Thanks to Martin for the video clips, I'm sure I ran at some point but not on video it seems.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sweat Success
By Friday afternoon my wife had to wrestle the phone of me as I was convinced it was pointless to start the race. Undefined pain in my right foot to the point I was limping and missing 4 weeks of training due to injury of the left foot in the Fling was not giving me the mental attitude prescribed by my Sports Psychologist. I was persuaded that it would be better to start and drop out than not to start. So with 133 other mentaly unsound individuals I registered at midnight and collected my pre-bought merchandise. I had told some of my crew to not bother coming as I was not confident of getting far: this turned out to be a blessing in disguise (although sadly not for Chris who stayed at home!)
When we started at 1am I felt sick, 32 weeks I had been training for this and I was already feeling tired and sore going over the start line. At the fling I had felt so strong and was having delusions of grandeur. Going through Mugdock country park I glanced behind me and saw the mist on the ground with a trail of headtorches behind and a nearly full moon with Mars off to the side. The view was spectacular and I was glad I had started.
The plan had been to go as slow as possible over the first sections of the course but the pain in my right foot was stopping me from clear thinking. 2Km before Drymen I decided I couldn't take the pain any further and was going to drop out. It was just at the first hill on a road and I started to walk. Within seconds the pain vanished from my foot, my first thought was that I must have done serious damage for the pain to go, then I thought that maybe it had been a trapped nerve and it had freed up. The last km into Drymen was pain free and I even dared to think that the fat lady had not sung.
Going through Drymen my crew notified me that I was too fast at 2hr 15mins. Next was Conic Hill and I took it at a leisurely pace with a spectacular view at the top. Balmaha and the first Food intake came next-here was the lesson learnt from the fling (If I'm going to expend 15000 Kcalories I need to eat!). Then onto Rowerdennan and the midges. Very short stop due to the small carniverous beasties. How the marshals do it is beyond me!
Inversnaid was bliss as our little biting friends appeared to not know about it. Martin was going to accompany me on to Bein Glas where the second support team would be starting.
Bein Glas and the second support team arrived. As I was conviced of failure I had told them not to start but this now meant that they were fresh from a night's sleep allowing the 1st team to take a break. Onto DerryDaroch the halfway point and I was starting to feel good about myself and still running. The attractive marshall at Derrydaroch was causing a stir with 2 of my support team but they still managed to get me rehydrated and on the move.
The steep hills after the road crossing which had caused me pain during the Fling were now ok as I was moving slower than the Fling pace. I even managed to run down them. Then over the main road and round to Auchentyre Farm where I noted I had lost 3Kg. Several cups of tea and a bowl of pasta and I was off again. Tyndrum meant new ground as I had never run between here and Kingshouse.
The Team at Tyndrum
Over the hill and under the railway and a beautifully runnable path - sadly I abused this by going too fast and reaching Bridge of Orchy (BoO) much faster than I should have done. Spent probably 20mins in BoO eating and rehydrating before moving on. The hill leaving BoO was at its worst on the down slope and I was unable to run.
Tony now started his mammoth task of cajolling me to the finish from Victoria bridge - still 50km but I knew if it came to it I could walk the rest of the way in the alloted time if only I could keep going. I was now favouring a run walk strategy my legs favoured the walk while my head favoured the run.
The section from Victoria Bridge was hard as you can see just how far you have to cover and it's a lot! Thankfully it past quickly - mainly due to me counting the deer that didn't exist.
Kingshouse and again both support crews were there some more food and tea, while watching the Kingshouse chimney go up in flames. I did spot one deer at Kingshouse but Tony reckons it was a goat. Then on to the Devil's Staircase where thankfully the crews were waiting at the bottom as I had forgotten to vaseline myself after leaving the checkpoint.
The slog up the Devil's Staircase is thankfully shorter than the name suggests and we were soon on the path down but the weather was not helpful. I was running less and walking more by this time.
Kinlochleven (130km) was by far the most comfortable checkpoint but I was surprised to see I had now lost 5Kg so we stayed longer than intended while I gulped down several flasks of Tea. Some of my support team made their only mistake by attempting to eat fish suppers in front of starving debilitated runners - thankfully nobody was strong enough to start a fight and they quickly noticed the drool and zombied looks so they retreated to their cars to eat their hard earned meals.
Leaving Kinlochleven was one of the hardest things I did that night. It would have been very easy to find an excuse to stay but thankfully my support crew were not going to listen and I was booted out and sent on my way. Up onto Lairig mor and the weather turned vicious with howling wind and horizontal sleet. Slowing slightly caused our core temperatures to drop and so we moved as fast as I could (which was sadly not fast enough to keep Tony warm but he stuck by me' if a little quieter than usual). At Lundavra, again the support crews were waiting in the same vicous conditions, standing dangerously close to a large fire trying to stay warm. Here was probably my shortest stop. While Tony pulled on an extra layer, I drank 2 more cups of tea and we moved on. I ran very little of this last section and certainly none of the main road to the Sports centre. At 04:27 on the Sunday morning I finished - 27hours 27mins after leaving Milingavie. All along that road I swore "never again". Amazingly the first thing I was offered after crossing the finish line was a drink of whiskey.
First and foremost I would like to thank my Support Crew, Karen, Al, Martin and Tony who selflessly gave up their time to help me. Without any of them I would not have made it. I would also like to thank the missing man Chris who I told not to come as I didn't want him driving from London to watch me drop out after 10km. I would also like to thank both my parents for looking after the kids and Karen's parents for looking after me before and after the race.
And finally to all my sponsors - thank you very much. Admittedly I did not raise the 10,000 GBP target but I will continue raising until the 21st August. Which is about the time when the registration opens for next year ..... 52 Weeks
When we started at 1am I felt sick, 32 weeks I had been training for this and I was already feeling tired and sore going over the start line. At the fling I had felt so strong and was having delusions of grandeur. Going through Mugdock country park I glanced behind me and saw the mist on the ground with a trail of headtorches behind and a nearly full moon with Mars off to the side. The view was spectacular and I was glad I had started.
The plan had been to go as slow as possible over the first sections of the course but the pain in my right foot was stopping me from clear thinking. 2Km before Drymen I decided I couldn't take the pain any further and was going to drop out. It was just at the first hill on a road and I started to walk. Within seconds the pain vanished from my foot, my first thought was that I must have done serious damage for the pain to go, then I thought that maybe it had been a trapped nerve and it had freed up. The last km into Drymen was pain free and I even dared to think that the fat lady had not sung.
Going through Drymen my crew notified me that I was too fast at 2hr 15mins. Next was Conic Hill and I took it at a leisurely pace with a spectacular view at the top. Balmaha and the first Food intake came next-here was the lesson learnt from the fling (If I'm going to expend 15000 Kcalories I need to eat!). Then onto Rowerdennan and the midges. Very short stop due to the small carniverous beasties. How the marshals do it is beyond me!
Inversnaid was bliss as our little biting friends appeared to not know about it. Martin was going to accompany me on to Bein Glas where the second support team would be starting.
Bein Glas and the second support team arrived. As I was conviced of failure I had told them not to start but this now meant that they were fresh from a night's sleep allowing the 1st team to take a break. Onto DerryDaroch the halfway point and I was starting to feel good about myself and still running. The attractive marshall at Derrydaroch was causing a stir with 2 of my support team but they still managed to get me rehydrated and on the move.
The steep hills after the road crossing which had caused me pain during the Fling were now ok as I was moving slower than the Fling pace. I even managed to run down them. Then over the main road and round to Auchentyre Farm where I noted I had lost 3Kg. Several cups of tea and a bowl of pasta and I was off again. Tyndrum meant new ground as I had never run between here and Kingshouse.
The Team at Tyndrum
Over the hill and under the railway and a beautifully runnable path - sadly I abused this by going too fast and reaching Bridge of Orchy (BoO) much faster than I should have done. Spent probably 20mins in BoO eating and rehydrating before moving on. The hill leaving BoO was at its worst on the down slope and I was unable to run.
Tony now started his mammoth task of cajolling me to the finish from Victoria bridge - still 50km but I knew if it came to it I could walk the rest of the way in the alloted time if only I could keep going. I was now favouring a run walk strategy my legs favoured the walk while my head favoured the run.
The section from Victoria Bridge was hard as you can see just how far you have to cover and it's a lot! Thankfully it past quickly - mainly due to me counting the deer that didn't exist.
Kingshouse and again both support crews were there some more food and tea, while watching the Kingshouse chimney go up in flames. I did spot one deer at Kingshouse but Tony reckons it was a goat. Then on to the Devil's Staircase where thankfully the crews were waiting at the bottom as I had forgotten to vaseline myself after leaving the checkpoint.
The slog up the Devil's Staircase is thankfully shorter than the name suggests and we were soon on the path down but the weather was not helpful. I was running less and walking more by this time.
Kinlochleven (130km) was by far the most comfortable checkpoint but I was surprised to see I had now lost 5Kg so we stayed longer than intended while I gulped down several flasks of Tea. Some of my support team made their only mistake by attempting to eat fish suppers in front of starving debilitated runners - thankfully nobody was strong enough to start a fight and they quickly noticed the drool and zombied looks so they retreated to their cars to eat their hard earned meals.
Leaving Kinlochleven was one of the hardest things I did that night. It would have been very easy to find an excuse to stay but thankfully my support crew were not going to listen and I was booted out and sent on my way. Up onto Lairig mor and the weather turned vicious with howling wind and horizontal sleet. Slowing slightly caused our core temperatures to drop and so we moved as fast as I could (which was sadly not fast enough to keep Tony warm but he stuck by me' if a little quieter than usual). At Lundavra, again the support crews were waiting in the same vicous conditions, standing dangerously close to a large fire trying to stay warm. Here was probably my shortest stop. While Tony pulled on an extra layer, I drank 2 more cups of tea and we moved on. I ran very little of this last section and certainly none of the main road to the Sports centre. At 04:27 on the Sunday morning I finished - 27hours 27mins after leaving Milingavie. All along that road I swore "never again". Amazingly the first thing I was offered after crossing the finish line was a drink of whiskey.
First and foremost I would like to thank my Support Crew, Karen, Al, Martin and Tony who selflessly gave up their time to help me. Without any of them I would not have made it. I would also like to thank the missing man Chris who I told not to come as I didn't want him driving from London to watch me drop out after 10km. I would also like to thank both my parents for looking after the kids and Karen's parents for looking after me before and after the race.
And finally to all my sponsors - thank you very much. Admittedly I did not raise the 10,000 GBP target but I will continue raising until the 21st August. Which is about the time when the registration opens for next year ..... 52 Weeks
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Live Update
Registered :12:00,goodie bag collected
Start 1am :On my way!
Drymen 20.3Km :Left @ 3.15am
Balmaha 32Km :Left at 5.02am after some rice pudding
Rowardennan 43Km :Left at 6.45am
Inversnaid 55Km :Left at 8.35 with Martin
Bein Glas 65Km :Left at 10.35
Derrydarroch 71Km :Left at 11.55
A82 Crossing 79Km :Left at 13.05
Auchentyre Farm 81Km :Left at 13.55
Tyndrum 86Km :Left at 14.35
Bridge of Orchy 96Km :left at 4.35
Victoria Bridge 100.4Km :left at 5.15
Blackrock Cottage 113.3Km :left at 7.20
Kingshouse 116Km :Left at 8.07
Altnafeadh 120Km :Bottom of Devil's Staircase left 8.50
Kinlochleven 130Km :Left 11.30, raining & windy
Lundavra 141Km :Left at 2.08am - weather appalling but very very close!
Fort William The Finish 153Km :Finished at 4.27am!
Start 1am :On my way!
Drymen 20.3Km :Left @ 3.15am
Balmaha 32Km :Left at 5.02am after some rice pudding
Rowardennan 43Km :Left at 6.45am
Inversnaid 55Km :Left at 8.35 with Martin
Bein Glas 65Km :Left at 10.35
Derrydarroch 71Km :Left at 11.55
A82 Crossing 79Km :Left at 13.05
Auchentyre Farm 81Km :Left at 13.55
Tyndrum 86Km :Left at 14.35
Bridge of Orchy 96Km :left at 4.35
Victoria Bridge 100.4Km :left at 5.15
Blackrock Cottage 113.3Km :left at 7.20
Kingshouse 116Km :Left at 8.07
Altnafeadh 120Km :Bottom of Devil's Staircase left 8.50
Kinlochleven 130Km :Left 11.30, raining & windy
Lundavra 141Km :Left at 2.08am - weather appalling but very very close!
Fort William The Finish 153Km :Finished at 4.27am!
1 Week to Go
As I have been writing my blog post week training then the next blog will be the race. I will only run once or twice this week and both will be easy runs. Max 1 hour. The race starts on Saturday 1am so I fly back Thursday and will try to put my feet up on the Friday and not get myself into a total panic. Karen will remove my passport to stop me fleeing the country.
5 weeks ago I thought it was game over after my foot was diagnosed with bone issues but now I think my foot will make it my only concern is the lost training 4 weeks just when I should have been putting down the hardest training. Speaking to people who have a lot more experience has helped and the thought is all is not lost
Race strategy will be:
1) Get to start Line
2) Go as slowly as possible at the start without letting the back sweeper pass me
3) Eat at least 2 meals before Bridge of Orchy rough calculation says I will burn at least 15000 KCalories. Thats a lot of mars bars!
4) Keep Going
5) Stop at the finish line
I would love to do this in 24 hours which I'm sure is possible but the main goal is to finish.
My support team will try and do a live update publishing my times as I get into each checkpoint for which I will create a template.
Hard to believe that I have been training for this for the past 32 weeks its gone very quickly.
5 weeks ago I thought it was game over after my foot was diagnosed with bone issues but now I think my foot will make it my only concern is the lost training 4 weeks just when I should have been putting down the hardest training. Speaking to people who have a lot more experience has helped and the thought is all is not lost
Race strategy will be:
1) Get to start Line
2) Go as slowly as possible at the start without letting the back sweeper pass me
3) Eat at least 2 meals before Bridge of Orchy rough calculation says I will burn at least 15000 KCalories. Thats a lot of mars bars!
4) Keep Going
5) Stop at the finish line
I would love to do this in 24 hours which I'm sure is possible but the main goal is to finish.
My support team will try and do a live update publishing my times as I get into each checkpoint for which I will create a template.
Hard to believe that I have been training for this for the past 32 weeks its gone very quickly.
2 Weeks to Go
Monday 45 mins
Tuesday 1hour
Wednesday 40 mins Hard
Thursday Rest
Friday 40 mins
Saturday Rest
Sunday 50 mins Slow
Feels wrong tapering after what feels like 2 weeks running.
Tuesday 1hour
Wednesday 40 mins Hard
Thursday Rest
Friday 40 mins
Saturday Rest
Sunday 50 mins Slow
Feels wrong tapering after what feels like 2 weeks running.
Monday, June 9, 2008
3 Weeks to Go
Monday 50 mins
Tuesday Rest
Wednesday 50 mins
Thursday 1 hour
Friday 1hr 20mins
Saturday 3hrs 15mins 30km very Hilly
Sunday Rest
The idea was to find out where my fitness level was without stressing my foot or overdoing it. So 30km in hills at an easy pace but with 26 deg C it felt tough but Im sure I could have done another lap. I think 8 weeks ago I would have found this much easier. So its now a 2 week taper to the race.
3 years living in the sun and I have still not learnt to apply sun cream, stupidly took of my shirt for the last 2 hours and my back looks like an embarassed lobster.
Tuesday Rest
Wednesday 50 mins
Thursday 1 hour
Friday 1hr 20mins
Saturday 3hrs 15mins 30km very Hilly
Sunday Rest
The idea was to find out where my fitness level was without stressing my foot or overdoing it. So 30km in hills at an easy pace but with 26 deg C it felt tough but Im sure I could have done another lap. I think 8 weeks ago I would have found this much easier. So its now a 2 week taper to the race.
3 years living in the sun and I have still not learnt to apply sun cream, stupidly took of my shirt for the last 2 hours and my back looks like an embarassed lobster.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
4 Weeks To Go
Monday 45 Mins
Tuesday 1 hour
Wednesday Missed
Thursday Missed
Friday 1 hour
Saturday 45 Mins
Sunday 1 hour 20mins Hills
Still not shifted the cold so started to run anyway and on the Tuesday night I felt terrible and was hacking up crud out my lungs so I missed the Wednesday and Thursday sessions. Foot is starting to feel like it will hold together. Spoke to a friend who is a serious runner and got some good advice on getting back into the swing without doing too much.
Tuesday 1 hour
Wednesday Missed
Thursday Missed
Friday 1 hour
Saturday 45 Mins
Sunday 1 hour 20mins Hills
Still not shifted the cold so started to run anyway and on the Tuesday night I felt terrible and was hacking up crud out my lungs so I missed the Wednesday and Thursday sessions. Foot is starting to feel like it will hold together. Spoke to a friend who is a serious runner and got some good advice on getting back into the swing without doing too much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
