Strathaven 50 24/08/08
For any one reading this and thinking how do you convert 50km into miles, don’t! The 50 stands for miles (or in my case 52.5ml, yes I got lost).
A few months ago I tried to get the marathon in less than 3 hours and failed so I thought if I can’t go fast surely I could go far!! It was with this thought that I started looking for the ‘far’ race. It was after a wee chat with Graham Henry that the first thoughts of Strathaven entered my mind.
The course is a roughly circular route around Strathaven using quiet single track roads for the most part with a few detours of the neighbouring villages. The route is very scenic with farmland, hills and crossing the occasional river.
The start of the race was a very relaxed affair at 8am, no speakers or warm up celebs. In fact it was so relaxed that on the count of three, two, one, go… I was still doing my laces up and trying to get the tongue on my shoe right. When I looked up and saw everyone disappear round the corner I jumped up and ran like a loon to catch up. I needn’t have bothered as with a 50mile run you don’t really get the Peter (sub 6min/ml) start that happens at every other race.
Getting to the head of the field I found myself with graham and two other guys. The leader had got himself a nice 20/25 meter lead and was as far as I was concerned welcome to it. I think this was the first time that I thought that there might be a madness gene in my family as here I was running on a Sunday morning with a bunch of guys who were talking about 24 hour racing and how they only managed 108.5 miles…yes there is definitely some sort of weird rogue masochistic gene at work here (with all due respect to Lucy and Graham).
For the first few miles (23) life was a pleasant Sunday run through rolling hills with the sun getting just that little bit to hot. Aware that dehydration is my nemesis I kept drinking regularly from my bottle.
At the start of the race you can leave drinks and bottles at the various check points. Making the most of this I made up 4 bags of goodies only to find out that there are 9 stations. So with a pen and scattered thoughts I split up my rations into 8. I know there were 9 stops… it does come back to haunt me!!!
I got to the check point around 25 ml and realised there was nothing for me. Trying not to panic as I still had some water in my bottle I smiled at the women helping and made a comment that by now the fact that I was feeling great worried me slightly. Niggles are your body’s way of telling you that it is working and how well it is coping. This is the part where I lost 2nd place. I was so concerned with having no drinks that I turned onto Stonehouse main street and never saw the arrow pointing to the first left. I just kept running in a straight line past a roundabout for just over a mile where two wee boys shouted ‘run Forrest’. Realising that I was now heading for a motorway back to Edinburgh and not having the ability to click my heels I turned and ran like some sort of madman (2 x 6min/mls) back through the town looking for any signs. It was here that I met a fellow runner just as lost so we both kept running retracing our steps until I saw a runner go down a side street. You know the feeling that you get when you stub your toe really hard against the door stop, the one where you curse the person that put it there for what feels like the worst pain in the world, only to realise that it was you, you are to blame!!
I did not loose 2nd place because I had run the wrong way but because of panic. I had now run out of water, the sun was hotter and I was being a pratt and pushing myself harder and harder on what was to be arguably the hardest part of the run. For the next 6 miles or so the route was uphill to Glassford to the next stop. It was here that I met my old friend dehydration; my forehead has no sweat and feels like a gravel trap, suddenly aware of the blood pulsing through my ears. With no water and the hill never ending it was with some reluctance that I had to slow down and find water.
It is here that I should thank my dad for passing on his cast iron constitution as the only water I could find was in a field. It was in a trough for the sheep and cattle. It was clear, cold and wet and as far as I was concerned an absolute God send. I didn’t have much time to think of the consequences but after about a mile I started to get cramp in my stomach… shit have I got blue tongue or hoof rot? I can’t do a Bert I haven’t got paper with me… could I fail to finish!!!!
Just as I was thinking that my end was near a car with my parents pulled up along side me and asked if there was any thing I needed. Trying to keep my composure and not ask for a dark room where I could lie down and cry they managed to get me water and a sports drink. it took a few miles but the water and isotonic did the job and lightened my mood. If I had have been a bit more savvy I would have looked for a salt lick near the sheep dip. Next time.
Just after the 35ish mile marker the water stops felt like they were just right and I was managing to get enough water and food. It was also here that I decided that finishing the race was worth the effort and to stop beating myself up about getting lost!
The last few miles 40 to 50 I managed to appreciate the scenery again and the hill through the forest. I even managed a smile for family that had unexpectedly popped up to give their support. I almost stopped to kiss the 49 mile marker; for me it was like crossing a border between almost and well done.
The finish was as subdued as the start, just me, my time, 52.53 miles behind me and friends and family.
I can honestly say that I am happy with what I achieved and being my harshest critic that is saying something. I set out to run 50 miles, I got a bit carried away with the racing but I finished and I’m in one piece. I would just like to thank every one that marshalled or helped in any way and to my family the Ferguson’s and the Robertson’s for their support. A big thanks to the unnamed farmer for keeping his water clean and to genetics for giving me what can only be described as a rogue mental gene.
Report Scott Ferguson
Here is John Pickard's stream of consciousness...
with the exception of the forth bridge 10k, the corstorpine 5 and the livingston college 5k i dont think in any of the other races i have taken part in have went to plan and strathaven was no different. last year it was a trip in to the unknown with it being my first 50 miles so this year i knew what to expect. i was looking forward to this one and i was better prepared but even the best laid plans can go out the window. Graham picked me up at 6.50 and arrived at strathaven in what we thought was plenty of time. with 5 minutes spent trying to find a toilet (none were open) and then back to get changed it was 5 minutes to the start i didnt even have my number on here i go again not the best at being organized anyway off we go in what is perfect conditions but as usual that was to change. with the first 5 miles ran in 44 minutes i felt comfortable, the next 5 seemed to go on forever what with a long drag that went on forever and a wind thrown in as well i thought it was going to be a much slower 5 but to my surprise it was only a minute slower. then at around about 12 miles the sun came out but at least you had the wind to keep you cool. from 10 to 15 miles was another minute down on the previous 5 miles but i still felt fine. 20 miles and thats when the fun starts. the injury that made me drop out of the edinburgh marathon had started to come on again so every so often i would stop and stretch as much as possible. it was only on the hills that it was giving me grief on the flat it was ok. 25 miles and only 10 minutes down on last years time but as in the previous year this was my slowest 5 miles. by the time i had reached the food stop at 50k all the good stuff had been taken so a cup of tea and a couple of crispy cakes i was on my way again. another checkpoint and we were told that tractors would be using that stretch of road which was hadly a problem it was an arsehole in a land rover doing about 50 on a single track road causing me to jump on to the grass verge and in the process hurting my ankle. so after that the next 5 miles was mainly spent walking. another water stop and i told the marshals what had happened and i told them i was thinking about pulling out but i did ask how far i had ran/walked and they said 38 miles so i said i will get to the next checkpoint and see how i feel. just before 40 miles Tom who was going back and forward in the car had also asked if i wanted a lift back but the checkpoint was just up the road. so another 5 minute chat explaining what had happened. a drink of water and a mars bar and i was on my way again and that gave me a boost for about 10 minutes anyway and then it was back to the walk/jog effort and if Tom had passed in the car i would have shouted "TAXI FOR PICKARD". reaching 45 miles and with no sign of Tom (thank goodness) was a welcome sight and i knew i was going to finish. like last year with a mile to go the car came out and its great to get a run in without having to stop at junctions and it ended up being my quickest mile mind you it is mostly downhill. before i turned into the car park there was graham giving encouragement thanks for that. so another event that was full of ups an downs hills, wind, getting sunburnt again, avoiding tractors and roadracers, going over my ankle and having to walk a good bit between 36 and 49 but it was the good old determination that got me through again. best bits was finishing, everyone when they were going up to get there prizes and goody bags they were doing a great john wayne impression and graham on the start line eating a donut maybe thats where i am going wrong lol. well done to graham and scott who ran great times. John Pickard 9.28.00
And finally Graham - eating for Scotland...
Doughnuts
Buy one get one free. Na it was an Asda woops at 10p for 5. Credit Crunch or Scottish thrift. I managed to consume 4 on the day with John Pickard taking one for a fight with a landrover. I am not taking Scott Ferguson on at dooking for apples. Maybe he was looking for a sheep on the run. We Ultra runners like to add a bit of entertainment on route. So what is this Ultra running all about? Well you need to eat. I managed on the day to go through 6 bananas, 4 honey stinger gels, 3 egg sandwiches, 5 cakes, plate of porridge, 3 slices of bread, 3 slices of black pudding, 4 rashers of bacon, huge plate of potatoes, 3 tomatoes, 6 packets of crisps plus the Doughnuts. Please note I did not put on any weight. It is a 50 miler and John Pickard hurt his ankle and had to dig deep and show he is a tough cookie. Scott was not a doughnut in getting lost. These things happen on this type of run. The important thing is how you react to a kick in the teeth and both John and Scott came through with flying colours. If I had have missed the turn that Scott did I would have kept going to my second home at Carstairs for a lie down in a darkened room.
Paul Hart and Les Hill who both run for Scotland were first and second. If Scott does not get lost the next time he should be able to make the Scotland team at some point. I ran the first 20 miles with Les and it was great having the company this year and made the race much easier. Also, Scott’s Mum and Dad were out on the course and they kept me supplied with water etc and a bit of banter. This year everybody got a Brooks running top so a big thanks to Strahaven Striders. I really like the course and I have completed 3 out of 3 and will be back next year. The next 50 miler is Rotherham in December which is a great multi-terrain challenge. Worth the trip down.
Vive Strahaven, Vive Ecosse.
Banter Graham Henry
Strathaven Striders website incl. results and photos here
