The most Harriers, the best weather, a fast time, the most swimmers AND the next thrilling installment of "Eddie's Incredible Journey", the 2008 Calderglen Harriers West Highland Way was certainly one of the best! 28 Harriers shared the running, driving and supporting over the 96 miles of the West Highland Way on Saturday 31st May. (photo - the finish)
A bright and breezy Genevieve Freeman started us off at 5:20am from an already warm Milngavie station handing over to Sandra Reid after 4 miles. Despite thick mist hanging in the glens, Sandra navigated the stage to Dumgoyne with ease. Colin Freeman had a fine 5 mile run to Drymen before he and Genevieve had to head home for work. Alan Cullie had the first big climb of the day over Conic Hill into Balmaha where his arrival was met with relief. Not that we doubted his ability to run the 7 miles of tricky terrain but industrial quantities of Avon Skin so Soft, Jungle Formula and Old Spice were having limited effect on the millions of midges, serving merely to drown a few midges and give a couple of American tourists the wrong impression of Calderglen Harriers.
Mandy Cullie took over from her husband and ran us up to Millarochy accompanied by Colin Banks. Mandy was so keen to prove that her injury worries were over that she included an extra loop of the Balmaha car park at the start of her leg (OK, she was lost!). Jim Holmes flew over the next stage running to Rowardennan in a time identical to the second to his only previous time over this leg. Cometh the hour cometh Davy Watt for the longest and toughest leg up the 14 mile length of Loch Lomond to Inverarnan. As usual, the mini buses only just made it to the change over before Davy. By now the sun had burned the midges off. Good news and bad news for Frances Maxwell and Gerry Mullen as they climbed for 6 exposed miles to the top of Glen Bogle above Crianlarich. WHW first timer Kenny Beattie then took over for a surprisingly nippy wee leg over to the A84 crossing at Ewich. Mary Goldsmith and another WHW first timer David Searil then had an excellent run in the now oppressive heat as far as Tyndrum where the little shop was selling water like hot cakes!
And then Eddie Reid. Following a careful briefing from the coach, explaining that this was the most straightforward and best running leg on the route with no chance of going off-course, just keep the road on your left, the mountains on your right, Eddie proceeded to complicate it, ably assisted by a lumberjack. No sooner had we set Eddie off and returned to the mini-buses when we heard a shout of "he won't let me past!". Just out of sight, a pair of lumberjacks had started to fell a 60 foot conifer across the route of the WHW. Despite us sending Colin MacDonald up to mediate, the lumberjack would not let Eddie proceed under the now partially felled and stuck tree. Anyway, a few minutes later, it was down, Eddie was over and off. The final twist was Eddie meeting 30 young Scouts on mountain bikes in the narrow tunnel under the railway at Bridge of Orchy; another delay! (photo - waiting for Eddie at Bridge of Orchy)
Russell Couper and regular sparring partner Colin MacDonald tackled the sharp ascent from Bridge of Orchy over to Inveroran very comfortably indeed. Next, in-form and first time WHW participant Stuart Gibson was entrusted with the 8 miles of Rannoch Moor and completed the leg in a great time. Club President Chas Steven and returning from injury Louise McGovern enjoyed the descent on the leg from Black Rock Cottage to Kingshouse. Then 17-year old Stephen Reilly set our fastest ever time on the 4 mile stage to the foot of the Devil's Staircase to hand over to a by now frustrated Jamie McMonagle. Despite a back pain on the ascent, Jamie had no problems on the descent into Kinlochleven and again, the mini bus only just made it to the change over in time. Alan Derrick then faced the severe climb out of Kinlochleven and over 8 miles of rocky wilderness into Lundavra, struggling with his fitness and the heat. A relieved Alan handed over to Scot Hill accompanied by son Stephen for penultimate stage up and over into Glen Nevis. Scot fell for the deliberate mistake in the WHW signs and ended up on the road a tad earlier than intended but still set an excellent time. Finally, the biggest ever mass finish for the last mile into Fort William with most of the participating Harriers running as a group to finish in 12 hours 53 minutes.
A jubilant team then proceeded to the excellent Ben Nevis hotel to enjoy the leisure club facilities before dinner and a full evening of fun. For once, the traditional Sunday beach party at Connel Bridge was blessed with Mediteranean conditions, tempting the majority of the Harriers into the sea (briefly). Only on the journey back to East Kilbride did the sun disappear and the rain begin. Many thanks to Malcolm Buchanan for once again organising a great weekend for us all and to all who supported us throughout the journey!
(Photo - some of the brave/foolish (delete as appropriate) swimmers at Connel Bridge).
See the full story in pictures soon via the blog (anyone with photos, please pass them to me on a CD or memory stick and will compile an album for the blog. Don't e-mail them, there are likely to be too many).
Alan
Surprisingly breezy conditions greeted the squad of Harriers who travelled through to Livingston for the Dechmont Law 10k Trail Race and children's 2k fun run. 
