It's about the people

What an adventure this weekend has been.  The Highlander, Backyard, Last One Standing was an incredible experience.  The rules are simple - 6.7km loop with 146m of elevation and you have an hour to do it.  Then repeat until you drop out.  On average I completed my laps in 49 mins and in the remainder of the time you can rest, eat, stretch and then be back at the start line to repeat on the hour.  If not you're a DNF.  It started on Saturday at 12 noon and I came out of the race after completing the 11th hour, in the dark - 73.4km total.  As I type there are two guys slugging it out and they have completed 32 laps!!!  Can you imagine that?  It doesn't matter how fast you are as long as you complete the lap in an hour and are ready to start again.  The Scottish record is 39.  The world record completed in Austria this year is 103 - yes over 4 days!
Stu only managed 6 laps and was timed out on the 7th lap but his stomach wasn't good - last year he completed 10 and timed out on 11 so it just wasn't his day.
We were both supported by Beth, and Poppy her beautiful springer spaniel, who made sure we had all the food, hydration and anything we needed when we came in - it was a quick turnaround and I don't know how some people did it without support - one of the current leaders has no support and is averaging 40 min laps!
We were delighted to be joined by the legend Rosie Bell who hadn't had a good run up to the race having been injured.  Rosie managed 20 laps and when I went to bed in the campervan at midnight, I felt guilty that she would be self supporting during the night.  The night is very tough as not only is it cold but all you can see is what your headlamp captures and it's easy to become disorientated as to where you are especially in the woods where it's difficult under foot.  When I woke in the morning and opened the van door Rosie was coming in.  She managed 1 more lap but was injured and decided to call it a day or it would set her back for future races - wise call.  But 20 laps!  Almost double what I did.
How do you keep going.  My approach was breaking the loop down.  Run for 2 mins to a speed bump, walk the hill for next 5 mins, turn the corner and run 2k trying to complete each km in 6 mins.  Get to the corner that turns uphill at 18 mins - walk the hill for 16 mins, take it easy through the forest 4 mins, then down hill for 2km to the start.  I was very consisted but in the middle my heart rate started climbing to 190.  My cardiologist had said if that happened take 2 pills.  I did and my heart settled into a better rhythm at a lower rate for the rest of the race - good to know that tactic works otherwise I'd have pulled out.
I met loads of runners, particularly on the long walk up the hill.  Two Polish guys were lovely, one managed 32 laps.  I met Stuart Ritchie a PT who trains people for Everest and other expeditions - check out www.trekandclimbfitness.com.  Everyone had an interesting story.  There was a father (about my age who did 13 laps) with his son & daughter running.  The runners were so friendly but that's ultra running for you.  Everyone employed different tactics whether it be walking the hills and running the downhills or the other way round.
I passed Alan (who I only found out at the end I'd been calling Andy) on the steep downhills as he saved his legs and on my last lap he offered to do the next one with me at my pace to get me round (and over 50 miles).  It was a lovely offer but I had made my mind up on lap 9 that I was only going to do 11.
Was I too tired, no.  Was I injured, no.  Then why stop?  I was bored and didn't have a WHY?  This was an experiment to try a different format.  If you want a mind f@ck, then this race is perfect for that.  If you can be so focused on the plan and not deviate then you'll do well but I didn't have a good enough WHY so decided not to hurt myself anymore than you do running almost 74km.  I have the Amsterdam Marathon in October and I will be pouring everything into that as I have a WHY which I'll share nearer the time.
Beth got to know the other supporters and thoroughly enjoyed their stories.  She put in a hell of a shift looking after Stu, Rosie and me.  Beth has her big race in less than two weeks time in Romania and it was great for her hearing from other experienced athletes like Lynsie and share tips.
For me this event was about trying something different.  What it taught me, if I didn't know it already, was the importance of mental strength because in the end that determines whether you succeed of fail and in this race, only one person succeeds.  Everyone else is disqualified.  I've talked about this many times before but you must have a WHY and the critical question is - How bad do you want it?  That's all that matters, just ask the last two competitors who are going round that 6.7km lap praying that the other guy will drop out so they can stop and claim the well earned title of Scottish Last one Standing. 
I'd like to thank the amazing organisers and volunteers who are there throughout and were always cheering and smiling as we past.  They don't finish till the race is over so it's a long event for them - well done guys.  As I said, it's all about the people and that's what makes ultra running so special.

Be prepared....for anything

As we get closer to our "A" races (Last One Standing in 9 days, Ultra Race Romania in 27 days) we are focusing on what we will actually need to carry with us and what is mandatory equipment.  My list is very short but Beth needs her 6 days supplies in her rucksack including her food and clothing.  Mandatory equipment will include fire crackers to scare off wild dogs and bear spray for, you've guessed it, bears!  Remember I said, be prepared....for anything!  Meticulous planning is required for these long events as it is for a trip into the mountains locally.
Last weekend we travelled up north and went to Ballater as the weather looked better.  Our trusted friend Michael Martin put together a good route that involved 5 Munro's (mountains higher than 1,000 m) in a long loop known as the Lochnagar circuit. We set out in stunning weather, blue skies without a cloud in sight.  My main concern was the heat.  Could we carry enough water for the 8 hours or was their fresh water on the route?  What a fantastic route and we were enjoying the scenery but realising the weather forecast later on in the day could be challenging.  It seemed foolish packing our full waterproofs and survival bags, but this is Scotland.
The wind started picking up and the clouds were closing in.  At the highest and furthest away point the rain started and then turned into hail stones.  This was 3 hours ahead of the forecast and the wind meant it was painful when they smacked you in the face.  We still had 4 hours to go and we were drenched.  There was no shelter from the wind so the full waterproofs went on, a bit late, and this prevented us from getting cold.  We had to eat to keep our energy levels up as it was a long slog, more so for Beth as she was carrying a weighted rucksack!
The weather improved for the last 12 km and when we finished we were pleased we'd covered a total of 29km and come through some testing conditions.  However it would have been a different story had we not been prepared.  We did fill up our water bottles early on in the walk but had to ration it towards the end.  It would have been a bigger issue had it stayed warm so always check what the water situation is before setting off.
The following day we went up Tinto (local hill 711m) - me twice and Beth three times.  I started to get a knee niggle on the descents and didn't want to risk making it worse.  It was the right decision as I have rested it this week, except for yoga.  I'll be back running tomorrow and do some specific running focused on the last one standing format i.e. run/walk/ rest, stretch and eat every hour.  This race will be a real "mind f@@k" and new territory for me.  I'll have my pals Stu and Rosie running it with me and they have the benefit of doing it last year so have given me some top tips.  The best part will be the finishing pen where you start and finish each lap.  It becomes like a party as the race goes on and last years winner managed 39 laps - yes that's 39 hours!  Beth is supporting me & Stu so the campervan will be stocked with food, drink and medical supplies!  I'm excited for this new format and will be tapering my training with lots of yoga to make sure my body is ready.  In the end it will be my mind that's the deciding factor assuming I remain upright and not injured!
  

New record set

Last week I wrote about "raising the bar" and by this I meant setting it high.  Reach for the stars my granny used to say, and if you hit the sky you have done well.  
On 26th June the bar was certainly raised when Jamie Aarons completed all 282 Munros in Scotland (mountains over 3,000 feet) in 31 days, 10 hours and 27 minutes.  She beat the previous record by 12 hours and 35 minutes set by Donnie Campbell who inspired her when she heard him talk about his record on the radio.  The previous female record was 76 days and 10 hours.  Can you imagine her mindset when she thought about beating Donnie's record?  
What makes it even more incredible is that she travelled between the Munros by bike, kayak or walked!! Unbelievable, and feats like these continue to drive me to raise my bar, but not to this level. 
As I have said before, it's all relative and taking on the couch to 5k is a huge challenge for some people.
Today I "raised the bar" or pushed myself beyond what I was comfortable with and ran the Stonehouse Half Marathon.  Obviously I have ran much longer than a half marathon distance but this one had 308m of ascent and as an ultra runner, I'd normally walk the hills.  But I decided to give it everything and leave nothing out there which definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone, but it was a race after all not a training run.  If I was lucky, I might even win the V60 category so I was motivated.
Accompanying me was my partner Beth and her daughter Holly who was running her first half marathon.  I knew she was strong but was determined not to lose to her.  Imagine my surprise when I thought I was going well and she past me on the first long climb!  But I was pacing myself as I knew the last 4.5 miles were down hill and I aimed to give it everything then.  I overtook her shortly afterwards and pressed on. 
On the out and back section I passed Holly and Beth coming the other way so I continued, even when it was uncomfortable to push it in the heat.  At one stage when tearing the top off my gel is exploded onto my face, hair & hands but I managed to get 75% of it in me.  With 2 km to go I had my last gel as the fast downhill had taken it toll on me and I was wavering.  That got me to the finish line and I was delighted with 1hr 49 mins - same time as my Glasgow half marathon earlier in the year without the elevation!  Sadly 6 minutes shy of the V60 winner but good on him, that was a tough course for that kind of time.
Holly finished 3 mins behind me and Beth a further 5 mins behind but taking the fastest V50!  A fabulous result all round.
But this only happened because we put the tough miles in and we set the bar high, not for the distance but for the time.  Any discomfort or pain melts away when you cross the line and after rehydrating you feel good about yourself.  I waded into the freezing cold sea up to my "rab hawes" while eating a 99.  After 2 minutes I lost sensation in my legs but hopefully this will speed up my recovery.
Not everyone can be in Jamie Aarons league but we can still set the bar high and when the time comes, give it everything.  It will only make us better.
Back home and we stuffed our faces with good food and I chased it down with a few cold beers.  Now for a bath and then start massaging my lets with my massage gun.  Tomorrow starts another week of training and my "A" race Last One Standing is now only 20 days away.  
When did you last raise the bar and is it time for a reset (upwards!)?