Glencoe is a pretty iconic place – steep by nature and steeped In history. I spent quite a lot of weekends here during my time with RAF Mountain Rescue. So, when someone suggested that they were now running a marathon, it seemed like a good challenge. The fact that its billed as the toughest in the UK didn’t start alarm bells ringing until after I’d paid for entry…..DOH!!!
Luckily, Paul Innes decided that he thought it was a “Good idea” as well so off we went down from Elgin. We travelled down to Fort William the night before in order to get registration squared away, then on to the important stuff off carb loading. Strangely, common sense head made an appearance, and only 2 pints of “liquid carbs” were consumed before bed. 1200 people were expected in Fort William for the marathon, half marathon and the 10k so the town was busy.
Next morning, we had to be in Glen Nevis (At the visitor centre) for 0730 – we had to scrape the ice off the car! Buses from here then got everyone round to the start line at the red squirrel campsite in Glencoe. It was -3c when we arrived in the Glen, but not a single cloud in the sky. Stunning didn’t quite cover it.
We started in group D which set off about 0920ish – the run up the Glen was relatively straight forward, on mostly good path. Had to cross the road a couple of times, but marshals in place to assist with traffic. The higher up the Glen you went, the sheer numbers taken part became apparent. An 800 strong line of people snaking its way up the Glen. Near the top of Glencoe, we left the road and traversed across to meet the West Highland Way towards the Devils Staircase. This traverse line (About mile 8) 
was desperate, boggy ground, with little or no path. By the time we reached the proper West Highland Way path, everyone’s legs were sapped.
The views from the top of the Devils staircase were incredible – clear blue skies – views of Buachaille Etive Mor to the south and Ben Nevis to the north. The run from here to Kinlochleven was mostly downhill on good paths, so managed to make good time on this stretch. A large crowd greeted us at the half way point in Kinlochleven – the support during the race was excellent. Conscious effort was made here to take on plenty fuel for what was coming.
The next 2 miles out of Kinlochleven can only be described as emotional. Steep and warm, but on good path. Once it levelled out, the legs recovered a wee bit. The path from this point traversed along an old military road down the back of the Mamores mountains, heading west/northwest – we were now heading back towards Glen Nevis. It was pretty warm, and I was getting cramp in my quads. I tried to stretch it out but every other muscle in my leg then cramped up! Arrgrhhh – A bag of crisps at the next feed station helped out.
At the 20 mile point was the last water stop/feed station. This included a full cheese board and port!! From this point we started to climb up again (bugger) into the forestry, which was quite a dark episode! Soon we reached some open forestry tracks and the marshals told us “3 miles to go – ALL DOWNHILL” – ya dancer! Shame my legs were fixed in 
in 2nd gear by this point.
Down down down into Glen Nevis – soon we could hear the music and loudspeakers from the finish line – the finish was somewhat boggy, nearly lost my shoes as I crossed/fell across the line in 5:25. 26.2 epic miles including 1600 meters of ascent.
Will I go back and do it next year – absolutely. Great race, pretty epic in places, and in a brilliant location.
Report by: Alan Swadel