balquidder Glen, Glen Dochart etc, where the only saving grace was witnessing the deer rut! 
 
 
And an 18 mile recce on some of the GO route, where I trailed behind the boys for the whole time :-(.
 
On the plus side, I also managed a (minor) PB in the Mealle a Bhuchaille hill race last weekend (albeit a week away with work, full of long days and over-indulging probably means this is a greater achievement than I give myself credit for!)
 
So, on Monday, I was still having a wobble...mainly about the terrain (concerned about the amount of tarmac/paved conditions under-foot) and an ongoing niggle in my left calf. Most people didn't understand, trying to reassure me that 'it will be easy for you, you ran 95 miles at Glenmore'.  But when Clark confessed he probably wasn't going to run because of his ongoing back problems, I figured I really ought to MTFU and be thankful I could run...take one for the team...
 
The forecast for the weekend wasn't looking clever, but hey, I had more fun in DOTH in the rain this year, so, prepare for it, and crack on.  The excitement of the build up on Facebook helps suck you in too...so much so, that I went panic shopping on Friday afternoon to fill drop bags I didn't really need.....
 
I had no real plan for the race, other than to get round.  I'd looked briefly at the times from last year, and thought maybe 6.5 hours would be a rough enough guess.
 

 
It was great to arrive and see so many familiar faces, and the time quickly passed saying hellos, toilet stops, drop bag organizing and registering.  Soon we were given the pre-race briefing (well, Bill stood up and I assume he was saying something useful) before being shepherded across the road to the start line.  After a quick hug of Noanie and Johnny Fling it appeared we were too busy blethering and missed the start signal...ooops! 
 
 And......walk! A lovely uphill start kicked the calves into scream mode, but Bob and I settled into a fairly matched pace, and with Bob's training having been going so well, I tried to just tag on, and said I hoped he didn't mind (which he didn't!)!
 
The miles seemed to tick along nicely, and before we knew it we were up onto the climb behind Lochearnhead and over the viaduct.  Eating (I'd decided SIS Gels were order of the day) and drinking (nuun lemon tea) were going well.
 
 
 
It was great to see Clark taking photos at Kingshouse, and again at the top of the glen...and I even managed a smile!
 
 
A quick stop for some coke and some new gels at the checkpoint.  And ditched my gloves....the weather had been kind....so far!
 
As we set off for the loop around Killin forest, we saw the race leader exit the loop "like he was floating" said Bob, and I hoped we'd look the same in 7+ miles when we got there!
 
We ran well the declines, and got into a wee group with Carol Martin (& John?) which kept spirits up for the inclines.  I was certain Bob would have dropped me by now, but we were still keeping a consistent pace and my legs and lungs felt much better than our recce run a few weeks earlier .  As we got to the 'straight' coming out of the forest, I started to feel a bit sick....sugar overdose I think (whatever possessed me to decide today would be the day I ate gels only??!)...and hoped this wasn't the start of a bad second half!  Oh...and the rain/sleet started....
 

By the time we got back to the checkpoint my hands were FREEZING, and I was having much less fun (as you can see in the photo)! And that was after having been cheered by Clark, Cori and the cowbell ringing Munros who were braving the elements to do super support duties and the sight of Fiona Rennie in her amazing rain poncho and kick-ass boots! 


By this point, Bob and I were on our own again, and after a brief stop for gloves, supplies (and thank you Karen D for the crisps to help me feel less sick!), we put our heads down, and soldiered off down the glen.  Before the rain became biblical, we were having a chat...Me: "only a half marathon to go" (me trying to share my motivation patter which I usually only get from the voices in my head), Bob: "Arghhh...don't say that, it must be less, so and so's Garmin last year showed 31.5 miles not 33..."...and we pondered how our friends were getting on.  The rain showed no mercy, so it was hood up, and knuckle down, keeping the pace shifting to try and keep warm.  I was convinced I could hear Bob's steps keeping time with mine until a mile or so later, a girl passed me, and as we went though a gate I was dis-heartened to see Bob had fallen some way back, and was outwith closing distance.  I was freezing and my knees were aching, so made the split second decision not to wait.  In hindsight, maybe I should've stayed, given how Bob's tale unfolded, but at that point I hoped he'd pick up and soon catch me.
 
I popped my head-phones in at this point to distract me from the squealing in my quads and knees...I couldn't get the 'shuffle' option on as my sausage fingers were fat, numb and dripping, but managed to get the playlist to start at 'A'...bizarrely I seem to have a large number of duplicated tracks, and the repetition was bloody annoying, but I managed a wee sing song, and some "conducting" as I "bounced" along to the tunes!
 
I'm feeling "in the zone" as I hit checkpoint 4, only to find Alan Doig there, stretching and complaining of cramp...the marshal brought over my drop-bag and cracked open my Red Bull as requested...and a couple of gulps, and a few salt & vinegar crisps later I set off at a shuffle through the floods shortly behind Alan.  The road was running (faster than me) and the puddles were deep...no thought for dodging the swells now...just push on, push on....less than 10k to go...  Alan was doing some "interesting" stretches and squats in the road as I passed him...I tried to give him a friendly thumbs up as I kept on for what seemed like an age until the turning point in the road for the "final stretch" home.
 
I passed a few folk on this section...all dripping wet, some trying to stretch out their cramps, but we all exchanged a friendly "hello"...gotta love ultra runners!  I felt ok, and started thinking sub-6 would be a reality, and was starting to wonder why, other than the hard tarmac, people hated this section....and then, into the last 1.5 miles....up, down, up, down....grrrrrrr....is it ever going to end??!?!  And then, having not fully recce'd the route, I was dismayed when we didn't turn into Strathyre when I expected.  Thankfully, just a couple of hundred yards later, the big arrow signal relief...I could see the final bridge, and through the trees, John and Helen, clad head to toe in fluro waterproofs!  Thank f*ck!! 
 
The finish 'straight' is kinda weird and you double back into the car park.  It was great to see the cheery faces of David and Julie, Clark, Fiona, Noanie (of whom I very untactfully asked "did you win?", "why not?!") etc...who all looked dry and cosy compared to my freezing, sogginess!  I vaguely remember getting a goody bag and having some chat (including with the XBionic Rep, who I'm sure I could've convinced to give me some free kit...)...and then flat-lining....blue, uncontrollable shaking...  Clark took me over to the car and I tried to get into some dry kit...it seemed to take an eternity...and the shaking just wouldn't stop!  We stayed in the car for a while, chatting to friends as they passed, and then popped back out, (where Julie was an angel and managed to get me a cup of tea) just in time to see Bob finish.  And he was grey/blue/white...near death, having suffered big time on those last miles...but now he was Ultra Bob2

So, overall, I'm "glad" I ran.....on the way home in the car, I swore I'd never do it again because of the tarmac, and that was compounded by the pain I was in all evening (but maybe that was exacerbated by having to shift 2 tons of logs off the drive when we got home!)....but 24 hours later and I'm already thinking differently (if indeed I can get a place given how fast it sold out this year!!).  It's given me a wee bit of "boing" back, and the motivation to get out there!
 
 
Thank you to BaM racing, and to all those friends, marshals and others who sacrificed their day to see us through (part of me thinks the runners had the 'easier' shift yesterday!).  Here's hoping for some better weather for next year's event, because this is a great wee end to the season! 
 
 
 

(credit to Fiona Rennie, Clark Hamilton, David Mooney & Muriel Downie for the photos)

Saturday 14 September 2013

Amazing, inspirational, outstanding….epic!

Crying...
“2 minutes left” shouts George Reid as 30 or so assorted runners in all shapes, sizes and stages of disrepair make their way round the ‘small lap’ in the final stages of the Glenmore 24 hour trail race. 

I don’t know where I’m finding the strength, energy or will to run, but I’m spurred on by the cheering crowd and the knowledge that this really, truly was nearly the end, and with my tent peg end marker in hand, I ‘power’ up the final climb, and push the descent before the horn signals it’s all over.  


Thump…I collapse, sobbing uncontrollably on the grass, as Clark runs over to give me a big hug, and when we part, several others come over to hug, cry and celebrate with us.  

Epic, that’s really the best word to describe it I think!

'Team' photo
 There are so many good things to say about this race, and so many things I’m not going to remember.  And there’ll be many stories told by the other competitors, sharing their trials and achievements in the 12 hour and the 24 hour events, both taking place on a glorious September weekend at Glenmore Forest in Aviemore, a place close to my heart, with many a great holiday or weekend spent running, biking and swimming in the area.

The build-up to the event had been scary and exciting – a frenzy of activity on all the Facebook sites, with those who had taken part before reassuring those of us who hadn’t that the atmosphere and support made this an event like no other – “you won’t even feel like you’re racing”.

Clark and I didn’t travel up until Saturday morning – needing Friday night to pack (arghhh!! How much stuff?!?) and go out for dinner!  Luckily, the lovely Munro’s were lending us a tent and set up our base camp for us on Friday night at Hayfield between their tent and Sarah Self’s, so we’d be  all good to go after our 2 hour drive through the pouring rain (this was not the start I needed to my day!).  Thankfully, as we drove the final couple of miles, the rain stopped and the sun broke through, setting the scene for the rest of the weekend – clear skies, sunshine - Scotland at its best!

So, this was it..about to embark on the longest run I’d ever done – both in time and distance.  I’d set myself some goals – my main aim was to try and keep going for the 24 hours, with mileage targets of Bronze (<80 miles), Silver (80 miles) and Gold (80+ (even just a fraction)).  Silver was the goal I told everyone and that was where I was realistically aiming – I had NO intention of trying for the 100 miles the majority of the field seemed to be targeting – 80 miles was already 26 more than the furthest I had ever run, and staying awake would be a big challenge as I’m not good with sleep deprivation at the best of times!

And it was such a strange feeling getting ready to start…knowing we’d pass through base every 4 miles, this was an ultra with a difference – no need to carry a backpack stuffed with goodies, spare kit, phone etc.  All I carried was my Salomon soft flask, and on occasional laps a gel, handful of jelly tots or 9Bar.

Race briefing at 11:30am with a few solemn reminders of what we were undertaking from RD Bill Heirs and race medic Dr Andrew Murray (don’t take Ibuprofen for fear of death, don’t mess with Ada and don’t break the rules!), with a reminder of the great support we had at base, not just from our personal crews..…and the unveiling of the Guinness World Record Attempt (longest 3 legged race!)

The New World Record Holders!
12 noon, and we’re off….a mixed bunch of 12 and 24 hour competitors, from all corners of the country, in all shapes, sizes and levels of experience and fitness.  The concept was ‘simples’…..complete the 4 mile ‘big’ lap as many times as possible until 1 hour before the end of the race, when you would move onto the ‘small’ lap (about 0.2 mile) until the time runs out!
The big lap wasn’t as mind-numbing as people might expect – it breaks down into 4 different sections, making it easy to focus on getting from point to point, and the time really seemed to go by much quicker than expected.  The first ‘forest’ trail section is knarly and windy along the edge of the loch.  Section 2 is a wide forest ‘road’ higher up, with great views across the loch.  At the corner, the up-hill section begins (with the wonderful half-way aid station on this section, which was manned throughout by a number of cheery, supportive folk who always had a variety of beverages to offer – “free midge with every cup”).  And the final section was mostly downhill, and seemed to offer the best view of the stars at night!
Karen and I 'caught' walking

I’m not going to review every lap!  I don’t remember them all, and it’d probably make for pretty dull reading!  Moments that stuck out for me:

 - Karen Robertson’s great advice about setting markers for run/walk sections on the uphills

Gavin from Yorkshire who I blethered with on several laps, and then always had a cheery word to say when I passed him later on, despite him also saying every time I did that he was really suffering

- The feeling of relief at the sun going down allowing the temperature to drop – laps 4 and 5 I was starting to struggle in the heat

- Rolly, who ‘sacrificed’ his pace for half a lap to run me back to camp in the darkness because he had a great head torch on…and at that point I had none!  I was to later find out he came 2nd in the men’s race (thankfully it wasn’t so close a finish that his generosity to me cost him the win!!)

- At midnight, seeing the 12 hour competitors bomb round their short laps, and thinking/saying “there’s no bloody way I’ll be running when I get to the end” (and this clearly being a lie!)

- The bizarre feeling on several laps that so much time could pass without seeing anyone

- Clark coming out to run 2 laps with me (16 & 17) in the wee small hours to try and help keep me awake, despite the fact he was clearly in need of sleep, and his overall unfaltering support (it can’t be easy being on call every 45-60 minutes for 24 hours and being expected to be psychic!)

-      - David Meldrum chumming me round my 3rd from last big lap…and not nagging me when I couldn't run as much as we both wanted, but kept me entertained with stories
Ok, I will do 1 more f-ing lap...
but that won't stop me crying!

-   And Sarah Self, for stepping in to do my last big lap with me (the one there was no f*cking way I was doing) when it was clear I had too long to sit around waiting on the small lap opening!

I didn’t survive the whole 24 hours without a wee lie down – I attempted ‘sleep’ after 72 miles..the darkness and yawning got the better of me.  I spent the lap prior weighing up the idea of pushing on to get to 80 miles before a lie down, and then decided better to lie down and still have some miles to do to get to target as an 'incentive' to get back up again!  I had about 1.5 hours disrupted, cold lie down in the tent – should’ve got changed before trying to squeeze into the sleeping bag that Cori was hogging the bottom of!  Clark remembered later in the week that I was muttering away to myself most of that time too…but as yet, can’t remember what I was saying (pheeeew!!)!

Some point on Saturday, still managing to lift
my arms! 
Viki W 
So, I cried as I finished my last (f-ing bastarding, wasn’t going to do that one) lap…and then cried quite a lot during my 35 minutes or so of short laps.  

Support crews made me cry, the race team made me cry, Clark taking photos made me cry…..…and the sheer determination and inspiration of myself and my friends around me made me cry – Viki Williams bare footed, zombie-like state, still shuffling round; Noanie storming through her last big lap and announced as new course record (126+ miles in the end) and new ladies champion (2nd place overall);  Jo Rae, feet clearly hurting, but still pushing through…..and everyone, determined to get to the end. 
Jo Rae - think her feet were sore!






There are lessons I’ve learned from the event to take me through to next year’s goals but never before have I completed such an epic event, one where everyone gives such warmth, support and encouragement right to the dying seconds…one where you get to run with the elite field several times over the duration of the event, and they share words of support with you and the effort you are making…and one where everyone finishes at the same time!

I cried again at the prize giving…..for friends, for myself, and for the special award for Fiona Rennie (when times get tough mid-race I think of her guts and determination!) and (assuming I can beat the entry rush (this year sold out the first batch of places in under 2 hours I think)) I’ll be back next year to aim for the 100 mile goal! 
Crying...with Bill Heirs

Fiona Rennie - an inspiration to us all!
It still doesn’t seem quite real: I sat in the pub Tuesday lunchtime and quite casually said “yeah, I ran the Glenmore 24 hour trail race at the weekend; I did 95 miles”……


Epic!




Sunday 1 September 2013

6 sleeps!


6 sleeps the race director reminds us on Facebook today...and have you read your pre-race briefing pack.....have you got everything on the kit list (yes, including the anti-bear spray), have you seen the forecast of overnight lows of minus 3 degrees.....(and aside from that, can you get all the work you need to do this week done before stuffing the car to the roof on Friday night ready to whoosh up to Aviemore first thing Saturday in time for the pre-race briefing.....).   EEEEEK! My head is pickled with the hundreds of thoughts spiraling round and round! Pass me another paracetamol!  And as for the chances of actually getting 6 sleeps......

As I read the race report blogs from last year, I'm excited to be part of this crazy adventure....and then I pause for a minute and think "what? me? 24 hours? of laps around Glenmore forest?"...what am I thinking??!!



Well girl, reality check time....it's all part of the master plan....*insert wicked laugh*......and this year, so far, the plan has gone pretty well!  Furthest run ever at the Fling, Marathon PB at Strathearn, massive PB at the Devil.  Job done!  I said from the outset I wanted to be targeted on specific events, and I've tried not to deviate too far from that.

Photo from glenmore24.com


I'm not sure I've given a massive amount of thought into training specifically for the 24 hour race...more hoping that the consistency I've had this year and my guts and determination, combined with what sounds like an awesome level of support will get me round!


What I'm most worried about is sleep!  Or lack of!  I never feel I get as good a sleep as I should, and am a nightmare when sleep deprived - take this week for example...a late night/early morning mid-week and a late-ish night last night with a long-ish lie and I'm like a burst ball today (blaming it on taperitis and THE FEAR!).  I think I've tapered to extremes this week though and will remedy that with a 6:20am "blast" on Killer Hill with Bob and the dogs!


from sleepzine.com
Best I have a word with the wonder that is Support Husband before next weekend.....sleep deprivation = irritability, impaired moral judgement (?!) and obesity!  Interestingly, for the vertically challenged among us "Growth Suppression".....'nuff said!

So...back to the kit list writing and mental packing....!  This time next week I hope to be enjoying the start of my holiday week in the company and story-telling of fellow 12 and 24 hour runners, with our awesome support crews and friends in one of Aviemore's finest hostelry's...maybe with a wee beer or two....




Saturday 17 August 2013

R & R (Hamilton-Style)

There was probably only ever minor thought that this holiday would be "restful"......giving myself a week's grace to "recover" from the DoTH, and us buying 2 wetsuits that week, were probably clear enough signal that our time in Aviemore would be as action packed and full of fun as always!

We'd originally planned on staying home, but booked a last minute wee house fairly central in Aviemore to ensure I escaped all temptation of work and emails and with the car packed to the gunnels with 3 bikes, 2 humans, the dog, half the kitchen and enough kit to stock a small shop we headed for the hills....via the Mountain Cafe (always our first and last stop!)

A wee sample of MC delights
Clark had kindly volunteered his services as a marshal for the Durty Triathlon on the Sunday, so an early start was in the offing....Cori and I opted to run around Rothimurchus, Loch an Eilean and Loch Morlich before doing some clapping and whoop whooping as the hardy souls battled their way around the course (my favourite quote of the day "someone said the bike course wasn't technical....it's like f***ing base jumping while carrying a bike!")

From then on, the week unfolded into a pattern of run, eat, sleep, swim, sleep, bike, eat and sleep and eat...in any variety of combinations!  Oh and PT Boy decided he had 1,000 press ups to do......most of which Cori decided he needed to join in....

 


So....watching the triathlon didn't put me off the desire to swim...the wetsuit purchases had been a lingering thought for a while...somewhere in the long term I think/hope there's a triathlon in me somewhere......AND thankfully, it wasn't half as scary as I thought (Loch Morlich was nice to me), and despite the majority of my efforts being breast stroke, I got much further than expected!  My day 1 objective had been to swim around the green buoy by the end of the week, and I did that on day 2!!  We swam most days, and it was a welcome recovery from some of the hill running!  The water wasn't too cold and the only disappointment was that the Garmin didn't seem to pick up the signal very well in the water (not sure if it was due to my wrist being under water too much!)

Me tearing up the loch

Ascending from Ryvoan side with
the green lochan in view
So, good times......running Cairngorm kicked ass (weirdo of the day...tourist walking to the summit under cover of an umbrella to protect her from the light drizzle as we powered on past huffing and puffing!), and the steps of Meall a Bhuachaille 2 days later were quad burners from hell! But nothing can beat the solitude, views and euphoria gained from days like these!  Someone once said to me...you never remember a day in the office.....but this is the stuff memories are made of!
Descending towards Morlich
 
Near Loch an Eilean
Probably didn't do quite as much biking as I would have liked...but there are only so many hours in a day...and there had to be some rest in between!

Managed to fit in a wee practice lap of the Glenmore 24 route too....hmmm...hillier than anticipated...but at least now I know!  3 weeks today...and tomorrow....round, and round, and round for 24 hours.....but looks like a great course and sounds like a fun event, with many friends and supporters....oh, and it signals the start of another week's holiday in Aviemore!!  Happy days!  That one is much more likely to be proper rest though (and the house for that week has a hot tub!!)

Home now, for a couple of days "rest"...a massage tomorrow and Monday off work to look forward to, so maybe a wee swim in Loch Lomond in plan..... I'm not broken, just tired...so it's all still up for grabs before the tapering begins again.....

Loch Morlich Sunset : Photo copyright Clark Hamilton