Highland Fling Sat 26th April

Its taken a few days to write this blog as the aches and pains gradually disappear after running the Highland Fling, a short, 53 mile ultra on the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Tyndrum. The route naturally breaks down into 7 to 12 mile chunks which make it less daunting but when joined together have a much bigger impact. The hills which seemed insignificant during training take on a completely different aspect as well.

Thought about a target to complete, the heart said 12 hours but with the training head on, aim to finish and if all goes well 12 1/2 hours might be on.

Registration opened at 5:00 am for the 6:00 am start and the station car park was soon buzzing with runners. Cars to take food & kit for the runers to each of the checkpoints were being loaded up and before we knew it the pre-race brief was underway at 5:50. We lined up in the underpass and at 6:00 the 130 or so brave souls set off.

The first section is the 12 miles to Drymen, relatively flat and breaks down into 7 miles to the Beech Tree Inn plus 5 to Drymen. Ran this really easy but still too quick in under 2 hours even walking all the hills from Gartness into Drymen, the only problem on this section was a runner trying to keep in front who upped the pace when you tried to pass then slowed down again if you eased back, not good tactics for an ultra.

Drymen to Balmaha , a nice run, rolls through a forrestry commssion plantation before a quick up and down over Conic Hill. Still running easy but too quick again particularly Conic Hill.

A short re-fuelling stop at Balmaha, had a rice pudding, energy gel, a banana, probably too much and set off along the road. There followed a dark hour where I had no energy & felt there was no way I could complete this race. Waited to see how I felt at Rowardennan before deciding, luckily?? about an hour out of Balmaha I had a couple of Mike n Ikes (Jelly Beans) & had perked up by the time I arrived at Rowardennan so decided to go on.


I had also decided not too eat so much and go back to my training routine of Aldi energy bars and lucozade sport. The only concession to this was tangerines which I found nice and refreshing.


Rowardennan to Inversnaid, we had ran this a couple of times in training but found it had been changed out of all recognition for the race, all the hills were up, the small hills became mountains & the steep hills became cliffs, as well as that my feet were sore. This section eventually goes down to the lochside and after a few false hopes arrived at the Inversnaid Hotel. Took on some water here it seemed more pallatable than the lucozade.


As we left Inversnaid the sun started to come out, ok so jacket off turned out to be a mistake as I got colder as the wind got up and my pace dropped on the root & rock strewn ground. Jacket back on and the wind dropped and the sun shone. Stepped into every stream and filled my hat with water as a distraction to the sore feet and heat. Mantra for this section was "I Vow to finish this race" - after the Island "I Vow" about 3 miles past Inversnaid.


Arrived at Bein Glas, not particularly happy but positive that I would finish. A quick re fuel and set off at a shuffle at about 3:15pm hoping to finish in nearer 3 than 3 1/2 hours. Every step now painful and the least up hill section made me walk, also adding in a walk every 10 or 15 minutes even on the downhills. Being passed by two or three people didn't help, and after a tough 3 miles through Glen Falloch, Derrydarroch rolled into view. Pushed on and ran for nearly a mile non stop to the A82 underpass.


Enough was enough, and walked the next 2 miles to the forrest at Crianlarich including the "improved" 979 metres, the worst section of the whole route - whoever paid for this upgrade should be shot, worse they have even put up a plaque to advertise it.


From here its 2 or 3 miles of roller coaster hills through a coniferous forrest. Being caught by a few more runners so got the head down and worked hard up the steep hills and even overtook a couple by running hard on the down hills, only one of these would re overtake me later, at this stage of the race that was success. Mantra for this section was "my feet are fine".


As you exit the forrest and re-cross the A82 there are just over 3 miles left. You know this but it still seems to take forever as the route winds its way first of all past the wigwams at Auchtertyre then back across the A82 meandering through a series of undulating footpaths beside rivers and streams. Views of Beinn Dubhchraig and Ben Lui help lift the spirits and run most of this section inluding running all the uphills as this is a new less severe pain.


The route takes you almost past Tyndrum before turning across the river and back up towards the A82, about 20 people about applaud as each poor soul runs in. To add insult to injury they give me 12 hours 35 minutes and 27 seconds, 81st place instead of 80th, 6 seconds of a difference, what a cheek!


Summary of checkpoint distances, splits and race position show a painful slide from Balmaha, the wheels coming off after Inversnaid & no worse than anyone else after Bein Glas.....

Milngavie to Balmaha, 20 miles, 3 hours 21 mins & 55th place

Rowardennan, 27 miles, 5 hrs 13 mins, 57th

Inversnaid, 35 miles, 7 hrs 1 min, 61st

Bein Glas, 42 miles, 9 hrs 13 mins, 81st

Tyndrum, 53 miles, 12 hrs 35 mins 27 secs, 81st (80th!!!)

Drymen to Conic Sat 19th April

Last long run before the next weeks Fling, went for a nice easy 10 mile jog along the WHW from Drymen to Conic hill and back to Drymen. Started at 8:10 probably the same time as we will reach Drymen as the race starts at 6:00 am in Milngavie.

Glorious sunshine with a strong cold wind in exposed parts and views of Loch Lomond to die for. Would have been a perfect day for the hills with cool clear air to refresh the soul but recovery and saving energy is the aim between now and next week.

Bought some energy products for next weeks race, Honey Stinger Gels and Energy Bars and tried one of the gels after the run, surprise it's like honey, a natural low GI source of carbs and also has electrolytes to keep the system working. Not long now.

5 Mile Handicap Thurs 17th April

Annual Club run roon the Vale and as handicapper by default - no-one else is interested - gave myself 33 minutes, 10 seconds slower than last year. No idea how I would fare but decided to run by heart rate rather than the usual eyeballs out and hang on as long as possible. Target was to keep it over 160 bpm and see how it went.

Nearly missed my start time due to an ill timed short warm up and threw off fleece, gloves and tried to start 2 watches all at the same time as the starter said go.

Kept my eye on the HR and soon at 158, tried to keep at the same effort level to let it catchup and sure enough by the next glance it was 162, pushed down the hill past the school and onto the cycle path and tried to keep the effort nice and even relying on the "right" pace to catch those in front.

Jamestown road was into the wind but gradually catching up with 2 or 3 of the runners in front. Caught a stitch and lost some pace while stretching it out but soon back on track and managed to pick a couple off on the run towards Balloch roundabout.

Running back towards the Vale and the HR drops below 160 again as my mind drifts to next weeks Highland Fling race, back to the present and raise the effort levels again and soon back up to 164, closing in on the next runner but footsteps behind as well as the faster runners catch up, one passes along Middleton St try to stay with him but he kicks hard on the way past, relax and keep a steady effort.

Soon back onto the main road towards the Club and push the pace, overtaken but kick and catch him on the line...finish in 33:01, only 11 seconds slower than last year, ave HR 163 bpm.

Balmaha to Rowardennan Sat 12th April

Balmaha to Rowardennan & back, returned to this route after 11 weeks for what is now a short run! Quicker run too, down to 3 hrs 25 from just over 4 hours. Better weather makes a difference as well with a snow capped Ben Lomond gleaming in the sun.

Steady jog / walk now becoming routine and just want to get it over with, however musn't rush the last couple of weeks so plod it out taking note of the 2 main hills on this section.

Camp Sites and car parks busier now with a marked increase in litter. The car parks and surrounding areas are being used by tents and caravans and human waste peeks out from behind the trees, delightful.

Just under 1:40 to Rowardennan and stop for something to eat and a drink. To maximise the recovery make an effort on the way back to walk ALL the hills which takes about 10 mins longer.

Pleasant run apart from the abundant debris - please take it home.

Arrochar Sat 6th April

Longest training run today, 35 miles in all starting with an 11 mile anti clockwise loop round Glen Loin, 2 miles to Ardgarten for the 20 mile loop, acw as well with another 2 miles back to the car park at Succouth, est time 8-9 hours.


Started out in sunshine but wind still v cold meant an early stop to put on thermal top and jacket. We then enjoyed a nice easy run up the Glen, walking all the hills. Beautiful day compared to our previous long runs in wind/rain. Completed Glen Loin in 2 hrs 10 and took the easier low level forrest trail to Ardgarten.


From Ardgarten its a series of climbs up to the top of the Rest & Be Thankful with only short sections to run between the climbs the reward being a long downhill stretch which ends with a mile or so on the road into Lochgoilhead.

The forrest road runs behind Lochgoilhead and undulates down Loch Goil so back to the usual run/walk. A few miles down the side of the loch and we picked up the new cycle path over the Dukes pass, starts with a gentle climb getting steeper as we climb up the hillside. At the top the trail winds its way across what used to be open moor but this is gradually being taken over by confier plantations.

A short break by Corran Lochan before the run back up loch Long side to Ardgarten and another 2 mile run, this time along the road to Succouth.

After Glen Loin it was a a constantly revolving pattern of Sun, rain, snow, hail, sun, a pleasant change from the wind/rain of previous long efforts, 35 miles in 8 hours 20 odd minutes, good to feel the heat in the sun with Primroses lining the paths, Spring is here.

Stoneymollen Thurs 3rd April

15 runners took part in this years club race over Stoneymollen. Weather was kinder to us than last weeks snow, freezing water etc etc. Good to have the opportunity to run off road with the lighter nights. Used the staggered start so that we all finished closer together.

Caught in no pace land, didn't want to push too hard but still hoped for a reasonable time so kept it steady up to the top of the Stoney, then toughish run over waterlogged moors but managed to run most of the hills and even pick up the pace a bit along the top past the trig point and its nearly all down hill form there apart from a couple of wee hills.

The run back down slippy in parts so ran in the heather to the side of the sheep track, harder but faster. Delightful swamp after the style then onto the farmtrack for a blast back to the club. Happy to finish just under 45 mins, about 4 mins slower than last year!