Having quite liked the 30 something ultra marathons last year, I’d decided to try one of the longer races this year. Having received a rejection email for the Highland Fling back in October, I quickly entered the Glasgow to Edinburgh G2E (before I changed my mind). It follows the towpath along the Clyde and Union canals which isn’t exactly my favourite terrain. But the timing fitted well to have the D33 ultra as a test race.
For G2E being a one way run, logistics aren’t too bad, being as you can easily get the train back Glasgow. So drive down, overnight stop, run, get the train back and then drive home seemed to be the easiest plan for me…. with a contingency of booking a hotel after the race if it all went tits up.
Registration was easy and I put in a drop bag containing a change of clothes, to be taken to the finish. The race brief was quite simple, with a couple of notable points. Take care on the muddy or cobbled sections, so you don’t fall in. The canal must always be on your right or your going the wrong way! With this years start being moved from the nearby park, down to the canal bank there’s only two turns to make, so its a very easy route to follow.
Starting around 20 places back, I soon settled into a comfortable pace. Yeah it was quicker than I’d originally planned but I struggled to keep to the slower pace on my last couple of long runs so just went with the flow. Some people surged ahead and you can kinda tell you’ll be seeing them again later (hopefully). Chatting with a few people who were on their first ultra and just out to finish in 9-10 hours, their current pace was probably fine for a marathon but this was going to be two of them and then a few more miles for the fun of it.
Around 6 miles in, everyone had settled down and there was a fair distance between the individual runners that I could see. At 13.1 miles, the first leg is the longest, between the start and CP1 at Auchinstarry Bridge. Approaching the CP I got my pack off and had managed to fill up the bladder with the Tailwind powder I was using for fuel, just ready to add water and scarper without losing too much time.
Getting closer to Falkirk, the towpath was becoming busier with other runners and people just out for a wander. It had turned into a glorious spring morning and the impressive Falkirk wheel was drawing a few tourists. I was expecting to see the wheel from aways back, but it remained hidden by the trees until your right there. Dodging past a few people who were trying to frame photos, then across the bridge to CP2 and 22.5 miles completed.
Until the 1930s, 11 locks used to link the two canals, but they took hours for the barges to navigate through and thousands of gallons of water. The wheel is a wonderfully efficient solution, raising and lowering 24m in one go. So this is the really big hill of the day! A short tunnel cuts through the hill and a couple of locks gets you up to the original line of the Union canal. It wasn’t long to passing the marathon distance, then the half way point and 3h 41min on the clock.
With the milestone distances ticked off in quick succession, then there was a long dark tunnel to go through. It was good to have a decent torch handy and it was even better when I took my shades off! All this happening and the path being quite busy, the section to CP3 at Linlithgow was probably the highpoint of the race.
A fairly quick pitstop to refill the bladder, assisted by Kristian and straight off again and apparently in 7th place. On the way to CP4 at Broxburn, the earlier fast pace, sun and longest ever run were starting to show. Its the little things combined that screw with your head. I had a sharp edge on a finger nail that was bugging me, no matter how I nibbled at it. One of my trainers had developed a squeak with every stride… or maybe it was my knees. Then I was needing a pee but looking back I was being caught by another runner, who was the lead lady. We exchanged places a couple of times and chatted for a few miles, arriving at CP4 (42 mile point) together in 4th and 5th places.
I messed up opening one of the Tailwind stick packs, spilling half of the powder. Still it was a quick stop and we were only a few minutes behind the 3rd place runner. My drink now tasted really weak but it was only 10km to the last CP. Briefly the sun gave way to a dark cloud and a few minutes of rain. I should have loved it, but it sucked. Here the route is heading away from the finish point, the crosswind was now a headwind, low on fuel and that bloody squeak. Yep that was the low point. Scoffing my emergency squirrel bar and piece of fudge helped perk me up again and eventually CP5 at Ratho appeared just in time.
Another quick stop and only 10k remaining but Charlotte was away a few metres ahead and increasing the gap minute by minute. With no sign of anyone chasing us down and no sign of the chap in third place, I figured the race was between us two and she was looking stronger than I felt… besides, weather I beat her or she beat me, I’d still be fourth male… So I had a walk for a minute. Fudge and fresh fuel kicking in and rested after the walk, I got going again. Arthurs Seat comes into view and the final 5k wizzed by, made even better with loads of people saying “well done” as I passed. 500m sign and then the finish banner is in sight. A quick shoulder check and thank god there’s no threat that needs a sprint finish.
So that’s it. 54 miles, 87km covered in 7 hours 46 minutes for a medal, t-shirt and a great sense of achievement. Will I do it again? Probably not, but…..
Report by: Neil Purdie