Iain's version of the WHW

Well I thought I'd give my account.

6 weeks ago I ran the Highland Fling. That race shares the first 53 miles to Tyndrum with the WHW race and I did that in 8:56, in hot sunny weather, and felt good. 6 weeks later and I'm staggering into Tyndrum after 10.5 hrs of running in what should have been favourable conditions. I'm feeling terrible.

I felt sick around Milngavie train station, then started throwing up at Balmaha. Just never had a good spell.

Despite this, I started off the race strong enough. I was briefly up to second, and was chatting away to fellow runners, feeling that the first 6 miles were going OK. At Drymen things went down hill. The diversion seemed to hurt me mentally, I don't know if it added much onto the race, but it seemed to extend it for me. Maybe because it was the unknown. Anyway by now dusk was breaking and I started climbing up onto Conic Hill in terible weather, wind and rain. My body temperature was already going silly so I carried on in my shorts and vest, already aware that things were wrong. I remember muttering 'somethings wrong' whenever I saw Sarah and Tom.

The descent off Conic was treacherous, but was aided by a cheering on by the Scouts, who go up there to catch the sunrise on the longest day. It's nice to see people up there when you are out on your own and feeling shit - but somehow I managed not to slip, and got into Balmaha around 3 hrs 20, which I didn't think was too fast - I've been there far earlier and felt better. Anyway I always feel a bit rough around 4 am.

Only a few miles later I started vomitting. Apologies to the 95 runners behind me, hopefully the rain washed most of it away.

The start of Loch Lomond is a desceptively hard stage. The paths are good, but quite alot of climbing. You also need to take food on here as the next stage to Beinglas is a long and lonely leg. Having been sick I was feeling pretty low and worried about the lack of food in my gut so started trying to eat a jam butty. This lasted for around 5 miles until I finally threw the sweaty squashed mush to the side. Eating half a bar/flapjack/cake/banana was a regular accurance so no doubt the local crows are all well fed. At Rowardennan I grabbed some food and went to go for a much needed crap, unfortunately the toilets were locked, so I pushed on rather than doing what bears and Sarah do.

Oh one comment here: Why call Rowardennan Field station Rowardennan when it's no where near bloody Rowardennan! That 2 miles from the field station until the hotel killed me.

The next leg to Inversnaid is on good tracks until maybe 2 miles when you start to get to rough narrow tracks which remain with you until only a few miles from Beinglas at the head of the Loch. Even though I was now into my shuffle I kept a reasonable 5 mile/hr pace along the loch, and with a bit of food from the Trossachs MRT (thanks) had a good leg. This was maybe one of my few highs, I remember biting into an Elevenses and being pleasantly suprised that I didn't feel the need to vomit. So thought I was going to be OK.

Sarah was a bit worried about me so she met me just before Beinglas farm, and here finally, 13 miles after Rowardennan I finally had that crap. From Beinglas it's actually quite a climb to Derrydarroch. Again I was shuffling but was now dropping to 4 - 4.5 miles/hr. At each checkpoint I just grabbed some food and got going. Stopping meant I stiffened up. I think it was here where my rice pudding fixation started. And so Tom was sent off to buy more.

The climb through to Crianlarich is hard going, a few runners overtook me here, and then in the roller coaster through the woods I slowed again. A very kind supporter gave me a banana and a lucosade, but for some reason the lucosade didn't work and sent me a bit lower. By now I was just inside the top 10 but desperate to drop a few more places so Sarah could come along for some sections.

By Tyndrum I was luckily overtaken and so had some company for the tracks through to Bridge of Orchy. By now I was just managing 4.5 miles an hour and was shuffling. I was getting worried how long I could keep shuffling for. It was on this section, I think, where I took my top off, forgetting to remove my nipple protecting plasters, and ran on topless in the drizzle. Sarah's had ITBS, but managed to run over 40 miles with me. I was worried about her knee so told her to meet me before the moor and I'd run over the top on my own.

It was around this point that Vicky, Toms other half, turned up. Vicky later said that she thought I had 3 more miles in me and this stage as I "looked scary". I was staggering and not talking much as I just felt shit. I remember trying to explain that this was a bad race, not normal, and I don't do things like this for fun, normally I have some enjoyment.

Rannoch moor has always been a special place for me and Sarah, since we spent a night in a small copse there when she first moved over from Australia. On most races since I've always had a strong section there. Maybe you couldn't class it as a strong section, but it was definately a stronger section. It was also nice to have the moor to ourselves. The Caledonian Challenge wasn't on at the same time this year. In the CC hundreds of walkers, often 3 abreast, walk back along the moor in the opposite direction. I don't think they realise how hard it is to side step after 68 miles so it's never a great expereince meeting them.

I was still worried about Sarah's knee, so I said I'd do the section from the ski field, through to the start of the Devils staircase on my own. This was a bad idea. Alone with my thoughts I went into the self pity stage, and met them 4.5 miles later in a bad state, my feet were now very painful. I was shivvering, though I still felt warm. Here we looked at my feet and realised that my toes were badly bruised and blisters had formed underneath the toe nails, lifting them off. Every stubbed toe was agony!

The trudge up the Devils Staircase is OK. It's such a good track that it's never bothered me. Maybe coming from a fell running/mountaineering background I'm strong on the hills, but I always climb well here. At the top the views are spectacular. Looking back you see Rannoch Moor and Buaichaille Etive Mor, one of the most picturesque peaks in Britain. I must admit I spent a few seconds spotting the major features; curved ridge, crowberry Tower, North Butress before remembering I was in a race. By now the wind was picking up so I agreed with Sarah and put on a top. A few minutes later the vommitting began - so the top came off again.

The descent to Kinlochleven is long and winding, but suddenly you see the village. By now I was pretty weak and seriously considering calling it a day. As we walked up to Tom and Vicky I mentioned dropping out but Sarah just ignored me and started talking over me about something totally irrelevant as only a wife can.

By now even the rice pudding was not going down well. I remembered I'd put in a fruit smoothie, so that and some bread rolls were taken for the next leg. From Kinlochleven you climb the best part of a 1000 ft to a track and then follow that for 5 miles or so to Lundavra. For those inside 24 hrs this section is still in day light, but it doesn't stop frequent anxious glances as your watch advances towards 10:30 and darkness. The track is wide and rocky so stubbed toes abounded, again my shuffle was going well, so we still held a 4 mile/hr pace and finally saw Lundavra. Seeing the smoke rising from the midge deterrent fire was just beautiful. Here there's always a good atmosphere. Supporters can see the end, and so can the runners.

It's 6.5 miles to go. Break it down and that's 3 miles along and up forestry trails then 2 miles down the tracks, and finally 1.5 miles along the road. Sarah was giving me points to hit, so at 15 min/mile pace I was doing the sums and we were hitting the fences about bang on. All I could feel was relief. Anyone who has been on this race and had that second night fall on them knows how bad it is - I've been there twice and it's mentally very hard. From the moment you see the Ben you know you've done it. Tom came up and met us and walked along side me, chatting away. This was when Sarah quietly told him to start running as it made me feel bad seeing people walk at my 'running pace'.

Once we hit the road I got Tom to drive ahead and wait every few hundred metres. I needed smaller goals than the 1.5 miles. I pushed it to each point. I reckoned I hit the dizzy heights of an 9-10 minute mile, and soon the houses of Fort William were visible - and finally the liesure centre.

It's a strange feeling on completion, the support crew seem happier than me. I just feel relieved. I could sit down. I'd booked a chalet at Inchree so we went back and I went to lie down, but Sarah made me go for a shower - and then I spewed up again as the hot water fell on me. I did tell her I'd be sick. For revenge I went to bed without brusing my teeth, after a day of countless spews, although I didn't realise this until the morning when I woke up with nasty acid breath.

Anyway thanks to Tom, Vicky, Bob (their cartoon collie) and Sarah for all their support. No doubt I'll have another go as I reckon a sub 20 is possible, but things just didn't go well this year. Maybe overtraining?