Brrrrrr! I couldn’t look at Morna without shuddering,
although she was wearing Buff, hat, gloves and kilt she had bare legs and just
her vest! I was wearing a long-sleeved
thermal, t-shirt, vest, long tights, kilt, Buff, peaked Buff pulled down as far
as it could go and still just about see where I was going. My only attempt at
being a tough runner was fingerless gloves (so much easier to open a funsize
packet of Maltesers)
A wee race briefing
from Mike, then a walk over the road to the start which was a bit different to
last year adding on a bit more, by this time my shoulders were up to my ears, my jaw was aching holding it tight so it
didn’t chitter, I felt a brief warmth brush my calf, Mason dog! Hi Lee, hi
Dave, how are… No preamble (if there was
one I missed it) we’re off.
I lower my shoulders, loosened my jaw and hope to warm up
some time soon. It was a long up hill at
the start and I chose to run it, even though I wasn’t going much faster than
those walking, I decided I’d run all the way until the hairpin hill with the
view of Loch Earn then after that I’d see how I felt whether to walk or run the
hills.
I took my camera and whipped it out quite a few times as I trotted along
but always looped the strap round a finger in case my clumsy frozen paws
dropped it. photos
In the loop of the forest I did a bit of walking and running
on the hills, I felt my left hip and hamstrings tight when I walked and more
comfortable when I ran but I wanted to stretch out the legs. I was enjoying the chat with old friends and
new, there were quite a few running their first ultra and what a cracker to
pick for a first.
After coming down out of the forest and before crossing the
road again there was a troop of Scouts coming towards us, big cheers and high
fives from them, a couple of walkers were just behind them, I wasn’t sure if
they were with the Scouts or not but I high fived them anyway.
On the way back along the old railway line with around
twenty miles down and roughly thirteen miles to go I did a body check,
everything felt fine, legs supple and strong with plenty life left, compared to
last year, I remembered my legs being tight and sore. In my reflection I smiled to myself, this year
has been a good injury and illness free one and I felt quite bouncy with the
bonus of that thought. The weather had
improved although still cold there were patches of blue sky, and when the sun
shone on me I soaked up the warmth. Folk
were well spread out now and I didn’t see so many runners, so it was lovely to
see some of my club friends appear just to offer some support Fabienne’s cheery
face near the viaduct and Ken and Bill a few miles from the end.
I didn’t feel the need to push hard but worked on
maintaining my pace, but once off the cycle path and on the road it was time to
haul into the finish, that’s where the beer and soup would be, also looking at
the time if I didn’t slow down I’d finish within six hours. I was wearing a Garmin, so had a bit of a
clue how much further I had to go, I could vaguely remember where I was from
last year, this year’s route was further than last year but I still wasn’t sure
of the finish until I saw the marshal just before the shoogly bridge, I love
how it jumps up and surprises you into the giggles! Round the tight bend and
the finish! Yaay, 5.46.19hrs, well under
the six hours, last year I finished in 6.11hrs and it was a mile longer this
year! Although my Garmin showed the distance
as 31.65 miles, still a wee bit short of thirty-three but no matter, it was
quality not quantity.
(photo from Glen Ogle facebook page)
A quick change of clothes and the luxury of a wet wipe round
my face standing at the back of the car, then over to the pub for some
well-deserved soup, beer and a blether.
The GO33 is a lovely race winding up the ultra-season for the year, a
Bill and Mike Production, directed by Ada with a cast of brilliant marshals and
helpers. Thank you all for make this a
day of happy running memories.
