Interloping on Dod's blog page - The Great Glen Way Trial Race by Karen D

It feels rather good to be typing a race report again! Hello word document, it’s been a while. Let’s not go into the negatives of the past 16 months when I couldn’t do an ultra. This will be a tale of lows. No not those lows! Low mileage on foot, low profile shoes and low carb.


Team BAM who brings you Glen ogle and Glenmore decided to organise a test race on the Great Glen Way. It was basically an invite only type of job, a trial for a race next year. The full Great Glen Way is 77 miles. The boys were starting the race at Neptune’s staircase and finishing at Bught park making it around 72.5 miles. These boys like their races that start with the letter G. Hoping the next one will be Great Wall of China and not the Gorbals Ultra. I sat at the laptop at 9am to enter as soon as they opened the paypal. With the faffage and red tape the boys had to get the go ahead with the race, a fair few folk had entered other stuff so the numbers were low. The boys e-mailed and asked us all if we wanted to still go ahead. I said I’d still go ahead and run the route with George supporting me and report back, some of the other entrants were happy to do the same so it came about there were 5 of us still up for it. George and I cycled the route last October and we were both surprised at how stunning it was and the elevation. We’d cycled North to South, the race would be South to North. Now cycling down the route, it felt mainly downhill with a fair few hairy scary descents and switchbacks which meant in the 2nd half going down the route we had some really good fast cycling along the Caledonian Canal to the finish. So running it South to North meant getting the flat stuff out the way at the beginning which was a huge plus but the climbs would be in the 2nd half. The joy of starting at 1am meant you forgot about the flat stuff and got a good warm up.


There were thoughts the 5 of us would try and stick near each other just so the team didn’t have to have a whole heap of marshals out for just 5 of us and I was a bit wary about that, I know how to do my pace and didn’t want to frustrate a speedy runner with my pace or try and keep up and blow up. I just wanted to feel like an ultra runner again, see if the fatburd still had it and that my confidence hadn’t truly gone. My longest run in the past year had been 22 miles and a lovely confidence boosting run on the whw with Johnny fling, Lorna & George but I’d had plenty time in the saddle on the MTB and we’ve had lots of lovely adventures so I was hoping my head, heart and muscle memory would carry me through.


I was more worried about footwear and what to eat than the distance. I only train in low profile shoes now, my Paul Giblin’s. So called as I read a report Paul did of them a while ago on his bloggage about NB 110’s. I have pudgy feet and these babies fit my tootsies perfectly. So I decided I’d run in those but wear injinjas and proper socks on top just for extra padding. I sudacremed my feet first but the injinjas had to get whipped off about checkpoint 2 as they were cutting off the circulation to my toes! The woes of having fat toes! I only felt a mild tenderness on the bottom of my feet at the finish, not one blister.


Now onto food issues. I eat low carb so it was a decision to either go down the train low carb, race high route or stick with low carb. I decided to race low carb, didn’t want a dodgy tummy mid run! This could have been a huge gamble but it paid off big time. Don’t think I’ve ever felt so good in run, no usual slumps mid race at all.

We all met up in a dogging car park at Neptune’s staircase. Bill & Mike, Terry & George would do bike sweep and search and rescue, Susan & Alice marshalling along with Helen & Mark, Louise got some marshalling & bike duties too and us runners, Norrie, Charlotte, Alan, Gary and I.


I’ll get on with the race now I think, maybe waffled too much stuff already.

Start at 1am with a piper, fireworks, dancing girls, white doves being released and flying high above us. Ok it was pretty low key and off we all trot for the first 6.5 miles along the canal. I forgot George’s suunto so Helen catches up with us a few miles in and I strap it on till it conks out at 59 miles. We’re all pretty quiet, dodging frogs and giant black slugs. We chat a wee bit and then Gary & Charlotte pull away. I can sense Norrie is desperate to pull away but he behaves (for a wee while) . I check the suunto at Gairlochy and realise I maybe shouldn’t have done that in 57 mins. Long sleeve top was whipped off half way along here. Quick meet up with Louise, Helen & Mark here and we cross over to the other side following the headtorch further along. Mistake! Charlotte and Gary had headed along a dead end track and Louise & Helen were shouting us all back to head up the road. I get my footprint map out now and decide to thumb it the rest of the way. The next section was a 4 mile undulating one and Alan and I settled into a nice groove running together chatting away and admiring the houses along the road. We get a bit freaked out at the noisy rustling noise following us on the right for a fair bit! Time flew by and then we were at checkpoint 1, Clunes. Mike, Helen & Mark were very attentive . Chomp of my quiche, cheesy scone and a small can of coke and then off.

Alan and I seem to bump into Gary and Norrie again just before we hit the spooky fairy forest & as the guys are going fast I do too as I don’t fancy being there myself in the pitch black. We see the bunting just at the side sprint past it as quick as possible while the guys start talking about Blairwitch stuff and when we emerge from the forest the views of Loch Lochy in the dark are pretty awesome! Alan says exactly what I’m thinking “aren’t we lucky”. Norrie & Gary shoot off and Alan and I carry on the undulating forest track, miles ticking by as we chatted away or ran in silence comfy in each others company. Headtorches were off about 3.30am.

A few miles before Laggan lochs checkpoint Louise & George come cycling towards us and Norrie seems to have gone missing and is dawndering about on the other side of the Loch which is the way I was planning on going according to my map. We get to Bill at the checkpoint, I’m getting hot so change into a vest top, Alan and I get fed and watered then head off with Louise on the bike with us going uphill on the trail for a miles or so then we say our goodbyes to her and carry on enjoying the morning. The route carried on with lots of off road undulating trail, and headed into Invergarry with the BAM signs stuck to random posts. Invergarry had their Highland games on that day but unfortunately we couldn’t hang about to join in with the Hill race. We carried on the up n down trail, shooting through a field of pretty sleepy bedraggled sheep and onto Oich bridge. George and Terry are coming along beside the canal on the bikes, George says to me “well how did you enjoy that section you’ve never been on before”. Whit! Seems there are 2 footrprint maps of the Great Glen way, the original one and one designed specifically for the Maggies charity which takes in some alternative routes, ie on the other side of the canal!

On track now and I now remember this 5 mile flat section to Fort Augustus. The morning was getting hotter and Alan needed a toilet stop so George waits with Alan. I tell Terry I want to get this section over and done as quick as I can so it’s a bit of fartlek with Terry saying stuff like “you ok with me cycling beside you”, “it would drive me nuts someone cycling beside me”, “you sure you don’t want me to go away as it would drive me nuts with someone cycling beside me”, “I would want to shove someone on a bike cycling beside me”. I was ready to shove Terry off his bike . We pass bouncy lady with her bouncier dog, I keep looking back to see if I can spot Alan & George but I’m pulling away. I get to the most wonderful checkpoint with Alice and Susan who supply wipes and a skoosh of deodorant, total bliss. I open my wee pot of fruit n juice and devour it. George comes along with Alan just as I’m ready to leave, he grabs my footprint map and throws it over his shoulder and Terry packs the Maggies map into my little case and off I trot.

I’m on my own now and remember where I am again, totally thrown by the map now as the mileage is 4 miles of a difference to my other one and I now get confuddled with the suunto as I’ve forgotten if it shows actual time or race time. I soon forget about miles and time and just decide to enjoy whatever comes. After a mile or so I get off road again and it’s climbing time in a dense forest, I keep climbing and climbing and decide to stick some tunes on. I’d loaded up my own shuffle a few weeks before instead of asking Beth to fill it with her stuff. Asap rocky is ok for a while but his constant “uh uh” in his tracks drives me nuts. I start of with old style Moby, on really really low and start a wee sing a long session with myself. I’m getting pretty excited about the climb up above Loch Ness now and I keep catching glimpses of it with the odd switchback thrown in. I’m feeling really good, the day is getting hotter which I’m loving and I’m happy as a pig in shit, the only niggle is the front of my ankles so I pop a couple of paracetamol. I’m pushing myself on the uphills and making sure as soon as I get to the top it’s launch myself into a trot again and not over extend the downhills. Nearing Invermoriston I get a bit emotional, chuffed to bits I’ve got to 40 miles pretty easily and Bill’s waiting in the car park. Luckily George has left the Epic shit van here and it’s open so I get to whip my shorts on and a clean vest top, oh and the thirst is still there so I spy a D33 beer but only manage half whilst a bus load of folk are watching me. Bill thinks I’m nuts at the excitement I get when I spy a bag of Mrs Tilly’s I’d stuffed in my bag and forgotten about. I trot off across the carpark with Bill telling me it’s tarmac uphill for a bit.

When I leave the checkpoint and head up the tarmac switchbacks I get a text through from someone who was on the bus! Thanks Tim, that made me smile .

The next 10 miles were probably the toughest but my best. We now hit switchback city and within this 10 miles it looks like it’s 7 miles uphill. I’m checking the map and keep questioning why it says Dave on the track. I keep looking at it and focusing on it, why would a map have the name Dave on it. 2 and a half miles out of Invermoriston then I come across a cave. Ahha! Silly contour line on the map! There are bits that remind me of Kinlochleven and the route is still dusty and dry. I now switch my tunes on louder and I get a bit of Massive attack, Kings of Leon. Queens of the Stoneage. I get a bit of time with George on his bike a bit later on and then he heads to see if Alan is ok. A bit later on I’m crossing a stone bridge and up pops a cyclist beside me. Terry keeps me company as we head up the trail, me on foot and Terry on the bike. We chat for a while and then Terry wimps out and heads back down the trail. He points up to the top and tells me the high point is round the corner. I remember it’s not. At one point I see 2 cyclists coming towards me with their celtic tops on, my first tourists of the day! Climbing, climbing, climbing still and before I know it I get to the high viewpoint. I get a bit mushy at the sight of a wee red squirrel crossing my path and stop and go Aw then tell myself I’m being pathetic and move on. The joy of Underworld’s Born Slippy coming on the shuffle is one I won’t forget. I turn it up full blast, I pump my hands up in the air belting out the wrong words and turn to see a horrified tourist sitting on the bench to my right. “MORNING”, then I run away. It’s not many races I put my music on but I’m pretty isolated and don’t want to feel too alone. I get some lovely downhill running now and the pain in my ankles has subsided and then I start to encounter the odd walker or 2. The day is getting hotter and I’m still popping my electrolyte tablets, I’m now running through bugs and flies on the trail and on a nice rocky downhill when I look up and see Mark run towards me. He asks if I fancy a cup of tea at the checkpoint and I ask if they have coffee, yes . Mark runs on and tells me I have a mile to the car. I carry on and get a bit confuddled here as I see another track and then I seem to be climbing again, I glance to my left and see Mark trotting up the hill so I head after him, I get to Mark & Helen and get a nice catch up, a bite to eat and a lovely cup of coffee and a cold starbucks latte in a bottle. I am still aware I’m craving a really cold drink but I forget to tell anyone at a checkpoint. I’m feeling my food is too dry now and i’m not eating much which was the plan anyway. I think I hit fat burning zone a fair few miles back. Mark & Helen were brilliant, really enthusiastic and brilliant support.

The section out of there felt like uphill rough tarmac with a feint path at the side, I felt like I just kept jumping from road to off road to road to off road. On a nice downhill section I’m dancing from side to side and i see my boy run towards me. Lovely surprise and we chat about how good I feel except for a niggle on my right side so I keep running but keep the pace easy. We get on an the off road downhill bit that feels so different to what we’ve been on, the dead trees all laying down, grey from being in the sun, very Lord of the Rings ish. We head into the Drumnadrochit checkpoint and I ask if someone has a 20p piece so I sit on a proper toilet as trying to do a quick squat pee with the blue bottles about isn’t much fun. 20p for a wee in case anyone was wondering on the Great Glen way. Loo Watch brought to you by Karen. I eat a wee bit and drink some more and try to run along the flat road, the pain in my side gets worse.

I get into the main town area and nip into the toilet. A bunch of gits are sitting outside café’s enjoying cooling drinks while the heat of the day seems to turn up a bit more. I know this section is a couple of miles tarmac and the path is easy to spot on the map but my head tells me I’m going faster than I actually am and I keep checking and rechecking my map thinking I missed the turn off. I spot a car pull over and it’s Mark & Helen. Mark points out the path just up ahead and then I start climbing again through some overgrown thorny bushes. They rip some holes in my arm and my first thought is when I get up to the woods then the bears are going to smell the fresh blood. I’m really hot when I reach the edge of the forest so stop in the shade and have my mini can of cola and then chastise myself for stopping to drink. Shift your butt Karen! I remember all this section when George and I cycled down it, I know I have a tough climb coming up and the usual switchbacks which mess with your head. Just before the cairn and the highest point my thighs hurt and I stop on the uphill about 3 times, a bloke in a red t-shirt is smiling at me as I approach him and says hi. I forgot Norrie’s brother was on the route . On the descent George, Mark and Helen come running up the hill towards me. I point over to a tree stump and ask if that’s Mike. I think I must have been a bit out of it so sorry Mike. My side pain is still bad and I feel a wee bit sick so excuse myself for a moment and do a mini vomit. The only thing that pops out is black coffee so I realise my tummy is now totally empty. We get to the van and I remember I bought a reduced yellow label 25p cheese and tomato sandwich the night before so devour that. Heaven. I have another pot of fruit too and this makes stuff better. Mark & Helen head back up the route to check on Alan and I head off again.

I’m now up to about 62 miles and the next 5 mile section to Blackford. I forget if it’s in this section or the last one where you come of the road and join a very overgrown path just to the left, it feels like a little oasis of mirages when you’re hot and you come across a post saying Bovril, then another saying Toasties, then another saying Ice cream and then a rocky path adorned with signs pointing towards a café in the middle of the overgrown foliage. I’ve read Hansel & Gretel, I’m not venturing anywhere near that bit. I get on the road and start ticking off the farms on either side on the map. I’m powerwalking the inclines and bimbling on the flats enjoying the views, singing to farmers as Underworld’s Crazy tune comes on. Helen passes me in the car and not long after I spy Louise coming towards me on the bike. That was such a nice section towards the checkpoint. We pull of the road onto a lovely woodland path chatting and catching up on life. Louise tells me George is thinking of running the last section with me and I deliberate if I want to have him holding me back on the run . Terry, George, Mark & Helen are all here and I spy a carton of banana milk in Louise’s van and a bottle of diet coke. This thirst thing just isn’t going away. I tell the guys I’m off and want the job done so George does his flappy lady getting ready stuff but I start running. He catches me up and I’m fired up to get going. Nothing beats the feeling of a last section in a long run!

The next 5 miles is very very pretty we’re catching up on our day, I start singing songs again and changing the words to rude ones. I admire George’s bottom, we come across a lady walking the fattest Dalmatian you have ever seen that turns and starts to run towards me as all dogs not on a lead tend to do and George tells the woman I’ve been running since 1am so can she please stop the dog. Thankfully she does and I don’t have to climb the tree. George tells me I’m amazing. I say yes I know. I feel pretty amazing. We climb a bit more and then it’s a downhill to the old hospital and he sprints off. We spy Bught park in the distance and that feels so good. We meander towards the park, running through a grassy area within a housing scheme, round the golf course and then on towards the car park. George is getting a bit emotional so he sprints off and I force myself to keep it together to the finish and all those lovely people involved in our weekend. I punch the air and shout YES and then I have a bubble in my boys arms.

72/73 miles run on heart and head and a lot of muscle memory. I didn’t sit down once and I felt amazing 95% of the time. I am so chuffed to have been able to take part and even more chuffder that I finished. A huge thanks to Mike, Bill, George, Alice, Susan, Terry, Louise, Mark, Helen and my fellow runners, Alan, Norrie, Gary & Charlotte. I just want a replay the whole weekend please, next weekend or the next weekend. This will be a great addition to our bunch of wonderful Scottish Ultras. Oh and next time I have a soapy dopey shower in the love bus though Terry, can you switch the water pump on though so I can get a rinsy wincey afterwards please. Ta.

16 Months

So quite a lot of stuff has happened in the 16 months since I last blogged.
You will be glad to know I am not going to list everything here.
But since this year’s WHW is only 4 months away I thought I best get my excuses in early.

December saw me run 300 miles and the first 3 weeks of January 270 miles, I had run every day since around mid November, Most of Decembers running was in snow wearing crampons and a lot of Januarys was on the road, both things I am not that used to, But the thing that I did that goes against almost everything I normally do was wear boots every day for work through all the bad weather.

Now I had a niggle on the back of my heal for a while but I had no idea what it was, so then I run 30 miles on the cateran trail and by the end I am hurting bad, the next morning I can’t walk,
A visit to the Physio and one Achilles is chronic and one is acute, oops. (My first Achilles injury since I started running 29 years ago) And although it’s a combination of things that caused it, I am sure the boots are the main culprit, going from barefoot and minimal shoes to boots was just stupid.

Physio says since it’s me no point in telling me to completely rest but Ice dunk after runs and cut my distance and quantity of runs right back, After 4 weeks left Achilles seems ok but the right is still not fixed so I have decided I can’t wait any longer I need a complete break from running to get fixed it time for the important races of the season.
I have been hitting the gym hard to keep me from going nuts and have dragged the Cyclo X bike out of the shed done 4 rides so far and really enjoying it.

I really don’t know what I will do this season now, I had been thinking sub 10 Fling and perhaps a sub 21 WHW but then we had also been thinking Fling then up to Fort bill next day then 2 days on up the great glen to Inverness, For the WHW we had also been thinking about stringing Kintyre, Cowal, WHW, Great glen way together but now everything is up in the air.

One thing is for sure I will be at UTMB and want to do Sub 35 hours and this has to be my main focus.

The D33 is in less than 3 weeks and with 180 entries is looking to be a great race; I am looking forward to seeing loads of folks have a good day out.

It’s a perfect day for running but I have been out on the bike and I will resist.

Home made Huarache sandle

Did my first mile tonight in home made Huaraches they worked well, no slip or slid they did not move at all, at 2mm they did not offer much protection but were perfect on the road I would like to find some 4mm leather to try on a trail if anyone has any idea of a source let me know, I used an old pair of laces to tie them on again I would like to source a leather tie for this.

Dogs Dangly Bits

KSO Treks are the dogs dangly bits.

Ran from Tyndrum to Beinglass in the Treks for the Glee club run.
They have good grip and fit well, they offer much more protection than the standard KSO but you still have to take care to avoid stone bruising on the ball of foot.
From Tyndrum up through the woods and along the open section to Carmyle cottage was fine but after that the last couple of miles on the trail into Beinglass I was finding it hard work.

On inspection of my feet at Beinglass I had 1 hot spot on inside edge of BOF of my left foot, Stuck a compeed on to protest it and then changed into the Inov@8 F-Lites for the return journey. These are a really great shoe weight is only 230 grams and again do not offer much protection but they felt like moon boots after the Treks.

It took me a couple of miles to get into running with the F-Lites and I was slower on the return leg, I think the concentration of running in the Treks and the use of the Hamstrings rather than the Quads had taken more out of me than I had realised.

On Sunday we did part of the Heart of Scotland 100 route from just outside Dunkeld to Aberfeldy as it turned out this section was a marked cycle route so navigation was not an issue we did 14.5 miles and I ran in the F-lites but the terrain was such that had my feet not been tired the Treks would have been just fine.

My toes are beginning to spread I have gaps where I never had before this can only be a good thing. I am not sure how long the process will take but so far so good.

Mine is small and deformed.

I walked round the changing rooms of the leisure centre the other night looking at everyone else’s they were all longer and fatter than mine, I am deformed.

Why was I born with pinkie toes a good 15mm shorter than my second toes? It does cause me issues when wearing the VFFs

Folks are asking why minimal shoes.

Normal shoes tilt your body forward which puts all the muscles and ligaments in your feet under stress and there are 650 muscles and 250 ligaments so that’s a lot of stress.

I feel the raised heel limits the movement of my ankles and promotes heel strike.
By running in a minimal shoe with no rise from front to back I don’t heel strike and it allows full stretch of my Achilles and calf muscles, which seem to be adapting just fine.

When your barefoot or minimalist you just don’t heal strike simples.

This means that I run with a shorter stride at a higher cadence and land with my weight over my centre of gravity with bent knee, the bent knee is like a big spring and takes up all the shock from the body much better than an inch of gel could.

My Treks arrived yesterday and I wore them for 12 hours straight and they are fantastic, I did a 5 mile run in them off road and they have much more grip on wet grass and mud.
They did dull the feeling under foot a little but that’s what I wanted as I have been feeling everything way to much during this transition.

So do I wear them this weekend on the WHW training run , decisions, decisions

Ultra Sensitive Dod

Running ten miles in the VFF KSOs last night hurt.

So what's going on I ran a ten-mile loop 1-mile road 1 mile rough track with gravel then 6 miles trail then back down the gravel and road. Last time I did this route was before UTMB and was in the VFF classics and everything felt good. Last night I felt every little rock and stone.

I found the following statement on a Barefoot running site


Quote

Our feet need to feel the ground so we can walk and run naturally. When we block this sensation by wearing shoes, our feet try even more to feel the ground. We develop an ultra sensitivity in our soles. After years of being blocked, we remove the shoes, and our feet are over stimulated. And we think, how did we possibly run around and play barefoot when we were kids?

So Perhaps my feet are going through a sensitive period before they toughen up a bit.

I have been living barefoot as much as possible and wearing minimal footwear so I think they are going through a period of adjustment.

Here is the list of what I am trying to achieve while running.

· Weight on ball of foot, or flat footed (on rougher surfaces or at slowspeeds)
· Let heel down gently· Bent ankles
· Lean forward from ankles (not waist)
· Bent knees· Hips under body
· Torso vertical
· Lift foot
· Swing left arm with right leg
· Allow torso to twist
· Swing right arm with left leg
· Elbows approximately right angles

And you though running was just a case of putting one foot in front of another.

Do the pelvic thrust

18.2 miles today the longest run so far in the F-lites if felt good with an average pace of 9:13 on an undulating off road trail so 2 hours 47min. I ran without the support blanket of a full back pack and just had 2 slices of Soreen cake with me, I ate them more because I wanted than needed them, I was a bit thristy by the time I got back but your hardly going to die from dehydration in Scotland in September.

To try and run with better form especially during intervals I am trying to engage my core and tilt my pelvis forward to make sure that my centre of gravity is over my ball of foot, to do this I have to place my hand on my back and tilt pelvis forward its not easy at 6:15 min mile pace but when it works I find my self at 5:15 min mile pace its not for long and it looks a bit Gay but its working.

When not running I spend most of my time walking around in old running shoes.
I realised this week that it was kind of stupid to be running barefoot or minimal shoes and to be barefoot around the house but to be wearing supportive shoes at all other times, which lets face it is longer than the times I spend running.

So I splashed out this week and bought 2 pairs of new shoes now if you google minimal shoes you get canvass shoes at £40 a pair but if you google canvas shoes you can find them for £6 a pair sorted.

I am wearing them without socks at least until it gets really cold this will help enhance the proprioceptive feedback loop.

Because I have spent most of my life wearing shoes my Achilles tendons and calfs have shortened and so feel tight when barefoot, wearing minimal shoes should speed up the adaption process. But just like you need a rest day in an exercise program I think I still need to spend time in support shoes on some days during the transition process.

Seems like I am not only learning to run barefoot but now I also have to learn how to walk barefoot or minimal.

I have not as yet been brave enough to throw out all the old running shoes and I have not figured out what to wear on my feet in the depths of winter when at work.

Barefoot Dod, The experiment continues

Picture of the new Vibram Five Finger KSO Trek, the next shoe on my wish list

I am trying to run more efficiently and believe that by running barefoot or close to barefoot that I will be able to listen to my body more and be able to do this while also injury proofing my body,

There are more nerve endings in our feet than any other place, so it seems to make sense to listen to the information we get from these than ignore them by covering them with an inch of rubber and gel etc.

I ran the UTMB in Roclites not exactly a minimal shoe weighing in at 315 grams but much lighter and with much less support than what a lot of folk choose to use.

The balls of my feet took a fair bashing and I discussed this with my coach as I was concerned that perhaps some times you can be to minimal. Here is his reply.

I suspect that the number of people who finished, no matter WHAT they had on their feet, who didn't have bruised Balls Of Feet will have been zero!That said there is a balance to be had. You want to avoid too much 'point' bruising from sharp stones that you fully 'weight' (you know what I mean, I'm sure!!) but also, the more distance and cushioning that you have between your foot and the ground, the harder you will hit it (because of the dulling of the proprioceptive feedback loop from your feet to your brain).Personally, I think the more you do, the more your feet will accustom themselves to that kind of usage.I think that the more that you do in the VFF's or barefoot, the hardier your feet will get, and the tender BOF thing will lessen!.


My main training shoe of choice at the moment is the F-Lite 230 grams I would class these as a transition shoe.

This Saturday I did 13.5 miles in the f-lites and then on Sunday did 6.5 miles in the Vibram Five Fingers KSO, on Monday I did 4 miles in the Vibram Five Finger classics.

So a small step forward in my plan to run the Devil close to barefoot

Great ten min video of UTMB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImKWqf1TKgw

Theme tune of UTMB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYeDsa4Tw0c

UTMB 2009 race report

Well where do I start UTMB, I first heard about this race a few years back it sounded impossible and fantastic and a world away from where I was at.

Then I ran it and it is all of that and more.

I have come to believe that we can train our bodies and our minds to do incredible things and I further believe that we are all capable of a lot more than most of us think we are.

People look at me and say your nuts your crazy you cant run for that distance for that time with those climbs but 2300 people cant be wrong.

Ok so 1000 folks did not finish for whatever reason and I finished middle of the pack so what do I know?

Well I know where I came from and I know what I did to finish middle of the pack, now I just have to sort out the issues I had and I will finish in a much better position next attempt.

Don’t get me wrong the first attempt was always about a finish and that’s what I got.

Training for me never stops completely it just changes focus, this years WHW training started in October 2008 and was always going to be the foundation my UTMB attempt would be based on,

Base mileage and stamina are very important when it comes to Ultra running but something else that a lot of folks over look is core strength and upper body strength, I can say for sure that I would not have been so comfortable in any of my training and racing this year if not for the amount of gym work I have packed in, an average of three times a week around 48 weeks of the year.

So roll forward to WHW race and job done with only 8 weeks to go till UTMB it should have been all so easy but with the loss of my friend Dario and personal issues and injury those 8 weeks were anything but easy, I was very glad to get the Devil run done and felt after that I still had the strength and ability to take part in UTMB.

Arrival in Chamonix was wet and overcast with no view of the mountains so Wednesday morning when I left the apartment where I was staying with Drew and Brian I had no idea the sights that were awaiting me, the views were fantastic and for the first time I came to understand the task ahead.

Thursday we took the chair lift to 3800 meters and spent the day at Altitude hoping that this would help during the race, I cant say if it helped but it certainly did no harm and forced us to have an easy day sitting just chatting and eating.

Friday morning tried to sleep as long as possible but was up by 8:30 and ready to go, with the race not starting till 6:30 in the evening it was to be a long day.

I packed and unpacked my drop bag and packed and unpacked my back pack 2 or 3 times during that day.

By 5:30 the excitement had got too much for us and even though we were only a five min walk from the start we had to go out and join the crowds.

This was it 2300 runners and goodness knows how much support the centre of the town was buzzing, our group gathered at somewhere towards the back and slowly grew to where we had a small consignment of British runners all ready to do their best.

The horn went and we shuffled forward and slowly crossed the line and headed down the main street, it was great to see the guys in the TDS and supporters up on our balcony shouting support, within a mile of the start we were off and running without hindrance the start of a mega journey around the Mont Blanc massif.

The first major checkpoint was Saint Gervais 21K into the race and we ran in their like heroes the crowds were out in force with music playing we were lead through the town and into the food station, Now I had decided to try and run to my normal eating plan and had been eating a piece of soreen cake every fifteen minutes so was very pleased when I saw, cake, flap jacks and biscuits that I could take with me and eat as I ran, I filled my bum bag and headed out.

The next 5 food stations were all through the night, a black black night with climbs up and down and up and down The first big climb to Col du Bonhomme felt like I was going up Ben Nevis in the dark I was at home and this was easy I passed lots of runners here, but the downhill’s were to be my Achilles heal and this is where they started to be a problem, wearing glasses in the dark in the mist with a head torch on I seemed to loose my down hill confidence which was never to return for the duration of the race.

I was very happy when the first signs of light came and I could switch off my head torch and start to fully appreciate the country I was running through.

I had been on my own much of the night surrounded by strangers with head torches, but at times I had seen Drew and Brian as we had passed each other at the checkpoints and on the inclines and declines, so as we approached Courmayeur I was very happy to spot them both less than 100 meters away from me, It was the start of a massive down hill and they ran off and I did not see them at the check point.

77.5K into race this is where our drop bags were it was mid morning and the sun was up and hot.
I changed into clean shorts and a vest and changed my socks and shoes had some pasta and headed out ready for the mid day sun,

The climb up to Bertone was brutal at just over 2000 meters but with the heat of the day it was hard to breath at the top, many runners were lying around trying to recover I decided the best thing to do was push on The run to Refuge Bonatti was one of the less undulating parts and had some good running here I passed a number of runners who were sleeping on the side of the trail in the sun, at some point along here Brain and Drew caught me up, I had passed them at the checkpoint without knowing it we were to run together for around the next 20K.

The countryside the views the panorama that we ran on for the next few hours takes away all the pain and tiredness you might normally feel in a race, it was fantastic.

We soon approached 98K and Grand Col Ferret, this was a good climb, which I enjoyed but was also where I became separated from Drew and Brain.

The top of the climb was very cold 2537 meters I was still just dressed in a vest and it was now after four thirty and the day was starting to cool, I got over the top as quickly as possible and headed down hill.

La Fouly at 108K another chance to stock up on food and sort out the head torch it was going to be a long and lonely night, the field was well spread out now and where the first night the climbs and descents were done it groups I could see that I would be on my own for a lot of the night.

I ran into Champex Lax 122.8 K feeling good and had some hot pasta and got ready for the next climb as I left the check point I met Sharon and Emma what a lift that was for me, they walked out of the town about a mile with me it was great to chat with someone and tell them how I was feeling, I also found out where all my other pals were in the race which was a real boost.

The climb to Bovine what a dog, I had passed a group of runners on an easy incline and could see no head torches in front, if fact I could see nothing in front the mountain loomed up black and cold, when I started to climb I had to scramble over some rocks then more rocks then it was climbing over rocks then it was pulling up and slipping over rocks with no end in sight it just went up and up, I waited at one point as I could see the torches from the group behind but when I stopped they stopped when I climbed they climbed but they were not for passing.

I finally saw some head torches in front of me and caught up what turned out to be three Americans who were none to pleased with the climb and were arguing about taking a break or pushing on, one was sat down and refused to move so the others headed on without him we chatted for a bit but once again I found my self in front of them and slowly pulled away. I have never been so grateful to get to the top of a climb, but worse was to follow.

Somewhere along this next section I came across a runner lying on the track with his ankle at a very un natural angle, it was obviously broken I offered assistance but his limited English and my limited French did not make it easy, in the end I legged it to the next check point and sent back help, It was one of 2 broken ankles and 1 broken arm I was to witness.

Trient at 138 K was the next major food and rest stop, I could see it and feel it and hear it but could I reach it, my down hills by this time were terrible and it seemed to take me forever to get their with streams of runners passing me by.

Although by now I was moving slower I new I had it in the bag 28K was all that was left I could do that standing on my head.

Then we had another 700 meter climb up and up it went but part of the way up the day started to brighten and finally off came the head torch again, during the 2500 miles training in the twelve months previous to this event I had some great runs, runs with friends runs on my own, but I also had some horrible runs but this is what they were for this is when you put it together, without the good runs the bad runs the wet and cold runs your not ready to do battle when the day arrives, and battle I did.

The 700 meter descent to Vallorcine was the longest of any of the race in terms of time it seemed to take for ever and I just could not get up a good pace but I pushed and pushed to reach the field hospital that the check point resembled, their was bodies everywhere, people sleeping in their seats heads on the table, people sleeping in corners folks with shoes and socks off with badly swollen and blistered feet this is where I saw my second broken ankle,

This is where I knew I was in great shape, no upper body pain no pain in my quads or hamstrings just a little tightness in my calf muscles. I had run 147K less than 18 K to go it was time to sort this shit out, I stripped back down to my vest, grabbed some supplies and galloped out the door, The climb out of Vallorcine was almost 1000 meters I did not stop or rest on it pushing on every time someone came in site I pushed to pass them by the time I got to the top I was flying.

The run to La Flegere was a pleasure I knew I was home free I knew I had beaten the UTMB and was loving it passing folks on the trail who were half dead, I was taking no prisoners and charged on.

Then I hit the downhill.

I was stopped in my tracks I just could not get going down hill the last 7k seemed to drag on forever, you could see Chamonix you could smell it then you could hear it and I still was not any closer, more and more folks passed me folks I had left for dead on the higher ground bounded past knowing the finish was in sight.

Finally I reached the road and the crowds and I picked up my speed taking my poles into one hand for the last time I headed for the town, I saw Sharon and she gave me my Scottish flag, I was flying along again, I passed Drew and Emma screaming from the sidelines ran past Ritchie who was shouting like a banshee, then I was in the centre of the town and doing the lap of honour Maya appeared at my side and shouted me on the crowds were screaming my name French and English voices combined, I rounded the final corner the finish was in site a clear run with the announcer saying my name as I finished to hugs from the supporters on the line.

And then the moment I had waited for I received my Gillet Noir I had done it and it had only taken 41 hours 39 mins. I was over the moon.

Much beer was drunk that day as we watched the rest of the field come home all with their own stories to tell heroes every one of them, what a race what an experience.

The next day I was up early and heading home the race a memory to fade away as all races do,

I think not, this was the most brutal and beautiful race I have ever done and I can’t wait to do it again.

Ultra -Trail Du Mont- Blanc

2 weeks today at 18:30 I will head off on the UTMB The race I have trained for all this year.

A number of folks have asked how to follow me see link belowLink (roll over me to see where I go)This is for text message updates but it costs 5 euros to register and 5 euros per athlete you want to follow so a bit of a rip off for 20 texts.

if you really want to its George Reid and number 3418

I have set up a twitter page inspired by our lord and fetchmasterLoonDod or George Reid should find me.

Now I dont expect my battery will last up to the 45 hours I could be on the trail and I do want to use phone to take photos also so will switch on during daylight hours for photos and will also update twitter every time I take a break.Or a least I will try.

All I need to do is keep moving for approx 172,465 steps and go from sea level to the top of Everest (and a bit) and back down again,

how hard can it be.

X marks the spot

The OS Grid Reference is NO 24450 85850or

if thats too many numbers for people its NO 245859,

On the main path 200m NNW of Cac Carn Mor on way to Lochnagar view point at Cac Carn Beag at 1155m

As was said in jest by one of our party.

I am not lugging a fucking bench up their.

RIP Tarn of the noisy wind

I am sure some of you know that the name Lochnagar properly belongs to the small loch at the foot of the NE corrie. But is used to describe the range of hills we were on on sunday , the name means Tarn of the noisy wind.

Well no wind on Sunday but Dario more than made up for that being his normal self all the way to the plateau, We were passed Cac Carn Mor (1150 meters so box ticked their) by about 200 meters or so when he took ill.

Cac Carn Mor means Big Shit Cairn, our next stop was Cac Carn Beag which means Little Shit Cairn.

Seems all very fitting we called him a lot worse names on sunday.

All who were their worked to save his life and never gave up hope, for 2 hours we did all we could , in truth he did not suffer for more than a few minuites, he died with some of his WHW family around him.

I will miss my friend Dario very much.

West Highland Way race 2009

Thank you to my Crew
Team Captain Steve. Lamadance, A Slowie and The Iron Man

The best crew I could have wished for.

21 hours 51 mins 55 secs

28th overall and 120th on the all time best WHW race times.

I Trained hard and ran like fuck

HAPPY DAYS

West Highland Way race plan 2009

Step 1
Take no less than 12 hours to get to Tyndrum

Step 2
Run like fuck till the end.

Step 3
Drink Guinness

2008 Review

I ran some miles up and down hills

Happy Days

L&CX8

Triple Crown and the Devil o the Highlands 2008

Well the Highland fling went to plan even though I was not 100%

The West highland Way did not go to plan as I was injured for the best part of five weeks before hand although I still loved every bit of it.

i knew i could do better , so that just left the Devil to get a good run in on the way.Now a lot of folks started off the year wanting to compete all three but not many managed it I don’t know the stats but I am sure someone will work it out, so I was very happy to make it to the start line of the third race in the underground series that is know as the Triple Crown.

Headed up to Fort William on Friday and got to hotel met up with Karen and UltraCat, chilled for a bit then we went out to dinner, If you run these events there is only one pub to go to and that’s the Grog and Gruel nice evening their stopped at 2 pints of Guinness very sensible.

Early start and hours drive saw us in Tyndrum apologies to UC for driving her car faster than she thought it could go.Checked in and met loads of folks really hyped up now and ready for the off, Final hugs on the start line and the whistle went before I knew it and we were away.

I had decided on gore trail shorts gore short sleeve half zip and Inov8 Roclites never changed all day perfect combination for the weather we had.Ran comfortable into Bridge of Orchy was happy to see that my support crew had arrived and had collected my boxes from UC I had made up Hammer nutrition Perpetuem into a paste with a gel each bottle gave me 300Kals 65 Gram Carbs 16 grams protein per hour I changed bottle at each check point also had a slice of soreen cake.First check point 15 seconds max.

Up the hill out of Bridge of Orchy really had to hold my self in check but managed to resist the urge to run and did a fast walk to the top, ran well down the other side to meet crew at Inverannon 30 second stop and off again.Ran up towards Rannoch moor with pals Keith and Jimmy nice chat about their plans for MDS we ran well together walked all the ups ran the flats and the down, A lot of runners had gone off to fast and hear on the moor also some runners started to come by us on the hills and we would catch then on the downs, I knew that we would start to reel some of those runners back in.

Got to the top of Rannoch moor felt great still had not run any up hills and decided that when I came over the top would just let the down hill take me, I have run this section perhaps 5 times this year and knew I could go down fast, Garmin shows I hit 6:30 pace at one point here with an average of 7:30 passed a couple of runners who looked like they were standing still, ran fast into check point knowing I would have some recovery time. Muller rice and bladder top up and off longer stop perhaps 90 seconds.

I never saw any of the group behind again, none was in when I left checkpoint.Nice run to the bottom of the staircase grabbed a bottle of lift off and a banana and headed up never stopped and kept a good pace.Over the top and just let fly past I think 5 runners on this section again hitting 7:30 pace on the steeper descents very sure footed my training paying off.

Ran strongly into Kinlochleven I felt 100% and was still holding back on the hills.Quick stop this one in and out and started up the hill passed my pal Alex three quarters of the way up I had him down for first super vet so was surprised when I saw him brief chat and he told me to crack on, got to the top and thought ok half marathon to go time to take the brakes off, I still walked the bigger hills but ran all the smaller ones and started to work the pace, it took a while to catch each runner but think I got 4 in this section passed pal James who did not hear or see me coming and was surprised he said no one had passed him all day.

Ran well into Lundarva and surprised crew, quick stop and away again, tried to push on running everything I could and only walking when I just could not run up the steeper hills. Passed I think 2 runners or perhaps only 1 cant remember, Their was a diversion which I did not like it was the first time all day I did not know exactly where I was but it was over soon and I was out of the woods and onto the forest trail around three miles to go these were done at around 8min miles just hammered them went through brave heart car park unable to do more than raise an arm at my crew and hit the road at a flat out run.

I think I started my sprint just a tad early by the time I saw the 30mph sign I was almost done slowed for perhaps 10 seconds then went again crossed the line a very happy chap in 7 hours 34 mins 52 seconds.Big hugs from crew I was chuffed to bits all had gone to plan, no wall no stomach problems full of running all the way.

Headed up to Nevis centre and got showered and had some food went back and watched more runners come in and checked up on Karen and other friends still running, back to leisure centre to receive trophy for first super vet then back to Brave Heart car park to see Karen and UltraCat run through looking strong, Dario on her tail and gaining, with UltraCats encouragement Karen picked it up again and kept him behind her to finish strongly in her first Ultra we were all bouncing.

Needs must and so a visit back to the Grog and Gruel for food and this time more than just 2 pints were drunk meet loads of runners a great night.Next morning active recovery was had in the leisure facilities at 7am for sauna, steam room, which was the best ever and swim, really eased the muscles, then on to a full fry up.It was the best of weekends with the best of friend’s happy days.

This morning I got an email prequalification invitation to enter the 2009 west highland way paid my cash job done bring on next years triple crown.

West Highland Way race 2008 part 6

Lundavra To Fort William

As I said earlier I have not looked at the splits but I can tell you I did very little running. It took a long long time head down and follow the man in front they all took turns running ahead and opening gates etc and took turns with talking with me hear Simon stayed behind me a long time and kept me moving forward its just what I needed again I was very aware that I was the only one who knew the way and was worried we would miss the turn but Ewan did a great job in the heavy wooded section and we never took a step wrong.

Here I got a stabbing pain in my left foot big toe I tried to ignore it but I could not a pine needle or similar was in their it had to come out.Ewan stepped up I had been running for 25/26 hours it was not a pleasant task thanks mate I owe you for that one, but after wards what ever it was gone and on we went and on we went and on went finally we saw signs for brave heart car park we were close Steve phoned and I told him where we were although it took ages to get their but then their was the Van with Simon and Lizzy I ran straight past and here Andrinne got into van also I am a bit hazy if Ewan got in van here or ran a bit then ran off but eventually it was just me and Simon who had been with me through some really hard patches and it was great to know we would soon be at the finish around here Fiona came storming past, I decided to let her go what difference would it make I reasoned I would rather get to the end and keep standing than get to the end and fall over.

And then their was Steve my main man who has supported me on a number of ultras in more ways than I can remember but has never run a step, he was in the road outside the leisure centre and he was warming up Simon and I broke into a trot we reached Steve and we ran together to the leisure centre I was so happy that Steve ran this section with me.

Into the leisure centre and the job was done 95 miles 15000 feet of climbing in 27 hours 15 mins.

After The RaceNow a lot happened in the next 24 hours and the next few days some is a bit of a blurAfter a great massage I tried to sleep but only dozed in the end it would be eleven at night before I got to sleep a total of 62 hours with 2 hours of a nap in between.I woke to find the pink lady was their and enjoyed a few moments then Gus and jean arrived and then it was time for breakfast we met Ultracat and had a feed at Morrison’s then on to the prize giving.

Now most prize giving its first second third first vet etc, but not here every runner who finished gets a small speech from Dario and is presented with their crystal goblet it is very special and emotional.To meet special friends on the way Karen, Ultracat, Gus, Jean and all the friends I ran with to get the text messages and support is fantastic.

My A team with Steve, Simon, Lizzy, Andrinne and Ewan what can I say you are the best friends a man could have I will never forget what you did for me and yes you can all join me next year when I will run Sub 24. Since 1991 only 427 individuals have completed this event, although some have done it a number of times on the all time list my time puts me at 267 on the list, must try harder.

Thank You All.

West Highland Way race 2008 part 5

Staircase to Kinlochleven

Within 100 metres of the start their was the 2 runners one was the chap who was part of the English couple I had run along the loch with he was in a bad way I tried to encourage him by saying that once you got to the next check point that it was only a half marathon to the end but I don’t think it helped 20 mins later we saw the ambulance pick him up his race over.

We went up the staircase in good time only 2 x 20 second breaks and on we went it felt good then we turned down the other side the downhill’s were getting hard, At some point here we figured that we had 18 miles to go and 4 hours to break the 24 hours how hard could it be in the end the final 18 miles took 7 hours a hard slog for both me and the A team, the downhill to Kinlochleven is brutal at the best of times I think Simon and Ewan were both surprised how steep this was although I know Simon would have charged down it on his own but he stuck with me every step of the way it seemed a long run into Kinlochleven.

Now for some reason I can never remember where the path goes in Kinlochleven perhaps because the first time I ever ran the route I missed the path so I got a bit of a panic on when we reached town and their was no sign of the girls or Steve or the path I sent Ewan on to find the path and Simon tried to stop me from freaking out finally we could hear and then see Lizzy and Andrinne jumping and waving it was a good scene.We trotted into the weight station and their was the man himself Dario race director and all round good guy we had a quick chat and it took me a second to realise that it was Ultracat who was their also talking to me more Hugs loved it.Ultracat said I had to come back in to check out but I said I was keeping going so checked out had a quick drink of Lift Off now I am not sure when I started drinking this stuff but by this time in the race I was addicted and also to power bars they were working so that’s what I wanted I threw then down and ran on with Lizzy not even waiting for Andrinne but she quickly caught us up.

Kinlochleven To Lundavra

I wanted to get up onto the moor before it got dark and we only had one 20 second break on the climb and made good time and passed I think Fiona at the top and ran on after a few miles we needed the head torches and we slowed and we slowed and we slowed game over good night thank you,I new that I would finish once I reached Kinlochleven their was never a dough in my mind and that resolve never wavered I knew that every step was a step closer I also knew that now the time did not matter a finish I would have if I had to crawl I knew it would be inside the cut-off and that’s all that mattered, I decided that I would just keep me head down and go.Now here is a tip if you ever run in the pitch black and are very very tired make sure your support crew were fluorescent leggings and shoes what a boost this is it was amazing how much light they gave off when hit with head torch.You hear a lot about people losing it hallucinating and speaking rubbish so when I started to see white spots in front of my eyes I was very concerned and also scared to say anything but eventually I thought I had to say of course the answer came back its raining George what a dum ass.

Andrinne and Lizzy pulled me through that section one step at a time I knew Lizzy was terrified it was pitch black the wind was howling the rain got heavier and heavier and I also knew I was the only one who had any idea where we were.We plodded on rocks turned into sheep and sheep turned into rocks but apart from that all was ok until I started to see lights but they were in the wrong place way over to the left we were on the wrong road. I told the girls we have missed split in the road we are going the wrong way they ran back a ways to have a look but they told me latter they had no idea what to do and they came back and we plodded on.Eventually we could see lights in front and Andrinne sprinted off to see if we were in the right place she had ran about 30 miles and went off like she was in a 10K, Lizzy took my arm to help me she was holding on tight what courage she showed running along with her worst fears I will not every forget how brave she was.

We reached the bonfire and the rest of the A team.The marshal said a you’re the guy in shorts your giving up here Not me mate I said no chance and headed for the van, I could not feel my legs and needed my leggings and water proofs on at this point, I am not sure who put them on but we got sorted had another Lift off and a viper bar thanked Steve and Lizzy and off Simon Ewan Andrinne and I plodded onto the last section.