Hoka Highland Fling 26/04/2014
The Hoka Highland Fling is a 53mile Ultra Marathon along the West Highland Way, starting at Milngavie and finishing in Tyndrum. For the past two years I have supported Steven doing this run and have always enjoyed the atmosphere but this year I entered a team for the relay race. My team comprised of myself, Jenni, Karen and Stevens sister Joey. We named ourselves the Highland FlingerBlingers!
Leg 1 – Start at Milngavie to Drymen. Our London Marathon superstar Karen did this, she found it quite easy until the last mile, which is uphill and via a bog and into a wet field. She was slightly dirty when she arrived at Drymen but had a huge smile on her face.
Leg 2 – Drymen to Rowardennan, up over Conic Hill. This was taken head on by Jenni; it was her condition of being on my team, that she got to run up and over Conic Hill (yes yes she is mad). Although she thrived on it and sailed through her section smiling and taking photos along the way. She called me a couple of times during her run and sounded like she was hyper and enjoying every minute.
Leg 3 – Rowardennan to Beinglas Farm. Joey took on this leg of the relay because quite frankly she’s a Morrison and I knew she would have the determination, skill and sheer bloody mindedness to do it. This section is by far the most technical of the entire course. Her dad, Graeme kindly warned her that it would take her 4 hours, but in good Morrison style she arrived in just under 3 hours. She did swear at me a lot and threw her empty bottle at me and said “That wasn’t a run, that was a f**king obstacle course”. She is however still talking to me and has happily agreed to go back next year.
Leg 4 – Beinglas Farm to Tyndrum, the finish line. Ok ok so I had the glory leg, quite ironic considering I’m peg leg these days. So my section was fun and games. Lots of hills, and I don’t mean Brumley Brae! I mean steep straight up hills that go on for what feels like miles. Once you get to the top it’s a sheer drop down, very hard to run down! Then you’re faced with another hill. But, surprisingly, I loved every step of my 12 miles! Even COW POO alley, which is exactly what it says it is, running through wet, sloppy, smelly COW POO. Once I had got through this I ran past some lovely marshals and I apologised for the smell, they laughed and said it was ok because being dressed as a fairy had made their day (yes I ran in a pink tutu, pink leg warmers and pink lace gloves, don’t ask why, it was just fun). I was finally met at the last half mile by Jenni and Karen to kick my butt to run over the finish line, which was fab as it was red carpet all the way!!!
All in all I can safely say we all had an Epic experience and cannot wait to go back again next year.
MRR had another team down, Moray Babes, which was Sally, Tish, Claire and Amanda. I can vouch for them and tell you they all loved every minute of it all too!
Report by: Faye Mallen