Dipping my dobber - The Great Glen Way

This is my race report for those who are interested in some more detail following my last post.

Friday 6th July at 11pm a taxi picks me up from Faulty Towers in Fort William, that’s a story in itself, and takes me to the community centre in Carpach.  The taxi driver looks at my outfit and thinks I must be going to a fancy dress party but from his expression it’s obvious he can’t tell what I am – an ultra runner I tell him.  I’m running from Fort William to Inverness along the Great Glen Way.  71 miles and 9,000 ft of climbing,  He shakes his head in disbelief, he’ll be used to fairytales from drunks late on a Friday night but the only thing I am drunk on is the anticipation of an amazing adventure that will push me to the limit that I’m yet to find in my short ultra journey to this point.

The day had started earlier when I drove to Inverness, parked my car and caught the bus back to Fort William (that’s a long journey by bus I thought!).  I had ran the course in reverse order over 2 days in January 2013 when preparing for the Marathon des Sables so this was going to be different.  And the hot weather was also going to make it challenging.  I had dinner with a fellow runner Lorna and my pal, training partner and for today photographer Michael.  Then I headed off to Faulty Towers for 3.5 hours sleep as the race started at 1am Saturday and I was aiming to be on my feet for 18 hours.  I originally thought I’d aim for the cut off at 22 miles but my training went well and I thought 20 but my utterly amazing coach Genevieve thought 19 possibility 18!

The community centre was full of “racing snakes” and you could tell the contenders as they gathered together looking confident.  The racing brief gave me one shock, the course was now 2 miles longer!  In the end those 2 miles made a real difference.  They explained about dipping our dobber at the checkpoint and to make it easy the marshalls grabbed your dobber which was attached to your wrist and dipped it for you so you were checked in.

Standing in the dark at the canal with almost 90 runners with only head torches and moonlight to show us the way was quite surreal and before we knew it we were off.  The route goes along the canal and in the first 50km its relatively flat except for a few lumps and undulations.  After my tapering I was feeling amazing and despite trying to stay slow at 7 min per km I was averaging 5.45’s.  I tried slowing down but it felt laboured.  My decision on pace was decided when I started running beside and talking to Oriol from Barcelona.  So happens in these races if your lucky, you find yourself running beside someone for a while and then realise you can help each other as you are a similar pace.  So we agreed to run together at 5.45s and I reprogrammed my head along the lines of “get the time in the bank, you’ll slow down on the big hills anyway and it was always going to hurt so MTFU”.  I also noticed the running snakes had disappeared into the night and we were ahead of the next pack of runners.

Running at night next to a large stretch of water, through trees as the orange crescent moon reflected across the water was one of the highlights of the race and makes me want to do more of that type of running.  It was helped by being dry and warm enough only to need one layer – perfect.

CP 1 (Time for stage 1:51:54 – stage distance 16.8km) Clunes was a learning experience. Dobber dipped I was handed my food bag.  There wasn’t a lot in it but by the time I had filled a bottle and picked up some jelly babies and nuts Oriol was telling me to hurry up.  I knew a lot of time could be wasted in check points but I also knew I needed to take enough food to get me through the race so before the next CP I rehearsed in my head what I’d do to not waste time but to get the food and hydration I needed.

We were still clipping along at 5.45s but there was the odd lump and I didn’t want to burn out but pushed on with Oriol because I felt strong.  We were sharing running experiences and he’d done UTMB and was a sub 3 hour marathon runner – the alarm bell started going off in my head.  This guy is faster, younger and fitter so don’t ruin your race trying to keep up with him I was telling myself.

CP 2 (1:33:57 – 16km) Lagan Locks. I managed the routine better and someone had left a small bottle of coke so I scoffed that (any food left can be taken) and ran off eating a pork pie and some grapes.  We were running towards the sun rise and had taken our head torches off around 3.30am – the red sky ahead made me feel grateful to be alive.  There was a hill and I signalled to Oriol we should walk it while we ate.  I had already indicated to Oriol that he should run ahead but he was obviously enjoying the company as was I.  But after another walked hill he agreed he should run on.  At the time I thought I’d link up with another runner but it turned out I was on my own for the rest of the race but with Michael popping up taking photos and shouting the odd word of encouragement I was fine and made sure I took in the amazing scenery.  However the finish of this stage was along and never ending canal path which stretched on as far as the eye could see which was sole destroying.

CP 3 (2:05:14 -17.6 km) Fort Augustus.  I had my first tub of custard and was this followed with a flap jack and topped up the bottles, one with high 5.  This was where the climbing started and it was a beautiful climb through a forrest.  Unfortunately a tree had fallen down blocking the path leaving head room of 3 feet.  1st attempt and my abductor muscles went into spasm. 2nd attempt I dropped onto my staved finger and with the pain jumped up and banged my head.  So crawling through on all fours was the only way through. When I go to the top of the hill I came across the most specular view of the race right looking right down Loch Ness and as this was the high route you could see everything.  I just wanted to sit down and take this in but I was in a race and well ahead on time so I pushed on.  In definitely going to revisit that view but I’ll be in walking boots with a picnic!
The downhill to CP4 was steep and technical but that’s been my training so I was comfortable and over took a few runners who looked like they were struggling with the downhill section.

CP 4 (1:48:45 - 14.4km) Invermoriston.  This is where the race begins.  I knew that was the case so took some more time at the CP to take on food and change into my running vest as the temperature was definitely rising.  I slapped on sun cream and downed a bottle of coke while Michael took some pictures.  The climb out is ridiculous.  While up till then you might have got away with road shoes, the trail shoes help me claw my way up – it is just relentless and then the downhill really starts to take its toll on your quads as you are breaking on the way down – you don’t want to pick up too much speed or you could end up being stretched off the hill with a DNF.  I wish I’d reccied the course from this point on, it really would have helped.
There is a water stop 14.4km in at Grotaig and I topped up and guzzled some coke and just as I was about to leave my coach Genevieve and Colin pulled up on their bikes.  I knew they were coming up to offer some support and it was wonderful to see them.  They told me how ahead of schedule I was, I was just focusing on one CP to the next, and that lifted my spirits which was well timed as this is where it started to become really hard.  I pushed on with this encouragement and the temperature now must have been about 23 degrees, I could feel my skin beginning to cook!  This section seemed to go on forever and it had another long downhill section to the CP which was beginning to tell on my feet as I could feel a couple of blisters starting.  I decided not to treat them and just leave them alone as I’d probably not be able to bend down and take my shoes off without cramping up.  My right hammy had a few cramp twinges so I had to take that into consideration in my gate and speed.  I had hydrated well but kept hearing the medics words at the briefing, drink to thirst.  But my philosophy, especially in the heat, was sip and sip regularly – don’t get thirsty.  This was all going through my head.

CP5 (3:01:01 – 23.2km) Drumnadrochit.  If I thought the last stage was hard, then this one really hurt. A never ending climb which was OK when in the shelter of the trees but when you were exposed to the sun with no protection it was brutal.  I’ve ran in the Sahara and the Grand Canyon but this was tough and I was on my own.  Only me and my thoughts which sometimes isn’t a good thing.  I was paranoid about running out of water (there were no streams to fill your bottles from as it was bone dry) while trying to eat and not end up with a stomach problem.  I knew I’d finish but the times were slowing, as predicted, and I really just wanted this to be over.  The problem was my Garmin was showing a message “low battery” which covered the screen and as a result I had no idea how far I had to go.  I’d worn another watch just to tell me the time but my brain was so frazzled I couldn’t work it out.  The piece of paper I had with all my timings written down was wet right through with sweat and as I was so far ahead of the plan, I was beyond doing the maths.
The top section to the next CP was a slog and I was walking more now as I was in what I call “survival mode” – trying to stay upright and in control of myself.  My mind was playing games so when I saw someone walking towards me in a high viz vest I thought it was a forestry worker.  But then she started shouting encouragement and taking pictures – I’d arrived at the last CP.  The marshalls have a great sense of humour.  There was an inviting chair which I was just about to sit on until they pointed to the sign – “only for wimps and princesses” and apparently nobody had sat on it so far.  I grimaced and took the hint.

CP6 (1:47:43 – 12km) Loch Laide.  The marshalls said it was all downhill from here – they were right on two counts!  With legs that were wanting to disown me I headed off.  Had I reccied this section I would have done better here.  My mind kept looking for the view down to Inverness and it never came.  Just more of the narrow downhill through trees which under normal circumstances would have been great.  For the first time since CP2 I was passed by some runners, actually 2 might have passed me in the previous section but it’s all merges into a blur.
I was feeling sorry for myself and questioning why I put myself through it.  I normally do these mad things to raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres but you can only ask your friends so many times and they have been very generous over the years.  I had decided to do this one for me to prove to me what I’m capable of – no other reason but I was not wondering if this was reason enough to go through this pain.  But this stage is only 16km so MTFU I said to myself.
The path went on forever but at the bottom I could see Michael with his camera, Genevieve and Colin – there were screaming their heads off at me, I could hardly muster a jog but I was so pleased to see them.
Only 3km to go screamed Genevieve.  I staggered in the direction of the finish and increased my pace.  Coming into Inverness Athletic Stadium was a picture I’d carried in my head.  My fan base of 3 were waiting for me and suggesting I get a PB for 1 lap of the stadium – they have a good sense of humour.  The softness of the track was welcome on my feet and on the finishing straight I decided to exaggerate a sprinting style putting at risk my hammies but I was past caring.  Crossing the line I dipped my dobber for the last time.  As my Garmin had retired I had no idea what my time was.  I just needed some water and a seat that wasn’t for a wimp or a princess.  I was handed my goodie bag and a slip of paper showing the last 16km had taken 2:32:25. I was 21st runner in and 1st male vet over 50 in a time of 14:40:18.

After thoughts

How did that happen?  Almost a week after the event I still haven’t worked it out but with my coach, we will.  Based on my training I think 18 was realistic and she was angling for 17 hours but some sort of a break through took place.  The next day I was stiff but then the next miracle happened.  No DOMS on day 2 when normally I’d be walking like the Tin Man.  It must have been all the power walking the hills and running down them hard in training that helped.

This has been an amazing journey, so far, and I want to thank BAM for such an incredible event and all the volunteers and marshalls who kept smiling at the CPs and kicking my arse when it was required.  As for my coach and support team on the day, you guys rocked and I know you took over 100 pictures for the other competitors and shouted encouragement to them as well.  Ultra running is such a friendly supportive community.  Back home my training buddies and medical team - physio, chiropractor, poditrist (and perhaps in the future psychiatrist) kept my body together which at 56 isn’t that easy!  My long suffering wife and kids all put up with the social occasions I missed including an important party on the day of the race so thank you for allowing me to see just how far I can go.  I hope this race report gives you an insight into what’s possible if your really want it.  And despite the pain, tears and snotters dipping my dobber’s a lot better than sitting on my arse watching Love Island!  Till the next time.