Hoka Highland Fling 26/04/2014
Saturday morning 4:20am my alarm goes off after just a few hours of sleep, just 1hr 40min to go to the start of the race. The weather outside isn’t looking too great, drizzly rain and a strong breeze but that isn’t going to stop the 800 or so runners. 5am and we’re in the car heading to Milngavie train station to meet up with the rest of the runners. Race briefing starts at 5:45 and there is a strong smell of deep heat as everyone is crowed together. My drop bags are all placed in the correct cars to be transported to the checkpoints. I’m doing the race self supported as Faye has her relay team to organise. Just before 6am we all gather under the under pass ready for the countdown. We’re off, heading up the high street with all the crowds cheering us on. The weather had now stopped raining but the path was wet with lots of puddles. About 4 miles in I looked at my watch and realise it hasn’t started!! So I have to spend the rest of the day adding 4 miles to my total.
First checkpoint is Drymen at 12miles in1hr 34min and both club relay teams are there cheering me on, thanks guys. Faye runs up the road with me as I eat a banana and have a drink of lucozade before I start the climb up into the forest then up over Conic hill. Just as I passed the summit the cloud lifts and Loch Lomond appears in all its glory, but no time to take it in as it’s the brutal descent down to Balmaha at 20 miles in. I shout out my number and my drop bag is handed to me and I top up my drink bottles and have a muller rice to fuel me to the next checkpoint.
We’re off again for the next 7 miles of undulating paths following the loch to Rowardenan, all is still going well with the hills giving a break from the running . I arrive at Rowardenan the 2nd checkpoint, 27.2 miles in 3hr 57min and collect my drop bag. Faye and my sister are there to help me get ready for the next section.
Off we go again still feeling strong but my foot injury I’ve been having for the past 5 weeks is starting to hurt so a few painkillers are needed. This section is the one i love the most as it gets quite technical over the second half and takes the mind off the running, along with the stunning views. I arrive at Inversnaid, 34 mile in collect my drop bag and the marshals help out in filling up juice bottles and opening food for you. I had a chat with John Kynaston as he was marshalling and he gave me some motivation to push on through to Beinn glass farm at the northern point of the loch. This is the section that did the damage to me as the ground is so rough, scrambling down rocks, up wooden ladders and ducking under trees and my foot was hurting. Beinn glass farm appeared and I was still in good time, 41 miles in 6hr 53 min. I collected my drop bag, topped up and ate the contents as best as i could. We’re off again, this section is mostly all up hill with cow poo alley looming then the roller coaster. A few minutes out and as I started to climb the pain was too much and decided to walk the last 11 miles, at this point I was in about 30th position and would have been on for matching my time from last year.
Cow poo alley lived up to its name this year especially after all the rain, putting it mildly 4 inches of cow poo to wade through for a mile. All the time I’m walking I’m being passed by other runners and its starting to play on my mind (what the f*** am i doing here) but I’m strong willed and I march on. After we leave cow poo alley I hit the roller coaster, about 2 miles of steep ups and downs and now the balls of my feet are starting to hurt with my marching pace but the end is near and I will not give up until I get that medal. I pass through Auchtertyre with less than 2 miles to go and its quite flat to the end, I hear the piper and know I’ve only got a few meters to go. I see the red carpet and finish line are in sight and I just have to run the final 50 metres and we’re there in 9hr 47min and finished still in a respectable 74th position, time for some soup, water, a change of clothes and a rest.
Just to be back here in 8 weeks time as my dad and I both take on the full West Highland Way. I would also like to say well done to my dad for also doing the fling for the 6th time and both the girl relay teams which included my partner Faye and my sister Joey , well done to you all.
Report by: Steven Morrison