Monday, April 29, 2013

Highland Fling 2013 race report, wow, wow, ow! :)

So, after promising in my previous blog post that I'd update more regularly, as usual, I've completely failed to do that! I definitely can't let any more time pass before writing about the amazing experience that was the Hoka Highland Fling though, so here goes...

The background

The Hoka Highland Fling is one of the UK's largest ultra marathon races. This year, the 8th running of the event saw the biggest field ever, with 593 runners and 47 relay teams of 4 people - making 781 runners in total, which I believe is the biggest field for any ultra race, ever in the UK. 

The "'Fling" takes place each year on the southern half of the West Highland Way, the popular walking / hiking route that links Milngavie just outside Glasgow, with Fort William, 96 miles to the north. The nominal halfway point of the route is in Tyndrum, and we'd be running the 53 miles there from Milngavie in a maximum of 15 hours, rather than the 4 to 7 days usually taken by walkers.

I decided to enter the race after completing my first ultra marathon, the High Peak 40, last September, as it seemed another big step forward in terms of the challenge it presented. The other big appeal of the Fling is that part of the route (3 miles from the end to 2 miles from the end) goes through Kirkton Farm, where my sister and her family lived for 3 years, and which is a really stunning part of the world. I hoped the rest of the route would be just as scenic.

Pre-race

I was very lucky to be able to go up to Scotland on Wednesday, before the race on Saturday and was accompanied by my brilliant other half, Sarah. We ran / walked the final 10K of the 'Fling route (from Crianlarich, through Kirkton Farm to Tyndrum) on Thursday, and also drove to all the places around Loch Lomond where Sarah and the rest of my support crew would be meeting us on race day. Then on the Friday, we ran the first 2 miles of the WHW out of Milngavie and checked out where the start was (between a Tesco car park and the railway station). Some pictures from the recce are here: 

Fling Recce Pics




On Friday evening, we headed to a pub for race registration, picked up the timing chip and car parking pass, and spent an enjoyable couple of hours eating lasagne and talking to my inspirational Twitter running friend Trevor who I'd arranged to run the 'Fling with. Trevor and I had only run together a couple of times before, but I think we were both quietly confident that we'd work well together as a team.

We were definitely far less confident about the race itself, as I'd only ever run more than 30 miles once (at the High Peak 40 last year) and Trevor, despite being an experienced and accomplished Fell runner, had never run further than 27 miles, so the 'Fling would be almost exactly twice as far as his previous 'longest ever run'. 


Race day - a day I'll remember for a very long time 

My 'Fling day started with a 4:00am alarm, and after usual pre-race preparations (coffee, porridge, multiple kit checks, shower and bathroom trips), Sarah and I left the hotel just after 5:00am for the 15 minute drive to Milngavie. With plenty of time before the start, I managed to meet up with Trevor, his friend Matt, and Colin, another Twitter running friend who I'd met very briefly in the pouring rain at my first marathon in Manchester, exactly a year before. 

There was a very short race briefing and then at just before 6 am, the almost 600 solo runners lined up in pace pens (almost unheard of in an ultra), with Trevor and I positioning ourselves near the back. 



At the start - a lot of hardcore runners!



Milngavie to Drymen (12.6 miles in 2 hrs 9 mins, position at checkpoint: 318th). 

I'm going to follow the traditional 'Fling report structure and break it down into the WHW sections / race checkpoints. 

The first 12 miles was relatively easy terrain-wise, with only a few minor hills where walk breaks seemed sensible (Trevor and I had agreed that we'd walk every significant hill, and that if there were any sections where we could run for a long time, we'd still force ourselves to walk sometimes, to save our legs for later on). The two highlights during the first section were the first of many amazing views (I'm pretty sure we could see Ben More, 30+ miles away at one point) and spending a bit of time running with another Twitter running friend, Ken

Here are a couple of pictures from that section:



One of very few backwards running pics I took at the Fling

See that snow capped mountain, far off in the distance? We're running past that later!


Me and my shadow (Trevor) running the first section

A typical view in the first few miles
Looking happy with Trevor (left) and half of Ken

Drymen to Balmaha (7.2 miles in about 90 mins, no official timings / positions). 

As we came into Drymen (the first significant landmark on the route), Sarah was waiting to greet us, which was a big boost, as I knew that the first "tricky" section of the route was ahead. There was a diversion in place from the usual WHW path due to forestry work, and as we rejoined the main route we caught up to another Twitter runner, Stephen and talked to him briefly, whilst taking in the first of many amazing views towards Loch Lomond. 


Shortly after, we started the climb up and around Conic Hill. It was the first "technical" section, with single file walking the order of the day most of the time, but where we could, Trevor and I were able to overtake a few people, and it was obvious that our strategy of starting slowly was paying off, as we feeling stronger than most others looked at that point. At the highest point we reached on Conic Hill, we paused briefly for Trevor to take some pictures (I hope they've come out well as the views were totally stunning), and we began the descent.

There's a great video of the race here with the Conic Hill section as its centrepiece:Highland Fling 2013 Video  

Of all the 53 miles, the 1 mile down Conic Hill was probably the most fun, and also the only place where Trevor was able to really show off his fell running expertise, as we dropped almost exactly 1000 feet in the space of one mile. We flew (at times almost literally), past a lot of runners in this section, and I was very glad my legs were relatively fresh at this stage, as I wouldn't have any hope of keeping up with Trevor (and probably would have taken a nasty fall if I'd tried), if this mile had come later in the race. 

As we came into the checkpoint at Balmaha, I was feeling great and it was wonderful to Sarah again, as well as my Mum, Dad, and my son Kieran, who would be our amazing support team for the rest of the day. 


With Trevor at Balmaha, both looking pretty fresh after running 20 miles


Balmaha to Rowardennan (around 7.5 miles in about 90 minutes). Cumulative distance 27.2 miles - official cumulative time at checkpoint: 5 hr 16 mins, official position: 257th). 

After a very refreshing stop at Balmaha, which took a bit longer than planned (we definitely spent more time in the checkpoints than most runners), we set off again along the shores of Loch Lomond. This section wasn't particularly memorable, there weren't any significant hills, but there were plenty of opportunities for walk breaks to take in the views. Again amongst the highlights were seeing other Twitter runners - we caught up to Ken again (he'd passed us in the checkpoint), and then were passed by Simon, who was one of the first of many relay runners to fly past us (the relay runners each ran about a half marathon, so the top guys were running way faster than us).

In fact, from Balmaha to the finish, the results suggest that only 2 non relay runners passed us, and I'm pretty sure that they overtook in the checkpoints, as I don't remember any other solo runners coming past at any time (relay runners had numbers on to identify them, solo runners just had timing chips around their ankles). 


Rowardennan to Inversnaid. (7.1 miles, around 90 mins, no official timings) 

At Rowardennan we were again greeted by our fantastic support team, which was a big boost, and I had my first "real" food of the race (an egg sandwich) and took the opportunity to put dry socks on, which was a relief. As we left the checkpoint, I caught sight of Ken coming in, and didn't realise that would be the last time our paths would cross - I was fully expecting him to overtake us later on, but in fact he had to drop out due to foot issues. 


Sarah getting supplies for Trevor & I at Rowardennan

About to change my mucky socks.


The next section was quite an enjoyable one in hindsight, with a long wind up and then down, along wide forest fire roads, with a chance for some "proper" running, and again we passed many runners. We had a brief chat with the one chap who tried to keep pace with us for a while, a German (I believe) guy, who told us he'd recce'd the section ahead and it was the trickiest part of the course. 

At the checkpoint at Inversnaid, we caught up with Colin for the first time - it was great to briefly see a friendly face before we headed off again. 

Inversnaid to Beinglas (6.6 miles, around 2 hours). Official cumulative time at Beinglas: 8:57, position: 236th

Although I'd read various blogs and reports about the WHW / Fling route, and had just had the warning from the aforementioned German chap, I have to admit I wasn't really prepared for this section. Whereas all the rest of the route was either runnable, or at least possible to walk at a decent pace, most of this bit was best described as a "scramble". The route follows the shore of Loch Lomond very closely, but there were very few good views, instead we spent nearly all of the 2 hours clambering through innumerable tree roots and sliding across wet rocks. We passed a couple of other runners (who had to stand aside to let us pass as the "path" was only wide enough for one person in many places), and were overtaken by one or 2 relay runners, but mostly I'd describe this as a physical and mental slog, during which I struggled more than any other part during the day. 

I was incredibly pleased to finally leave the side of the loch and head towards the farm at Beinglas where I knew the support team would be waiting, I'm not sure how much longer I could have managed that scramble for. It was such a relief to see Mum and Sarah, and from talking to them after, I know that when we arrived there, they could see how difficult I'd found that section and were more concerned about my wellbeing than at any other point during the day. 

Beinglas to Tyndrum (finish): 12.1 miles, 2 hours 7 minutes. Final time: 11 hours 36 minutes, Final position: 193rd. 

After leaving Beinglas, the gloom and struggle of the previous section gradually faded, as we headed towards the Falls of Falloch, then ran close to the River Falloch and the A82 for several miles. Trevor and I both had up and down times during this section, and kept each other going by suggesting walk breaks and alternating who took the lead. We passed a few more runners during this section and were surprised to see a wedding going on under a tree about 100 yards from the WHW - a lovely place to get married for sure. Just before we crossed the A82 for the first time, we had an unscheduled greeting from our support team, who'd found an unofficial place to stop and cheer - and Kieran even ran with us for a couple of hundred yards, before we headed off again, and they drove on to meet us at Kirkton farm. 


Kieran, Trevor and I by the River Falloch

Looking back to where the WHW crosses the River Falloch


After crossing the A82, we headed up towards Crianlarich, a very varied section, which involved some substantial elevation gain, wading through mud and past a large herd of Highland Cows, through a tiny railway underpass and again we passed many runners - it was amazing how closely grouped a lot of runners still were at this stage, after 40+ miles and 10 hours plus of running. It seemed our strategy of going slowly at the start and taking our time at the checkpoints had really worked well, as although we walked a fair bit, and I suffered a bit of cramp, we were running far more, and more freely than any of the people we passed, so much so that one chap grumpily quipped "you two look far too fresh" as we skipped past him (I say 'skipped', but really mean we shuffled slightly quicker than him)...


The view towards Ben More & Crianlarich. A lost boot & glove look on


With 10K to go, we reached the section that Sarah and I had recce'd 2 days before, and knowing what was ahead, and that we'd soon be seeing my family again, I felt better than at any time in the previous 15 miles. We reached the highest point of the whole run (just over 1,100 ft, above Crianlarich) and then enjoyed the final significant descent towards the A82 crossing just before Kirkton farm. 





With Mum & Kieran. Trevor & I look like we're struggling here
As we approached Kirkton, Mum and Kieran ran to meet us, and then after a quick final pitstop to leave our rucksacks in the car, Trevor, Sarah, Mum, Kieran and I ran off together towards Auchtertyre and then under the A82 again. 




Trevor running from Kirkton towards Auchtertyre

We passed a couple more runners in the final stages, including a Japanese lady who nearly fell in one of the many streams we crossed, and then 400 yards from the finish, we could hear the sound of bagpipes and were greeted by a piper, playing by the side of the path. As we reached the final corner, my son James, and my nieces Beth and Anna were there to greet us, and as we entered the very impressive finish funnel, the sense of relief at having made it was overwhelming. 


Into the finish funnel - mucky legs!

Trevor and I crossed the line together in 192nd and 193rd place respectively (he just pipped me on alphabetical order :). We'd moved up from 318th place at Drymen, overtaking 126 runners and being passed by just 2 and for the final section from Beinglas to Tyndrum were 123rd quickest, very pleasing stats for a numbers obsessive like me :).  Just after crossing the line, we  were handed our medals and water, then goody bags containing Fling bubbly (Prosecco) and then shortly after t-shirts, a free bottle of beer, soup and bread. Amazing value for a race that cost £27 to enter! 


Fling Bubbly!

Fling Medal!

These will stand a while!


After some emotional hugs with my superlative support team (I've run out of superlatives for them) in the marquee, I stumbled to the Real Food Cafe, the wonderful fish & chip restaurant round the corner from the finish, and on the way I saw Colin, who'd also finished, just over half an hour behind us. Trevor joined us for some well deserved refuelling, to end what had be a very memorable 13 hours or so together. 


Sarah and I embrace - the hug that says it all...




Some more of the amazing support team




Apologies as always for the length of this post, but I think in this case, the 'Fling deserves it, what an event, what a day. 

Before I sign off, I just want to thank my support team one last time: Sarah, Mum, Dad, Kieran, James, Kathy, Beth & Anna, I couldn't have done it without you and a huge thanks to Trevor too, for putting up with me for so long and helping me to finish in a much faster time than I could have expected. 

And finally... Many, many, may thanks to everyone who's donated to my JustGiving page so far - we've now raised £360 for Beating Bowel Cancer, which is just fantastic. 

I'm not promising to blog again any time soon, but I can promise that the next post is almost certain to be shorter than this one :). 

Mike