Speyside Way 50km, with Moray Way Ultras, 16.08.25

It was nice to do an event again after a few weeks of entertaining myself running wise.

The race was organised by Moray Way Ultras, and started at the Tamdhu Distillery, in Knockando.

The night before, we stayed at The Delnashaugh hotel, an old fishing lodge, about 15 minutes drive from the start. It was proper old school, and excellent. Our room was called "Polly's Poo", which the manager explained had been a typo on the original sign, which was meant to say "Polly's Pool", after a nearby salmon fishing pool, but they liked the typo, so kept it.

In keeping with interesting signs about the place, outside our room I found this:

Which turns out is the motto of several Scottish clans, and is a warning "Don't touch the cat without a glove", using the fierce Scottish wildcat as a metaphor to tell rivals to be cautious when disturbing the clan, as the clan members are ready to fight back. Gee wizz!

It was a leisurely 11am start, as there was also a 100km going on which had started at 5am in Aviemore. I was a bit sad to not be doing that one, to be honest, but I just couldn't figure out the logistics.

Andrew dropped me off (thank you!) at Tamdhu, and I registered, and saw Liz! 11am came round quickly, and it was time for the off (supervised by the dog at Thistle Timing)!

The first part of the route followed the old Strathspey Railway. It was nice and runnable, mostly under the trees, and very pleasant. Speyside is whiskey country, and the smell of malt permeates the air all around!

After 15km or so we got to the first checkpoint at Craigellachie. The checkpoints were all well stocked, and were run by really great volunteers.

After this, the part I was apprehensive about; the climb up Ben Aigen! It actually felt better than I was expecting, and I managed to run most of it. From here, it was down, then another spirited uphill, before dropping down again to Fochabers and the second CP at 36km.

The last section followed the river Spey to the coast at Spey Bay, along the old railway line to Portgordon. I was feeling tired by then and not really in the mood. It was hard going underfoot, and I had a fall (my third in a week!!). Still, you just keep on keeping on, and every step gets you closer to your goal.

The final few miles were along the cost to the finish in Buckie. Great atmosphere at the finish line, and I snuck in under my target of 5 hours.

All finishers got a nice goody bag. I've noticed that all events I've done in Scotland so far have included a beer/ whiskey at the finish!

Irn Bru ice cream at the the finish with Andrew, Donald, Robert and Freya!

Thanks Moray Way Ultras for a great event and Stuart Ross Media and Ray Liversidge for the photos!

From there, it was over to Aviemore for a mountain day, and to focus on one of my new projects - The Munroes....more on that another time!

Marathon at Sunset Running Festival, with Blast Running, 05.07.2025

Had a blast, at Blast!

My first time running with Blast Running, and it was brilliant. 

Continuing with the trend of my lack of appreciation of how big Scotland is when looking for "local" events, the journey to the start actually turned out to be a 3.5 hour drive from home. But luckily, the event had an unusual start time, at 3pm, so that left plenty of time to get there on Saturday morning without a super early start.

I wasn't sure what to do nutrition wise with a 3pm start. Events usually start in the morning, so having some breakfast 2 or 3 hours before starting is usually my go to plan. I settled on a warm cheese scone and an Americano at Killiecrankie on the drive there at about 11.30, which seemed as good a plan as any to try.

Killiecrankie is notable, as during the Jacobite Rebellion in 1689, the Jacobites took the government forces by suprise and won, at the Battle of Killiecrankie. And in other historical facts, just before this, in 1680, the last wolf in Britain was killed here.

Back on the road, and got to Edinburgh. The event was along Silverknowles Prom which is on the Firth of Forth a couple of miles north of Edinburgh city centre. I had no idea what it would be like, and it was a beautiful spot!

Registered, and met Craig and had time for a good catch up at the Boardwalk Beach Club (an Edinburgh version of Sydney Opera house, with a Christmas tree in the loo) before the run. 

There was a 3pm start for the 6 hour event and for marathoners wanting to start earlier. There were maybe around 100 people starting then, and it already had a great buzz about it. At 5pm there was a bigger start, with the rest of the marathoners, half marathoners, and 7km runners joining in, and it suddenly turned into a pretty big event! 

6 x 7km laps made for a marathon. The course was great, if a trifle windy going in the easterly direction, which became a bit wearing after a while. 

It was really to catch up with Craig after far too long, and along the way we caught up on months of news, travel tips and marathon ideas, explored all the things a 2p can fix (and could it fix a hangover?), and I picked up some charm tips, whilst Craig practiced each lap to become (even more) charming. It was really good fun, the miles seemed to pass by quickly, and we even managed a negative split (not usually one of my strong points) and came in at 3.56, so that was nice. 

It was really well organsied, there were marshals all along the course who were really fun and funny, and at the end we got a glass medal, a can of beer, haggis crisps and some juice, which was all very wholesomely Scottish. I would recommend Blast Running, and hope to be back! 

June events

North of Scotland LDWA, Highland Coast 2 Coast marshals event, 36.2 miles, 14.06.2025

The North of Scotland LDWA do a wonderful thing, in that they put on a "marshals event" for people helping at the main event, so that anyone marshaling and wanting to do it still gets the opportunity.

The Highland Coast 2 Coast is a crossing of Scotland, from Ullapool on the west coast, to Ardgay on the east coast. The route is a low level route, following lochs and rivers along three valleys, with a small amount of hill to get between them.

I've done two NoS LDWA events before; the Laich o'Moray 50, and the Speyside 100, and since moving to Scotland, we've joined it as our local group. It was a great day getting to know some of the members, what a lovely bunch!

We were to be at Ardgay for 6.45am, in order to be on the minibus at 7am for the journey over to Ullapool. The journey over was a highlight in itself, as the mountains and lochs sailed by.

The forecast was dreadful, but the weather actually held until the evening, so we escaped getting too wet at all.

We set off from Ullapool harbour a little before 9am, and Andrew and I walked with Graham and Sue for the first section. Such good fun getting to know people and learning about their stories, and the miles flew by. 

The first section was up and into the first valley and along Loch Achall, along the Rhiddoroch river, to the first CP at Rhiddoroch Lodge. Along the way, we met two free running sheepdogs out on the hills, who took it in turn to herd us for a few miles. 

Roger did a sterling job looking after everyone at CP1 with hot and cold drinks, snacks, and pizza (until one of the sheep dogs ran off with the last slice). 

The next section went up to the high point of the walk, then along Loch an Daimh, past the bothy at Knockdamph, and along some muddy landrover tracks. 

Next it was on to the river crossing at Abhainn Poiblidh. The river wasn't too high, and Dave and John had kindly rigged up a rope and were there to help everyone across if needed.

Then it was a mile or two along Glen Einig to CP2 at the Schoolhouse Bothy, where Alison and Roger had set up a comfy CP, which even had milkshakes!

From CP2 the next section was mostly through the Croik Estate, and along Strath Cuileannach. Saw loads of deer! 

CP3 was at Croik, opposite the church (a significant location in the Highland clearnaces), where Roger had managed to leg it over from CP1 via CP2 and set up another fabulous CP in his car boot, even with deck chairs and a stove, although the midges had gatecrashed the party!

The last section was along a quiet lane along the River Carron, all the way back to Ardgay and the sea at Dornoch Firth, to complete the walk across Scotland!

Julie had prepared drinks and food at the end in Ardgay Hall and it was so nice to have a sit down and good chat with everyone. Absolutely loved the day, and so excited to have walked across Scotland! Thank you NoS group and all those on marshaling duty for being so amazing! 💚💙💚

Saltire 12 with Rebel PT, 59.8miles, 21.06.2025

I've never done a 12 hour event before, so thought it would be fun to try out something new! My first time running this event, which was organised by RebelPT, and it was brilliant!

The event was held at Knockburn Sports Loch, which is slightly south of Banchory over on the east coast (near Aberdeen). Andrew, Tricia and I made a road trip of it, and went over east for the whole weekend, and did some sightseeing too.

There were 6 hour, 12 hour, and 24 hour events all starting off at 10am on the Saturday, and solo runners and teams taking part. 

The weather was all encompassing; started off with the haar fog, then got sunny, humid and hot during the day, followed by big winds, a downpour, and then back to being hot. The weather is never boring in Scotland! 

The route was challenging, but brilliant. 4.2 miles, from the event village by the loch, a tiny bit on a tarmac track, then the rest was on rough trails. We headed first part way up Kerloch Hill, a great section along a track lined with pine trees and heather with lovely views, a nice downhill part, across the moorland and to Knoll Gallacher....

... then back down, through the campsite/festival village, woods....

...round the loch, up the evil hill, back down it, and past the start to "dib our dobbers". 

The marshals were incredible! 

Met some lovely people and it was a nice way to spend a Saturday. The evening was gorgeous!

I did find it tough, but I enjoyed it and managed 59.8 miles in 11 hours 50 min, with almost 5000 feet of ascent, and came 2nd lady and 4th overall.

 

Thank youRebelPT for an excellent event!

North of Scotland LDWA, Highland Coast 2 Coast marshaling on the main event, 28.06.2025

Up at 3am for a 5.30am start at Ardgay Community Hall for marshalling duties on the Highland C2C event! 

Early morning duties included car parking (Andrew and Dad) and registration (me, and my Mum also put in a shift before setting off to the start of the walk!). The start had a great buzz about it; people registering and getting their tally cards, fitting in some last minute tea and toast, and general pre-race faffing. 

Once everyone (157) were registered, the coaches set off at 7am to the start all Ullapool, so participants could walk/run back to the finish at Ardgay.

We then had a marshals breakfast, before having the day to ourselves, before going back at 5pm for the evening shift.

That was epic! Andrew and I were on serving duty - directing finishers to a table, taking food and drink orders, getting this from the kitchen and making sure everyone had a good meal to recover. The marshals in the kitchen were just incredible - making a two course meal for all 157 people (plus marshals) all ready in time for whatever time people finished, and all in a little village hall kitchen! 

It was such a nice experience, chatting to everyone at the end and celebrating people achieve a crossing of the country on foot!

Big congratulations to my Mum, aunty and cousin who all completed the walk in excellent time. And all other participants!

It was a brilliant experience, and served as a reminder of why I love the LDWA (especially NoS!) and what a fantastic organisation it is. All credit to NoS LDWA group and all the marshals for putting on this excellent event!

Got to bed at 1am, and slept so well!

The LDWA Flower of Suffolk 101.8 miles, 24.05.2025

The end May Bank Holiday weekend = time for the annual LDWA 100 miler, one of my absolute highlights of the year! Actually, in Scotland, this isn't a bank holiday, a fact which I realised only a few weeks ago, resulting in a frantic booking of time off work and rearranging things. Andrew and I got a flight down to London on Friday afternoon, and made our way over on the trains to Ipswich, where we had a blue bunkhouse (aka Travelodge) picnic, and catch up with Alan.

Saturday morning, after breakfast, we caught the #300 park and ride bus from Ipswich over to Rushmere St Andrew, where the event HQ was based at Ipswich School Sports Centre. Got there just in time to see my Auntie, cousin Sammy, Elaine and Andy, and the 10am start set off, along with a fabulous samba band! 

We then had a couple of hours before our start at 12pm. This left plenty of time for faffing, seeing Ed Sheeran (from Framlington, on the route) model some merch, packing and re-packing bags, checking the kit list, more faffing, a snack, 2 cups of tea, more faffing, several safety wees, and catch ups with friends. It’s incredible how quickly 2 hours can go by, when you think you're already all ready to go!

Soon enough, the 12pm start came around, and about 50 of us set off. The first section headed north out of Rushmere St Andrew for 7.2 miles, some along the Fynn Valley Walk, past the 16th century Witnesham Hall, and through countryside, to first CP at Barham Green. Here, Alan invented a new ultra running drink - coffee dregs (caffeine, left over in his cup from the start) mixed with squash (sugar). 

Thus energised by this new discovery, we set off to tackle stage 2; 8.3 miles to Crowfield. This section started through some beautiful plantations, and I sustained my first injury after an unprovoked attack by a particularly big and mean bramble. The route then went through the parkland of Shrubland Hall; a grade 2 listed Georgian mansion built in 1770, and used a location in the James Bond film Thunderball. 

Soon after, we went by the Retreat East Spa and its willow cow....where some of Married At First Sight was filmed.

With a lack of any proposals, we pushed on, to see my Auntie and Sammy, and had a lovely catch up.

On to the next CP at Coddenham (during Roman occupation, the largest settlement in Suffolk) – for cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, and mini jammy dodgers! 

Shortly after setting off on the 9.4 miles to Brandeston, we spotted a chicken.

On the subject of animals, I had earlier on swallowed a fly, which prompted us to try to remember the order of the Lady Who Swallowed A Fly rhyme, and we spent the rest of the run trying to collect all the animals in order. “Spider” was tricky (luckily) but after a few hours of trying, we decided that running through a spiders web would count, and then the rest of the animals were easier to come by.

We ran on past Helmington Hall and it’s obelisk….

….and on to CP3 at Brandeston Village Hall, to see Dave and Merriam and have a kit check. This entails pulling out a ping ping pong ball from a bag, and then finding whichever item is written on the ping pong ball from your bag. Mine was a “warm upper layer”, which inexplicably had worked it’s way right to the bottom of my (carefully, and several times repacked) bag, and was the last thing I pulled out! To celebrate passing the kit check, we had some leek and potato soup and a roll, which was delicious.

The next section was 8.1 miles to Kettleburgh, and went by the 12^th century Framlington castle, which was looking magnificently atmospheric and imposing rising up the other side of the mere. The first self clip was in the castle grounds - success! There was even a funfair and music to add to the occasion, but we skipped any rides, which looked suitably vomit inducing, as both Alan and I had been struggling a bit with funny tummies and I was feeling a bit sick.

Still, onwards and upwards! And along to Kettleburgh, where the kettle was on...

...and I had a pizza crumpet – which I approached with some trepidation what with feeling a bit sick, but after the first mouthful felt instantly better. I will refuse now to eat a crumpet in any other way then having pizza sauce and melted cheese on top!

Feeling rejuvenated, we set off on the 5.3 miles to the next CP at Parham Moat Farm. We passed some crinkle crankle walls on this section, which are structural walls built in a serpentine shape, and originally are from Ancient Egypt, but also made their way to Suffolk.

The CP at Parham Moat Farm was in a barn and was spectacular – tables laden with a giant buffet and decorated with fairy lights and bunting – it could easily have been a wedding we’d walked in to (albeit with some slightly dishevelled looking guests).

The next part was about 5 miles through some farmland and woods, to Stratford St Andrew, and then 6.4 miles (past some dragons!) to Knodishall Village Hall. I was feeling sick again. I knew the breakfast checkpoint was coming up next, and all I could think about to eat that wasn’t making me feel sick at the thought of, was a bacon sandwich. Strictly speaking, as (sort of) a vegetarian (but not really), I don’t eat bacon. And having run past lots of free range and very cute pigs during the day, I really shouldn’t have been thinking about eating bacon at all. As it got dark, and I was feeling worse and worse, I decided at some point on the 3.3 miles to Leiston and the breakfast stop, that if a bacon sandwich helped me get through the night, I would have it, and worry about feeling guilty the next day. So I had it, and it was amazing (thank you East Lancs/ Irregulars groups!), and I felt much better. With a few guilty pangs, but also feeling refreshed by a baby wipe shower and a change of top, we set off into the night, with the lights of the Sizewell B nuclear power plant shining in the darkness.

It had been raining on and off for a few hours by then, but nothing like as bad as the forecast had looked like it was going to be. The night wasn’t too bad, and a combination of using the route description and the GPS meant we didn’t get lost at all, save for a couple of wrong turns which we realised quite quickly.

The next section was 5.7 miles to Aldeburgh, going past a windmill and the “house in the clouds” – this is actually a water tank, constructed by Braithwaite Engineering Company of London in 1923, to provide a water supply for nearby Thorpeness (the original Butlins from 1912!). Thorpeness Estates decided to disguise what was an unsightly structure on the skyline, and Glencairne Stuart Ogilvie, F. Forbes Glennie and H. G Keep came up with the design of disguising it as a house in the trees – so from miles around, it looks like a cottage lodged high up in the tree tops!  Unfortunately, it was dark when we went past, so all we could see were lights in the windows. The next few miles were along the coast. The coast in this part of the country I think is wonderful, and I was really sad that we were there in the dark and didn’t get to see it. There was a section along a shingle beach, which probably wasn’t very far, but felt like forever, and then happily back on to a path. Soon after, was the Scallop Shell Sculpture – which is by Maggi Hambling, and is a tribute to Benjamin Britten, who was an Aldeburgh resident, and into Aldeburgh we went for the next CP. I was feeling sick again, but most of the checkpoints seemed to have melon slices/ tinned fruit/ peaches/ rice pudding - which was perfect! So I was managing to eat things like that quite well.

From here, we had 9.2 miles to go to Sudbourne, along the Sailor’s Path and past Snape Maltings and the Snape Maltings Concert Hall, which was established by Benjamin Britten, and opened by the Queen in 1967.

From Sudbourne, we set off on the 8.4 miles to Butley, going through Orford and it’s beautiful castle, and then on to the next section of 6.5 miles, which went through Rendlesham Forest and the UFO! In 1980, unexplained lights were spotted in the skies just outside of RAF Woodbridge (at the time being used by the United States Air Force), which were reported to be a UFO/ a hoax/ the nearby Orfordness Lighthouse/ a fireball which occurred at the time/ bright stars. The mystery has remained unsolved for 45 years, and no further sightings were seen….

.....until the nights of 24^th and 25^th May 2025 when 500 or so unexplained lights (inexplicable both for anyone watching, and also for the people/aliens wearing the headtorches, who at over 77 miles in were in a general state of confusion) were seen snaking through the forest…….and the evidence of a UFO is clear for all to see!  .

We arrived at the Hollesley Village Hall CP pleased as (a Suffolk) punch (pony) with our UFO bagging! Time to refocus, and now the route turned inland, for the 3.1 miles to Shotisham, through farm land and along sandy tracks. I loved the route, but I was getting tired of running along sandy tracks a lot (but then I was in Suffolk, so knew that would be the case, so I can’t complain too much, but I will complain just a bit, of course).

From Shotisham we set off for the next part, to Sutton Hoo (a 6^th and 7^th century cemetery and Anglo Saxon ship burial site). I was hoping for giant ships and helmets, treasure and drama, but in reality, it looked like some mounds of earth in the early morning sunshine. Which was a bit deflating, but I soon perked up on seeing some deer, and even more so on arriving at the next CP which was manned by the ever lovely North Yorkshire LDWA group, who had smiles and treats (chocolate puddings!) galore, and even tropical deck chairs to have a rest in.

The next section was a little one, through a plantation and the down and along the River Deben, to the Sea Scout Hut at Woodbridge….

….another bit along the river, a bonus hill, then back to the river path, some wiggly bits....

....a bonus checkpoint to down the last of our coke and some jelly babies – some sugar for the last push! The last CP was at Little Bealings, where, with a big hug from David, we launched off on the final 2.4 miles to the end (up a flight of stairs!), back at Ipswich School Sports Centre.

An absolutely brilliant event put on by the LDWA, as always! This year, the Norfolk and Suffolk group organised it, and different groups from around the country were manning each checkpoint and managing everything behind the scenes. As usual, the care and love all the way round from all the volunteers was amazing - I'm always bowled over by it. Thank you so much indeed!

And thank you Alan for putting up with me for 101.8 miles and 19 pages of (excellent) route description - we did it!!! And 23 hours and 36 minutes is an LDWA PB for both of us!