I guess it’s about time to update my blog before it’s closed down for being inactive!
I’ll quickly fill in the gaps by simply saying that I’ve not raced much this year but I’ve been having one hell of a time just simply running. It’s great to run with no targets, goals, training plans or any other distractions that take one away from simply running. I enjoyed some really cool running ‘camps’ with my friends Paul Tierney, Barry Murray and Daniel Doherty. Mr Tierney ran a fantastic sub 18 hour Bob Graham recently and I recommend you read his account. I was supposed to join in on the round but was hit with a stomach bug for a week that zapped all my energy and took away a week’s worth of running from me.
Back to the Fling.
If you’ve read my race report from last year you will know that I had a bit of a rough ride. A case of ravenous cramp engulfed my whole body during that race, something I didn’t think would happen again……
12 months on…
I was back again to do myself and the event justice. The Fling really is a fantastic event. It’s one of the only ultra races in the UK
It’s beautifully liberating and I wish more events followed this approach.
The race starts and I find myself at the front, then within a couple of miles HOKA One One Athlete Ludo Pommeret catches me up and we run together. After a couple of miles Ludo mentions that I’ve started the race quite fast. I think I laugh and say that I probably have. We pretty much run step for step all the way from Milngavie to Drymen. I forget how many gates there are to open in that section!
We leave Drymen together and continue at the same pace. We’re both comfortable at this pace, chatting as we run along. Conic Hill comes into view, the first real climb on the race, and you’ve guessed it, cramp hits me again! I really cannot believe it. Ludo pulls away unaware of the predicament I find myself in. I really don’t want to go through the pain and frustration I went through last year so decide to back off the pace and hope things get better. And that’s pretty much what I did for the next 30 odd miles! Scott Bradley, the eventual winner, passed me just after Rowardennan. Scott ran a fantastic race and obviously paced himself very well. I simply plugged away and was surprised that no one else passed me, although I did start to feel myself again with about 6 miles left!
I finished 3rd in 07:40:13, with Scott Bradley winning in 07:23:11 and Ludo 2nd in 07:33:19.
So another frustrating day at the Fling but I will be back next year. I will not let this race beat me.
A final thanks to the organisers, marshals and support along the course that we get at the Highland Fling.
