Down and Ups - Part 1

So here goes... A week ago this time I was just finishing crossing Rannoch Moor with George, Merv and a few other top folks..

9 days ago me and George and Steve were having a spot of dinner in the little Italian under the Bank St Hostel in Fort William .. I had travelled up from Edinburgh on the 8 AM train, heading to Glasgow and taking the West Highland Way line to Fort William.. Absolutely cracking day, sunshine and warm me sitting by myself trying to collect my thoughts and to be honest bricking myself at the thought of the run ahead.. Great views over Loch Lomond and then leaving Crianlarich, I could see the heat on the ground.. Have never been across Rannoch Moor to the East, what a blast..

Camped out in the Bank Street and managed some sleep.. George in a red g string arrived about 14:00 and we spent the next few hours trying to relax.. Slim chance, but got a few catnaps.. Had a walk and an OJ and a pokey hat, bit more sleep, just passing time.. Thinking and yeah bricking it ..

Still warm

Then we are at the Locaver Leisure Centre, nake a few calls to Aus.. It is 12:01, Shorts and T-Shirt, we start...
Early pace good to Braveheart Carpark (passing a bloke looking for the start of Ben Nevis ) then a good walk up the hill in about 40 mins or so .. Coming out of the forest I had my first fall, landing nicely on my knees and hitting my shoulder (nice bruise now ) Ok to Lundavra, lots of frogs. all soaking up the heat.. Lairig Moor was hard as usual, even on fresh legs it is a tough slog with all the rocks... Made good time to KLL where Steve net us, along with about a quadrillion billion of the locals.. My word they were thick.. Getting a juice from the car I thought I was going to be eaten alive so glad to get back on the road again.. The climb up to the Devils saw the sky becoming claer and the mounains all coming into view.. A pink tinge to the sky that cleared rapidly.. Topped out at the Devils, Rannoch and the south waiting expectently at our feet..

Making some good pace in the early light, just plodding along until the turn of the corner and the Kingshouse comes into view.. Ran through and then met Steve at Blackrock Cottage where we fueled up, dropped kit and went on our way.. Up the hill to the new checkpoint, then up and over. Shorts and t shirts, must have been about 16c and 6 ish in the morn ??

Rannoch flew past, walking the hills, finding the path, the gaps, running the downs, Ba Bridge, chatting some more .. Is this where we stop, nope its the next set of trees... Coming down past the last woodland, my left foot dug in and over I went .. Was not travelling particularlu fast, but was running and I went in quite hard.. Scuffed hands, blood..

Steve met us in Vic Bridge where we dumped kit for the short trip over the hill to BOO.. Really starting to warm up but we had been drinking plenty and both of us topping up with Nuun.. More food at BOO, check of the time and we were down so knew we had to make a push for Tyndrum.. Really started noticing the heat at the farm, but good running being had, light packs, doing ok. Still keeping better than 4s but knowing what was ahead, pace becoming a little niggle.. Made Brodies about 10 mins down on 24 hr pace so not too bad... Pot noodles, milk, juice and muller rice for ne ..

Leaving Tyndrum, along the river I heard the train and turning my head to it, walking along I twisted my ankle, the same one that I had twisted at the Fling.. And it hurt.. Bad.. George was hehind me and he went "Ow ".. So what followed was 8 miles of real pain.. Trying to run, not able to, knowing we had to make time, knowing that my pace now back to less that 4 miles / hr .. Really worrying that I would not be able to make it .. Through Auchtertyre tried to make some running but no joy.. George put some of his red g string stuff on my ankle which sorted it out a bit, still a bit flat..

Hills of Crianlarich were challending, with the heat really starting to get up, the sun beating down on my floppy hat, George just putting one foot in front of the other.. Up and down, like my mood and doubts starting to creep in.. Steve met us at Carmyle, had a drink then we were on our way.. I told George I would need to have a swim at Derrydarroch..

Oh the soothing waters of Derrydarroch
Your cooling embrace
returned my state of grace
eased my limbs and my mind
gave me focus
and release..

Climbed over the fence a bloke having a bit of a sook.. George had gone on.. When I came out of the waters, I started walking and shouting .. Loud.. Rude words, questions, what did you want to do this for, DID YOU NOT THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE HARD ?? YOU *&^&*&(%^ GET THE 6$^&$^&*(&^$%£ AND TTFU..

Caught up with George, running.. Hard hot yards ahead, Beinglas could not come soon enough.. An ice cold coke and Steve the man..

More later ..

Recovery and thinking

Back to reality with a thump this week, work on Tuesday which has been interesting and pretty full on but never a dull moment.. Been hobbling a bit with some cracking blisters - photos later :-).. Also noticed my bruised left shoulder from where I fell between Nevis Forest and Lundavra on the first night .. Starting to sink in what happened last weekend .. All good.. Been sitting at work with my feet in a tub of water.. very professional...

Thanks to all who have donated, it will be open for a month or so yet.. Hopefully over the next couple of days I can start on a proper update on last weekend, but being hampered by lack of internet at my flat - this being done at the girls house.. Might have to write a pamphlet :-)

George - strong as a goat, what a machine :-)

Run on Friday .. You know you are having to work when you can drink a sports drink, a pint of milk and a can of coke in under 2 mins.. Coming down from Beiglas to Inversnaid we were pushing as hard as we could but making no headway.. Cracking stuff

Status update

Did not get a chance to update over the last couple of days.. here is a quick summary - full run report to follow - and you know how long they take to write (and read !!)

Me and George left Fort William as per plan on Friday 18th at 00:01 AM. Very warm - shorts and t-shirts.. Ran 68 mile taper run to Rowardennan in 17:15, in the hottest conditions I have ever run distance in. Have never had to work so hard for miles in all my time running so when we got there we made the decision to cut short the run as we would be close to missing the start time for the WHW and hence making the cutoffs on the return journey that little bit too tricky..

Crashed at hotel for 3 hrs, change, then start again. Did the 95 miles back up the way in about 29 or 30 hours .. 163 miles total in about 53 hours ..

Sensational running with George, just so strong and awesome .. We had the best support from our crews who made this all possible and all the rest of the WHW family really spurred us on ...

Full report to follow, but right now I think a little sleep is needed !!

Leave it out

Leave it out there
on the track
no turning around
or looking back to the place
where you should have put in
instead of giving in

Leave it out there
Go that little bit further
when all is dark and thoughts are black
start again from the beginnning
just start
don't finish
until the end

Leave it out THERE
Don't bring it back with you
to ask you questions and plague the mind
in times to come.
Adjust, change your goals as time or circumstances dictate
But go forward..
always forward
then
Rest and drink beer !

2 weeks and counting !

A niggle in my left ankle since the fling and a hammy strain that won't go away.. Not running much, just saving myself but at the same time feeling guilty for not running.. Still mad at work which is a real distraction.. and feel really nervous.. thinking ALL the time !

Just the usual run down in the final 2 weeks.. I should be used to it by now.. Have done more training this year and am probably in the best shape I have ever been, so why do I feel like I do ... I reckon the mind tells the body that it is stupid to be trying this sort of stuff again and sends little signals to convince it that it should not .... Just as well I am bi-polar or schizo or something coz the other bit of my mind is lifted up whenever I think about getting up to Derrydarroch, or passing Brodies store or coming down into Kingshouse or that long awaited beer in Fort William..

So roll on 18th June .. Let me have that arvo nervous nap to get some last sleep.. Let me start the run and leave the work and the niggles and the dodgy hammy behind me.. Let me enjoy the company of some old friends and make some new ones.. Help me keep it together as I come into Rowardennan where I will have my porridge but will be missing that bloke in the midgie net and the garish fluro jacket ..

Bring it on !!