Trading Places - West Highland Way Race 2014

After nine months of dedicated training I’m standing on the start line and I'm terrified.  I can almost feel the full 95 miles of the West Highland Way stretching out in front of me.  I really regret standing on the top of Ben Lomond on my birthday and pointing out Milngavie and the mountains I could identify near Tyndrum - that was a really bad idea!  Suddenly, the count down begins and then 170 people are all running through the dark.

It didn't feel long before the sun started to rise and just past Drymen I took off my head torch.  Here my race almost ended - nineteen miles in and I stumble on the stone steps up Conic Hill and crash to the ground.  My index finger bends the wrong way before flipping back (boke) and I land heavily on one knee.  There may have been ‘a little bit’ of swearing at this point.  Bloodied and with a giant wonky finger I carefully picked my down the rest of the steps before charging into Balmaha and spotting Mark.  I swear a little bit more at myself (sorry for this everyone who was around me) turn down the offer of a first aider and run on.  It took a good 4 miles, before my knee eased off and I was confident I hadn't done any damage to it - the finger was going stay like that until the end.

All I can really say about Balmaha to Rowardennan is MIDGES!  Most of them seemed to drown on contact as it was definitely getting warmer, but the odd blighter would latch on to one of my eyelids.  All the support crews at Rowerdennan were sporting Midge nets – this made it really difficult to identify anyone.  A few people offered words of encouragement, but I couldn’t tell if I knew them.

I was running really well until I hit Inversnaid – I love the technical loch side section.  Up and down, over stones, around tree roots, up the random ladder– there is a lot to think about and Loch Lomond flies by.  Unfortunately, I hadn’t been eating enough up to this point – oops!

The wheels came off – I was weak, shaking and struggling to keep my footing.  At this point Carrie bounced past me – pushing me back to 4^th lady (I had no idea of my place at this point).  I made it into Beinglas and I was not in a good way.  I wanted a milkshake, but Mark didn’t have one and duly sprinted to the car.  The lovely Scott Wesley helped me to open a Muller rice pot (yes, I was that bad).  Mark reappeared, and I took the Milkshake and continued my solitary death march.  The path undulated and more and more men were running past me.  I started to think about failing and I thought about the people who wouldn't appreciate how hard and painful this race is.  I started to think about Donnie and everything he had done to get me here.  Oh Dear God – I was going to have to walk the next 60 miles!  I finished the milkshake and forced a gel down (bleurgh).  The wee farm came and went – the path leveled out and I decided to try a run.  Before I knew it I was under the road and running along cow shit alley.  I was catching folk again.  I got to the Crianlarich forest roller coaster (I usually hate this bit) but I was storming along.  I charged past John yelling “I’m back, I’m back from the dead”!  I pelted across the road (the gap in the traffic was just big enough) and shortly after raced into Auchtertyre.  Antonia gave me a whoop as I charged at Mark with the biggest grin on my face.  I forced some food down (I had learnt my lesson) grabbed a coke and water and was gone.

Crew change!  Lorna B was waiting for me at the Tyndrum road crossing and Lorna McMillan was stood in the middle of the road stopping the traffic for me.  I thanked her, waved to the drivers and skipped across.  The relay runners were about to set off and I ran through their line with much applause and encouragement.   I was happily showboating at this point – I think supporters and marshals appreciate it during a long race.  I continued running up the hill until I heard yelling behind me, a grinning Kirsty was chasing me down with my requested Calippo ice lolly!  Ahh – happy days!

I liked this section to Bridge of Orchy – almost every relay runner said well done and I saw a few of my Harmeny club mates.  At the checkpoint there was no sign of Lorna and Kirsty and I stood confused for a moment.  Noanie’s lovely support crew (David and Sheona) came to my rescue – they topped up my water and offered me anything I wanted from the van.  Noanie had a support van!  My God, there was a lot of stuff in that van!  I started off again and then heard Lorna B shouting at me, she caught up and forced me to eat a Muller rice.  Lorna and Kirsty were getting texts alerting them when I reached a checkpoint and giving an ETA as to when I would reach the next one.  I stayed 10 minutes ahead of that ETA girl for the rest of the race.

I was looking forward to Jelly Baby hill – it is now part of WHW folklore and the experience did not disappoint.  Murdo was there, together with Lorna M, Caroline, Paul and Gavin.  I demanded a Mexican wave.  I had a bit of chat here and was told that Carrie was only a couple of minutes ahead now.  They then kicked me on and pointed out that a half naked John Duncan had appeared over the horizon behind me.

I got down onto Rannoch Moor and I could now see Carrie just ahead of me.  This section is a beautiful but long slow uphill slog on a horrible cobbled road – I forced myself to run it.  Carrie was having a low point and I caught up with her – we had a brief chat before I went past.  Running into Glencoe was such a boost – I knew I had it – I felt great  - I WAS going to finish.  This was a busy checkpoint – Paul, Ian and Lucy from Harmeny had stopped by cheer me on.  I was allowed a support runner from here and Lorna B left the checkpoint with me.  Carrie had caught up but I knew I was still strong on the uphills.  I had a choice – I could take it easy, or I could really push and try and burn her off.  I picked up the pace and went for it – forcing myself to run all the way to the foot of the Devil’s Staircase.  Here I spotted Donnie and I took my opportunity to get a well-earned hug.  He look horrified, but couldn’t really say no!

I climbed the Devil as quickly as I could – checking behind frequently to see where Carrie was.  As always, I paused at the top to take in the beauty of where I was.  I pushed on through the long descent into Kinlochleven, I knew I couldn’t afford to lose any time.  It was great having Lorna B – it was such a relief having someone to talk with.

Kirsty was waiting for us at Kinlochleven as enthusiastic as ever.  I went for a speedy refuel and got out of the checkpoint as quickly as I could.

Then we went up – and up – and up some more.  Finally, Kinlochleven was far below us and we were on the Lairig Moor.  I LOVE this section – for some reason it just suits me.  It’s one of the few places on the WHW that feels properly wild and isolated.  The mountains rise above on either side and the path snakes away into the distance.

My brain was clearly tired at this point – I kept seeing things in my peripheral vision that weren’t there.  Rocks became a large dog, sheep, a stag and a monster thing.   Lorna did look at me like I was crazy when I commented on the dog.

Lundavra was amazing, I was expecting music, but not volume that blasted out of the van.  I was really smiley at this point and so happy to see Kirsty.  I should have eaten here, but I thought I could do the last 7miles on a bottle of coke.  Note to self for 2015: EAT AT LUNDAVRA.

After 40 minutes we got to the fire road and the long brutal descent into Fort William began.   This bit is horrible, it all looks the same and it seems to last forever.  I kept asking Lorna how much further it was to Brave heart car park and I kept stopping for short walks.  I was getting weak and my legs were killing me.  We went past a lady with a walking stick and I again asked Lorna if the car park was close.  She replied that she didn’t think that the lady could have walked far.!  Suddenly Kirsty appeared running towards us and I almost cried. 

We hit the main road and I tried and failed to keep my pace up.  The 30 mile sign came into view and Norma was waiting to run in with me.  Here I had my only hissy fit with my crew.  There is a slight uphill and I needed to walk – 3 people were yelling at me to keep running.  I knew I could run the rest of the way but I just needed a few steps to ease my legs.  Hissy fit over with I picked up and began my run through Fort William.   Thankfully there were no cars on the roundabout when I crossed as I had no intention of stopping until I go to that line.

I turned left into the Leisure Centre and held hands with Mark, Lorna, Kirsty and Norma as we crossed the line together.  I was overjoyed – I hugged my crew – my parents, Norma, Ian and Paul, Lorna M and Gavin.  On my first attempt, I had come in only 9 minutes away from my target time of 20 hours and I had placed.   At this point Lorna M produced a celebratory bottle of Prosecco!  The race Doctor didn’t seem so impressed by the Prosecco when I was having a chat with her about my giant wonky finger.

The award ceremony was amazing – to see everyone who had made it and to hear their own personal battles.  I finally saw Kenny and was overjoyed that he had completed it in just over 25 hours.  My Harmeny team mate Fionna came in 1^st lady.

I couldn’t have done it without my crew – Mark, Kirsty and Lorna were incredible and kept me going through the whole thing.  They met me every 8 to 10 miles and got me whatever I wanted and whatever I needed but didn’t want!