Tick, tock, tick, tock…come on clock, is it not WHW time yet?

It’s nearly here and I CAN believe it’s going to happen!

After the Fling I wondered if the fatigue would come back to haunt me, but I was fairly sensible and kept my training easy for a fortnight.  Then Pauline and I went up to the Great Glen Way and covered 50 miles over four days with the longest run being the 19 miles from Drumnadrochit to Inverness. A cracking bit of quality running. The following weekend we were back up to Skye for Ally K’s presentation evening and although we didn’t cover mega miles we had some quality hill work and a bit of a raised heat rate crossing this bridge!

A last long run of 23miles locally over the bridge to Crammond and back on the 31^st May 

then it was time to taper, apart from a cracker of a run at the Isle of Skye Half Marathon on the 14th June.  We’ve been going up for it since 1993 and it’s very special for me and the only Half I do these days. In 2005 it was my 100^th half marathon and also my first race back after another health problem, it was seven weeks after having a brain haemorrhage, it was important then to confirm I was recovering and getting back to normal. Last year’s Skye Half was another tough one confirming I was alive and fighting (last year's report) it was the hardest race I’ve ran. So I think remembering how I was twelve months ago really helped make this year easy.  I bounced along feeling comfortable and strong, just running to feel, never looking at my watch, holding myself back.  The mile markers came in too quickly, it was going to be over too soon, the sun was out, it was lovely and warm, perfect conditions.  The last long climb is gradual to start with but there’s a steep kick at the end where after around nine miles you look up and the ground meets the sky with little silhouettes of runners on the horizon. I smiled when I saw the hill in front; it was no fight, sheer pleasure. I had to control my descent, I really wanted to let go and give it some welly but I needed my quads in tip top condition for the following weekend, so I behaved and scampered down to Portree at a sensible pace.  Great to see wee Fee McDee standing at the corner at Howdens, she ran a few yards with me and told me I looked brilliant, I certainly felt it, I could’ve went round again. (In reality it was never going to happen but I loved the notion) It was an excellent weekend catching up with friends we only see in Skye.

 

photo from Sarah Attwood

Ally K gave me back the bright yellow baseball cap I lent him during his epic run. I want to wear it during the WHW taking inspiration from him and what he has achieved.  Ally, I hope you don’t mind me saying this but you are my hero.  Around three years ago Ally gave up the fags and ran the Skye Half for a bet, then last year completed three ultras, the Lochalsh Dirty 30, the Highland Fling and covered 84 miles at Glenmore 24 before taking on his challenge of running round Skye and raising over £32,000 for Cancer Research this April.  Afterwards he modestly said it wasn’t him, just the support he was lucky to have. It only takes a wee pebble to cause the ripples in a pond, Ally, you are a bonny wee pebble with the weight of a ruddy big breezeblock with a tsunami of support, be proud of yourself and what you've achieved.

I will be watching this tomorrow, maybe more than once. Ally K Runs Skye Documentry

I’ve had a bit of a wee panic, my lower back has decided to play up, it niggles away most of the time but on Tuesday, it was really tight and sore and I struggled to reach my feet, I was relieved when I went for a wee three miler in the evening, although sore to start with it did loosen off a bit, and yesterday and today it has improved, so I’m not worrying about it, I won’t have to reach my feet during the race, that’s what my support team are for! No doubt something else will hurt more over the weekend anyway.

I have signed up for the princely sum of £3 for Si Entries to update my facebook when I swipe my chip through the checkpoint doofer and you can also follow the race here. 

Rampers and Rabbit the Bruce

This pair of roving reporters will also update my facebook and pass on messages as long as they can get a signal. I’ve been told to be nice to my support or they will update my status with bare bottom selfies and my undying love for Harry Styles! No diva strops for me then!

I have had great support since I first posted about my devastating diagnosis last March and holding on to my goal of running the WHW race for tenth time has helped keep my head up. But you guys have really made a difference to me, and I know you will be with me over the weekend. I couldn’t have gone through what I have without you, the practical help for me and my family, the wee gifts, the prayers, vibes and words of love and support. So just to say the words Thank You doesn’t express my gratitude, but I’m hoping that picking up my Goblet in your honour will do it.  

A Perfect Fling

I enjoying reading the nerves and excitement building on the Fling’s facebook page especially in the last few days before the race, on Friday night after all my gear was sorted I was starting to feel emotional.  Was I fit enough? This was going to be a big test.  Apart from three runs, Drymen to Balmaha and back, Balmaha to Rowardennan and back and Derrydarroch to Inversnaid and back, I haven’t been on the Way since the 2012 WHW race. But no matter how hard it was going to be, it was still going to be a lot easier than what I was doing this time last year.  (Two weeks into a six week course of chemo and radio after major surgery to remove a tumour along with two thirds of my tongue.) 

I was in bed by 9.00pm and slept fairly well waking two minutes before my alarm set for 2.50am went off. I had my porridge and dressed in my race clothes that I’d laid out on Friday but after hearing the wind and rain lashing the window I added another thermal long sleeved top.  Ken and Sue had picked up Pauline and were at my door for 4.00am. On the drive over to Milngavie the sky slowly lightened and the rain eased, when we got out the car I was surprising to see the rain had stopped; the forecast was for rain all day.  We registered, handed in drop bags and kit bags, and had hugs a plenty except for Johnny Fling, he was in blue arsed fly mode, a very organised and focussed blue arsed fly, we’ll hug him later.

Waiting to start is always the hard part, I was chittering and shaking like an old washing machine despite two long sleeved tops under my vest but I knew once I got going I would warm up.  John gave the briefing and a few minutes later we were off.

Before the start

Briefing - photo from Yi Zhang

At last, I’m back where I belong and I just knew I was going to love every moment, my game plan was to run WHW race pace, keep the effort easy and have a run that would reassure me that I’d make the Auchtertyre cut off in the WHW race.

The last time I ran the Fling was in 2012 and the start was staggered, but this time with everyone going off together I was amazed by the amount of runners there were but I never felt crowded and I was glad that I didn’t have to keep an eye over my shoulder for the fast guys coming past.  We had only been going for about fifteen minutes and folk were stopping to remove jackets,  I was at last starting to warm up, glad I braved the cold before the off, I like to keep moving and don’t stop at all.

Just after the Carbeth Huts I heard music and loved that someone was willing to get up at a daft hour on a Saturday morning to play her fiddle as we went by.  Along the path of a thousand gates I was pleased to see that there were a few marshals by some, holding them open as we went through also one runner taking a sneaky wee breather holding the gate open for me, I was a good few paces behind him, ok, I better keep up if he was going to be a gentleman!  I was happy to see the path wasn’t as wet underfoot as I thought it might’ve been, I had stuck with my decision to wear road shoes although with all the rain that had fallen I did have a wee swither about wearing trail ones but they were new and untested, my road ones were new too but I’d covered over forty odd miles in them supporting Ally K a fortnight ago during his 125 mile Run round Skye  in the wettest conditions I’ve ever had, and they’re hardly formula one racing slicks so I knew they’d be fine.

At Drymen I was rocked back on my heels by how loud the cheering was, a wee hug for Ada (she’s not as scary as she sounds) and I was heading up the path towards Garadhban Forest or more correctly Garadhban Stumps, I was looking for a good spot to pee without having to traipse too far off the path and eventually found a spot not far from the big gate before heading onto the open ground and up to Conic hill.  I knew where Conic hill was but it was nowhere to be seen, the mist and cloud kept it hidden but as we climbed the sky slowly cleared and at the top we were gifted a view up the loch that the racing snakes at the front would’ve missed out on.

My token gesture for the drop bag competition was to sellotape laminated pictures of Lancasters and Spitfires to my ziplock food bag inspired by my race number 633, I arrived to see Davie holding my bag singing the theme tune for The Dambusters, think I did the aeroplane thing with my arms. A hug for Davie, swapped my 330ml water bottle, stashed a couple of sweeties and drank my Weetabix on the go milkshake as I carried on along the path, I had to stand for a few seconds at the big red Fling bin as I drained the last of my milkshake so I didn’t have to carry the empty bottle to the next checkpoint. 

I love the section between Balmaha and Rowardennan but I think I’ve got a bit of a Bruce Forsyth syndrome going on, it doesn’t matter what part of the WHW I’m on I think You’re my favourite!

Edinburgh Sports Photography

Although I’d warmed up not long after the start, I have a wee saying - Ne’er cast a cloot ‘til Conic’s oot.  As the morning wore on I felt it warm up, I was not long past Millarochy and had taken off my gloves, peaked Buff and pushed up my sleeves but I was starting to get too warm, I was going to have to take off one of my long sleeved tops and that meant I had to do the S-T-O-P thing!!!!  Ok, but only when it’s really necessary! I hung my backpack on a WHW post, took off my vest, my thick top and jammed it in my bag then got my vest and bag back on just in time to join a group coming along. A little further on I laughed when Robin said “Choof-choof , choof-choof, choof-choof, whoo-whooooo!  We’ve got a fine train going here”.  Sure enough, we had a nice wee group working together with some great blether.

At Rowardennan I was ready for the mega decibels of support, picked up my drop bag, swapped my water bottle, popped my sweeties and a 150ml can of coke into the other bottle pouch which meant I had to move my camera in the tighter pocket which is a bit of a faff to get it in and out so I didn’t take many more photos, again I had to stand by the big red Fling bin briefly as I shovelled in the last couple of spoonfuls of custard so I could ditch the pot. 

Once up and over the long climb out of Rowardennan the path narrows and swoops back down near the water, I thought This is over halfway and I’m still moving well! I had my dinky can of coke and revelled in the way this section flows, with wee climbs, descents, a promise of the technical stuff to come but with some lovely runnable paths too, Inversnaid arrived like a surprise, I never noticed it get closer until I was there, the waterfall was spectacular after the rain.  A great bunch of smiling marshals were on hand to help, Simon handed me my dropbag,

photo from Sandra

Sandra hugged me and took a photo, John asked how I was, I think the word brilliant was used in my answer. Again I swapped my water bottle, took my sweeties, ditched my empty coke can and opened my Yazoo banana milkshake as I set off towards the hands on section, I was  half way through eating a Flump before I had to tuck it away, hanging on to trees and boulders was more important than eating, a few times folk would catch me up, I’d ask if they wanted by, some did, but Viki and Yi were happy to stay at my pace, Running Gannet joined us  and a few more, we had a nice little train going again, occasionally folks wanted past and it was no problem pulling into a “siding” to let the express through. I must say the courtesy from all runners and walkers was excellent.  We all reached the flat grassy bit unscathed and I got to finish my Flump!


I left our train at Dario’s post, racing or training I always pause to share a wee Malt with him, Running Gannet joined me in raising my hipflask, it was filled with Talisker this time.  After my sip I waited for the whisky to take my head off, my mouth is still very sensitive from the treatment although it is improving, but I just got that warm glow, a soulless scientist would say it was just the endorphins coursing round my body, I believe it was more the magic of the West Highland Way and the company of an Angel.

At Beinglas I checked my watch against a wee card I had in a pocket, my split for the 2012 race was 9hrs 56mins, I was not too far off in 10hrs 07mins, I was very pleased.  Once more I swapped my water bottle, stashed another dinky can of coke and a couple of sweeties in my bag and shovelled some custard in before headed up the hill.

The last section has some sneaky wee hills and some not so wee, I needed my hands on my thighs to get up some of them. I felt tied now, it’s hard to distinguish whether I was tired from covering forty odd miles or if it is still the fatigue from my treatment, my quads are still regaining their strength but I’m getting there.  I picked my way along Coo poo alley, walking most of it, I didn’t want to waste energy or risk catching my toe and face planting in the shit. The wind was picking up a bit and I was starting to feel a bit cold, I pulled my sleeves back down, put on my gloves, I had my peaked Buff on already, (Viki had got it out my bag for me earlier without us having to break stride during a wee shower heading up towards Doune Bothy, great team work, thanks Viks). 

After going through the big fence and up onto the rollercoaster the climbs are tough but the incentive to keep a good effort was to try and warm up and the quicker I moved the sooner I would finish.  I drank my coke, and found a spot to pee, I thought I better make use of the forest facilities before crossing the road and onto the tarmac up to Auchtertyre. 

A couple of guys I’d caught up to before crossing the road had asked for confirmation that it was only two miles to go, I was sorry to disappoint them that it was a wee bit further.  I had planned to eat another Flump on the road by Auchtertyre but I was breathing a bit harder and decided I’d be fine; I’d rather have soup when I finished than faff about choking on a sweet!  I just wanted to finish now, I didn’t have to kill myself pushing hard, my mission was accomplished, I was well within the WHW race cut offs, I’d caught up with Maja, this was her first Fling, she said it had been a battle and was asking me how much further, I reassured her with the immortal words, “Not far now!” we stayed together to the finish, I waved a thank you to the Piper, round the corner and our moment of glory along the red carpet.

photo from Stuart Macfarlane

I crossed the line and Ellen gave me my medal and a hug, I held on until my emotion was under control, this was so much more than a fifty-three mile race. More hugs and congratulations,

with Ada-  photo from Charles

with Charles

Mel was concerned I looked a bit pale but I felt ok, I just needed some soup, which I enjoyed standing in front of the big fan heater.

Enjoying the warmth from the big fan heater, with RG doing a bit of a Marilyn Monroe

I couldn’t be bothered waiting in the queue for a shower so I just stood behind the bins and got changed, I needed Lorna’s assistance to drag my Skins off, it was quite an effort as they were hanging on to my ankles!  

I had a giggle as Pauline told me about her race, she had bashed her head on a branch along the Loch side, knocking herself off balance and ended up clinging on to tree to stop herself falling into the Loch, scraping and bruising the skin on her arm, then having another go at knocking some sense into her bonce at the Crack Yer Heid tunnel.  You’d think with her experience she’d know how far to duck down! 

Sue and Robin finished more or less together with Sue managing a killer sprint. 

photo from Fiona Morrison

After she had a quick change we headed back down the road, by 11.00pm I was showered, in my jammies drinking my race beer with a plate of Macaroni Cheese, replaying the day in my mind, I don’t think the smile left my face all day… a wee confession, there were a few tears on the rollercoaster, the thought of running the West Highland Way race has kept my head up this past year and Fling has proved it possible, a great boost to my confidence, I now have no doubt about being timed out on the West Highland Way race and if I get to Tyndrum I will get to Fort William, it won’t be easy, my physical strength is not 100% but I know how to work with what I’ve got.

I haven’t drunk my Prosecco yet, I think it needs a very special glass and I’ll wait a few more weeks to have it, my tenth Goblet will do it justice. 

Ally K Runs Skye

I can’t remember when I first heard that Ally was planning to run round Skye but Pauline and I had decided that it would be lovely to go up and do a bit of running with him, especially through the night, that’s a tough time, you’re at your lowest ebb and it’s good to have company and we thought he probably wouldn’t have many others daft enough to volunteer for the graveyard shift.  After speaking to Ally at the WHW training weekend at the beginning of February he was happy for us join his support crew, so we arranged to have Friday off work and we would head up in the morning.

9.00am, we left Dunfermline in bright blue skies, as we drove up the road the clouds were slowly building and there were a few showers, Ally was starting in Armadale at 10.00am, hopefully his weather would hold for a bit longer, rain was forecast for the evening but it looked like it was arriving earlier. 

from Ally K Runs Skye facebook page

Checking Ally’s schedule we would find him somewhere between Broadford and Sligachan, sure enough just before Luib, there was no missing him, with two support vans with hazard lights flashing and “caution runner” signs plastered over them, they had planned a quick stop at Luib so we drove on and pulled over until they arrived, as we sat waiting in the car there was a young lad loitering, he was wearing shorts and a rain jacket,  Pauline went over to ask if he was waiting for Ally and would he like to come and sit in our car?  Probably against all the words of warning from his mother about getting into a car with strangers he was persuaded to join us while he waited, he was going to run a long stint and better to keep out of the rain for as long as possible.  It wasn’t long until Ally arrived.   In the lead van, the support crew was Hugh, Thomas and Neil. Andy and Karen were in the tail van, we also met Donna (Mrs Ally) and we were hugged by Ally’s Mum; she gave us her address where we were staying on Saturday night. 

So after a quick pit stop Ally was on his way and we drove on up to his parent’s house in Portree where we left the car, got changed into running/supporting clothes and had a large pot of tea and a fair go at the spread Ally’s Mum had laid out for us then Ally’s dad took us to Sligachan to join the support. There was a fair crowd, and a piper playing, Pauline joined in the running here, I did the easy job of sitting in a warm dry van taking the odd photo through the windscreen.  I didn’t feel guilty; I was saving myself for the night shift!

Hugh (young lad we enticed into the car), Ally and Pauline 

The rain was constant and heavy with no promise of it stopping any time soon, but it didn’t dampen the amazing support Ally received, there were banners tied to fences, draped over cars, people waiting in the rain to cheer him on and to donate a few pounds, a car pulled up beside us, the lady wound down her window and said “I’ve donated online but here’s another tenner.” 

Ally reached Dunvegan around 10.30pm, having covered over fifty miles maintaining a good steady pace despite the atrocious weather.  After being checked over by the doctor, had something to eat and his feet sorted he was good to go. Pauline and I swapped over, I was keeping him company now until morning but he also had a great bunch of runners for company too, Andy had ran a few miles with him at the beginning  and was doing some more now as well, it wasn’t going to be a lonely night. 

In all my years of running and supporting ultra I’m struggling to remember conditions as tough as this night. In 1998, going over the Devil’s Staircase during the night, supporting Pauline in the West Highland Way race was as wet but the thunder and forked lighting was a bit scary, in 2010, going through the night over bog and heather with Sue during her Heart of Scotland 100 was torrential too, running the West Highland Way race in 2012 was another soggy one but none of these events had the fierce gale-force wind that knocked you off your feet and blasted the rain sideways, stinging any exposed skin like bullets! 

Pauline sticking the camera out of the window

photo from Anne Morrison Beaton

At one point in the wee small hours when there was no other traffic on the road and the weather was blasting us from the right Karen drove the van on the wrong side of the road while we ran alongside, it was a brief respite from the wind for a short time, Ally was concerned for our welfare in this weather, I wanted to shout “For God sake, be a Diva! Don’t waste your energy on us! We can have a break whenever we want!”  I’ve seen quite a few and thrown the odd diva strop myself but I don’t think it’s in Ally’s nature to do the selfish thing, so I just told him firmly "Don't worry, we're fine!"

It must have been psychologically tough for Ally coming into Portree for the first time at around 5.00am, practically running by his front door and still having a long way to go. We had a wee stop in the Square.  I enjoyed the warmth from hugging a paper cup of coffee in the luxury of the bus shelter.  

We were soon back out and heading up to Staffin, at least the wind was on our backs now and was blowing us up the hill, the road was just a river, I scrunched my toes to wring some water from my squidgy socks and shoes. I felt freezing cold after the wee stop and my right jaw aches in the cold, I tried to keep it loose and not to clench it.  I think I was a proper surrogate Mum asking Ally, “Are you warm enough? Do you want another top on? Don’t let yourself get cold!”  

The dawn was slow in coming but the sky slowly lightened, Alistair arrived with hot bacon rolls, I did manage to eat nearly half of one before I broke it up and fed it to the birds. I was a bit concerned that I hadn’t eaten enough but I’d be stopping soon and I could refuel then, I had covered 34 miles through the night and it was time for a wee rest.  Pauline had been back in the group for a while so I was happy to have a break. 

The clouds were breaking up and there were wee patches of blue in the sky, the rain had finally stopped after falling constantly for around seventeen hours, the wind never dropped but at times wasn’t so fierce.  

Pauline stuck her head into the van and said to get the bells out Ally was just about to go through 100 miles, a major mile stone, he had never ran further than 84 miles before. I’d had a rest and my porridge so re-joined the group of support runners, it was brilliant that folk had managed to come along and do a bit of running, some went away only to come back and do some more, one lady I spoke to was doing her own challenge of running 5x50 which is 5km a day for 50 days in a row and she felt it a privilege to be able to do her 5km supporting Ally.

I had a bit of a giggle to myself at Staffin when Eilidh was filming a close up of Thomas giving Ally’s legs a going over, actually I think I pointed, laughed out loud and took a photo  myself, the cruel soul that I am, I’m sure the torture would’ve refreshed his legs for a bit!  

Ally is doing this Cancer Research and there isn’t anyone who hasn’t been affected by cancer, it was this time last year I was a couple of weeks post-surgery and just starting chemo and radiotherapy, some side effects are permanent but I can LIVE with them, my speech is far from perfect but I’m generally understood, and I'm still re-building my strength.  If it wasn’t for the funds raised for research, and progress in cancer treatment I don’t like to think where I might be.

The wind was even stronger as we headed north and round the top of the island, it was hard work trying to stop myself being blowing into the ditch when it gusted, I wasn’t much of a wind break but at least I could set the pace and I knew Ally was following my feet.   Every time I turned and looked over my shoulder the emotion rose into my throat, he was in a lot of pain but he was still smiling, I felt his effort personally, Ally was doing this for me and I would work my socks off doing anything I could to help, it took all my strength and every ounce of my seven stone ten to stomp up the hill keeping the steady pace into the gale, I fought back the tears and managed to put a wicked grin on when I turned and shouted “Come on, keep up!”  After working so hard on my second shift of only just over 12 miles, going from a mile or so out of Staffin to a mile or so before Uig, but I was done in and couldn’t keep the pace any longer, it was time to swap with Pauline again, where she keep him company all the way to the end, it was a nice thought that between us we’d manage to cover the whole way from Sligachan,our support was only a small cog in Team Ally  

The overwhelming support of the Skye community fuelled him throughout, from the pipers, banners on fences and cheers from folk coming out of their houses, parked in lay-bys, even a jar of coins left of a fence post, and the donations dropped into buckets on the day/s reached over £4500, Hugh was checking updates on his Just Giving page, and kept Ally informed it was over double the target!

Watching the final miles from the van I could see the effort show in Ally’s shoulders, his comfort zone was left many miles and hours ago, but he was still moving well. The support group grew, Donna was at his side, the Boot Camp girls joined him, they sang and cheered, I laughed later when Pauline said that the smell of freshly washed hair and cleanliness was strong, although I doubt the troops that had been there from the start and overnight would've be too whiffy after all that rain!

As we approached Portree the tail van was no longer needed for his safety, Ally’s Guard of Honour had swelled to around forty, so Andy, Karen and I drove on to the Square.  My mouth hung open, the Pipe Band was playing and I think there were nearly a thousand people lining the streets waiting for Ally.  I left my cowbell in the van; it wouldn’t have been heard and I can scream louder. 

Gordon Willoughby Photography

Despite his pain and fatigue Ally sprinted into the Square to the finishing tape held by his children, and into the arms of his proud parents. 

Gordon Willoughby Photography

Gordon Willoughby Photography

Gordon Willoughby Photography

The funds raised for Cancer Research will help carry on the work that has made a difference to my life and many others.  Ally’s Just Giving page is sitting at £29,780 as I write, well over three times his initial target, it also proves how well thought of he is.  http://www.justgiving.com/allykrunsskye

It was pleasure and a privilege to be there, there were a lot of laughs and a fair bit of ribbing, but what happens on Skye stays on Skye!  I shall always cherish my memories of an amazing weekend.

Loch Katrine Marathon

I was pleasantly surprised when the alarm went off at 5.30am that it wasn’t totally dark, I haven’t seen this time in the morning for ages. After a big bowl of porridge and a big mug of coffee, I was ready to go.  Sue picked up Morna and then me, and we arrived in time for a pot of tea before the start, very civilised for pre-race preparation. It was lovely to have a wee catch up with folk I haven’t seen in ages, especially Ellen; we compared notes on returning to running.  Yep, we both agreed that the fatigue from chemo and radiotherapy is a bit of a pace killer, but we are on our way back.   

It was a stunning day although a bit of an icy cold wind, the snow topped hills were sparkling in the brilliant sunshine. I was looking forward to running somewhere new to me. My race plan was to have a quality training run, I still felt heavy legged from the Great Glen runs nearly a fortnight ago. My goals were to be quicker than my Loch Ness Marathon in September, and, if possible, to run it all. My quads still need building up and hill work is the way to do it and from what I’d heard about the course, this was place to do it!  I was also carrying my camera, I didn’t plan on stopping to frame photos but the scenery was too gorgeous not to try and capture it even if it was just a point and click on the hoof.

After a photo and a short race briefing from Audrey we were off.

I love an out and back course, it’s great to see and say Hi to everyone face to face, I tried to photograph everyone (all my photos here) but since I was shooting from the hip, I ended up with quite a few fuzzy ones, some tarmac and close up nostril selfie!  I got a better selfie with Sue near the turn.

On the way out I wasn’t confident of being able to run all the hills, especially when I saw the one at around six miles, it would be climbed again at twenty miles!  

I maintained a steady plod and didn’t stop at all except to hug a few marshals and to pee (I’m blaming that pot of tea) also a quick pause for a photo shoot-out with Lorna near the turn. 

I got this cracker pointing my camera over my shoulder earlier

But more importantly was the way I felt.  I was comfortable the whole way, maybe because I remember how empty and exhausted I was at Loch Ness, I felt as if I eased myself round, not fighting the cold wind or the terrain, on the hills I told myself I could go as slow as I liked as long as I didn’t walk, and shuffled my way up.  I had a wee cheer to myself seeing this sign on the hill at twenty miles. 

Mission accomplished, no walking! 

I finished with a big daft grin which I think was on my face all the whole way round. I was also thirty-three minutes quicker than Loch Ness, a great confidence boost in my recovery and another step towards my goal in June.

photo from Running Gannet

Loch Katrine is a small no frills running festival organised by Audrey for the first time last year as a one off fund raiser incorporating a 10k, a half marathon and marathon and after its success she was persuaded to put it on again this year.  I'm so glad she did, I've just found my new favourite marathon. Now don't tell anyone about it, it's our secret, 'cause when the entries open next year, there's going to be a stampede! 

You can follow Audrey's Adventures and find details of Loch Katrine Running Festival here