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| That's running, isn't it?! - One of the first 'promo pictures' of the race to come out by Ian Corless |
Some people reckon I'm delusional, others recognise my motivation and understand why I set myself inconceivable goals. I 'dream large' about running long distances across mountain ranges, turning myself into a 'Kilian Jornet', and travelling quickly over technical terrain. I draw up lists of the link ups and traverses I'd like to do one day, both in trainers and on my touring skis. On the most part, these have been little more than fantasies, until...
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| The Glencoe Skyline Logo |
In March 2015 Ourea Events announced a new race in the UK Skyrunning calendar, the Glencoe Skyline. http://www.glencoeskyline.com/ The route seemed fantastic, technical, long, fun and perfectly matched to my running dreams (and delusions!) The entry date was marked in my calendar and I continued my usual winter training fun - lots of vertical m's on my touring skis; dreaming of lighter boots and competing in mythical races, such as the PDG and Pierra Menta.
April arrived, and as luck would have it I was at my alpine home with WiFi when entries opened (as opposed to in a mountain hut where most of my spring days are spent). As I filled in my application form, diligently answering each question, I doubted if I would ever get an entry. My previous running race history is one very unsuccessful OMM race, and that was it, not even one other local fell race! The only things in my favour were, my self belief, lots of personal mountain running, and a proven ability to look after myself in the hills - it is my job after all. I can climb, run, and have a stubborn streak that makes me keep plodding on and on.
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| Having fun ski touring in the Alps during Spring 2015 |
The following day (so soon!), my entry was accepted, S**T! Every mountain person I had told thought I was crazy - your 1st ultra, and everyone else just said 'cool', not really comprehending the task I had set myself.
All climbing was set aside for the summer, as I ran and ran, before work, after work, missing lie ins on days off, and generally obsessing over running, running videos, running magazines, running training and more running until I drove my colleagues and family bonkers. Strava and my training spreadsheet became my new best friends! Here I would like to point out that I did not give myself a structured training plan, but rather a vague, this month will focus on base work, speed work, etc... and set a goal to do something on most days of the work.
Summer arrived, and as I eased into July, I thought that entering a running race before the skyrun would be a good idea for some racing experience. Scouring the race listings for one I could make, the only one was the Snowdonia Trail Marathon in two days time! Over Facebook I bought someone else's entry, registered the day before and the following morning at 10am I was on the start line in pouring rain. Despite having a bit of a bonk on the summit of Snowdon, I completed it, and this only sought to feed my delusions more!
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| Crossing the finishing line at the Snowdonia Trail Marathon, image by Mel Parry (I have yet to buy a copy!) |
The day after finishing this race, my muscles were sore but my foot was even sorer, and I thought I had really injured it. After a week of no walking or running, just swimming, I went to get an x ray of my foot - no stress fracture, phew, but it still took another week of pain to recover. My third week was pain free, but I wanted a whole week of pain free before training again. So there went nearly all of my weeks set aside for technical speedwork, and after three weeks off, my first run was up the Aonach Eagach the following week on holiday (it was a relief to feel no pain at all = full recovery :) ).
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| Stunning morning views from the Aonach Eagach on my recce whilst on holiday |
Jimbob had agreed to support me for the Glencoe Skyline, his parents lent us their campervan, and we agreed to make a holiday of it, taking a week off during both of our busiest work periods of the year. On arrival to the race location, driving down the Glencoe valley seemed to take for ever and it hit home just what I had taken on. The night before the race we headed down to the Mountain resort to register for the race, and although excited I felt I was there at least two years too early in my running dreams! I was surrounded by friendly lean runners sporting t-shirts of completed ultras, with legs toned from thousands of vertical metres logged running, and lots of shiny lightweight gear. Only a few weeks ago I had 'been informed' that my leg muscles were 'starting to look like those of a runner!' so at least I was beginning to look the part to enter such a race!
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| My race map and number |
5:45 am the alarm clock went off and I slowly drank some coffee with half of my planned breakfast. I dressed for the race, made some final rucksack adjustments, and managed to go to the loo (always good before the race starts).
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| Views down the Glencoe valley earlier in the week |
7am, race starts, pounding out the first 6km along the West Highland Way, I move quickly and easily, although still at the back of the middle of the pack. Forgetting to zip my rucksack down to the side of the back it burst open along the track, to which the other runners were amazing at picking up and passing me the contents as they flew on past me - damn, this was the only fault with my otherwise brilliant Deuter Speedlite 10, when full you have to drag the zip pullies to the side as if they are at the top of the pack it splits open!
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| The only photo I took during the race - on Curved Ridge |
Curved Ridge was always going to be a bottleneck but I was not expecting a few minutes rest. The last time I was here was in torrential rain and howling wind on a Scottish climbing holiday, so to be queueing in the sun on dry rock was incredible. The next section passed quickly, although the same cannot be said for my descending speed as I was overtaken by the majority of the field. At checkpoint 5 I saw Jim which gave me some motivation to try harder, however on my way up to Stob Coire Sgreamhach I knew I was loosing time, I could still jog the easier sections, control where my feet were landing, but it just was not fast enough.
On top of this it had started to drizzle, I knew if I stopped to put my waterproofs on, this meant I wasn't running fast enough to make the cut of time at the A82, but I still believed I could do it. On the out and back to checkpoint 8, Stob Coire nan Lochan I saw the end of the pack (that would just make the timing cut off). This section was so atmostpheric, cloudy and sunny at the same time with super terrain, but again, just about too technical for me to run over.
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| One of Ian Corless' race photos, the cow bells and support were amazing and added to the alpine feeling of the race |
Three word review of the Bidean Nam Bian descent: Horrific, Wet, Steep. At the start I knew if I ran as fast as I could I would just make the cut off, but the steep wet terrain mean I couldn't go fast, thoughts of injuring myself when I would probably miss the cut off time anyway went through my head. A quick check of my GPS showed me I was not even half way down to the road and only had 15 minutes or so to get there. Pace slowed and my mind turned to how the day had gone, what I had learnt, and how amazing it had been even though I knew I would never finish the route.
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| The Glencoe Skyline race route (in orange, blue is the bad weather course) |
In the distance I saw a brightly coloured Jimbob who had walked up to meet me, this was a great boost, kept me strong, and as the terrain evened out I ran into checkpoint 10, 48mins too late to continue. Despite being tired I could still walk, and did vaguely consider just going up the Aonach Eagach even though I was timed out, but that would be silly.
As we drove back to the resort the top half of the field were finishing, and I although disappointed with myself I couldn't help smiling as I handed my GPS tracker etc... back in.
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| Sky running UK logo |
Thoughts on the race nearly two weeks later:
- It was an incredible day in the hills, one of the best running days out I have ever had
- The event marshalls were amazing, and knowing a few of them gave me an extra boost too - thank you so much
- Everyone else I met on the hills were so supportive too
- I probably was not prepared enough to go for my first ultra so soon, let alone this one!
- Today I went on my first 'proper' run since the race and I still love it
- Missing three weeks of training before the race didn't help, but probably didn't hinder me either
- The trails in Scotland are amazing
- ... I still really want to run the race again, but am unsure whether to wait one year or two
Training focuses:
- Improve speed on technical terrain
- Improve speed descending
- Fit in more speedwork
- Get faster on long steep hills - they were all long and steep!
Hmmmm, sounds like I need to go faster!
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