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!!!)