Hoka Highland Fling

I left Chamonix on Wednesday and after a stop off in England to pick up Lauren and explore some surprisingly nice trails near Birmingham we arrived in Scotland on Friday afternoon and after that it was all a bit hectic. We drove to Glasgow to grab my bib number for the race and then drove home again to get some sleep. I was up 4am to then head to the start of the race. It was pouring down with rain on the way to Milngavie but thankfully once we arrived it had stopped and started to clear a little.

About to start. At some points on the course I was praying!

I went as light as I could for the race by carrying just a wind shirt and waterproof jacket along with my food and water and also had drop bags along the course with re supplies of food and drink. 6am and off we went. Like usual the first hour or so of any race is just finding a pace and easing into what is going to be a long day. Loads of little niggles usually occur to me in these early stages but soon disappear. The route from the start is really very nice and is a mix of forest paths , walkways and dirt roads. To be honest I can't really remember much of it at the start as I was still half asleep I think. I was doing fine and was bang on 2hrs for 20km then 3hrs for 30kms. The small climb around Conic Hill was fine and the descent was amazing. I flew down here with no troubles and my descending legs felt awesome and really strong. It was then into the Balmaha checkpoint and a drink of coke and refill with some gels and bars that I had eaten. The next section was pretty flat for a while and Lauren met me at 40kms to give me a much needed can of Irn Bru and words of encouragement. I was at 40kms in just over 4hrs which was my usual pace but I was not feeling to great. My legs just felt like they were getting too heavy too early in the race. 

At 40km trying to stomach the Bru

I set off get to Rowardenaan at 44km but took ages to get there. There was a couple of little cheeky climbs in this section but I got into 44km and found Lauren again with more supplies. She said I looked better at this point than when she seen me before but I felt a lot worse. I had some more coke and some cake and headed off again. I hate the next section from past experiences as it is a forestry road that just goes on and on and on and is incredibly boring. I was very very slow here and my main aim was to just get to the Inversnaid Checkpoint and see how I felt.

My eyes tell it all. Attempting to eat some food.

Meeting Lauren en route

I eventually arrived at Inversnaid around about the 57km mark and had a seat and took my time refueling myself , restocking my bag and just having a bit of a rest and chatting with an old work friend I had not seen in years who had appeared behind me(also racing). I wasn't more than 15 minutes here but it seemed to help. I drank a can of Red Bull and was off to the next checkpoint at Inveranan at 66km. Now this section I kind of came to life and thought to myself if I could keep going like this then I would be done in no time. This part of the trail is very very rocky with a fair bit of scrambling about and very uneven underfoot and I was loving it. I was passing everyone I came across and was even passing people doing the relay race and these runners were gunning it. Switching my mind to concentrating on my foot work is obviously my strongest point in races. So many people could not even walk properly on this section and I was leaping around all over the place passing them. I was totally loving it here and felt absolutely no pain for the next 7km but then as I should have known boooom it all hit me again and I was in agony. I made it to Inveranan and yet again re stocked for the last time to head the 20km to the finish. The first 10km is again forestry road and not the nicest underfoot. I had to take some rock salt here as my legs were cramping up pretty badly and I was in a lot of pain running here. Lauren greeted me(bounding around the hillside like some Duracell bunny on speed) again for a little bit of this section and even though I was probably grumpy and didn't mutter much to her apart form the odd yelp of pain it really was and always is great to see a friend on a course. I don't know what it is but it does give you a little boost and is nice to get your mind a little away from the pain. So on I went hiking the ups and running the downs and mustering a pathetic jog on the undulating flats. It was across the road and the final 10km to the end. Once I hit the single track in the trees I again perked up a little but by no means as much as I had before but I was able to get a decent pace going here and could even jog up the little climbs. We then took(what felt like) a incredibly long route off the track and onto a road towards a farm on the other side of the A82. This lasted about 2km(felt like 10) and I hated it. I wanted to be finished.

Finally

We then hit the single track again and a guy I had been running with for some sections said to me if I put on the gas now I would make sub 11hrs. Not that I was caring at all about times but on any race whatever the distance when I am near the end I will glance at my watch and see if I can squeeze in under that hour or half hour or whatever. So off I went for the final 3km. I was in agony here but could somehow get a good pace going. If I was more than 3km from the finish I am sure this pace wouldn't have lasted but I blasted out the last couple of Kms in no time and was greeted to a packed finish line with flags everywhere and so many people out to cheer on runners. I was finished , thank god! Friends I hadn't seen in ages had arrived to see me as well as my folks and Lauren but I just blanked everyone out and wanted to sit down and try not be sick. This lasted about 10 minutes. Me just sitting totally spaced out on a chair wondering what I had just done and then I could chat and have a laugh with everyone who had come to see me. I had finished the 86km(2600m+) in 10hrs 59mins and in 196^th/566.

Finish

Did I enjoy it?? Yes.....some of it. The organisation is spot on and all the staff and spectators are just superb and they really did make it a great race. The course is also brilliant with heaps of brilliant single track fun terrain and some amazing scenery. Yeah there are some sections of boring undulating forestry roads but it is 86km long so at some point you will find some rubbish parts but luckily there is hardly any tarmac maybe a few km if that.

Should have been smiling I know but
 just too annoyed with myself

Now what went wrong for me. I am still working it all out. At the end of the day I know I shouldn't be kicking myself as my time was totally fine and I finished. It was the first race of my summer and it was nearly 90kms. My longest training run in April was 20! and since November I have be skiing for 5 months. Yes I ran over winter but just to keep things ticking over. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I trained over winter for this race , I really didn't but I did keep my legs strong enough to keep going. I am still very disappointed how I felt for a lot of the course. Especially from 50-60km and 67-82. I didn't change anything I normally do for my nutrition(Nectar Gels and Tabs still going strong) and ate and drank well all day. To be honest the course was actually a bit tougher than I expected it to be with all the little ups and downs. I will completely admit that I felt that last years Mont Blanc 80km was an easier race(for me) and it had 6000m of ascent not just 2600. I like races with big climbs in them to give me a rest. When you run and then have to climb 1000m you slow it down and plod on up and your muscles recover. On this race though there was absolutely heaps of small climbs all along the course and your never sure what ones to run and what to speed walk. Also lots of the race especially the last section is actually a climb but a gradual one over a long distance so you run it thinking your on the flat but actually your climbing the whole time and the legs feel that. I spoke to tons of other runners on the course who had been training for months and months(some a year) for the race on the actual course. I never normally do this apart from maybe checking out a small section or two but for a race like this one I can totally see the point in doing a little recce on most of the route just to let you know just how fast you can take it at some stages and when to ease off. I was just hoping to feel a bit fresher and not wishing the finish would arrive. I do these races to be out on amazing trails not to wish it was all over. Now I didn't expect to find this easy not in the slightest but I was just hoping to enjoy all of it and enjoy being back running in Scotland but at some stages I was in so much pain I wished it was over. I was never ever going to throw in the towel and I never will unless my leg is hanging off and even then I am pretty sure I can crawl to any finish but I am just disappointed to have not just maybe gone out even slower and cruised into the finish maybe and hour or two later and maybe felt better. Maybe though it all comes down to the fact that I had just asked myself to do a much longer race than I should of after winter. On the plus side my head never once went and I know I still have the strength mentally to keep going and the old legs are pretty strong and will keep marching on when my muscles are screaming at me to stop.

I do love the single track though!

Funnily enough the following day I felt good!! So good in fact myself and Lauren went up to Arrochar for more running and made a rapid ascent of the Cobbler and Beinn Narnain and then a rather fast descent back to the car. Admittedly on the descent trying to follow a fresh Lauren was hard work but I stuck to the task rather well considering the previous days run. On the climbs up though I felt strong. It was a totally brilliant morning with blue skies and sunshine and I am so glad we went and did it. 12kms and 1000m. How my body managed it I really do not know but I ain't complaining.

Lots to think about

Overall a great trip home and much thanks to Lauren , my folks , Craig and Scott for coming along on race day to say hello. Afraid I have no Arrochar pictures as I stupidly left my camera in the car park. Gutted.

That has kicked my ass a little bit and I am now focused on trying to get into the best running shape I have ever been in before I reach Colorado and from then on just see where I can get to.

Pictures Courtesy of Stuart Macfarlane. www.facebook.com/stuart.macfarlane.775?fref=ts

And so it begins......

So tomorrow I begin the long drive back to Scotland. With a stop off in England I will be home Friday afternoon and ready to prep for the 80km Hoka Highland Fling the following morning. It's going to be a bit of a tough one due to the travelling and having to wake up at 4am on Saturday to head to the start of the race but as long as I get some good sleeps between now and then I hope I will be okay.

After work scramble/run

Training has been going great but yet again no long runs. I have been out everyday after work doing some great loops and also getting destroyed on some up hills and descents from Guillem and his friends who are super strong going up and frighteningly fast on the descents and I admit I struggle to keep pace on the downs but on the ups and flats I hang in there just fine. It has actually been really good for me to get out and be pushed a little more than I would normally go on my own.

Some interesting wee moves

The Catalan dream team and one ordinary Scotsman

Last week we went for a Ski Tour up Gran Paradiso and decided to do it in one go. Normally done over two days with the first day a stay at the refuge and the second a climb to the summit and then a ski all the way down. We left Chamonix at 2am for the drive to the car park and left the car at 4am. It was a mix of walking and skinning for the first two hours until we got to the refuge. It was time for some tea and a warm up before heading off again for the summit. It's 1300m from hut to summit so a fair old way. It took us around 4hrs from the hut to get to the summit with a mix of walking and skinning due to some of the track being blue ice and safer to walk in crampons than go up with skis on. The view from the summit(4040m) was incredible and just went on and on as far as you could see. It was then ski time and in around 30mins we were back down at the car! So long to go up yet so fast to get down. Super glad I managed to squeeze this in before the race. It's 2100m from car park to summit which is a great bit of exercise plus the altitude training will have helped me heaps.

Final summit slope

Summit of Gran Paradiso

Great way to end my ski season

Since then it has been running in the evenings and I am feeling strong over short distances so I just hope I can somehow manage to avoid the pain on Saturday for as long as possible. I will be taking it very very easy from the start and just get to halfway and see how I am feeling. No idea of times yet. I would like to get under 10 hours but I cannot say I am aiming for that. If I finish and it is sub 10 then I will be very very happy but over 10 won't bother me in the slightest. Usual thinking for first race of the summer as always is to finish , don't get injured and enjoy. The race is meant to be run unsupported so at the checkpoints there is really only water so it is up to me to carry my own stuff but drop bags are also allowed and there are 5 stages I can put bags so I will make use of that with supplies along the route. It is a pretty big field of about 800 runners and I really hope it spreads out early on as I hate running in packs for such a long distance. Lauren is going to be there to help me out if need be but due to traffic problems we will need to study the maps and find places out with checkpoints she can meet me along the route to throw me some much needed words of encouragement. I would be lying if I said I was super confident about the race but I guess I say that before every race I do but really this time I am pretty nervous about this one for various reasons that all seem a bit silly. The main ones are that I have not covered that great a distance in any training run plus I will be travelling for a few days and straight into the race. It might all seem a bit far fetched but I would have liked a full day of rest before the race to sort out drop bags and kit but I will just do the best I can and get on with it. On the plus side of things I cannot wait to get back to Scotland and just enjoy the trail skirting the banks of Loch Lomond and further up near Beinglas Farm where I remember the trail being awesome when I was there a few years ago. Being Scotland I am pretty sure it is going to be pouring with rain but I guess that's just part of running back home.

So here goes to my first race of what is hopefully going to be an amazing summer.

Winter Fading Away

It's been non stop for the past couple of weeks. I have been out on some excellent ski tours keeping the uphill fitness in shape and also managed quite a few lunchtime laps of the Cosmiques Arete to help with altitude but most of all I have been running and lots of it. Still nothing really super long and to be honest at the moment I have only done 25km at most in one go but I have been out most days getting in 10-15km and cruising along just fine at 10km an hour or maybe a little faster but ticking away just fine.

Touring in Switzerland above Col Forclaz

Going to Col Beaugent

First time in proper ski race kit. 1800 euro boots and 900 euro skis. Not mine.

Most of the low level trails are snow clear now and I am able to get up to around 1600-1800m without any problems. Today I went out with Sandy for what was meant to be my big run before the Highland Fling. In the end due to too much snow in one area we ended up doing 20km but added in a pretty good 1600m of ascent and descent. The trail up the mountain(Le Mole 1840m) was super steep. Probably the steepest most unforgiving trail I have ever gone up. It just went direct for around 900m then a small bit of flat then another 500m up again to the summit. The first 900m we managed in a pretty good 48 minutes that's how direct it was. We then went on a little tour around the bottom coming across a lot of snow and generally getting a bit lost but we battled back to where we knew and then completed the ascent to the summit. Incredible views all around of the Alps at one end and over to Lake Geneva at the other. The top part of the descent was fast due to the fact of the amount of snow so we just got on our backsides and slid most of it. Then it was the 900m descent in the forest to the car and it was rapid and sore. It was just so steep but perfect smooth trail so I just went for it and was at the car in under 20 minutes! Easily the quickest I have ever descended. At times(according to my Suunto) I was moving at 75 metres per minute downhill. My downhill running ain't too bad but I think this speed was due to the fact just how direct the descent was. Legs were a bit like jelly at the car but only for a few minutes as I don't think they were expecting to stop.

Sandy trying to figure out where we are

Nearly at the top

Now that's a summit view

As I said earlier I have been out for loads of great runs after work. We just had a new guy(Guillem) start work with us for the summer and he is super motivated to get out as much as possible so we have just been getting our stuff on at the end of work and going out for an hour or so and it's been great. I normally like to run on my own but when you find people who like to run at the same pace and in the same kind of terrain then it is pretty sweet. We never really go faster than 12km an hour but we are both happy to plod up any little climbs along the way at the same speed. I think it is quite a difficult thing to find people to run with who are happy to run at your own pace. I do not think my pace is ever too fast for anyone but sometimes worry others might find it a bit slow and get fed up. Yes I know my pace is not super slow but if I want to go out and totally beast myself on a trail for an hour or two I go and do it on my own. I just prefer to cruise along with others at a reasonable pace and chat etc.. Remember I train for Ultras not for 10ks. I got no point to prove to anyone how fast I can go. I have good days and I have bad days. In saying all of that I have just entered the Annecy KM vertical climb in mid May(1000m ascent as fast as you can) it will be a good little bit of speed work training in an awesome location.

Le Mole Summit

Summer is so much closer now. As much as I cannot wait to get to the states I am starting to realise how much I will miss Chamonix. I am a bit gutted I won't be able to do any of the races around the Marathon weekend here. There is the Vertical KM , Half Marathon , Marathon and the 80km. I would love to send off Chamonix by doing one of these but they are four days before I fly to Colorado and less than two weeks before the Leadville 50 miler so I need to be sensible as I would want to go for the Mont Blanc 80km again as it was a stunning race last year but two 50 milers in two weeks is a little too much at the moment I reckon. I will enjoy helping out Lauren over the Marathon course and seeing what ridiculously good time she puts in.

Lunchtime running

I will probably do a lot of running in the next 10 days and then ease it off for the 5 days before the race. It's going to hurt but it always does at the start of the running season. As per usual I just hope I finish and in a reasonable state if that is possible.

My Nectar Tabs and Gels are still working a treat along with some chewy crocodiles from the local supermarket here. I just need to find a way to ship 3 months supply of them to Colorado.

Doubts

Only a month to go until my first race of the season and as usual at this time every year I have major doubts in my mind about it. At the end of every winter I always worry I am not in shape to run a long race but in the end I do manage to finish them albeit in a fair amount of pain. I admit I am not the most confident person when it comes to my running but I think I am pretty stubborn and will put up with a lot to get to the end. I have always and will always say I love my running when both training and racing but admittedly the first race of the year is always a bit of a battle to get through and yes there will certainly be times during the Highland Fling when I will be wondering if I will ever see it to the end and who knows I may not but given my track record of no DNF's I should be confident right? Hmmm I am not so sure. I have done a lot more running over the whole season this year than any other winter and have not really partied at all this year so I am fairly fit and healthy however I have never started my year with an 80km race and it is going to be super tough.

Overlooking Lake Annecy

Great trails but no idea where I was

Last week I headed down to Deux Alpes to do a bit of running and skiing with Lauren. En route I stopped over at Lake Annecy for a really great run there. I had no idea where to go at all but somehow found a parking space up on the hill to the east side of the lake and just followed some trails. I had to re trace my steps a couple of times as some of the trails just ended but overall I went for 15km with 700m of ascent and descent. It was great to be out running again in warm weather in shorts and t shirt and just discovering somewhere new. I then got to Deux and after a little catch up with Lauren went out for another run with her. We made a fairly rapid 19 minute 680m descent of the steep technical trail from Deux down to Venosc then did a little loop around at the bottom and then back up to the house. 

Long way back up

The next two days were ski time but I then managed to squeeze in another run down to Venosc with Woody just before leaving. This time it was a bit faster at 18mins we then cheated and got the lift back to the top and went for another fast lap down and with the plan on doing 3 fast descents but it did not go to plan and I finally found a weakness in my S-labs shoes(not enough cushioning) and my running technique(not great at forefoot striking). Even from the start of our second descent the soles of my heel were in agony and I could barely put any weight on anything but my forefoot and given my not so great running technique and very sore calf muscles running on my toes downhill so fast was not going to work so we/I had to call it quits just 400m down our second lap and hike back up. A bit disappointing finish to an awesome 3 days. My calf’s were in total agony as well as the soles of my feet for the following 3 days.

Blue skies and powder

Running has been continuing in the evenings most nights after work ranging from 7-15kms just depending on how I feel. Last night I managed a bit of speed work and cracked out a 21 min 5km which I was quite happy with given the fact I do not normally run fast and that I only decided to push my pace up from 2.5km so maybe soon I will go out aiming for a sub 18 min and see what happens. Today was another ski tour with Josh which included yet another 4km hike out to get to the car so another good leg workout. I then got back to Chamonix and went out for a pretty sweet 17km run up to Argentiere and back and I am hoping to get that in again tomorrow on lunch then with any luck get a 40km in next week which will make me feel a whole lot better about the Highland Fling.

Powder day in the tiny resort of Champex

Boot packing at Marecottes

Heading to get the car on an amazing trail in ski boots!

Finally my new Suunto Ambit 2s has been getting used on every run and ski tour and it has been really good. Amazing amount of options you can use online and personalise the settings as you wish and it is super easy to use and navigate around the menus. The only slight niggle is the battery life on GPS mode is not that great at around 8hrs. For training this is fine as training runs are never that length however if I used the GPS function on Ultras I would want a much longer life but I never use that function on Ultras so it works for me. My old Garmin Forerunner used to take a while to locate a satellite but the Ambit picks up a signal in around 5 seconds! Brilliant stuff.

Great purchase already scratched from a Cosmiques Arete lap

Apologies for the font/colour problem. Will be sorted soon.

Running and Touring

With a long spell of high pressure over our heads it has been sunshine and warm weather for a while here meaning amazing running weather. Even in the evenings the temperature is still not too cold and has been rather pleasant.

As usual the running has not been anything too hardcore. Usually 10-15kms at a nice easy 10ks an hour pace. I feel relatively strong at the moment and could be quite easily be putting out 40-43 mins 10ks but with the Highland Fling not too far away I am more than happy to just keep my pace to Ultra plodding speeds. I am alternating from going out some lunch breaks in the sun and then some evenings on the trails with the head torch and all seems to be going very well but I should really be pushing myself for longer distances by now.

Josh sporting his fave touring headwear

Early start

Long way still to go

Getting hot by this point

I have been on a couple of awesome ski tours. One a nice morning out with 1200m of climbing and a fairly easy ski out and the following days adventure was pretty epic and long. I know this is not a ski blog but I might as well share it anyway as it was certainly good leg training for the Ultras to come. I have been running without a pack recently so unable to take my camera along so hope you enjoy the ski pics for now.

In we go

Getting steeper

Out of the couloir but still a long way to go

Josh and I had decided to go and ski the Northwest Couloir on the Dents Du Midi in Switzerland. Not exactly an extreme ski when compared to many things around Chamonix but still (for me) a fairly steep couloir with a long long approach. There are many ways to get to this line. We opted out of the aid of a lift system as they open too late and given the recent temperatures thought it would be too warm to wait for the Marecottes lift to open at 9am and we also didn't see the point in driving around and doing the ski by climbing up the couloir to then ski down it so we took the long approach. Leaving Chamonix at 4am , Parking our car at one side of the Mountain range , skinning for 5 hours and 1800m to get to the top then skiing the 600m couloir. Even once out of the couloir it was still a long long ski and hike back down to the valley below and the train station on the other side of the range. 5pm and 3 trains later and we were nearly back at the car. I had to stick on my running shoes and leave Josh guarding the ski gear as I ran the 4km uphill to retrieve the car from where we had left it at 6am!

Every shortcut possible was taken

It was a totally amazing ski tour and without doubt from the col it was the best view of the Swiss and French Alps as have yet seen. The couloir was also really brilliant to ski with an amazing atmosphere inside it with massive towers high above us at all times. We had the whole outing to ourselves which was pretty surreal given how long we were touring for. I must admit though that I did feel it on the way up. I have done a lot of touring this season and was pretty surprised how bad I was feeling with still 900m of skinning to go. It was a very long approach on the first 900m and once we stopped at the lake to look up at what was ahead I really didn't think we were going to make it up in time before the sun made the snow too hot and dangerous. I was really cold even in the sunshine and I kept loosing my breath really easily and were were only going up to 3000m. I really was shocked at how slow I was going for the last 2 hours of the skin up. After wolfing down as many mars and clif bars as I could we finally arrived at the Col and to be honest my legs felt way better(but hardly great) on the ski down than on the way up which is very unusual for me.

Not my ideal trail running kit

Long days out in the mountains like that are ideal training for my Ultras. Just keeping my body on the go for such a long time, waking up super early in the morning , not having a big breakfast , running on minimal food for the first few hours , carrying a heavy pack with rope etc... all helps get you ready for long long races. It is just a matter of getting my head down and getting on with it , totally the same as when I run long distances. Now some might think that this is a stupid way of thinking but in my experiences and opinion if I can run my body on days like that with just 500ml of water and 2 chocolate bars and maybe an energy gel then when it comes to my Ultras and I have all my food prepared and drop bags ready with my chosen fuel and water refills then it is like a luxury and makes it so much easier and I will take anything I can get to make running 50 , 60......100 miles easier.

Finally salt and vinegar crisps and coke!

The weather seems to be staying this way for a while so I will be continuing with running and ski touring for the foreseeable future....until the powder arrives back but then again with only a month to race day I think I should really be running more than skiing.

On the Colorado side of things it all seems to be falling into place. The runners manual and proper maps are now out for the Run Rabbit Run 100. I am still pretty nervous about this race. Having already run and completed one 100 miler doesn't mean I will find this one easy. Far from it. I might even find it harder. Anna and Kim are both going to come and pace me again and I may have a special guest flying in to do a section with me as well but that has yet to be confirmed for sure.

Endless trails

I have a few other races lined up in Colorado but the most exciting part of my summer has got to be pacing Kim on the Leadville 100. I really cannot stress just how much I am looking forward to doing it. I am so happy and proud to have done that race and want to remember it that way and just how amazing my first 100 was so I am happy to leave it for a while and maybe never run the whole thing again....maybe. It was/is an incredible race but I want my first memory of it to be my only one. However going back to help and friend out who helped me so much is going to be brilliant. Kim has asked if I could pace her from Winfield to Twin Lakes and then again from Fish Hatch to the end. I obviously agreed straight away but this is still going to be a 34 mile run for me. I am excited about the challenge of helping someone out for 34 miles and trying to feel fresh and strong the whole way.

So it is run run and tour for the next few weeks until my first race of the year in Scotland and by then it will not be long until USA time.