It all began one cold dark October night. I sat crunched over a laptop my fingers twitching. I was poised like a tiger ready to pounce. I was also suitably lubricated by red wine. My mobile alert rang out and I was off, punching in my details as fast as possible and click……my eyes were glued to the little eggtimer spinning round and round…. Done. As quick as I could I logged on to see the entry list, I was something like the 700th entry and it had only been open a couple of minutes. I was in. Within minutes it was sold out and the Facebook page was alive with a mixture of those delighted to get a place and those that had disappointedly missed out.
Fast forward to early March, training had been going well to that point with long weekend runs and the anticipation of the D33 ultra as a wee test run in a couple of weeks. I was however having increasing discomfort with ankle pains, Achilles problems and sciatica. Nothing that a few Ibuprofen couldn’t sort I thought but as the D33 neared it was getting worse and combined with a flu bug I took a late decision to pull out. A session with a physio friend Fiona, an appointment with a Podiatrist to get some orthotic insoles and the purchase of a trusty foam roller and kinesiology tape and I was on the comeback. I took it easy for a few weeks training wise, sticking to my daily 5ks but come April I knew I had to get some long runs in. After a rainy 26 miles with Neil P and Steven M one Sunday and then the next weekend an epic ascent of Ben Rinnes in the snow followed by a further 20 odd miles over Rothes to Fogwatt I was feeling more confident. Judgement day was two weeks away. My tapering involved a few training bike rides as on another cold dark, wine lubricated night I had signed up for the Loch Ness Etape. That’s another story, but it did go well considering.
In the days before, I was very pre-occupied with my preparations. Sorting my favourite kit, preparing my drop bags with essential fuel, pouring over the race details pack and analysing past results to work out my intended splits. Although I had completed my first two Ultra in 2015 – the D33 and the Speyside Way Ultra (37 miles), this was a step up into the unknown. Thankfully, Steven M, was a very useful source of advice and tips having done it a number of times already.
On Friday, I drove down to Tyndrum (the finish) to drop the car off. I walked up to the finish and I could feel a wave of emotion as I visualised myself running down the finishing straight the next day. It was now feeling really real. I met my Brother in Law, David, and we caught the train down to Glasgow. As we travelled, he pointed out of the window at parts of the route and I imagined how I might be feeling. Registration at the Burnbrae Inn in Bearsden was buzzing with the support team and other competitors. We shared a table for dinner with a few others and swapped stories of our running exploits, fuelling preferences and our long suffering families. I made my excuses at 8.30 and 
headed back to my B&B. One last check of the kit and lights out.
4.30am the alarm went and I inhaled a couple of Muller Rice and a banana before sharing a taxi to the start with two Norweigens runners who were also taking part. The Car park at Milngavie was alive with people and as you always find at Ultra events, lots of hugs and handshakes as people reconnected with folk they had met at other such bonkers events. After a race briefing from the legendary Jonny ‘Fling’ Duncan we were off at 6am sharp. My careful analysis some night before had determined that I wanted a sub 10 hour time so Steven and I set off at the back of the Sub 10 hour wave. We had to do the first 12.4 miles to Drymen in 1.40 by my calculations. It was a cold morning but very little wind and the run up to Drymen was moderately undulating on good paths and sections of tarmac so we passed through in good time at 1.39.
The next section was up to Balmaha (19 miles) and included an ascent round the shoulder of Conic Hill. The top Ultra runners tip is to walk steep uphill sections to save the legs. During these walking sections you fuel up. Steven’s mantra ‘ just keep moving’ playing over in my mind. It wasn’t too long before we hit the top and we started a steep descent down stone steps towards first drop bag stop at Balmaha. This section was playing havoc with my ankles so was particularly tentative. We reached the drop bag point and rifled through our supplies before stuffing our faces furiously with banana, haribo, babybell and Lucozade.
The next three sections of 20 miles or so through Rowardennan, to Invernsaid and then onto Beinglas were a bit of a blur to be honest. I encountered some of the toughest terrain I have faced in a race and when you have tired legs your mind has to be extra sharp to avoid potential face planting. The course weaves along the eastern side of Loch Lomond along rocky and rooty up and down paths. Steven was taking the lead and I was just doing my best to stay as close as I could. The drop bag feed fests were welcome and necessary but despite the tough terrain we were also keeping to my schedule.
From Beinglas, the last drop bag stop, it is 12.7 miles to the finish and you have to negotiate Coo Poo Alley and the Roller Coaster. Having negotiated the tough middle section, the finish seemed within touching distance and mentally I was feeling good, my legs however did not feel the same. Fortunately Coo poo alley did not live up to its legendary status although I did remind Steven that he was wearing red as we passed through a field of cattle. The Rollercoaster challenged the legs but before long we were crossing the main road with around 3 miles to go. Steven by this point was struggling with stomach cramps but I could see we were on for beating his PB if we could just keep moving. Steven gamely accepted my words of encouragement although I’m sure inside he was telling me where to stick them! Every incline by this point looked like a mountain but gradually the last few miles ticked by and you could hear the distant sound of the bagpiper at the finish. As we rounded the last bend we were met by the famous red carpet, flags and cheers. We crossed the line in 9hr 14 minutes – absolutely spent but delighted especially as Steven beat his PB by two minutes.
After numerous cups of sugary coffee, delicious home made soup and a couple of baked potatoes with cheese and beans I felt that I was beginning to replace some of the 8500 calories expended.
Claire Reilly was the next MRR in at 11hrs. Bloodied and bruised after a fall but still in good spirits. Steven’s Dad, Graeme, a Fling stalwart, was next in impressively finishing in 11hr 11mins despite a lack of proper training due to an injury. Fiona Brant completed the squad coming in at 12hrs, a fantastic effort and a good training run for her attempt (and Claire’s) at the West Highland Way race next month. T-shirt and bumper sticker well and truly earned by all.
It is a superbly well organised race and the atmosphere is second to none. The Ultra community are so welcoming and you find yourself thriving on the positive vibes of everyone. I have ticked this off my list but could well be drawn back again……
Positions:
Ed Dunbar 9hr14.03 50th
Steven Morrison 9 hr14.04 51st
Claire Reilly 11hr03.31 218th
Graeme Morrison11hr 11.27 232nd
Fiona Brant 12hr00.13 331st
Report by: Ed Dunbar