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Sunday 31 July 2016

TOF (continued......)

Race 3 : Uphell Time Trial, East Lomond mast car-park 1.4 mile

continued........
Race day is here - the majority of tourists (back up to 161) parked at
the top at the mast car park. I headed up in plenty of time, but didn't
want to run down too early as there's nothing worse than warming up by
running down the hill and then standing about. I timed it about right
and probably only had to wait a few minutes until my name was called
into the starting queue. Not so good for Joanne as she had another 20
minutes to wait. It just ads to the pressure hanging about watching
about 151 runners go off before you. My starting point was that I can't
run all the way up the hill, I never have been able to. My tactic was to
go slow and steady and try and run more of it than I had managed before.
I finished in 85th on 15.48 which did surprise me as I had achieved my
objective of running more of it than previous attempts and didn't feel
as bad. As it turns out, I was 50 seconds down on the previous year. So
"the jury is out on tactics" as my normal sprint/walk method seems to
have served me better than a steady pace.
Joanne found the hill really tough, but still managed to run 99% of it.
Afterwards she thought that she should have ran much better. However,
she still finished 49th with 14.39, 6th female and 4th in FS. Course
knowledge and previous experience would have helped.

Race : 4  Cambo Estate, near Kingsbarns about 4 miles Trail
This was 2 laps, the first half lap was a mixture of grass and trail,
but the second half was more down hill and very similar to our own glen.
153 lined up in the rain for this one with minimum warm ups all round.
My first lap was too quick as I was up with people that were ahead of me
over the last few days. I struggled to hold on to my pace and slowly saw
people pass me on the second lap. I also had one eye to the next race
which was the longest and very hill. I finished 89th in 33.54.
Joanne felt her legs really heavy but was more at home in this terrain.
She finished 45th with 30.35, 6th female with all the first 6 females
being within 1min 37sec of each other and much closer than previous
races. Going in to the last race, Joanne is sitting 5th female and 3rd
FS. The 1st FS is 4min 9sec in front, but there's another 2 FS's just 1
min 22 and 27 chasing. Still work to be done on the final one.

Race 5 : Mega Monimail Marvel 4.9m trail/hill race
The final day. Ah....!! In one way it was the best day, I felt better
prepared plus there were few cars on the road on a Sunday, allowing us
to get there 2hrs before the race. On the other hand, you do have tired
legs. Nothing that bad that would prevent you running, just minor aches,
but it will be the same for all. We recced the first 2 mile on the way
back yesterday and I was painfully reminded what it was like - first
half mile was on the road, then a 2 mile climb in WHW terrain, before
coming to a mast which signaled a fairly rapid decent back to Letham. I
had decided to go off slow and see how i felt, maybe pick up with a pack
and try to hold them until the top, plus it was the last race and it
didn't really matter how much effort I put in to it. I never told Joanne
this of course and advise that we need to both really go for it. I felt
a bit sorry for her as she was in 4th place going in to it and I knew
she'd have to battle round it to hold or improve her place.
2pm and we are off in to the sun. I soon forgot my tactics and was
running well in a pace that I could cope with. I was relieved to reach
the mast and knew the majority of it was down hill from that point.
Having ran it last year, I was aware that the finish was
different......just didn't realize that they would keep teasing you with
a down hill followed by a short up hill several times before you get
there. I finished 85th in 41.26
Joanne said that she loved the course and felt just at home. She
finished in 36th place with 37.17, 4th female (first 4 were within 1min
17secs)

Overall: I was 77th with 2hrs 28.49 secs (never won anything!). Joanne
was 34th with 2.15.21 - 4th female and a nice £50 in prize money to buy
everyone a drink in Islay. The female race first and second finishing
didn't change in all 5 races with the Cruikshanks sisters remaining
consistent throughout - 1st Ailsa FJ 2.07.04, 2nd Jennifer FS 2.10.14,
3rd Lynne Stephen V50 2.12.19

As usual it was very well organized in terms of marshaling, results
published on Fife website and facebook within an hour and 100's of
pictures from professional and amateur photographers. I stated the event
not having been running as much or with distance in my legs, I found
some parts very tough to handle, but had lots of good spells within
races. Hopefully it will kick start me out of that first pack!!
Joanne was the opposite as she has the endurance and was using it to
build speed for Islay. She ran really well and was right on the leaders
tails should they have "a bad day at the office". She thought that the
first race (the beach) and the last were her best. Course knowledge
plays a big part and when the leading bunch are finishing within a
minute or two, it's even more important.

George

Saturday 30 July 2016

Islay Ferry Disruption

Monday 1st August Update: The cancellations listed below are now continuing through to Friday 5th August inclusive. So looks like we will have to put a plan in place to handle those booked on to the cancelled ferries (for example, leave your cars at the Kennacraig ferry terminal car park and go across as foot passengers whereby those of us who have cars booked on the operating ferries can shuttle you back and forth to Bowmore from Port Askaig/Port Ellen as appropriate).
Alan

As many of you already know, one of the two ferries running the peak summer route to Islay has been taken out of service as of last week and is presently in dry dock undergoing repairs. Therefore only the standard, single ferry timetable is running (departing Kennacraig at 0700, 1300 and 1800) until at least 2nd August. If your car is already booked on the 0700, 1300 or 1800 ferries there will not be a problem (I phoned CalMac today and they confirmed this). However, if you are booked on the "extra" departures from Kennacraig (0945/1000, 1530 or 2100), these are presently cancelled. Phone CalMac, on 01880730252 and select option 2 (no point calling until Monday, they won't know anything more about the repairs until then).

You can check for updates on the service status here: https://www.calmac.co.uk/service-status?route=09.

Could those who have booked cars on any of the ferries please leave a comment below stating which ferry you were booked on and how many people, including the driver, were travelling with you. If these ferries are still cancelled, we will work something out at the club on Thursday. Note that foot passengers will be able to get on any of the operating ferries without a booking. As long as we have enough cars on the island to shuttle passengers and luggage/food to and from the ferry port, there won't be a problem.
Alan

Friday 29 July 2016

Painting & Decorating Volunteers

For the 5 who volunteered to paint and decorate part of the Sports Club, a big thank you. You are making a difference. The painting is going to take place at 2pm on Monday. At least 2 of the 5 can make it at that time, so please turn up if you can. If not, don't worry, there will most likely be a further opportunity later.
Alan

Tour of Fife 2016

The story so far.............

Race 1: West Sands, St Andrews. Chariots of Fire 4.2 mile beach race

164 lined up at the start for this. It's always the one that I fear the most. I think it's because it's a speed session and you are hurting the whole way back. Road or track runners seem to fair better here. I finished 77th in 31.35. Joanne was 38th in 29.19, 3rd female (first female was a junior) 2 seconds behind the first in her age category. Joanne has a 6 and 17 second lead over the chasing FS's after race 1. It's going to be a an interesting few days as we head into a trail race followed by a hill and see if speed or endurance wins the female senior category. Note - times were all generally well down from the previous year, soft sand in the middle and running into a wind on the way back was the cause of it.

Race 2: Hill of Tarvit, near Cerse, 3.1 mile trail/hill race

This is another regular in the 5 day event and I have ran it many a time. 1 and a quarter laps - half mile on tar, round some woods and fields, then corkscrew round a grassy hill before a rapid decent with the finish being a sharp left at the foot of the hill (pays to know this as many over run the turn and not good if someone is on your shoulder). Down to 157 tonight and the course looked great. We were there early and had the chance to run at least half of it. The grass on the hill had been cut and they had moved the cattle, however they had left loads of potholes to worry about. The start was a bit "eyeballs out" as you need to get in a good position before hitting the woods, it's hard to pass anyone for the second half of the loop. It wasn't a huge hill to climb, but you do end up walking a bit before the summit. I was pretty rubbish at this point, but found top gear once over it and probably pulled back about 7 places. I finished in 26.06 85th position. Joanne finished in 23.31, 35th position and 5th female. The female junior won it again in the ladies and looks out of sight of the others (on 49.11), however Joanne is still in 3rd FS position - 1st FS on 51.48, 2nd FS on 52.04 and Joanne 52.50 with a 47 sec lead on the 4th. All can change tomorrow night as the hill climb can change it all. For example a vet 50 that I talk to was 5th male in first 2 races, but was 27th on the hill last year.

Race 3: Uphell Time Trial, East Lomond mast car-park 1.4 mile

The start times were released early as you go off in 2's every 30 seconds. I have a start  time of 7.43.00. My PB is 14.07 from the year I started with Julie in 2011, never managed to get close to it (probably the last time I beat her!). They leave all the fast people until last so that the course can be lined with spectators. You are encouraged to bring pots and pans, cow bells and anything that'll make a noise. Joanne is off at 8.03.00 with the female race leader off 30  seconds behind her. Pressure or what?

George

Sunday 24 July 2016

South Lanarkshire Courses for Sports Clubs

There are a huge variety of courses available to us at heavily subsidised rates through South Lanarkshire Leisure. The message below gives the background whilst you can download the brochure listing all the courses here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0FRFOk051GNQnM5ZW1DVlFHRlZLQ1dBeUhYbVN5Mm9oc2tn
Alan

Hi
 
I hope your summer break has been going well.
 
We now have an even larger and detailed programme to enable your club to plan everything from 1st Aid courses to Coach CPD, all geared to supporting club development(hence the new name). Where there are dates for courses, they are bookable now. All other courses(even if its not in the booklet), we can assist in delivering or coordinating the course. Similarly, if the dates you see don’t suit, let us know and we can work with you to deliver at times/venues suitable for your club.
 
Please feel free to distribute to all relevant people within the club/group for their information.
 
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
 
Ian Steele
Sports Development Officer
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture
First Floor, North Stand
Cadzow Avenue

Saturday 23 July 2016

Volunteers to Paint and Decorate

Those who have made training will have noticed that there has been a considerable amount of voluntary effort from various sections of the sports club in recent weeks, cleaning, clearing, painting and decorating many areas of the sports club building. At the Sports Club Management committee meeting on Thursday, the Harriers committed to helping out with this task.

We have been allocated the task of redecorating the small corridor (walls and ceiling) which leads through from the back of the bar to the kitchen area. I can't imagine this will take a handful of people more than 3 or 4 hours to do. Many hands make light work.

If you can give up the time some weekend or through the week and know which end of a paint brush to hold, please leave your name here, indicating when you could be available. Kenny will then be in touch to arrange access to the building and provision of materials.
Alan,
Kenny

Friday 22 July 2016

SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH


Dear Hugh,

I am undertaking a Masters in Sport and Exercise psychology within the Ulster University. I have recently received ethical approval to undertake a piece of research investigating exercise dependence among adult male runners. I am contacting several running clubs around the UK to request that they post details of the study and a link to an electronic questionnaire on the club website/forum area/Facebook or Twitter page. If at all practical, it would be great if clubs could also email details of the study to their male members.

Several clubs have already posted details of the study and the initial response rate has been encouraging. I'd be very grateful if members of your club could also be invited to participate. I obtained your details from the Scottish Athletics website.

I have prepared a short introduction (see below) which you may wish to use. 

Many thanks in advance for your time and consideration. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Gary Woods

My name is Gary Woods and I am undertaking a Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology within the Ulster University. I would be grateful if male runners aged 18 years and over would consider completing the questionnaire available at the following link.


I am investigating exercise dependence and attempting to identify factors associated with it (if present). Further details of the study are available within the questionnaire’s opening pages. Many thanks in advance for your time, should you be able to participate.

 

KILMACOLM RUNNING FESTIVAL 2016


Are your members interested in taking part in the Kilmacolm Running Festival 2016. This year's event is on Sunday 11th September. We have the 3k starting at 9.15am, Half Marathon at 10am and 10k at 10.30am.

Online entries are available at www.entrycentral.com/kilmacolmraces

Sunday 11th September 2016 - Early Bird Discount before 1st of June 2016 . The running of the Kilmacolm Half Marathon, 10k and 3k is one of the biggest participation ...

SPORTS EYEWEAR


Dear Hugh

My name is Carla Di Mambro and I represent The Optical Factory
 
I am emailing you today to let you know that The Optical Factory, which is based in Tennant Avenue in East Kilbride, is opening a Sports Vision Room in mid-late August.

The Optical Factory are stockists of large ranges of Sports Vision frames and sunglasses, including Oakley, Cebe and Bolle –some of the fastest growing sports vision brands in the UK.

The spectacles can come with dynamic precision lenses to suit your sporting needs:

If you require a tint for golfing to enhance the different greens on the course you’ve got it, or tints for cycling to enhance the contrast between the road and the verge - no problem.

With most sports covered, from football, running, cycling, golf, angling, winter sports and many more we are sure that you can find a pair to suit your lifestyle.

While we can’t guarantee to increase your sporting performance you will certainly see better, be better protected and will look fantastic

We are really excited about launching this room as we feel that most opticians only offer a very small range and that we are doing something quite innovative.

I wanted to touch base with you to let you know this room is coming soon and I will email again once I have a definite date. 

In the meantime, please feel free to head onto The Optical Factory Facebook page, get an idea of what we do and then like us so you can see photos of any Sports Specs models we post 
Thanks for your time
Carla

Monday 18 July 2016

West Highland Way Race 18th June 2016, part two

Team Rae at BoO, with hindsight maybe Ian is looking a bit gubbed at this point
The five-strong Team Searil at BoO, the sixth (Jim) was taking all the photos

Despite Ruth’s best efforts I had lost another eight minutes during this leg on my 2015 time and was now only fourteen minutes ahead overall, with hindsight the twenty minutes spent at BoO, pleasant though it was, might have been reduced. 

Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe
Although Ian and Frances left the CP ahead of us Gerry and I caught them within a few hundred yards as he had had to pay the bears in the woods a visit. Gerry and I pushed on and collected our jelly babies from Murdo McEwan, on his annual vigil at the top of the hill (this hill, Mam Carraigh, is far better known to WHWR runners as ‘jelly baby hill’ thanks to Murdo's efforts, indeed some don’t recognise the correct name when they hear it). Approaching the Inveroran Hotel (we briefly speculated if Davy and Russell would still be there from the club relay!) we checked behind and could see Ian and Frances away back near the top of the hill and passed on this information to Angela, who was waiting for him. Sadly this was to be the last I saw of Ian and his team as he withdrew from the race here having run a valiant 62 miles on a dodgy foot, a creaking achilles tendon and no training for the best part of three months - incredible. Ian has nothing to reproach himself for, he gave it his best shot and did better than he had any right to expect given his circumstances, chapeau my man!

Stop Press: Ian ran the Clyde Stride ultra last Saturday and completed the forty mile route in 7:09:17 to finish in 53rd place, clearly on the comeback trail. 

Gerry and I continued, fairly steadily if slowly, along the road to Victoria Bridge and here caught a friend and her support runner which meant we all had fresh company for the next few plodding miles up onto and across the moor. It turned out the support runner, although now living in Tyndrum, was from Westwood originally and we ended up discussing teachers at Duncanrig we remembered. The girls eventually pulled away from us as I was unable to run as much I would have liked and we also spent some time when Gerry made like a mountain goat and scrambled down to the waters edge at Ba Bridge to get us both some fresh water. Although by now it was approaching seven o’clock on the Saturday evening there was still plenty of heat in the day and the refreshing liquid was both necessary and welcoming. 

Alison and Ruth were ready and waiting once more as we plodded up the White Corries (is it still called that?) car park at Glencoe CP. We were ten minutes down on the leg from 2015 and a mere four minutes ahead overall. Still not wishing to rush things I spent nearly twenty minutes here re-fuelling and getting better prepared than last time for the night ahead. I/we decided discretion was the better part of valour and opted for leggings, winter jacket,waterproof breeks, buff, gloves and hat. I didn’t wear them all as it wasn’t yet that cold but it was definitely cooler. The team had a tough job trying to get my leggings on over my shoes, note for next year – take the shoes off first. I can’t report what I ate or drank here but whatever I was handed, and said I didn’t want,  I was told I had to eat and to get on with it. I have no idea if there were still chips available at the café this year Jim, you’ll need to ask the team!

Glencoe to Kinlostleven

I had cooled down very noticeably and had most of my gear on by the time Ruth and I reached Kingshouse. Finally beginning to warm up we ran through here and couldn’t help but notice the large, partly-built bunkhouse taking shape – this place will have changed enormously by next year. Another slow plod followed along the glen to Altnafeadh at the foot of the Double Staircase where I would love to report I bounded up like a hill-runner but the truth is I walked the entire climb and must have stopped twenty times or so to catch my breath. Ruth tried to be kind and say it was less than ten but I know better. I decided part way up that I was going to have a seat on the cairn at the top to allow my heart rate to slow and avoid the near vomiting from last year at this point, yet another improvement - marginal gains, that’s the term Team Sky use. Having allowed a few guys past while sitting down Ruth and I soon re-passed them and were on our way to Kinlochleven. If you’ve run this section you’ll know how rocky, uneven and downright difficult to negotiate this part of the way is and with seventy odd miles in my legs and darkness all around us I did not attempt to run any of it. The big downhills especially seemed beyond the capabilites of my quads by now although I was to be surprised in that regard later. Gerry was waiting for us near the bottom of the pipelines and I think I’m right in saying we ran some of the way across the river, through the housing scheme (Wade’s Road, I noticed!) and across the main road to the Leisure Centre. I imagine support crews of years ago would have given their right arms for the use of the centre as apparantly the CP used to be out in the open air – in KLL, of all places - midge central. Aghhh!

Incidentally it was here at KLL as Alison pulled up in the car park after the drive from Glencoe she suggested they get their heads down while they had the chance if Gerry 'could snore for her sleeping'. Cue lots of laughter, she must have been very tired!
I arrived at 01:35 and would have been cheered to learn we had made it in twelve minutes less than my ‘lean’ section of last year which put me sixteen minutes ahead overall. I was oblivious to all that at the time, probably as I was feeling much better and hadn’t once thought about not finishing. Here I was weighed by Sarah and Julie who were once again manning the CP (which involves the second-longest stint of any race helpers) and was for a second time relieved to hear ‘that’s fine’ and was led to a seat and a bowl of home-made macaroni cheese. KLL was the subject of our major changes to our planning, hopefully having learned lessons – a ten minutes stay only, didn’t sit down at all, didn’t eat anywhere near enough and headed off under-dressed for the ‘summer’ weather we were about to have unleashed upon us. To quote from our CP notes ‘NB *MUST* spend more time here preparing for the final haul up the Lairig’. Never mind me, I can recall describing Jim’s gear to someone a few days later – shorts, a jacket you could spit peas through and a buff over his head – totally inadequate for a middle-of-the-night ascent from Kinlochleven then up and across the Lairig Mor in torrential rain. Nor was I much better prepared – bring back any (horrible) memories Jim? Those elementary (first-timers) mistakes had very nearly cost me (us) a finish last time out and we were determined not to repeat them.


As a consequence I spent a full thirty minutes here trying and narrowly failing to finish my pasta (nice though it was Alison!) drinking loads of coffee and topping up my waist-pack with enough food and drink to take me to Lundavra, taking two painkillers as a precaution plus fresh batteries for my head-torch. The result of which was Gerry and I heading away through the quiet streets fifteen minutes behind time, again not something I was then fully aware of.   

Kinlochlost to Lundavra
The climb up out of Kinlochleven may have been a slow and difficult slog but then that wasn’t really surprising as it was by now some eighty miles and twenty five hours since the air horn had sounded back at the underpass in Milngavie. Silently grateful for the pleasant night we had been blessed with (I was almost religiously thankful after last year!) I followed Gerry up out of the trees and finally could see the path (it was another clear night) winding it’s way up the glen ahead of us. It was as the gradient lessened at last that I began to feel drowsy and eventually (having done a quick Ruth-inspired body scan) concluded it was the pills which were having an unintended effect  - instead of deadening any pain they were simply shutting my systems down. On reflection later I also realised my body was craving sleep as it was now 03:00’ish on my second consecutive night without any. Whatever the reasons I had quite a shock when I very briefly fell asleep while walking along the track. The realisation of the extent of my tiredness jolted me awake and everything slowly started to improve from then on.
I had persuaded Gerry I needed to stop for a seat outside one of the ruined shielings when another runner and support came along complaining of exactly the same feeling as I. In one of my more inspired moments I jumped (slid would likely be a more accurate description!) up off my ar*e and suggested we walk along together. The fresh company and subsequent introductory chat helped all of us, particularly Liz, Robert’s support runner, as she very soon revealed her worries of what she could do should he keel over in the middle of nowhere.
I had been telling the others about the Wilderness Response Team who last year had been a very welcome sight about a mile from the top of the Lairig so when they weren’t where I expected we were all a little disappointed. By the time the path turned north Robert had to sit down for a wee while and, reassured by Liz’s by-now more confident attitude we left them only to run into the WRT set-up a few hundred yards later. They offer a bewildering array of drinks (I didn’t know you could still get Lilt and Tizer anymore) including, as I found out later, whisky – just as well I didn’t know that at the time. 
A welcome sight for weary runners


It was also lovely to discover that Patricia, a Portugese girl I’d got to know a little at the 50/100k in Perth earlier this year, was there. Jeff, the other half of the team, told us the current state of the track was such that they could no longer get their 4 x 4 down to where they had been the previous year which allowed Gerry to launch yet another moan about the poor condition of the way here, he couldn’t believe folk come from all over the world and are expected to walk on this boulder-field of a route. Girn over we also told them about Robert coming just behind us and Jeff immediately went to put the kettle on to make a strong coffee for him – what difference this made to him we’ll never know for sure but he did finish.

I should mention here that from about half way I had been worrying every now and again about my ‘lean’. If you read my account of last years’ race then you’ll remember I finished looking like a drunken sailor and feeling ten times worse. Every little stumble in a rightwards trajectory caused me to evaluate just how perpendicular I was. I am pleased to report that, despite my worries (and that of Alison and Ruth who witnessed it first-hand), there was no repeat this year, in fact the very opposite. Although I walked the remainder of the way to Lundavra and up the hill beyond I was to have a very different finish to 2015.
The CP came into view at around 05:30 (thirty minutes ahead of last time) and with me in a very decent state, both physically and mentally - nice one Gerry.
The team at Lundavra at 05:45 on Sunday morning - we've probably all looked better!
Only a fifteen minute stop here as opposed to 2015’s twenty five resulted in us heading up and away forty minutes to the good.

Lundavra to Fort William
I was slowly making my way up the hills as we headed in the direction of Glen Nevis but, after being overtaken by a couple of runners, my mojo suddenly returned without warning but with a vengeance. I consciously told myself to treat the remaining miles as a race (yes, I know, it was always a race but it is more against yourself than others) and to rouse (use) my competitive instincts. I still haven’t asked what Ruth and Gerry said to each other as I suddenly took off (I’m not being boastful here, it’s the best way I can think of to describe my transfomation). I went from constant walking to, without any warning from me, to running, first the downhills, then the flats and then, after ninety-odd miles and two nights on my feet actually running a lot of the uphills too! It felt bloody marvellous, at times I felt like crying - I was so high. I should point out Ruth was feeding me Alison’s home-made tablet all the while this was going on in the same way a relay runner passes the baton to the next runner which meant I didn't have to break stride. As usual I think a combination of reasons were at work here  – I’d got through a second night, my body clock was moving into daytime mode again, I was strong, well-fed, the weather was fine (Scots' for not raining!), I absolutely knew I was going to finish and my team were all with me, both literally and metaphorically, so why not gie’ it some laldy?

What a way to finish a ninety five mile race, the memory of running strongly down the fire road with Ruth and Gerry beside me will live in my memory forever, overshadowing the 2015 horror show of stumbling and struggling down towards the Braveheart carpark. I must admit I became a bit emotional once or twice while remembering my previous effort but managed, I think, to hide it from both of them although I'm not doing quite as well in that regards as I type this. A slight tiredness overtook me once we were on the dreaded tarmac in Glen Nevis which resulted in some more walking but we ran all the way from the old WHW finish to the Leisure Centre.

I had warned the guys that I didn't want them sloping away into the car park when I finished, as happened last year, so we stayed together while I rapped my knuckles on the car window to waken Alison. Then we could proceed to the front door of the centre as a group - an entirely appropriate reflection of the team effort that had got me there.

I clocked in at 30:43:13 - one hour, twenty eight minutes and twenty eight seconds faster than 2015. Aye, that'll do - the split from Kinlochleven was 1:11:38 better than then so most of the gain was made on that last section, just as we had hoped and planned. Much more important than the time was the fact that the team had got me to FW in one piece, upright and feeling great - well, as great as anyone can feel after covering ninety five miles! 


Fort William
A very welcoming shower was had by all, probably the first thing I had had to do for myself since the race
started! This was followed by breakfast at The Great Glen, the Wetherspoons pub underneath the
Travelodge on the High Street. As you can see from the photos one or two of us just couldn't wait.
At least I finished my coffee before nodding off
'This crewing business was easier when I was younger'
Sadly Gerry couldn’t stay in Fort William for long as the following week was the last of the
school year (Angela and Ian gave him a lift home) so missed seeing me get the goblet which he, Alison and
Ruthhad worked so hard to help me achieve.
Here it is Gerry, with a wee dram of Dalwhinnie single malt, courtesy of Ruth and Jim
No spare seats in the house for the prizegiving. The runners are easy to spot, they're the ones wearing flip-flops.

I really must thank my team/crew - Alison, Ruth and Gerry. Firstly to have a wife who is (nearly) happy
to do most of the preparation, give up her weekend, her sleep, any proper food and put up with my worse-
than-usual tantrums (WHW runners and toddlers have a lot in common) is utterly wonderful and gives me a
reason to go on when my prospects seem bleak. On top of that to have friends like Ruth and Gerry almost
has me in tears thinking about what they are willing to do in order for me to achieve my goal - I will never,
ever think of my goblets as a personal achievment, it will always be down to us - the group who helped and
cajoled me all the way to Fort Bill. Partly it was down to experience, last year was an enormous learning
curve for us and Gerry also has previous, having crewed this race in 1999 for Davie Gray. It's changed a
wee bit since then - only fifteen finishers with a further nineteen runners having been halted at Kingshouse due
to the weather, Davie finished in a very impressive tenth equal.
Some numbers

There were 199 starters, 159 finishers (a new record) and 40 DNFs, please note that almost exactly a fifth of the field did not finish – this race has a fairly high attrition rate. The winner was James Stewart in 15.15.19, first female and 5th overall was Morgan Windram-Geddes 18.08.20. The race saw the oldest ever finisher and only the second over seventy finisher (at 70 years and 10 months) in Rob Reid who came home in 29.58.19 for 132nd place and the oldest ever female finisher in 64 year-old Norma Bone of the Harmeny club in 33.26.37, 154th place – see below a report on Teletext (something else I didn’t know you could still get).
Note the quote from Ian Beattie

Fiona Rennie earned her twelth goblet finishing in 145th place in a time of 32.12.08, I was 135th in a
time of 30.43.13 see picture below and just ahead of Fling/WHWR legend Andy Cole who came home five
minutes later.


Adrian Stott of the Run and Become shop in Edinburgh collected his fifteenth goblet in a time of
33.28.57 to equal the record for the most ever finishes, only one more Adrian and the record is
yours alone.

On sober analysis of my splits I clearly ran the lower three sections of the race much quicker than last year gaining some 46 minutes by the time I reached Beinglas farm despite the slower route , was this the effect of having Ian close by and in ‘competition’ for the first time? Perhaps. I then started to struggle, confirming how I felt at the time, to Auchtertyre losing 24 minutes and, unexpectedly, 8 minutes by BoO and another 10 minutes to Glencoe.  From then on it was all gain, 12 minutes to KLL and 72 minutes to FW. Having had some time to ponder these numbers I suspect a slightly slower first half might have resulted in a sub-30 hour finish but only another attempt will prove that assertion. Oops, did I just say that? Please don’t anyone tell Alison. 


Splits


2015
2016
gain/loss

Overall








Milngavie
to
Balmaha
4.15.45
3.56.28
-19mins

-19mins
Balmaha
to
R'dennan
2.12.01
1.57.06
-15mins

-34mins
R'dennan
to
Beinglas
4.31.33
4.19.29
-12mins

-46mins
Beinglas
to
Aucht'tyre
2.34.28
2.58.15
+24mins

-22mins
Aucht'tyre
to
BoO
2.56.33
3.04.34
+8mins

-14mins
BoO
to
Glencoe
3.29.38
3.39.14
+10mins

-4mins
Glencoe
to
KLL
4.39.25
4.27.27
-12 mins

-16mins
KLL
to
FW
7.32.18
6.20.40
-72mins

-88mins


In conclusion, the afore mentioned John Munro wrote a report of his race this year and I would like to quote his final words as I recognise some of my own feelings in his prose.


'While I may not run it again for a while I will definitely be involved in one way or another. The race itself is one of the great races in the world. Through familiarity we probably underestimate just how stunning the course is, but the journey northwards from Milngavie is something I never tire of.
There is so much more to the West Highland Way Race than the course. It is the sort of event which always teaches you lessons, lessons about community, about shared endeavours and about triumph over adversity, about humility, trust  and the importance of friendship. There is something intrinsically noble about undertaking a grand adventure and there is something optimistic about running towards something, even if it is slightly quixotic and even if that something is only a leisure centre door 95 miles away.
Why do you keep running when it gets tough?  Well for starters you are always running towards your crew who have given up so much time and sleep because they believe in you, how can you let them down? Every single person in the West Highland Way race family is willing you to succeed, how can you not go on? Ultimately it is because you have committed to do something and must see it through. If you don’t see it through, you don’t win the prize
To quote the late David Bowie “We can be heroes, just for one day”
I can imagine no better place to watch heroes than somewhere on the West Highland Way in the middle of June.'
 
And to think I used to say that I didn’t like the 'added' pressure of running with a support crew – not any more – now I love it and them. Quite simply, without them it couldn't happen - many, many thanks again guys.


Postcript: someone asked me on the Sunday what my next race would be and, despite racking my brains, I couldn't answer. On checking when I got home I discovered why - there were no ultras remaining on my 2016 schedule! What? How did that happen? Clearly, failing to get into the Devil O'The Highlands (no second triple crown this year) had knocked me for six and had left me incapable of coming up with alternatives. Post WHWR there were no worries, problem solved, I entered two on the same day, both of which I've done before. Run the Blades (50k), this coming Saturday, which is easily my most local ultra only six miles from the house and where Kay will be making her ultra debut (no hiding now Kay!) and the Speyside Way (36.5m) which is a lovely 'wee' race through some prime whisky country - what's not to like?