West Highland Way Race, June 21 2008

Arrived at Milngavie railway car park to find a crowd of nervous runners and support teams milling about trying to avoid the attentions of passing groups of drunken and high spirited youth. The race has grown since I first did it in 1997 (this year there were more than 132 entrants), but it retains its friendly, informal atmosphere. In response to some collapses a year or two ago, we were all weighed at the start and at intervals through the race – an innovation to help diagnose dehydration or (apparently more likely and more dodgy) excessive fluid intake.

At 1 am, weather fine and cool, we all trotted off, the leading pack including Kate Jenkins (former record-holder) promptly storming off up the wrong path towards Mugdock. (Chuckle). With the increased numbers the race felt much more crowded, like a normal hill race, for the first 15-odd miles and I found it a little difficult to settle into a pace, but we spread out thereafter. As usual I was met by my wife every 10 miles or so to be refuelled and told about how others were doing and looking. Gordon Pryde (a first-timer) and Laurie Anderson from Fife were not too far ahead for most of the race with the latter said to be looking strong and fast at first then “awful” and the latter – who has done the race a few times – more relaxed.

Unlike previous occasions the route was very fresh in my mind from the Highland Fling earlier in the year and for the first quarter of the race I allowed myself to feel quite daunted about the whole distance ahead rather than focusing as I should have done on the cup of tea waiting for me at the next stop. Jogging along from Balmaha to Rowardennan (27 miles, 5.02 hours), after the exhilaration of descending Conic Hill, I was pretty fed up and found myself rehearsing possible excuses for packing it in – “just couldn’t be bothered”, “done it 4 times before, nothing to prove”, “down on previous times so no point pushing on” and so on – but disappointingly I arrived almost bang on my usual time there, so no excuse seemed quite good enough.

Along Loch Lomondside, with more need to think about where my feet were being put (and despite clouds of midges) I cheered up and started to enjoy the running and pass some other runners. That mood stayed until the half-way check-point at Auchtertyre Farm, but was followed by an attack of the trudges climbing out of Tyndrum which continued almost to Bridge of Orchy (96 km, 12.48 hours) until I was met by Manny who with Stevie Bell took over as support crew for the second part of the race. A good blether kept morale up as we climbed up the hill and then trotted down to Victoria Bridge. Then I was on my own again for the long drag around the western margin of Rannoch Moor to Kingshouse. In my experience it is this section, and the similar drag from Kinlochleven to Lundavra, which make or break the race. Either you push on merrily at a steady jog or you trudge and stumble dejectedly. Thus year it was the former, so the section seemed to go quite quickly and I was at the top of the descent to Kingshouse (115.4 km) before I met Manny again coming back to meet me. Arrived there at 15.47 hours, which was considerably quicker than when I did my previous fastest time in 2000, but I had been quite a bit up on that time in 2006 and then lost it all later in the race. So I was counting on nothing.

There followed some confusion as the support crew drove off with all my kit leaving me in just a tee shirt to toddle shivering in wind and drizzle to Altnafeadh where I was joined by Stevie for the Devil’s Staircase section to Kinlochleven (129.5 km, 18.05 hours). I was buoyed by seeing Gordon setting off with JD in support as I stopped for some grub. Catching him up! The wind and rain were starting in earnest as I set off with Manny for the Lairig Mor section to Lundavra. We were then passed by 2 lads from a karate club on a WHW relay who seemed impervious both to the rain and (probably luckily for Manny given their sport) Manny’s pointed enquiry about their lack of wet weather gear. (We later passed them looking pretty sorry for themselves on the last section).

By this stage my mind was racing with calculations about whether I could beat my PB, 22.40 of 2000. My feet were in remarkably good condition and I was feeling strong. But the rain could change both. It was important to keep going steadily and keep warm. A quick swig of tea at Lundavra (141k, 20.12 hours) and then the up and down, up and down through the forest climbing to the col above Glen Nevis. Laurie Anderson was now just ahead. I was confident now of a PB, but could I beat 22 hours? At the col I decided to go flat out to Fort William keeping in mind that the distance and descent was not much more than that from the Red Burn on the Ben Nevis Race route, which (the rain having cleared for a bit) was visible across the glen. Passed Laurie after half a mile or so (scalp!), then another (scalp!), all with severe cases of the shuffles, then – dodging JD’s attempt at a rugby tackle (where do that man’s loyalties lie?) Gordon (scalp!), then another. I throw the coat to the wife as I come to the flat bit into Fort Bill. Another runner ahead. Catching him steadily. Reach the roundabout. 400 yards to go and almost caught him. But then some people start clapping him and then (dah!) me as well. He realises what is happening, turns, sees me and puts in a spurt to the finish. How frustrating, but never mind. I have finished in 21.38.30 (26th out of 97 finishers). All over. Thank god for that.

Thanks very much to my brilliant support team of Mary, Stevie and Manny.