HIGHLAND FLING 53 MILE 28/04/07
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE RACEAfter my ASBO at Wuthering Hike, I was only able to run once in 4 weeks but could not resist this race that only has one rule, if you drop out you have to tell a marshal. Firstly, you should read the race report in the Forum at www.highlandflingrun.co.uk. Lucy did her first Ultra and well what can I add to the race report. Elaine Calder won the Welsh Championship at 40 mile on Saturday for Scotland but if Lucy starts competing at the Ultra distance she is a certainty for Scotland and Great Britain, fantastic result. For those too lazy to check the official report it states -
“THE BIRTH OF AN ULTRA LEGEND”Right, the day started with getting out of bed at 3 am. Left my house at 4am and my young neighbour was just coming home from a night out. Next point of interest was driving past the Playhouse. I had just missed one of the last fights of the night with an Ambulance and Police sorting it out. Picked up Ian Campbell and Keith Hughes at Queensferry Road at 4.20 for the drive to Milngavie. Both these lads are Freddie Goodwin boys with Ian being with the bank for 25 years. Started to feel tired after being so awake and got a shock whilst driving. I knew something was wrong, with something in front of the car. I was only doing 30 mph and it turned out a deer was doing the same and it woke me up. Both Keith and Ian have done the full West Highland Way with Ian being one of 4 who broke the record in 1989. So plenty of experience in the car and it was my 15th Ultra.
The race started at 6am and it was a cracking day on a truly beautiful course that well just goes to reinforce why Scotland is the greatest country in the world. Loch Lomond was outstanding and I had never been on this part of the route and I prefer it the top part. It is pretty hellish for running on but that is the challenge. Part of it you really have to be a goat. What I do not like is the man made paths that have been left with uneven stones so not one to run every week.
Loch LomondI was only able to run the first 40 mile but the website said one could crawl and I crawled for 13 miles with the walkers and runners flying past. I knew I had done enough to beat the 15 hour deadline but my running muscles had completely died. 12 hours 32 mins 40 secs. I had not trained so that is what you get. Ian finished around 15 mins in front with Keith a few minutes behind me. The weather held all day and the scenery as the Yanks would say -
...AwesomeThe train journey back from Tyndrum was fantastic. At the end of the race Ian and myself went back to what our clubs are about. Ian runs for HBT and got a carry-out and I went to the Chippy. I was offered 3 different options for a fish supper and once I was advised the Haddock was 50p more I did an Elasticity of Demand calculation and got the price sensitive Hake. Sitting on the train with a bottle of Red MacGregor “five thousand years in the making”, on the label. About the same as myself. The view of the Cobbler from the train will live with me for a long time. A truly unique hill.
Finally back to Glasgow and we were going to have a couple of changes of station. First stop was Dalmuir and I was giving it a bit of KOOL and the GANG – “Celebration” but could not get moving. Decided that Shakin Stevens and This Old House was the song for a bit of Dancing and Cavorting. We were on platform 6 and the train came in on platform 2 so we had to go over a bridge to catch it. In the rush one of the girls bags brushed into a local “Lady.” If you want to know more about these creatures please see Peter Buchanan's Loch Lomond 10k race report and last two paragraphs describe the clenched thongs etc!! Anyway, she gave a mouthful of abuse and somebody had a go back, to watch her mouth. Some more abuse followed but I was more concerned with her partner. He was wearing a football top and a tattoo on his bicep showing affection to the Uniformed Drongo Association. I was going to tell him to get on a train to Edinburgh and go to Polwarth for a blessing from Father Ted but since Gerry finally ran the Bog Trot I let him off.
On the train to Milngavie I let a “pettie pet” go as I sat down. It should have been nothing but it was truly honking, really vile. Now Keith Hughes is Australian and I thought he was going to be sick as he said "was that you?" I thought he is a Con and I could get away with blaming him but I admitted it. The poor conductor almost fainted and Ian the Trotter just smiled. It deserved another ASBO but remember there was only one rule for the day.
Photo’s are courtesy of Ellen Thomson who organises the event along with Murdo McLeod so thanks very much folks. On the day I was saved by the fans, I did not have enough food and Ali and Maureen two girls from Strathaven who were supporting Joe, gave me a Go Bar and two sandwiches. One women gave me two chocolate bars, and a couple gave me crisps and water about 1 mile from the finish which was great. Thanks so much to the punters.
Margaret Turnbull, Ian Campbell, Ned and Keith Hughes. Medal and bottle £10 to enter.Vive HBT, PRC and Ecosse Ya Bass.
Report Graham Henry
Photos Ellen Thomson
