WHW 2013 …. I did it
Wow, on Sunday 23rd June 2013 I
joined another 148 runners collecting their well deserved crystal goblet at the
presentation ceremony of the WHW race. I was to say the least a very happy
person. People watching, as I do, you could see the pride and emotion on the
faces of not only finishers, but crews, marshals and families.
Still grinning.
At registration I was nervous, but tried
not to hit the ‘climbing the walls’ level of manic which in the past has seen
my stomach in knots and race ruined before I’ve even ran a step. I managed it.
I mingled about, visiting the loo too often, having a last minute snack,
listening to the race briefing. By 1 o’clock I was ready.
I started off at the back of the pack but
within 3 miles and even after many loo visits I was hiding in a bush with my
headlight off. Geeze oh!! Catching the sweepers I
apologised for hiding, put my head down and
aimed for the Carbeth huts. My crew of partner Bryan and WHW support vet George
McGregor were meeting me here just to make sure all my gear was comfy and I hadn’t
forgotten anything.
I got into my slow plodding pace and just
ran happily along knowing I had a huge adventure in front of me. I started
eating my wee snacks within 15 mins of the hooter going off, home made chia
seed bar and protein bars. I next met my crew at the Queen Elizabeth car park,
half cup of coffee & a wee bit of chicken leg. Conic hill here I come. What
a difference the improvements have made to this path, I enjoyed my run to the
hill, over the hill and took my time with the steps on the way down. No falls
or slips. All is good.
Into Balmaha checkpoint in good time,
yummy, more food. Porage here. I get my water sorted, restock all my snack
stuff. Crumpets and golden syrup were going down a treat. I’m out the
checkpoint in 5mins. I have now started catching folk. Dribs and drabs but I’m
no longer last.
I have in the past heard people mention a
low path to Rowerdennen, I didn’t know where it was or what folk were talking
about, well I do now! I was so busy looking at the loch I ran straight past the
Way marker post and onto the landrover track. After a bit I realised I wasn’t
sure I had ever seen this part before. Then as I turned a corner onto a
downhill 3 runners were coming uphill. Sure enough we were all on the wrong
track. Ahh well. I was lucky to only have ran about ¼ -1/2 a mile, the others
had ran right round till they couldn’t go any further. I ran a good bit after
this with a girl from South
Africa, blethering at our stupidness, mine
in particular, they all had an excuse, I had none.
Into Rowerdennen and I’m feeling good. Time
for more food and a change of top and shoes. I put my sticky soled LA Sportiva
on here for the loch side section. I also put my heavier rain jacket on as it
was really chucking it down. 10 mins later rain was off and I was roasting like
a piece of meet in tinfoil at gas mark 5. My jacket was too large to carry in
my small rucksack so I kept it on and stewed. My run to Inversnaid went well,
had a quick seat and refresh, loved my pink custard and fruit pot. Huge thank
you to the rescue team, they were very helpful and full of banter.
I generally enjoy the section from
Inversnaid to Beinglas as long as I take it slow. No bouncing jumping or
trashing legs. Had a great run/walk here my mood was high and I was grinning
from ear to ear. Still running all runable parts nice slow and steady.
At Beinglas checkpoint I had to wait for Bryan getting stuff out
the car as the cars all had to be parked so far away. Not really a problem but
I think I uttered my first diva cuss word here.
Onwards to the half way point. A steady jog
to Derrydarroch farm? under the underpass, no dramas at cow poo alley, an
excellent power walk up the Bogle Glen then good steady jog saw me into
Auchtertyre. I had lost a bit too much weight here, god knows why as I had been
eating like a kid in a sweetie shop all day but a note was put on my card to
see the Dr at Bridge
of Orchy. I had some soup
and bread, went down a treat. Also a full change of clothes, feet vaselined up clean socks and new shoes. I left feeling fine but changed my
rucksack to bottles as I was now starting to get cramp in my legs, one bottle
of water, one bottle of isotonic, very good decision. I was still running all
the way, slow but not shuffling. My dry clothes and fresh shoes gave me a great
boost, then the rain started. Bryan and George had started joking I had my own
rain cloud. A quick hello in Tyndrum and I was on my way to Bridge of Orchy.
On this section I caught up with fellow
Tortoise Derek Hill. Derek decided to keep up with me so we ran into Bridge of Orchy together. (quick nip into the
hotel loo). Got my weight card checked, refuelled and off we went, a quick chat
with MtM and a jelly baby before the descent. Another quick hello with our
teams and kit check before the moor at Victoria Bridge.
If my mind serves me right this is the
first real struggle and low point I had. Derek coaxing me on and me moaning my
ankles were aching.
We got to Glencoe in good time and had
another slightly longer break, dry top, soup and I took some painkillers for my
ankles, just to dull it.
We ran out of Glencoe, I was still feeling
good, positive now that I had ran past my DNF point. 2 years ago I was a
mumbling ruined human being at this point, I didn’t give myself any credit for
the distance I had ran or the effort I had made. Suddenly I was blinded by my
stupidity and very proud of what I had achieved, even if it wasn’t to the end
on that particular day. 2 years too late but I finally celebrated my 2011 WHW
race.
A slow jog was all we could muster to
Kingshouse but no point walking the flat bits, plenty walking to be done later
on. We managed a pretty smart ascent of the Devil but I was worried about the
downhill. My ankles were really sore and I think the thought of all the loose
stones were playing on my mind. We picked our way through but I had no
confidence and my mood was now starting to get low. Crabbitt is not a big
enough word. I think the second half of this section I F’d & blinded with
almost every step. Then I stopped for a pee. It would seem I had some
chaffing!! I was almost sick with the pain WTF!! Ankles forgotten I had a new
issue.
We got to Kinlochleven still running which
was good. Now I had my worst diva moment when Bryan didn’t get me the savlon and Vaseline
as quick I would have liked (something to do with me not packing the savlon but
hey, that’s just a small point). Eventually we found some germoline and I got
myself sorted. I had put on some weight by this point so all was good, I think
all those sugary treats were starting to land on my hips. I had more
painkillers here but think it was a nice new fresh personality I needed cos the
old one was battered, rattled and in no mood to be in pain. We ate more goodies
before heading out on the last section. (After grovelling apology to Bryan)
We headed up the hill, quickly getting
caught by others but that was fine, we let them get past and got on with our
own run. The underfoot conditions were as expected but slightly wetter. We
walked the whole way and it was a long slow slog, but now days later, it was
ok. We caught sight of Jeff’s camp and trudged determinedly towards it. Photo
taken we plodded on. Then things got weird. George commented he thought he saw
car lights on the side of the path.. eh? Quick look around, nothing. Then 5
minutes later I saw what could only be car lights lighting up the track.. Eventually
we caught the full outline of the car crawling slowly along the track behind
us. Unfortunately this was Jeff heading towards Lundavra as someone was in
trouble. Never good to hear and makes you aware how vulnerable you are out in
the hills. Huge thanks to Jeff and his team who are happy to be there and enable
us to take part in our mad pastime safely.
Bryan had walked out to meet us. Oh, he says maybe 10 mins to the
checkpoint. It was great to see the glow of the fire. Neal and Caroline had a
great fire going, what a wonderful checkpoint. For me though I still had my
minging personality onboard and just wanted to get a quick refresh and go, no
standing at the fire, I wanted a bath and the only way I was going to get one
was to keep going.
Leaving Lundavra we got caught up in a few
others running in a line. It was good to still be running/walking at a decent
pace and I think we all used one another to keep going forward. Reaching the
fire path I knew it wouldn’t be long. I also knew it was still a hard downhill slog;
we kept a fair pace and walked as quick as we could. I found this harder than
running but I think it was more mentally doing my head in. Every turn I was
looking for the old Way marker, knowing the car park wouldn’t be far. Bryan again came up to
meet us with a happy oh it’s just 10 minutes. All the way I had made many
markers, each not too far, and each being another tick in the very long list of
boxes. Now these small markers were killing me, Fire road. Tick. Way marker.
Tick. Braveheart car park. Tick. 30 sign. Tick. Arrgghh, where’s the f***ing
end!!!
Needless to say as all things do, it came
to an end. We ran the whole length of the hedge and across the car park. How
did it feel, well, not sure. No huge elation, no great wave of happiness just a
thank **** that’s finished. I barely managed to raise a smile for the photo.
I never even went into the leisure centre.
I was soo tired and crabbit all I wanted was out of those stinking clothes and
into a bath. Not quite the end I had been thinking about, training for and
building up to for the last 3 years.
After a bath, sleep, shower I was at the
presentation. Now it was sinking in, now the elation was sweeping over me, the
pride in what I had achieved. I guess like any huge hard fought battle/achievement it takes time. I now have memories that will last a lifetime
and I’ll probably be smirking and squirming in equal measures at my good
moments and my diva moments for a long time to come.
I would say I am suitably embarrassed by my
bad moods, always thinking I was quite easy going and laid back. Funny when I
mentioned that to work colleagues they laughed, aye right, you? Seems I don’t
see myself as others do!
I wanted to keep this short, but how do you
do that when so much happened? I would just like to say a massive thank you to the organisers, what a huge amount of work went onto making sure we
all could indulge in our own selfish pastime efficiently and safely. The
marshals, standing for hours in midge infested checkpoints, the Dr’s the
mountain rescue, Jeff’s team on the Lairig Mor and the crews. I’m not sure if
any had a harder time than mine!! Well apart from Knoxy’s mum & dad. Tom
Hanks wouldn’t have this much to say!!
Safe running
Karen & Munro
