Ruth's Tour of Fife
Q. What makes you decide to do 6 races over 7 days, commonly known as the Tour of Fife??
A. Knowing full well that you couldn't bear to have daily updates from your friends whilst sitting at home, so you take the bait and enter.When I first heard about the Tour of Fife I thought 'You've got to be kidding? There's no way that I could do that, especially with all those clubs runners!' So before committing myself, I had a quick look at the website and past results just to check what the level was. It was quite clear that there was a broad level of runners and that’s when I thought 'what the heck, why not?'
Day 1 - Teddy Bear Race
Was slightly nervous on day one! I like to know my route so I can judge how I'm feeling and work out when I need to put the effort in. What if I'd bitten off more that I could handle? I mean there was only 150 of us, so it's not like I could hide anywhere!
There was a map of the route up at the Village Hall, but given that I didn't know the area, I wasn't sure it was actually going to be that helpful. Turned out it did, but also the fact they had mile markers (as I don't have a fancy Garmin, I never know how far I've gone).
So lined up at the start, the sun was shining and there was quite a buzz. A quick welcome to everyone and a thank you to the organiser and then the klaxon went. Ok, here goes. Man it's hot!! What pace to go at??? No idea, let's just get the head down and see what happens.
My mate Mel ends up with me. We've never run beside each other before so it was interesting and we pushed each other along with that silent agreement…..if you go quicker, so will I! It's also the first time we've been in each others’ company and not spoken for 14mins. Weird!
Quick look up and I spot Mary and think this is good, I must be doing ok. Just as we past 2m I was feeling strong and went past her and expected Mel to do the same but she didn't come with me. Ok, now I've just got to keep going. It was tropical conditions as I approached the incline, HELP!
This has got to be my worst nightmare and gives me flashbacks to Edinburgh Marathon. I can see the top and just keep it together, short steps, keep the breathing under control. Made it, now a nice long stretch downhill to relax the legs and get the breathing under control. Mile 3 came and went and I found myself with a few friends. Can I hang in there? I noticed the guy in front glancing round at me a couple of times. I thought to myself 'it's ok mate, there's no chance I'm going to be a threat!'
Then I realised he was giving me the nod to stay up beside him. I blurted out 'it's ok, I'm coming'. I even managed to ask his name and tell him mine. Dan was my new best friend. I swear this mile was never ending.
Turning the corner with a mile to go I just wasn't sure how this was going to pan out. I knew Mary and Mel were behind me and I wasn't ready to have either of them pass me. ‘Keep going, keep breathing’…...that was Dan btw, not my sensible inner voice. 400m to go! Ok I can do this, focus, this is the last lap of Bert's training session. Just go for it. I think I did, but I've no idea if it looked like it. I could hear Peter shouting “Go Mary”. Get those legs moving...finished 36.55...where did that come from??
Karri who was car sharing with us for the Tour finished in front of me and I didn't even see him (note to self, pay attention to what he's wearing next time).
Day 2 - Loopy Loch Trail Race
Better conditions, cloudy and a chance of rain. Ideal! Again I'd no idea of the route but as it was a 2 lap race, I'd have a good idea how to play the 2nd one. I wore trail shoes for this one but to be honest they weren't really needed, but it gave me a chance to test them out for tomorrow's run!
Off we go and it's a quick pace. I get a bit carried along by it but I'm not daft enough to entertain it for too long. I see Mary up ahead so know I'm doing a decent pace (and she'd already been round the loch once doing a warm up, so she knew what was coming). I can't really remember much of the first lap but I do remember coming up to half way. There's Karri, ok just keep the pace going. Soon I'm up to his shoulder and he glances round and there's a look of panic. But he did say 'well done mate, good running' as I went past. I could sense that Mary upped the pace a bit as we turned into lap 2. Ok, keep with her. Before I knew it I'd gone past her and settled into a group of older men as they were keeping a good pace. I forget to mention that Karri wasn't best pleased I went past him, so he cranked it up a gear and went past us, made me chuckle. Anyway, our little group were doing well and we caught up with Karri again, that didn’t impress him so he chucked a couple of fruit pastles down his throat and took off again.
A little uphill section came and went and for some reason I thought it was a good idea to push ahead. I wasn't doing too badly until I could hear a lot of heavy breathing behind me, was it Mary? Nope, but suddenly a woman with a pink water bottle came storming past me out of nowhere! Where was this coming from? I was envious. Keep going, keep going, not long to go. I could see Karri in my sights. Should I try and catch up and make it game on for the finish. NO! I wasn't prepared to run out of steam on the final sprint to the line. Turned the corner and the finish line was a welcome sight. I even managed a smile for the camera. 48.30 and only 10secs behind Karri (smiles to herself).
Day 3 - Lomonds Lungbuster
Dread. That's all I have tonight, dread. Hills are not my favorite. I don't mind them when I'm out on a long training run but fast races, no thanks. I hoped that my British Military Fitness training would help: running up Arthur's Seat on a Monday and Thursday surely had to come in handy at some point! I thought I'd have a little recce of the route but walked about 50m and decided that was enough. Just as well because if I'd know what was coming I wouldn't have been happy!
From the off I'm breathing heavily, not a good sign and it's very windy and sunny, which I found energy sapping. I think Mary is up ahead and so is Mel. My legs are burning, yet I find I'm passing people managing to catch up with and pass Mel and get alongside Mary. Let's help each other up this stretch.
Now I see the hill I feel like crying. Though I've been assured that this wasn't a hill, only a bump, it was a hill to me and that's what I will be telling everyone. I actually asked Mary 'how do we get up that?' Well you walk. Breathing was out of control and the sweat was dripping off me like I'd just came out the shower.
All I could hear in my head was my BMF instructor shouting at me not to be weak and f****** get up that hill. I also used an all fours running maneuver once we got nearer the top, why I didn't try that further down I don't know?, anyway, Mary got to the top first and took off like a banshee.
The going down is just as bad as the going up and I'm not that great at running full pelt down hills, never mind dodgy rutted track, but at least on reaching the summit my breathing got a lot better. I thought I'd try Mel's tactic of just going for it, but I couldn't fully let go. I tried my best and knew as soon as we got to the bottom and back onto the flat (!) that I'd be ok.
I could see Mary up ahead, maybe about 45secs. Could I catch her? I'll give it a go. How she didn't hear me coming I've no idea or see my shadow either but I did catch up and manage to pass by. Right now I've got to keep it going, I think I was a bit delirious by then as I didn't remember it being quite so long on the way up.
I've no idea how I did it, but my legs and arms were going like the clappers. Where's the grassy section, I'll be fine when I see that, it's downhill and much easier on the knees. Quick mutter to our photographer (Cat) for the week about how awful this was (and you can tell that from the photo) and a final sprint to the finish. Thank goodness for that!
Day 4 - Rest Day
Not sure I liked the break to be honest. But it probably did do me good. I toyed with the idea of running club...no thank you.
Day 5 – Chariots of Fire Beach Race
I've got to be honest, I was so nervous for this one. Why? Maybe cause I didn't want to blow up and then find out that the first 3 races had been a fluke.
We arrived in plenty of time so have a wander about and get down onto the beach. But before we set off I turn round to see Mary running about but minus her Porty running vest. What's she up to I thought? I jokingly said to the rest of the gang, look at Mary she's not got her vest on. I bet that's to confuse me!
So off we head down to the beach and there's Mary running along it into the distance. She'd no idea I'd spotted her. Sure enough as we're at the starting line, Mary's nowhere to be seen. I turn round and there she is tucked away at the back. She's been busted! So I head over to tell her I've sussed her out and then head back up towards the middle of the pack.
The nerves had gone as soon as we started. I felt good. The woman with the pink water bottle was in front of me so I thought I'd try to stick with her seen as she’d flown past me on day 2. I went past her but then I heard breathing, she’s caught me back up....but nope it was Mary. By this time, it was tropical weather for St Andrews beach. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING??
We hit the soft sand and I was all over the place, my legs were on fire. We turned the corner and met some much needed breeze and some not so welcome sinking sand stuff, I think I'm going to cry. Somehow I managed to pass people and keep going and finally we made it onto the hard stuff again (sand that is). Karri's in front of me and I manage to catch up and pass him. Not to be outdone though, he was tagged onto me and sat right on my shoulder. Fair play though, he went past me again and stayed there, although there were 2 young girls who were in front of him with pretty short shorts on. Good motivation for him I guess!
Where was Mary? I kept thinking she was coming right up behind me but it was my own shadow I kept seeing. This beach is never ending. It wasn't that long on the way out surely? Tried for another sprint finish but again, I've no idea if it looked like it but that’s another quick race over and then a nice dip in the sea to revive the tired legs.
Day 6 - Up Hell Time TrialHELL, HELL, HELL. On the drive up this hill I was thinking that it looked quite nice and I could give it a fair crack. So when we approached a sign that said "half way to hell" the words that came out my mouth were not printable. That's only half way?? I'm in trouble. And sure enough, the second part of the ascent just got worse.
My allotted time was 7.59.30 and my assigned partner was no other than fellow Porty Adele. Poor girl! 150 runners and she gets stuck with me! We walked down to the start which was a really nice way to see this damn route and Mary caught up with us. She was in good spirits as this was her race and I also noted the new trainers, they were going to give her a spring in her step. So we're down at the start line and waiting for our time and I just want to get started. Decide to show Mary a "special" exercise from Military Fitness..a shin bastardo! Well I've got to tire her legs out some way. She wasn't daft enough to fall for it though and only tried the one.
Ok 3, 2, 1 go. What to do? Head down again and just try my best. I've rarely looked at my watch this whole tour from start to finish so I wasn't about to start tonight. It was helpful to have markers on the road but a painful reminder of how far I still had to go. I turned a bend and could hear the cow bells and shouting from the finish line. I could also hear a voice in my head begging me to stop and walk for a bit.
Did a quick glance behind me and saw 3 people coming in the distance. Ok, stop and walk and ease the pain, one passed me but I just kept power walking and then thought I can't let her get too far away or that's it over, I started running again and the thighs didn't seem quite so bad for all of 10 seconds that lasted but I kept going and passed the woman who'd taken over me.
I got nearer and nearer to the finish line but it wasn't coming fast enough. Karri decided to run with me to the end but I asked him not too as it was just too much pressure. I got there in 15.14 and promptly had to lie down to ease the pain. Well done Mary you beat me!
Day 7 - Twisted Chicken Run
Last day. I had a position to keep and I was game on for the challenge with Karri. Had a look at the route inside the hall and eavesdropped on a conversation with a local man about parts of it. Result! A mile stretch of road towards the end which will suit me nicely.
As I was wandering aimlessly around the carpark, Mary, Peter and Amanda were waving at me from the van. Quick chat to see how everyone was feeling and Mary comes out with "I'm not really bothered for this one today" or words to that effect!!! Emmm, Mary, I'm not that daft.
So at the start line and I kind of hang back a bit as there's a hill right at the start and I can't afford to kill myself that early on. Well what happened next? Mary's like a rat up a drainpipe going up that hill, weaving in and out of people, made me laugh but was sure I kept her in my sights, She was definitely pushing the pace today and going for it.
Downhill section came next and I started passing people, happy with that then off into the trails and I started closing in on Mary. I passed Karri as he started to walk and I knew if I kept running and just got to the top of the first incline he wouldn't be able to keep up with me. Mary's still pushing it and I'm breathing hard in hot pursuit. Finally catch up with her and she just keeps pushing. All good, just don't let her get too far ahead. As we turn it's all downhill and a very fast section of the course as all grassy but bumpy.
Mary's moving well and I'm managing to keep up then all of a sudden I'm down like a ton of bricks and doing some sort of commando roll shouting "oh jeez" in the hope that Mary hears me. Somehow, instead of lying in a heap, I jump up quick as a flash and start legging it again. I very nearly gave up there but I hadn't lost much time so kept going, but just held back a bit. I knew that flat stretch was coming but unfortunately it came with a head wind.
Got to 3m and I was all for giving up but after all the effort of the week, I just had to keep going. I caught up with Mary and the guy she was hiding behind and held on in there. Eventually Mary made the move and went on ahead and I followed, I tried to slow the pace down a bit as I knew we were both giving it some but it didn't last for long. I asked how far we had to go and it was 1 1/4m (she answered too quickly to be telling me fibs). Ok I think I can do it. If truth be told, I'm a bit hazy about what happened but I managed to make the break and made a bit of distance, but I completely forgot there was uphill. Now I had to be the one to push it as I knew Mary would gain a few seconds here.
Got to the top and was directed back into the field for the final stretch. Right, nothing to lose here and if anything we'd have a great race to the finish for the last race. I just took off and the legs were going like the clappers and the arms were following, down that hill and a sharp turn to the right, I thought I might fall over with the momentum but I felt good. A final push of 50m to the finish line, woo hoo it's over. What a finish to a great week. Mary hot on my heels crossed seconds after me and it was a big hug and a big thank you for making it a brilliant first Tour.
I'd recommend this race to anyone. It's really not as daunting as it first sounds.
A huge well done to Amanda, Peter, Mary and Adele.
Report Ruth Johnstone
A big thanks to DAVIDS on the Fife AC Bulletin Board for most of the photos on this page.
Rest of photos Helensburgh Hendersons (report and loads more photos on the HAAC site.)
Final results
