A year without buying clothes (April 1 2020)

Little did I know that when I used the word 'stockpiling' in February's post that along with 'unprecedented' they would become the words of 2020

I ran the Meadows Half Marathon at the end of February and received my first race t-shirt of the year. Turns out it could be the last for a while...
However, the plan was to give them to charity or a good cause, but I think Susan has eyes on it!

Prior to the week we commenced lockdown Susan and I were scheduled to have a week in Madeira. This got cancelled (thankfully!) two days before we were due to fly out. So instead we had a week in a camper van travelling around Scotland, and I took the same clothes I had packed for the sun. I made sure that all of the clothes I had hadn't been worn for a wee while, it was good to give them an 'airing'

This is maybe the first time in my (almost) adult life that I haven't bought something new for going on holiday!

So we're now in lockdown and I'm using this time as an opportunity to further explore all of my clothes, I'd encourage you to do the same, dig into the back of a cupboard or the bottom of a drawer to find that old gem you used to love wearing, and let it back loose into the world!

My Facebook memory today threw up this image from Pitlochry 7 years ago...

I took the time today to dig that same t-shirt out, the logo? (if you know you know!)

#wedontneednewstuff #lovetheclothesyouhave

Meadows Half Marathon Race Report

Seemed like a good idea to leave Perth at 10:45, drop Susan off at Portobello and then drive into the Meadows in Edinburgh for registration, which closed at 12:45

Cue roadworks in Edinburgh, me getting to registration at 12:44 and then having to find a parking space and get dressed for the run which began at 13:15 !

After finding a parking space and a quick bite to eat (banana) I got changed and at 13:05 made my way to the start, make that in 10 minutes...surely?

Turns out I'd underestimated the time to get to the start and had to sprint (for me) to get there in time for the race start. When I say in time, as I turned the corner with 200 metres still to get to the start, I heard the person on the microphone go "10, 9, 8..." I was last over the start line, but as Yazz sang about, the only way is up...baby!

The Meadows Half Marathon is 9 x 1.35 mile loops of the Meadows park area, there is also a full marathon version as well as a 5k and 10k.

All of the events go of at different times, which means the park is nearly always busy with runners. The people in the Meadows just for an afternoon stroll were very encouraging, and the marshals were awesome, I made sure I said thank you to each and every one.

My objectives for this event were to:
A) Finish
B) Finish pain free-ish

Both objectives were achieved in a time of 2:04:33, delighted with that, considering it's been a few weeks since I've done any serious running due to injury. 
I wanted to simply get round, manage the sore leg and any pain that may occur, and I'm proud to say I managed that perfectly.

Check out the calorie burn...

Storm Jorge was present in full force and on one stretch of the park the wind was blowing across the runners and I seen some runners being blown off the path and onto the grass.

I made it my mission after two loops to take over at least five of the other half marathoners on each remaining lap. I finished in position 158 out of 249 finishers.

Big shout out to all marshals, volunteers and organisers. Oh and a massive thank you to the lady with the green pom-poms and massive smile encouraging everyone on, it means a helluva lot!

This is all part of my build up for the London Marathon which I'm running to raise awareness and funds for Rooprai Spinal Trust

Donate to my marathon fundraiser and #makeadifference

A year without buying clothes...

After reading an article about not buying any new clothing for a whole year, I decided I would take part myself and see if I could go through 2020 without purchasing any new clobber!

Today is February 29, and I'm pleased to say I haven't made a single purchase of clothing this year...thus far.

I've noticed that some of my work shirts are looking a wee bit past their best, so I'm digging a bit deeper into the cupboard to find some shirts that have been lurking in there for years, some of them have never been worn. If any of my PKC colleagues notice a shirt is looking a bit sorry for itself (and me) please let me know, I won't be offended.

And that's my point, how many of us just use the top layer of t-shirts or jerseys, or the first thing that comes to hand? I start at the back of the cupboard now, and have been amazed at what I've found.

My big thing is t-shirts, I have around 200, (yes 200 !) and that's probably enough to last me for the rest of my life (I'm 54 years old). Today I'm going to sort them out and bring some of the items I've never laid eyes on for years to the top and start wearing them, If they don't fit, I'll recycle them.

My point of this post? Have a wee think about how you use clothes, do you think about it? Or are you doing just like I did, just keep buying them, and stockpiling?

2018 West Highland Way Race

Pre race:

Susan and I arrived at Milngavie around 10:45 on Friday night, registration was busy but moving smoothly, pick up my wristband (race number 67) and parking pass then moved along to get my timing chip which you have to 'beep' into a recording device at each checkpoint. Who is handing out the chips, only ultra running legend Debbie Martin Consani!  Spent a few minutes chatting to Debbie about getting sleep before a race starting at 1am, and also took the opportunity to ask for a photo too.

Outside and went to hand in my drop bags for Rowardennan and Inversnaid, on the way Susan and I walked to the race start point and a voice behind asked "Did you request that number mate?" It's only James Stewart, West Highland Way Race winner in 2016. I had 10 minutes in James company and received some invaluable advice. James is a very humble guy, to put this into context, if you were involved in running a Sunday pub football team, this is like Brendan Rodgers coming along and giving your team talk!

This totally sums up the ultra running community and why I love it so much. Then to top it all off, just before the race briefing, Team Bastardo member Steven Watt turns up unexpectedly and he Susan and I share a few moments before the race start.

The Race
Section 1: Milngavie>Drymen>Balmaha (19 miles), Cut off time 6am
Was aware that it's easy to get sucked into running a pace faster than you would like to with those around you, so purposely kept an eye on the pace on my watch to remain around 12-13 minute miles. It's quite a sight when all around you are the beams of runners headtorches and a buzz of energy in the air. The run to Drymen was great and daylight was just breaking through as I walked up the section just out of Drymen onto the WHW trail. On the approach to Conic Hill I bumped into Jonny Hill (JFH) and had a quick chat. Jonny advised he was out for a run and encouraging people along the way. Also told me his sister Katie was out and about too.
Up and over Conic Hill, it's a fair old climb but I was feeling good, the view of Loch Lomond in the morning is always welcome. I arrived into Balmaha at 5:12am, bang on schedule. I was met here by John and Ruth Houston, they were to be with me at every checkpoint all day (now that is some shift!).
Had some Coke, a rice pudding and replenished Tailwind, water and snacks in bum bag, was in and out pretty quick and on my way to Rowardennan. It was also at this point that I realised I would like to comb my beard (this became an obsession!)

Section 2: Balmaha>Rowardennan
Felt I ran this section quite well, it was the low rout of the West Highland Way, but you have a helluva climb before the path goes down to the lochside. There are a set of steps before you get to Rowardennan that would break your heart, in my case it's head down and get it over with, I'd just got past the top of the steps and catching my breath and I bumped into Katie Hall (sister of JFH), stopped for a quick chat and another guy appeared up and over the steps, we said our goodbyes to Katie and headed off together.
This guy...I now know him as Wilson Dornan, we shared a few miles together and chatted about a number of different things. I was delighted to see Wilson receive his goblet on Sunday afternoon, he faced the challenge head on and nailed it.
Rowardennan soon came along and I picked up my drop bag, this one had a pork pie in it (always love a wee treat!) replenished the Tailwind/water and was out in around 10 minutes.

Section 3: Rowardennan> Beinglas Farm (42 miles), Cut off time 1pm
The section from Rowardennan to Beinglas has a mini-split in there to. Inversnaid is half way through and that's where the next drop bag would be. About a mile out of Rowardennan I was overtaken by three ladies, I became aware that I was maybe not pushing myself enough so decided to tag along on the back of this group about 50 yards behind. Luckily for me one of these ladies was Fiona Rennie (WHW Race legend) so I ended up with a 90 minute masterclass of how to run this section of the West Highland Way!
Into Inversnaid got my drop bag but I was now aware that I was slipping off my time schedule and I phoned Susan to let her know to push all estimated times back by one hour.

The next section along the lochside is the most technical part of the whole course for me, roots and rocks to avoid and I used my hands on trees and rocks for balance. How the faster runners get through here in the times they do I would love to know!
Met a lovely lady called Marian here, she informed me she was 64 years old, and man she was going like a train! The chat with Marian brought us to the end of the lochside and I can't thank her enough for making this section a wee bit easier for me.
An uphill to Dario's post and it then a downhill into Beinglas.

Dario's Post

I arrived into Beinglas at 12:19, 1hr 20 minutes behind schedule, 41 minutes before the cut-off. It was starting to play on my mind that I may be timed out later on in the day.
As I approached Beinglas I spotted Jon Baker, I was only expecting John and Ruth as previously at Balmaha, but as I turned the corner, here was Johnny B, Susan, Megan and Samara.

What a lift that gives you seeing your crew, changed from bum bag carrier to race vest, and after what felt like an F1 pit stop I was off and out heading for Auchtertyre, 9 miles up the road.

Section 4: Beinglas Farm>Auchtertyre (51 miles), Cut off time 4:30pm
Just outside Beinglas, I was feeling good after seeing the support crew and I came over the brow of a hill and thought I saw good friend John McKeand (a bit early for hallucinations!), it was John, he'd driven up to Crianlarich and walked along to meet me on the Way, what a buzz that gave me. We had a quick craic and I set off, taking a wrong turn for about 40 yards cos I was to busy smiling away to myself!

McKeando!

I felt this was my best section of the whole race (turns out it's where my nutrition slipped), I put in a massive effort to make up a bit of time and it was getting hot.
After reaching the gate around the turn for Crianlarich (Donald Sandeman with a cowbell was here!) you enter the section of the Way referred to as the 'rollercoaster' because it goes up and down, and up and down! TeamBastardo refer to it as 'gently undulating!'
Eventually you reach the road and cross over and make your way to Auchtertyre Farm and the checkpoint. John, Ruth and Susan are here, Susan has the weigh card (you get weighed four times from start to finish of the race to make sure all is well, it was all good on the weight front)
I arrived at Auchtertyre at 13:25, 1hr 5 minutes ahead of the cut-off. Sat down had some IrnBru, tried a few potatoes, and a bit of quiche that I'd been looking forward to. Susan was to run/walk the next 2 miles into Tyndrum with me.

On the walk into Tyndrum, Susan sussed something wasn't quite right with me. I'd been so focused on checkpoints and that last section was hot and I'd used a lot more energy but not had enough carbs to keep me going. As we walked I had a packet of Salt and Vinegar Squares (tasted like shit) and a squished banana (actually loved that).
When we arrived at Tyndrum, TeamBastardo members Shona, James, Kaya and Brian had arrived to welcome me, however I wasn't in the best state, so as I headed off to the loo at the Green Welly Shop they all met up with Susan.

Section 4: Auchtertyre>Bridge of Orchy (60 miles), Cut off time 7:30pm
Felt better after the toilet stop and now Susan had decided to come all the way to Bridge of Orchy with me, this was great news for me as I was really needing the company. It's one of my favourite parts of the Way and it's mostly great path which makes it pretty much all runnable. Walk the ups, run the down's and the flats, that was the plan.
Susan had on her hiking boots and she was the one saying "right, let's go!" Can't put down in words how much this section was a game changer. I was struggling, but I didn't realise it. We agreed that I should now eat at least every 20 minutes, my plan thus far had been to eat every 40 minutes. I wasn't wanting anything to eat, my appetite had deserted me (that's never happened before in my life!)
We made decent time on this section and it's one of the highlights of the day for me, this photo sums it up, I'm kinda back with it thanks to Susan.

Bridge of Orchy

Arrived at Bridge of Orchy at 6:28pm, a quick change of t-shirt and Brian Scott and I headed off for the section over Rannoch Moor to Glencoe.

Section 5: Bridge of Orchy>Glencoe (71 miles), Cut off time: Midnight
There's a fair bit of a climb at the start of this section, and it leads to Jelly Baby Hill, Murdo McEwan goes to the top of the hill and gives every single runner a Jelly Baby. There was also a chap playing the Chariots of Fire theme (there was wasn't there?)

We got our Jelly Baby and made our way down to Inveroran and onto Rannoch Moor. Walk the ups, run the down's and the flats. Brian set a timer on his phone for 20 minutes so we could stick to the little and often food plan. Tablet, Jelly babies, Chocolate, flat Coke...and repeat...and we did. We also had a wee sing song, the Braes o Killiecrankie being the star of the show. I don't think I've ever heard Brian talk so much, but we passed the miles away chatting about football, music, and countless other subjects. The path leads higher and higher until you then start to descend towards Glencoe, you can see it, but it's miles away! We met Graham Kelly (Beardy) and he walked back with us for a wee while, he told me I was looking great, but I sorta felt a bit like in Papillon (if you've seen the film you'll know what I mean)


Arrived at Glencoe at 22:08, loads of time in the bag, legs sore but they're gonna be, and then it went wrong...

When I've finished previous ultramarathons, my core temperature drops and I do this shivery thing, where my whole body uncontrollably just shakes, normally lasts about 15 minutes, then I try to have a sleep and it's all good. However, this is in Glencoe, it's getting dark and I still have 24 miles to go.
John Houston gets me into the front of the van, the heaters been on and I try to get warmed up, Megan gives me her woolly hat and Susan arrives with a foil blanket too. I get some tracky bottoms on and my puffy jacket. I think I'm OK, get out the van, take off the jacket and instantly start to shake again.
So it's back in the van and we agree a time I have to sit there until (22:36)
I decide I'm going to wear the puffy jacket over the Devils Staircase and into Kinlochleven.

Section 6: Glencoe>Kinlochleven (81 miles), Cut off time: 5am
Johnny B and I set off down towards the A82 from the Glencoe Ski Centre at a slow jog. This is me officially into unchartered territory, my previous longest distance being exactly 71 miles (Great Glen Ultra)
It's also as we crossed the road behind Kingshouse that the hallucinations started. I was seeing rocks turn into people and animals. Johnny B treating all as part of normal conversation and I now realise asking me questions to check if I was OK (also sticking to the 20 minute feeding plan)
The Devils Staircase in daylight is a challenge, but to take a hallucinating Papillon over it at midnight in the pitch dark is a different level altogether. 
If you ever need a calm, composed night time guide Johnny B is yer man.
I was also seeing frogs at this point, and I made John come back and shone my headtorch on it and asked "that frog is real eh?" John confirmed it was indeed a real frog. Phew!
"You see the spearfrogs too right?" 
Turns out only I saw the spearfrogs (frogs with spears) so we moved along. I also saw the handbag Susan bought in Italy recently and the spaceship from Star Wars flying around my feet. It passed the time if nothing else! 
On the descent into Kinlochleven I was simply behind Johnny B following his footsteps. Stacey Holloway passed us going down (Stacey has been contributing to the WHW Podcasts with John Kynaston) 
When we got to the edge of Kinlochleven, daylight was just breaking and Johnny B asked me if I fancied a wee jog. So we jogged all the way to the checkpoint, which is inside at the Leisure Centre. We arrived at Kinlochleven at 2:50am
This checkpoint is under the charge of Julie Clarke and I helped out here last year, so it was lovely to be greeted by my name. Got weighed (all good) and what an awesome feeling to be inside, and to go to an inside toilet, and to wash your face, and to get a hot cup of tea, and to...wait a minute? Where's Steven?

Steven was to run the final section to Fort William with me, Megan informed me that Steven had decided to run from Fort William (Steven had told me this the week before the race), collect me and then run back with me to the finish. "He's just coming Dad, he's on the hill!"
So I set about getting changed, I'd bashed a toe on the approach to the Devils Staircase and was terrified my foot would be covered in blood, the medics would see it and I'd be pulled from the race. 
So I gingerly took off my shoe, nae blood, fantastic! Was still bloody sore though, Megan set about my feet with wipes and changed my socks, Samara was fetching me tea and biscuits, John 'Tailwind technician' Houston was sorting out my drinks, Susan and Johnny B were having some sort of debrief and I was trying to decide if I have a kip for 30-45 minutes of just crack on. 

Steven arrived while I was getting ready, he was wearing shorts, t-shirt and arm guards. My mind was made up, change kit, tracky bottoms off, change into shorts, put on base layer and t-shirt, we're going now.

Kinlochleven

Section 7: Kinlochleven>Fort William (95miles), Cut off time: Midday
It's a long steep climb out of Kinlochleven, and by the time we get to the top it's daylight. Steven and I have ran a few things together, he's seen me in the depths of despair and also when I'm happy, this wasn't a happy place...yet.
We ploughed on over some very rough terrain and I can appreciate how difficult this must have been for Steven coming the other way in the dark. I've ran this before (Devil o' The Highlands) but don't recall the terrain being as rough before?
A few runners and support were overtaking us and I was trying my best to get some 20 minute miles in but always just missing them. 
Now...Steven had these wee ball shaped digestive like biscuits covered in chocolate, oh ya dancer, I loved them. I think it was just the fact they were something different. It was great to enjoy something to eat again.

Steven was informing me of the miles left and we went through Lundavra I thought there was about 6 (ish) to go.

The path goes up and up then descends, there have been a lot of trees felled in this area and you can see the fire road your heading for quite a bit in the distance. This gave me a wee bit energy and I started to march on a bit faster. We hit the fireroad, Steven got a phone signal and I heard him talking to someone at TeamBastardo saying, "We've got 4 miles to go, we'll be about an hour and a half"...

Aye, that'll be right, I started running down the descending path into Fort William as hard as I could muster, covering that last 4 miles in 40 minutes, where it came from I do not know. Steven was relaying message from the team to me and even went live at one point but he stopped when he saw how that was affecting me, I was entering blubbering wreck phase.

The last mile was a blur, I remember now wanting to walk a bit but Steven saying it's just there, round that corner. I spotted Susan, Megan and all the support crew in the distance and I just tore it up (well for me it was tearing it up).
The feeling of running to meet Adrian Stott and get my timing chip beeped for the last time will live with me forever. Then I was hugging Adrian, Sandra Beattie, then Susan, Megan and I think every single member of Team Bastardo, but I don't really remember, my mind was reeling.

Nailed It

We arrived in Fort William at 8:38am, my official finish time was 31hrs 38 mins 50 secs

I'm a West Highland Way Race finisher, and still cry every time I think about it.

I was dispatched for a shower, and Johnny B (as if the Devils Staircase wasn't bad enough) was dispatched to look after me!

Received an awesome massage from I think...Kirsty? This was really appreciated, both the massage and the lie down.

I had been awake for 39 hours, the prize giving was in 3 hours, there was no point in going to bed, I'll just stay up. Good luck with that then...

I now know that Susan drove with me fast asleep from the leisure centre to the Nevis Centre where to prize giving took place, and I never had a clue.

What a feeling when my name was called out, we had done it, we had completed the  West Highland Way in under 35 hours. We are TeamBastardo

Many thanks to Race Director Ian Beattie and all of the committee, volunteers, marshalls, I send you much love, this wouldn't happen with you all. 

To support crews and other runners I met along the way, you folks are awesome, keep doing what you do, spread the love.

To those who never completed, learn from this year, get an application in again and go nail it.

What have I learned?

• I have endurance
• If I want to, really want to do something, I can
• I have the most amazing, supportive family and friends

TeamBastardo, this is ours. Thank you.

It's countdown time...

Became aware today that it's exactly 100 days to the West Highland Way race, my longest running event of the year.

Prior to this, in 38 days time I will be participating in the London Marathon, which I'm running to raise funds and awareness for the Roopai Spinal Trust.

If you can, please sponsor me and make a difference, every single penny is very greatly received.

Training update:
I was originally attempting to train for both of the events mentioned above, instead, I've focused on the London Marathon as I want to get under a finish time of 4 hours. I'm adding a bit of distance each week and also attempting to ramp up the pace gradually too. Going well so far, but starting to feel some wee tweaks, this always happens and it's something I've been expecting.

The only training that ideally benefits both is hill training, so I'm making sure I have at least one hilly session per wee, and I've even started seeking out hills on my runs, this is new to me, I used to avoid 'em!

I've also lost 16lbs in weight since the start of January this year, I'm thrilled about this and hope to lose another 6lbs before the London Marathon. My thinking being, if I lose it I don't have to carry it!

#onwards #inabootit

The preparation for 2018 has begun...

Had a relatively quiet 2017 running wise, two big runs at the start of the year and then an injury late July (broken ribs) has enforced a down-time.

It was late September when I got back out on the tarmac/trails and started to get one foot on front of the other again.

The enforced break was been good for my legs/feet, but not so good for my belly, a gain of around 18lbs appeared after a couple of holidays and eating like a bear! Lost around half of that since but need to refocus on the booze, 2018 could be the year of teetotalness!

So 2018, what has it in store? I have three main events...

I'm running the Virgin London Marathon for the second time, raising funds for the Rooprai Spinal Trust, an honour to do so, and I've set myself the target of completing the 26.2 miles in under four hours.

I'm running the Berlin Marathon for the first time, this event is in September and will be the last 'biggy' of the year.

I would never have imagined in 2012 when I started the Couch to 5k programme that I would end up running marathons. I still sometimes can't believe I do! If I can, you can.

The Big Yin
My 'big' event for 2018 is the West Highland Way Race, this 95 mile race includes 14,760ft of ascent, and must be completed in 35 hours. Definitely my biggest challenge yet. 

I've started the planning for this, support crew are on-board. I'll be updating this blog most weeks but the main social media for the WHW race will be using the @teambastardo twitter account.

Hope everyone has an awesome New Year celebration, see you on the other side people.
Peace x

Glen Lyon Ultramarathon - 6 May 2017

Plan A: Finish under 6 hours
Plan B: Finish under 6.5 hours
Plan C: Finish

The first ultramarathon of this year for me, Glen Lyon is a 31 mile ultra race organised by BAM Racing, and I've just realised there's only one of their races I haven't entered yet...'Glenmore 24' (on my list for 2018)

A beautiful day to be inabootit

It was an early start, up at 5:15 and in the car at 6:10 to head up to the start. Driving up the A9, it was evident it was going to be a very warm day (more on that later!) The drive from Fortingall to Glen Lyon is about 19 miles, but slow, single track miles. Beautiful scenery and wildlife, it was awesome watching the day waking up and it has to be the best 'drive-in' to a race I've ever experienced.

On arrival at Glen Lyon I spotted fellow JogPKC jog leader Diane Cassidy and her husband Mark, and popped over for a quick catch up, this was Diane's first ultra and I can remember how I felt before my first...going into the unknown can be a wee bit nervy!

A trio of Cassidy's

Also bumped into Katie Hall, the positive vibes Katie gives out are awesome, and it's always great to spend some time in her company.

Me and The VibeMaster!

Race briefing at 9:15 and we're off at 09:30, field of around 150 runners, I could feel the nervous energy at the start, but maybe that was all mine!

The race starts with about a mile going uphill, then levels out and the views along the lochside are absolutely amazing.

Photo taken by Andrew Paterson

After a couple of miles I was alongside Diane, and we ran together around the loch to the first water station. We had been warned we would get our feet wet at some point, however the water was very low and it was possible to skip over stones if you wanted to avoid wet feet, and I did! Diane chose to take the 'right through the water' option just before the checkpoint and said she found it quite refreshing.

Out of the checkpoint and I was on my own for a few miles and remembering to look up, take in the scenery and confirming why I love running on the trails.

Ran a couple of miles with a new pal Morven Walsh from Dunoon (the people you meet are what it's all about), Morven was running her 10th ultra! We shared some good craic, and it turned out Morven had been looking up enjoying the scenery and taken a tumble, then tripped and cut her leg (she assured me she was OK)

Before I knew it I was running over the dam and back at the start, which is the halfway point, quick wee slug of flat fat coke and back out to take on the second half.

The start of the second half is a long climb, see the elevation below at about 15.5 miles...

Glen Lyon Ultra Profile

At the top of the climb I happened across the race leader who was on his way to a course record I think, I checked my watch as we passed 3hrs 33minutes, I would be back at this point at 5hrs 51minutes! Phenomenal running from yer man.

It's undulating (hate that word!) for a while and then it's a downhill to the next water stop, we would be back here after the run through the glen. A very tough technical section for me, legs getting tired and the heat was incredible, once again hydration was becoming an issue.

I was using Tailwind and it was working with regard to replenishing carbs and salts, but the heat made me require more liquid to quench my thirst. There wasn't too many streams as the water was quite low, so I was eeking out the Tailwind mix and this resulted in feeling a wee bit light headed at times going along the bottom of the glen. There were a couple of guys (and a dog) out walking and having a cup of tea and a bite to eat in the shade, man, that looked appealing!

At the end of the glen, it's through a farmyard, take a sharp left and yep...uphill for 2 miles! Getting ever more thirsty, a slight panic overcame me as I'd convinced myself that the water station would have packed up after the last runners went through the first time. What a relief to turn a corner on one of the switchbacks and see the gazebo where the station was located. A literal oasis in the desert for me!
After some water, I insisted on some hugs for the marshals before setting off on the continuing climb. I was getting to the top and when it levelled out for a wee bit, it felt great to get going at a decent rhythm again.

I knew at this time Plan A was gone, Plan B was a wee bit under threat, but I could make it if I kept on running. The last 2 miles is downhill (back down that big hill I mentioned just after halfway!) and I simply let the road take me down, legs aching but just keep going forward.

At 30 miles the finish comes into view, but it looks so far away! With around half a mile to go I had 7 minutes to secure my Plan B finish, mon then, head down and batter it out.

I crossed the line in 6hrs 28minutes (Plan B Baby), to surprisingly rapturous applause! I let out a roar (can't control it) and got a reluctant hug from BAM Bill (but I think he liked it really)

Wonderful finish, and it was great to see loads of people at the finish cheering runners in. As I got back to my car for a change of clothes, I looked up and saw Diane approaching the finish, even across the field I could see the smile on her face, and I ended up with a wee lump in my throat thinking about how she would be feeling.

A massive thank you to the BAM organising team, the marshals, volunteers. You folks make it possible for me to make my dreams come true, and I love you all for everything that you do.

An awesome day, the star of the show? God's country, Bonnie Scotland.

What have I learned?

• Yep, sunscreen is a good thing
• Yep, running a marathon 2 weeks before an ultra is OK (good training actually)
• The water station crew will not leave you!
• Be thankful, always

Peace.

Let's lay it on the line for 2017

This year I was hoping to compete in the West Highland Way Race, however I was unsuccessful in the ballot, and it's probably taken me until now to get over the disappointment of that if I'm being totally honest.

On a positive note, I met the criteria to be in the ballot, so I will submit another application in November this year for the 2018 West Highland Way Race.

It also gives me another year to prepare for what I see as my ultimate challenge.

So to this year, I've done two races already, the Nigel Barge 10k where I set a PB of 51:06 and the Alloa Half Marathon in 2:44:33, this was run with Jo McCallum. Jo was running her first ever half marathon. 
We'd worked really hard since January to prepare for the race, going out at least 3 times a week in all weathers, and it was a pleasure to be with Jo as she crossed the finish line...just in front of me!

Next up is the London Marathon on 23 April, last long 20 mile training run completed on Friday 7 April, taper time now, and getting a wee bit nervous. In two weeks time it'll all be over. My aim is to finish in under 4 and a half hours.

I'm running for Rooprai Spinal Trust and fundrasing is going well, but a wee bit extra is always appreciated, so help make a difference and donate if you can.

Other events I have planned this year:

Glen Lyon Ultra Marathon Saturday 6 May, 31 miles

Killearn 10k Saturday 3 June

Clydestride Ultramarathon Saturday 15 July, 40 miles

Mamores Vertical Kilometre (blame Colin Wilson!) Friday15 September

17 September 2016 - The Day The Wheels Came Off

Plan A: Finish in 7 hours 30 minutes
Plan B: Finish in 8 hours
Plan C: Finish

It had to happen sometime, a race that never went to plan, and on 17 September 2016, that day arrived. I said to Steven on the way home, if race days were a football match, this was my getting beaten 7-0 by Barcelona!

The River Ayr Way Challenge is a 40 mile ultramarathon, starting in Glenbuck and finishing at Dam Park Sports Stadium in Ayr. It's source to sea, a cracking course that is both rewarding and very challenging.

Steven Watt and I headed down early Friday afternoon, and got into our digs in Newton Mearns about 4pm, and started get our drop-bags for the race sorted, we had a half hour drive the next morning to catch the bus to the race start. No problem...we'll come back to that.

Have to give a quick mention to Cosmo, Glasgow. What an experience, you are limited to a 1hr 45 minute stay for £15 all you can eat. Steven and I rolled out after 2 hours of (what felt like) non-stop carb loading!

Alarm set for 6am, leave at 6:30 for Ayr. Goodnight!

Woke around 5:50, had a quick shower, some nervous chat getting dressed and the time was flying in. We left the hotel around 6:40, a wee bit late, but still OK. Then we discovered the access road to the motorway isn't as easily accessed as the exit was, Steven got a map up on his phone and the estimated time of arrival was 7:20, oops.
Had visions of us entering the car park like Starsky and Hutch, but we actually made it with five minutes to spare, had time to pick up our race numbers, one quick pee and on the bus.

The bus was the usual chatter of pre race nerves and the chance to speak with people about what they had done previously, what their plans were for the future and the journey is over pretty quickly.

We arrived at Glenbuck at the memorial to Bill Shankly, and I took the opportunity for a quick photo.

The race starts at 9am, and it was a beautiful sunny morning, a perfect day for running. The event is very well organised, plenty water stops and 4 checkpoints.

I was running using Tailwind Nutrition and had opted to go minimal for the dropbags, mostly mini milky ways and jelly babies! When I arrived at checkpoint one I was asked if I wanted a milky way or...a milky way, that's all that was in the bag!

All was going well up until mile 23, I just went totally flat. My hydration was OK, stomach felt fine feet felt fine, but my head was gone, and I had no idea why. I got to a water station and the marshall told me I was at 26.8 miles, my watch said 24.75...my watch was right!

It took me about an hour to get my mind back on track, that hour was spent walking/jogging and plenty soul searching. I was thinking about previous races, was there anything I could draw strength from?

I thought about Katie Hall at the Great Glen Ultra, what did Katie do mentally to complete that course? I thought about would I DNF (did not finish) for the first time. I thought about the runners in JogPKC, the running group at work, and how they have embraced running and get so much from it. How they have overcome barriers both mental and physical to complete what they wanted to achieve. There are a few people I thought about specifically and I'm going to catch up with them and let them now how they helped me.


I got to checkpoint three (31 miles) quick top up of tailwind and I was away again. This tailwind was the 'naked' neutral flavour, however it turned out to be very sweet. And here is how my brain was... I was having a wee sook of tailwind and a wee sook of water and mixing it in my mouth before swallowing, why not mix it in the bottle?
Walk/jog, being encouraged by who I now know was Norrie Hunter (you'll never know how much that helped man), it was a bit of head down and crack on. Plan A was gone, Plan B was gone, would Plan C fall apart too?

The guys at the last checkpoint let me know there was 4 miles to go, so I set off and it was at this point, when I saw this sign, that I knew I was going to finish.

It was very hot by now, but having topped up both drink bottles I had plenty fluids. My feet were starting to feel sore on this last section which is on tarmac, and the studs on the soles of my trail shoes felt like wee needles. I actually passed a guy who was struggling too, we exchanged pleasantries and I could tell he just wanted to be finished too.

I created Plan B.5, let's get this done in under 9 hours. Three and a half miles later when I crossed the bridge and ran along the outside of Dam Park, the tears started to flow, and I couldn't stop them. I was going to finish, one lap of the athletics track and it would be over.

Into the stadium, the sun beating down, I heard Steven (who finished in an awesome 7 hours 20 minutes) roar me on. Sprint finish...no happening, not today.

Crossing the finish line, Steven asked me how I was, my answer was one word with a shake of my head, "brutal", referring to possibly the worst day running I've had. My finish time sums it up. Plan B.5 fell apart too, I crossed the line in 9 hours and 40 seconds.

Thanks to the organisers, marshalls and volunteers, I hope I said thank you to you all. The event was extremely well organised and they even arranged some awesome weather!

A wee video treat of us preparing

What have I learned?
It won't always go how you planned
I can gain strength and inspiration from an amazing number of people and places
Talking to yourself, and cows, is OK
My mental strength is in a good place
There's always another day

Run The Blades 50k - 23 July 2016

Plan A, finish under 5 hours
Plan B, finish under 6 hours
Plan C, finish

Set within Whitelee Wind Farm, Run The Blades is a 50k (31 mile) event. Some would call it undulating, I would say it has some killer hills in there!

Set off at 6:30am, expecting to get there for registration by 8am, and I duly arrived spot on time. At the car park met up with Steven, Fiona and Simon. Steven was doing the 50k as well, Fiona and Simon doing the half marathon. There is also a 10k event for those of you interested in next year?

There was supposed to be a shuttle bus to take us from car park to the visitor centre for registration, I never saw it yet! So we had about a half mile walk to the visitor centre, all the time feeding the midges who were out for some breakfast. Once registered I was getting a wee bit stressed that we would miss the race briefing and start, we were due to start at 9am, it was now 8:50 and we had a 10 minute walk to the start. All of the races were starting from the same point, with 10 minute breaks in between. When we got to the start I was relieved to hear that the start had been delayed by 15 minutes. Chill out John!

Fiona's pal Susan arrived and there was time for a pre race photo before the off.

Simon, Steven, Fiona, Susan and Me

A very quick race briefing, an even quicker 3,2,1 and we were away.
My aim was to run 6.2 miles an hour (roughly 9 minute 35 second miles) and maintain this throughout. That worked...for the first hour! The second hour got off to a crap start...literally. Stomach cramps had me down to a shuffle, anyway moving on. The wind turbines felt and sounded like they were right above your head, and going around at some speed.

The elite runners will run all the way, most ultramarathon runners will walk the ups and run the flats and the downs, and that was my strategy. Plan A was gone my mile 9 and the focus was then on Plan B, under 6 hours. Although the event was set in a windfarm, it was bloody warm.

Wind turbines

Another strategy I use in ultras is to pick someone out ahead of me (around a half mile) and aim to cut down the distance between me and them over the course of the race. If the person in front stops to walk up a hill, I make sure I run a wee bit further than they did before I walk, and I also make sure I start running again before they do on the flat/downhill.  I also found myself talking to the snow poles either side of the tracks, I would use these as a start/stop run point, saying 'alright guys' but quickly turning to 'f**k you guys'
At least I knew I was doing it this time!

Just after mile 16 was a real downer for me, my whole body ached, I was hot, uncomfortable and not really enjoying myself. Then, on a bit of an incline, there was a wee shower of rain, which cooled me down a wee bit. I stopped (to check the colour of my pee) and took a wee breather. Pee check was spot on (straw colour) and this put me in a good place. I was using Tailwind nutrition mix for the first time in an event and it worked perfectly. Basically, the claim is that it's 'all you need' for running all day, providing carbs, salts and electrolytes. I'm not confident enough to go without whole food for 5-6 hours, so I had banana, jaffa cakes and pork pies (and as always, flat fat coke) at checkpoints. I ate the jaffa cakes and pork pies, but only because I'm greedy! The tailwind did it's job.

Between checkpoints 2 and 3 seemed to take forever, the distance was around 8 miles, but felt like 12, from checkpoint 3 there are 6 miles to go to the finish, a lovely downhill to start and then back to up/down, up/down...aaarrrgghhhhhh!

Somewhere along this six mile stretch I realised if I ran 10 minute miles I'd get in under 6 hours...wisnae happening (finished in 6 hours 6 minutes), but you learn a lot from these times. At mile 16 I could've chucked it, but I've somehow developed a stronger mental toughness, or maybe stubbornness and almost thrive on these situations. 'This is what you came for' (copyright Scott Jurek) was the wee mantra that got me through a bad spell.

Up and over one last hill (ye think) and your almost there, then there's another wee cheeky hill and you see a sign that reads '400 metres to go'...I sure it felt longer! Turned a corner, saw the banners and the finish, man what a feeling. Steven very kindly videoed my finish, and I love watching it!

Also at the finish, Katie Hall! Was great to see Katie and have a quick catch up. Delighted to hear she's recovered well from the Great Glen Ultra and is gearing up for her next challenge.

And so am I...

Thanks to Garry and Lee the event organisers and to all of the marshals and checkpoint volunteers, everyone had a smile and encouragement in abundance. It does make a difference, thank you all.

A great ultra event I'd recommend to anyone thinking about having a go at a distance further than 26.2 miles

Lessons learned:

• Don't fixate about shuttle buses
• Tailwind nutrition works for me
• Injinji socks work for me
• If your giving someone faster a run home, give them the car keys
• Running two ultras three weeks apart, is maybe too much (further tests required)

#inabootit

Great Glen Ultra - 2 July 2016 (Oh Ya Bam!)

I love a first, but I wasn't sure about this one...

Plan A, finish in 17 hours
Plan B, finish in under 20 hours
Plan C, finish

The Great Glen Ultra event (71 miles from Fort William to Inverness) starts at 1am, never experienced that before, of the events I've entered so far most start around 9am, so this was a wee bit different.

Susan and I set off on Friday afternoon, we were staying in Spean Bridge, 10 miles from the race start. 
The plan was that Susan would drop me off around 11:30pm for race registration at the Moorings Hotel, just next to the start at Neptunes Staircase, Fort William. We drove up through Glencoe and just as we were approaching the Kingshouse, Susan announced "This is us 71 miles from our front door"...talk about an eye opener!

We stayed at the Distant Hills guesthouse, I made my way to bed around 7pm and planned to have 3 to 4 hours sleep. Around 8:50pm I became aware of a banging noise from the corridor outside our door. Turns out the lock of the door in the room next to us had developed a fault and the owner and a joiner spent the next 3 hours trying to fix it! 
So that was me up. The bonus was I watched the second half of the Wales v Belgium match!

We left the guesthouse (past a very apologetic owner, he got dingied) as planned around 11:15 and drove to Fort William, on our way there we were behind a coach, it turns out this was the 'party bus' of runners who had traveled down from the course finish at Inverness to get registered.

Into the Moorings Hotel, handed over medical form (no form, no registration), handed in my drop bags for the 6 checkpoints, and then it's all about getting your head right, an hour and fifteen minutes until race time!

Susan left around midnight to go back to the guesthouse (where the banging noises had thankfully stopped) and I set about applying the Avon Skin So Soft (wasn't bothered by midges so must have worked!), and sipping away at some water.

12:40 we were asked to make our way across to Neptune's Staircase, which is a five minute walk, we listened to the race briefing and at 1am we were off!

1am start

Neptunes Staircase to Clunes, 10.5 miles
I've done a few runs with a headtorch, but never anywhere as dark as this! I started worrying that everyones headtorch was stronger than mine and my batteries would run out, so tucked in behind a group and turned mine off! Turns out this group were going at a pace much faster than I intended so I let them pull away and turned my torch back on. I then became aware of two runners behind me who had turned their torches off and were following me!

The time got to around 2:45am, had run about 8 miles, and we crossed over the canal, there were two runners ahead of me and they took a sharp right and stayed on the canal towpath and then up into a forest, I followed and quickly met them coming back towards me, they had come across a padlocked gate, we had taken a wrong turning. 
Don't panic...we had a quick chat, figured it out and backtracked a bit to read the signage which would be quite visible in daylight but not so much at 2:45am. 
Now, the worry set in, miss the first checkpoint cut-off and your race is over before it's begun. I'm a big fearty at the best of times, but put me in a forest with a headtorch in the middle of the night and I become a big petrified fearty! Then someone mentioned this is the 'fairy forest', I so wanted out of there. 
The three of us stuck together and eventually (15 minutes later) we saw a few headtorches in the distance which meant we were back on track. Made the checkpoint at around 3:10am, had a quick top up of water and picked up some food from my drop bag and away again.

Clunes to Laggan, 20 miles
The next 10 miles was undulating, and I felt I was running quite well, the headtorch went off as the daylight was breaking through and I was confident of being able to see where I was going. It started to rain, got my waterproof on, put my head down and got on with it. A few times I thought of people lying in their bed and I'm out here running. There's only 98 people on the planet doing this right here right now, and we're all mental! One of the runners I'd taken a wrong turning with in the forest and I had stuck together for about 5 miles, but he was running just a wee bit too fast for my pace so I stopped for a pee and let him go on (never saw him again) We'll talk about pee a bit more later!

Laggan to Fort Augustus, 31 miles
I had aimed to be at 35 miles before I phoned Susan around 8:30am, that wasn't going to happen, I was a bit short, came into Fort Augutus around 7:45am with 31 miles under my belt. There were a couple of climbs between Laggan and Fort Augustus, but it ended with a 3 to 4 mile run along the canal again. I enjoyed this as I could settle into a decent rhythm, although the legs were starting to tire slightly. I spoke with Susan, who told me what a lovely breakfast she was having! We arranged a time to meet at the next checkpoint...Invermoriston

31 miles in

Fort Augustus to Invermoriston, 40 miles
This is where the real ascent started, although my legs were tired I felt good and marched on up the climbs, the views were amazing and the craic was great with other runners on the course. One thing that gets me about the ultra running community is the spirit of togetherness shown between everyone. The massive climb (1,000 feet) was followed by a very steep descent, and I could feel my toes banging off the inside of my shoes. I mentioned about pee earlier, and a good gauge of if you are properly hydrated is the colour of your pee (straw coloured is perfect), mine was causing me a wee bit of concern. Came into Invermoriston around 9:45am, had my favourite drop bag here, beans and mini pork sausages, was awesome. No sign of Susan and when I mentioned this to the marshall she said "yer no waiting for her, on yer way!"
I entered this checkpoint to ELO "Roll Over Beethoven" and left to The Alarms "68 Guns", very uplifting.

Invermoriston to Drumnadrochit, 54.5 miles
The marshall informed me there was a water stop about 8 miles in, but I'd made sure I had around 1 litre of water with me before I left the checkpoint. I can normally go around an hour and a half on one 600ml bottle (and my pee colour is fine!) 
You know when you see those films of the Italian countryside with the winding roads, that's what the next climb was like, up, up and ever up! My GPS battery in watch number one gave up and I switched to my second back up watch. The sun came out, the midges came out, and I was seriously flagging. I was sipping away at the water I had, but it was going down as quick as the hills were going up. 

Above Loch Ness

After what seemed like an eternity the hill started to descend, I stopped for another pee (oops, kinda bright yellow now) and was in serious need of some proper hydration. Had a quick chat with Susan who had missed me by 5 minutes at Invermoriston, and she also informed me if it got really bad, I could drink my own pee, gotta love a resourceful support crew!

About half a mile after I'd spoken with Susan, I came to the end of that section of forest, through a gate, turned a corner and saw the water station, apart from the finish it was my most welcome sight of the day. Angela was in charge here, and I'll be forever grateful to both her and Brin the dog. A lady (Gill?) asked me if I wanted to share a packet of salt and vinegar hula hoops? I agreed and then had a seat to take in some liquids. As I was sitting there another runner emerged from the forest announcing that unless there were 'Tropical Soleros' there was nothing he required and kept moving on!

Leaving the water station there was about a 2 mile run on tarmac before coming into another forest and descending into Drumnadrochit. As I entered the forest I was chased down the track by a greyhound with it's owner running after it screaming! Why does this stuff happen to me? You can see Drumnadrochit for miles before you get there, they really should think about building a bridge over the river which would cut about two miles off your distance.

Drumnadrochit is where I first met Susan all day, what a welcome sight that was. And then...she informed me she had a pie supper for me! Drop bag ditched, gimmee the pie!

Ya dancer!

Turns out Susan was inspired to get the pie supper from fellow runner Sean who had opted for chips and a single deep fried mars bar!

Drumnadrochit to Loch Laide, 62 miles
A long 1.5 miles out of Drumnadrochit on road before the climb started again. As I went up I swear there were some bits I was thinking, "this isnae right, humans urnae built for this!" My pee is now the colour of Tango.

It's about this time I start 'seeing' stuff. I'm tired, my brain is playing tricks on me. 
I'm a big fearty in the middle of a forest and I'm seeing aw kinds o' shit!
At one point I had even agreed in my head it would be OK to die here...woah, wake up call, let's get this done. It's a very slow jog, every stone underfoot feeling like being stabbed at every step. It was relentless, unforgiving...but that's what I came for. 
Mixing it up with nature is an awesome thing, but always remember that nature is in charge!
Arrived at Loch Laide, sort of fell into a seat to look into my drop bag and feel repulsed by everything in it. Katie Hall is there before me, we'd met earlier in the day and Katie was in some very sore pain. Bill (one of the BAM's) informs us it's all downhill to Inverness from here, just down through the spooky forest and then onto...wait a minute, did he say spooky forest?

Loch Laide to Inverness 71 miles
Katie and I set off, 9 miles to go, my second watch had packed in by this time, I was past caring. Half a mile behind us were Graham and Gill, they caught up, we moved, they caught up, we moved on...and repeat. I should probably apologise to Katie for my inane drivel, given that she was suffering enough without listening to a madman saying things like... "Oh look, there's a cheetah, with a rat in it's stomach!" 
I'm being serious here.
After what seemed like forever, (Bill was right, it was mostly downhill) we arrived in Inverness, along the canal towpath, across the swingy bridge thing and into the stadium. I spot Susan right away, the tears started a while ago, but they are in full flow now. I'm so close, there are 70 miles behind me and 200 metres to go. I took off my backpack, let it go and ran for the finish, it wasn't a sprint, but it felt bloody good!

71 miles...done!

The number 1 support crew

My new pal Katie

The next morning at the prize giving I blubbered all the way through, some very emotional scenes, amazing achievements by extraordinary people. Many thanks to team BAM (ye are bams by the way) every marshall (humans and dogs) and everyone who helped in any way from registration to finish line. A fantastically well organised event which I would recommend to all.

Prizegiving

What have I learned?

• These old bones are on a journey, I never knew if they could go 71 miles, I hoped they would, and they never let me down.
• Hydration, regularly check the colour of your pee, more than I did (it's back to normal now, took 24 hours though).
• Always appreciate those you love and who are there for you, it's a special thing.

#beinspired #betheinspiration