The West Highlandway Race is over for another year and sadly for me it didn’t exactly go to plan!
The day of the race was spent sorting out the car, checking I had my kit and trying to relax. HWMBO and I drove up to Dunbarton To pick up Hay Diddle Diddle from the station, it was rather amuzing trying to fit three people and all the kit in the car but with a lot of shoving and pushing we set off back to Milngavie.
Hay Diddle Diddle and I walked down to registration where I picked up my goodie bag, was weighed, which I hate! Bumped into a few folk including Els and Drew which was lovely. Drew who has done the race before gave me a few tips about the course which was very useful (or would have been had I managed to get that far!!!!)
Start time was getting closer, time to get into my running kit and walk to the start. It was marvellous to chat to friends who were all very excited about the race……was I the only person who was nervous!
Race briefing done, we wondered over to the start, my heart was pounding and I felt sick, all quite normal. Not quite sure why as I was planning on enjoying this race so had no pressure on me which was lovely. Had a laugh with Bill and Euan then we were off 173 head torches running through the town with great cheers from on lookers at 1am om Saturday 23rd June.
Like everyone it takes about 20 minutes for my body to start feeling ok, but this time my heart rate was very high, my breathing was laboured and legs felt like lead, surely this would pass.
Coming up to Beech tree at 7 miles I was running with Rosie, what a marvellous lady;this was I believe her 8th WHW. Running throughbeach Tree I saw HWMBO and Hay Diddle Diddle who asked if I was ok to which I replied yes, then laughed and said no!
I would like to point out at this stage that it was pissing down with rain and even though I had waterproofs on I was drenched. Onwards and upwards to the next meeting point at Drymen 12 miles so not far.
It was all runnable but I was still not feeling my normal bouncy self, but told myself I was just having my bad patch early to get it over with! Ran through Dryman where my crew offered me water and food but I declined as I ran past. – comment from HWMBO “well that was worth standing in the pouring rain for 20mins “! Hay Diddle Diddle looked very fetching in her poncho!
I was still running with Rosie and a group of others although there was no talking as we were concentrating on our footing and avoiding puddles (I rain through the puddles as after the jungle I was used to having wet feet) we came out onto a road where I quite happily missed the turning and would have continued, but thankfully was shouted at – PHEW! (the road sections were like rivers, there was so much rain) After a few more miles we crossed another road into a car park where there were loads of support crew, HWMBO and Hay Diddle Diddle were meeting me at Balmaha the first main CP at 19 miles so I just contiued on my way.
This section was through the woods, the going under foot was still runable, but the path was rocky. After about a mile I tripped but managed to save myself then a few moments later had another spectacular trip, flying to the ground, landing on my hands followed by my right knee and thigh completing the fall landing heavily on my right hip….OUCH and just to complete the stylish fall I also twisted my ankle. The other runners were marvellous, I couldn’t have asked for a nicer bunch of people, thank you. James Elson came running up and sorted me out, giving me his waterproof trousers (mind were with my crew) and making sure I was OK; rather pathetically I was doing a very girlie thing and crying, everything hurt and for me it was the end of my race. After a big wet hug he continued on his way. Thank you to everyone who helped me and made sure I was OK before going on, really appreciated.
I then had the walk back to the car park passing all the other runnings coming towards me, I cheered them on but felt very sorry for myself and of course my body temperature had dropped because I was walking. Thankfully I found a lovely couple at the car park who put me in their car, gave me coffee and drove me to Balmaha to meet up with my crew.
So that was it, my WHW race was over and for me I considered it a failure, but why is it that us runners always consider having to pull out of a race due to injury as a failure, it certainly isn’t, its life. Our bodies are amazing machines and as Ultra Runners we push them to the limit and sometimes things happen that are out of our control – we are after all human!
HWMBO and I went to the finish on Saturday to watch Terry Conway run in setting a new course record in a time of 15hrs 39 mins an outstanding run and a fantastic run by Rosie Bell who finished as first lady in a great time of 20hrs 15 minutes (I believe a PB for her) Many congratulations to everyone who stood on the start line whether you finished or not, especially in such horrendous conditions.
Lessons learnt: the main one is do not enter a race like the WHW when only 3 weeks earlier I had completed the Jungle Ultra, my body was still tired and I didn’t give the race the respect it deserved.
A fantastic race, well organised, wonderful people and support and I will be back to finish the job and get my Goblet. Thank you SO SO much to my amazing crew HWMBO and Katherine Hay Heddle who were marvellous.
No running for me until my ankle has healed, then its onwards and upwards and new challenges!
Happy Training
