WEST HIGHLAND WAY WEEKEND 22-24 MAY 2009
Report by Pauline Walker

Paul Hutton took on the challenge of organising a Harrier outing over the West Highland Way split over three days. For those of us who have done the race this was going to be awfully civilised with dinner and pyjamas (or not in Stevie’s case!) scheduled into the adventure so I thought it would be interesting to see how the rest of our co-adventurers felt so I simply asked the questions are here are their answers:

PAUL HUTTON

What gave you the idea for organising this weekend?
After helping Gail in the WHW race I thought it would be a good idea to see what it was all about (but over three days).

What’s been the biggest headache to get organised?
No problems organising things, the training was a problem, but the big issue was organising Stevie Greer.

What are you most looking forward to?
Short answer read: Reaching Fort William!

What do you think will be the most difficult section?
I think getting up on Day 2 and 3 and having to run will be hard.

Are you planning to do the WHW Race in the future?
Do I look MAD?? No chance!! I had thought about it for my 40th next year but then I sobered up and quickly changed my mind.

DAY 1 (FROM MILNGAVIE TO BEINGLAS FARM – 41 miles)

KENNY MACDONALD

What training have you done with this weekend in mind?
A few hill runs – not enough!

What are you most looking forward to today?
A meal and a pint.

Do you have a target in mind for today? For the weekend?
To enjoy.

What will you eat/drink during today’s run?
Peanut butter/jam sandwiches.

How many pairs of socks did you bring with you?
Six.

SUE WALKER

What training have you done with this weekend in mind?
Three runs on WHW in 2009, lots of long runs and a forty miler in January.


What are you most looking forward to today?
Starting!

Do you have a target in mind for today? For the weekend?
Finishing is the main target – finishing intact is a bonus!

What will you eat/drink during today’s run?
Won’t drink much, never do. Ginger Beer: Water 1:2, pieces and jam, rice crispie cakes, oat bars, mini cheddars and tablet.

How many pairs of socks did you bring with you?
Six.

Any additional comments?
I’m really looking forward to the run. As it’s not a race there’s no pressure.

PETER HUMPHREYS

What training have you done with this weekend in mind?
London marathon training.

What are you most looking forward to today?
Finishing with a Guinness!

Do you have a target in mind for today? For the weekend?
To finish each day without being in too much distress.

What will you eat/drink during today’s run?
Don’t know what I will want to eat, but have brought sandwiches, gels, fruit and biscuits. Today I will be drinking water/ginger beer (2 litres).

How many pairs of socks did you bring with you?
Three running and three social.

DAY 2 (FROM BEINGLAS FARM TO KINGSHOUSE – 31 miles)

ALLAN MACAULAY

How did you get on yesterday?
10 hrs 45 min. Great until Rowardennan, then got slower. Inversnaid to Beinglas was torture! However eventually caught and finished with Kenny, Colin and Paul. I had run (sorry correction – walked) with Paul ‘til “2 mile to Beinglas” sign then told him he was on his own mate!

What’s your plan for today?
Same as yesterday, stick close to Pauline and Fiona. That plan fell apart after about one mile, no 200 yards, yesterday but I won’t make the same mistake today ……… mmm?

How are your feet bearing up?
Feet are completely ok, ankles up???

Have you done any runs on the WHW before this weekend?
Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse four or five times supporting Lynne Kuz.


Are you planning to do the WHW Race in the future?
Absolutely not! No further comment.

Any additional comments?
After yesterday I have total admiration for those who do the WHW Race. How you can do another 50 miles in one day after what I did yesterday is amazing.

COLIN REID

How did you get on yesterday?
Good, found it enjoyable at times and a nightmare also. Finished it, so well chuffed.

What’s your plan for today?
To finish it.

How are your feet bearing up?
Fine, changed shoes for today.

Have you done any runs on the WHW before this weekend?
Yes, a six hour recce and a five hour one.

Are you planning to do the WHW Race in the future?
Ask me that after Day 3.

Any additional comments?
Mentally it’s tough, at times you have to dig deep. Try not to think about how many miles (or hours) you have to do.

PETER SIMPSON

How did you get on yesterday?
Felt OK ‘til the rocks at Inversnaid.

What’s your plan for today?
Start easy ‘til I feel OK.

How are your feet bearing up?
OK ‘til I start running and I will find out then.

Have you done any runs on the WHW before this weekend?
No all new to me.

Are you planning to do the WHW Race in the future?
No way! It is hard going doing it in three days!

Any additional comments?
Having support with the van is great.

DAY 3 (FROM KINGSHOUSE TO FORT WILLIAM – 23 miles)

FIONA RENNIE

What have you found the most challenging so far?
Getting my head round it’s still 95 miles although it was all for fun.

What have you enjoyed the most so far?
Perversely the run towards Kingshouse in the rain and having a lie down in the bluebells.

What is your target for today?
Finish with a smile (and that won’t be hard).

What is the first thing you will do when you get home?
Eat.

Any additional comments?
I have enjoyed watching Carnegie Harriers going from one small step for Ultra and one large step for Carnegie.

HELENA SIM

What have you found the most challenging so far?
The rocky road.

What have you enjoyed the most so far?
The company and the scenery.

What is your target for today?
To reach the Leisure Centre before 4pm.

What is the first thing you will do when you get home?
Have a bath!

Any additional comments?
Having done two sections of the WHW I can better appreciate what runners go through in the actual race. I am now convinced you must be all nutters! No wonder that crystal goblet is amongst your treasured possessions. What a great weekend!

COLIN REYNOLDS

What have you found the most challenging so far?
Trying to overcome a right knee injury!

What have you enjoyed the most so far?
Helping my running clubmates pursue their torture.

What is your target for today?
To stay dry and warm in the mini-bus.

What is the first thing you will do when you get home?
Kiss my wife, my daughter and my dogs – in that order!

Any additional comments?
Could do better!!!!





GAIL MURDOCH

What have you found the most challenging so far?
Picking yourself up when tired from the day before. Keeping the pace down in order to save yourself for the next day.

What have you enjoyed the most so far?
Good company. Banter. Seeing everyone challenge themselves beyond what they thought they could do.

What is your target for today?
To descend from the Devil’s Staircase without trashing my quads. Finishing in time to get a shower. Finishing without injuring myself before the WHW Race.

What is the first thing you will do when you get home?
Cuddle/kiss my children. Sleep.

Any additional comments?
Fab weekend. Great training. Great fun. What a brilliant bunch of folk to share it with.
Ken – “we’re not worthy” of your support!

END OF DAY 3 AT FORT WILLIAM – 95 miles completed

STEPHEN GREER

What has been the highlight of the weekend?
Camaraderie, team work.

What did you find the most challenging?
Getting up to start Day 2.

What did you enjoy eating the most during the run?
The haddock and chips I saved from Saturday night.

What has been the most useful piece of kit you have used this weekend?
Cycling shorts to prevent chaffing.

If you were to do this again is there anything you would do differently?
Have a mobile.

PETER HUMPHREYS

What has been the highlight of the weekend?
Steve Greer’s 3am naked shuffle at Beinglas.

What did you find the most challenging?
The first 20 miles of Day 1.


What did you enjoy eating the most during the run?
Crystallised Ginger.

What has been the most useful piece of kit you have used this weekend?
The £1 Poncho from Tesco – superb equipment across Rannoch Moor.

If you were to do this again is there anything you would do differently?
I don’t think so.

Any additional comments?
Sterling work from the drivers/support crew. Very much appreciated!

JIM SMALL

Where did you cycle, how far did you go?
Balmaha to Inversnaid – 14 miles.
St Fillan’s Priory (Kirkton Farm) to Kingshouse – 21 miles.

What was the most difficult section to drive the bus and trailer?
Kinlochleven to Kingshouse (looking for Steve).

What was your most stressed moment?
See above – worrying we had left someone behind!!

Has anything made you laugh out loud?
Lots of moments from start to finish but nobody saw me, apart from Ken, falling off my bike into Loch Lomond!!

Any additional comments?
Very well organised event and everyone seemed to enjoy the weekend. Would like to try something like this being able to run/walk.

KEN WALKER

Where did you cycle, how far did you go?
Day 1 – Dumgoyne Distillery south about one mile ‘til we met you – you were far too quick! Balmaha to Milarrochy Bay – then Pete S texted to say “come home”!
Day 3 – Pushed bike from Kinlochleven to about 1 mile beyond top of pipes looking for Stevie G. A great ride back down (without Stevie).

What was the most difficult section to drive the bus and trailer?
Drymen to Rowardennan – met a logging trailer coming the other way – whoa!! (on the single lane stretch after Balmaha).
Followed closely by trying to reverse in a full Kingshouse Hotel car park.

What was your most stressed moment?
Thinking what I was going to say to the Police and Mountain Rescue – “well he’s on his own” “no map” “no phone” “no compass” – Do I feel stupid telling you this – you betcha!

Has anything made you laugh out loud?
Hearing Stevie had stayed ahead of Pete until near Lundavra. Having to decide whether to kick him or kiss him after he was found.

Any additional comments?
A great weekend. Hugely impressed by ALL runners. You should all consider yourselves “elite”.

AND A FINAL WORD FROM …..

West Highland Way Adventure
report by
Rabbit the Bruce

I am a very experienced, well travelled supporter cheering on international athletes and some not so elite. But I was really looking forward to this weekend’s support duty on my favourite stamping ground (well, hopping ground!) with a bunch of ultra newbies taking on the WHW with only a handful of marathons under their belts, it was also new territory for the seasoned ultra runners too as none of them had ever ran three long hard days together and were wondering how they would cope. I was very impressed that they all rose to the challenge with great humour and making light of their keeky breek walk in the mornings, there were some falls, injuries and bladder malfunctions (either tie a knot in it or screw the lid on right!) The biggest drama was when one individual set out from the bottom of the Devil’s Staircase earlier than the rest of the runners to give himself more time to complete the final day, but the numpty went straight through Kinlochleven without reporting in (that boy’s got less brains between his ears than I have, and ma lugs are on the top of ma heid with nothing but fresh air between them!) The rest of team thought he was lost somewhere on the top of the Devil and sent out a search party, it was commented that he would be happily trudging on totally unaware of the worry he caused and sure enough so he was, the faster runners eventually found him and phoned in the news as there was no way of contacting the numpty himself as he was the only one without a phone. A case of slap him then hug him! There were hugs all round in Fort William and a fair bit of emotion too, I had to take a deep breath myself, my chest swelling with pride under my wee Carnegie vest watching harriers achieving their goal. I was pleased too for my roving reporter, Teeny Ted, for completing his challenge, taking notes hanging on to the back of Fiona’s backpack wearing just his wee vest, he could’ve done with a rain jacket on the second day, his fur was soggy for ages but he never complained, neither did the rest, all the blisters, skint knees, aches and niggles were all just part of the fun of this great adventure.

And finally – all those folk who say “No way, not for me, never in a million years” that’s a lot of tosh because I’ve heard it all said before – check with Lynne, Fiona and Gail!!!