September 2008

Milngavie- Fort William, 95 miles over 4 days

This week was really tough. The weather and ground conditions didn't help, but neither did the fact that just two weeks earlier I had run a race that was over 86 miles. I struggled a lot, both mentally and physically. I knew it was going to be tough, so soon after the Ridgeway, but planned to just take it easy. However although at times I was just plodding along, I probably pushed myself more than I should, as I wanted to beat last years total time. Was a lot quicker this time, total running time of 24hrs 37 minutes, compared to 26hrs 29 minutes last time. Even though it was over 4 days not 5, so I had a lot less rest in between. Hopefully that means I will be able to complete the race within the 35 hours next June. It wasn't all struggle - there were some highlights. I still adore Rannoch Moor. Last time I crossed it, it was sunny, and although it made it look more beautiful, it seemed a little inappropriate for such a desolate place. This time it was full of dark stormy clouds and it just seemed perfect. The moment of happiness on the Devil's Staircase was great. I actually enjoy that climb. It's open and honest, whereas with the other big climbs, such as Conic Hill, where you think you're making progress, only to drop right down again to cross a stream and so have to repeat the strenouous climb you've just done, or the climb out of Kinlochleven, where it's woody and so you can't see how far you have left to go up (a long long way), you feel somehow cheated. With the staircase, it's all there. Yes it's high, yes it's steep, but you can see exactly what is needed. I like it. The encounter with Highland Coos was a highlight. This was near the end of the longest day, and I had pretty much lost the will to move. I came across a group of coos, one of which was stood square across the path, and was nursing her calf. I couldn't move off the path, as it was full of waterlogged ditches and bogs, so I edged forward hoping she would move. She didn't. When I was about 6 feet away, she just started mooing. I saw there was another 4 calves behind her, and the other mummies were close to the path. So I waited. And waited. And waited. She wasn't going to move. So I gritted my teeth, and ploughed my way through the foul stench of the ditches and bogs, making my feet even wetter and stinkier than there were before. And because of the other calves behind her, I had to stay off the path until I had passed them as well. But they were all so young, and so tiny, and so cute, that it had to be a highlight. Stinky bog feet or otherwise. The day/night in the Kingshouse Hotel was brilliant. I had passed quite a few walkers that morning, and I stopped for a drink at the Bridge of Orchy and Inveroran Hotels, and some of them were there. They mostly knew one another from walking over the week, but they included me in the conversations. They were intrigued by my running of the Way. By the time the walkers had all arrived at Kingshouse, word had spread of the mad girl running the Way, and they all wanted to chat. Well, you know me, I hate being the centre of attention... It was a great evening - certainly the friendliest of my trip. I don't know if that's due to the atmosphere of Kingshouse, or because you're so far into the journey by that point (72 miles) that everyone feels that they're in it together, or if they were just particularly friendly groups, but it was great. And the next day, I started after them, and so whenever I overtook a group, they all stood back from the path and clapped as I went past. Aw.