Track Wars - Never Give Up 24 hour event, with Phoenix Running, 02.05.2025

Travel report: It's been a few weekends of up and down to London lately, with a lot of events I'd entered before moving house all falling close together! Always love to go back though and to catch up with pals, so I've been enjoying it!

Thursday after work I headed to the airport. I was perfectly on time, but alas, the flight was not. This was, somewhat disconcertingly, due to a technical fault on the aircraft. In the end, we took off at the same time we were meant to be landing in London. The pilot apologised for the delay, but assured they would fly us to London "as quickly and as safely as possible". As possible!! 

As possible turned out just fine, but it was almost 11pm on getting to Gatwick, so I was extravagant, and got an Uber to the hotel. The whole experience was quite thrilling, with a distinct James Bond sort of vibe. The car was black with white leather seats, the driver looked exactly like a James Bond villan complete with metal finger splint, and drove silently and with a slight dastardly purpose all the way to Walton. 

Thank you to the incredibly lovely lady on the Travelodge reception who upgraded my room to one of the fancy ones with Kit-Kats, hot chocolates and coffee machine!!

Pre race report: After a lovely 4 and a bit hours sleep, I got up to enjoy the luxury room, and to get a good amount of pre race faffing in. Then it was a mile or so walk to the Xcel Sports Hub athletics track in Walton-on-Thames, where the event was held and organised by Phoenix Running. 

Chat report: Sarah and I ran the whole 24 hours together, which provided plenty of opportunities for random chats, and was the best fun. Gavin joined us for a chat-athon during the afternoon, and we caught up with many other runners during the event too. Topics ranged from men pouches, dinosaurs and Jurrassic Park noises, and the Dave Purbeck Ensemble (with assorted aid station instruments) and the Phil-ettes. 

I think its been my favourite Track Wars event so far, it had such a good vibe about it.

Nutrition report: Frozen grapes, frozen freddos, overnight salt and vinegar crisps, chocolate limes, pizza, cake and ice lollies!

Body report: **special toenail edition!** Currently, Sarah and I have 13 toenails between us (I lost 4 at the London Marathon last weekend), which is a full (if shared) pedicure, so there is no need to panic ahead of summer and sandal season. Other than that, we were feeling quite good, just a bit tired from both our recent various endeavours.

Weather report: absolutely hot during the day on Friday! My heat training has consisted so far of one day of being warm enough not to wear a coat back home in the Highlands (Wednesday), and the hot London Marathon last weekend, so I wasn't overwhelmingly well prepared for this. But I'm not complaining! It felt like being on holiday; a few people being barefoot at points, the sand overspilling from the long jump, and the general feel good vibe, all emphasised the beach-like atmosphere.

Wildlife report: Two ducks arriving and sleeping in the middle of the track. A few swans flying overhead. As I think it's important and helpful to have some treats to look forward to during long events, I had brought along an M&S smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich. I had been eating small bits at time during the day, and went back to my kit bag at one point to find the sandwich box on the floor away from my bag and EMPTY!! I wasn't too upset, as there was only a small bit left and the bread had been drying out over the day and it was no longer very appealing, but I wondered what had happened to it. Later in the evening, Sarah had a sandwich spotting! And there it was in the middle of the track, with a mighty pleased looking magpie licking his beak! 

Friday night report: we know how to live to up on a friday night, and I won't hear anyone say otherwise; we can still pull an all nighter, after all. There was a party going on in the event space in the sports hub, which provided some (good/ bad) tunes over the evening, and some random float away blue balloons which bounced around the track. Thank you to all the marshals who looked after the runners, and especially Gavin and Gary who stayed up all night.

Celebrations report: there were many people achieving many different and amazing targets at this event. Top shout out goes to James Bennett, who ran his 100 x 100 mile event, becoming the 32nd person in the world to achieve this, and has set the record for being the youngest person to do so, at the age of 34. James is an incredible runner and a wonderful person to boot; he always has time for a chat, to share stories and to ask how you are doing what you've been up to, I love chatting with him. Congratulations James, you absolute star!  

Summary report: Sarah and I covered 103.1 miles in 24:00:38.

Post run report: a few of us popped down to the towpath by the Wier Pub to watch the runners in the Thames Path 100 miler come through, which was great fun. Thank you so much Gavin for the lift back to Gatwick! 

And thank you Rik and Team Phoenix for another great track event! Well done to all!! 

The 2025 TCS London Marathon, 27.04.2025

The last time I ran the London Marathon was back in 2013. Even back then, I found it pretty overwhelming, it was so big, so many people and so noisy for every single step along the way. Back then, there were 34,202 finishers. This year, there were 56,646 finishers; a new world record for most number of finishers in a marathon!

I felt quite good physically, but for me it was pretty difficult mentally. The crowd support is absolutely incredible, and the energy is intense, and it's such an amazing experience to be part of; it's just I found it all quite overwhelming! My brain struggled a bit to keep things calm inside, and I had a few panicky points from half way where everything felt a bit too colossal and a bit much. But, I was very lucky to get a place, and I appreciate this gift from the universe very much. I did the best I could on the day, and that's all that we should ask ourselves to try to do.

The above little difficulties aside, it was the absolute best weekend! Thank you so much Danielle for having me to stay, amazing hospitality (even my own sign and slippers!!), fun, food, drinks.... everything! And to Danielle and Chris for travelling all around the course to support Sarah and I - it was absolutely brilliant to see you 3/3 times along the way!

Pre race prep report: Picked up my number from a very busy Expo on Saturday, and saw some lovely friends there. Then met up with the fabulous Danielle, and relaxed with sunny walks, delicious food, and watching Jurrassic Park III, which inspired us to do a "dinosaurs running" painting session.

Travel report: The journey to the start was nice and easy, and very quiet coming from the east direction! Hopped off the train at Blackheath and bumped into Paul, and then Pete, and then found Sarah and Chrissy by the baggage trucks at the Blue Start. 

Special loo report: very good (and a good portaloo experience at a marathon is a very rare and precious moment indeed).

Top tip report: top and unusual tips collected this marathon include "don't get run over" (from my Dad) and "don't get pee'ed on (from a lady at the start - in reference to running under a bridge at the New York marathon, but I think also applies to everyday life). Every day is a school day!

Fancy dress report: no report could possibly do justice to the scale and variety of fancy dress on display at the London Marathon. But my favourites spotted included hero Chris the Rhino, a giant rainbow, an enormous chicken, Big Ben, an emu, a tray of test tubes, a zebra, a brain, two bones with blue hair.....

Favourite sign report: Danielle's masterpiece!!! (plus Doris and Cameron, the Highland cows).

Runner up signs - "All toenails go to heaven" and "Whine now, wine later", and a wind sock.

Route report: it is an iconic route, you cannot deny it! It was so, so busy the entire way, and I found it difficult to get into a rhythm with all the stopping and starting and getting jostled around.

Checkpoint report: I think there were 18 showers on the way round (as it was a hot day), and they were nice and cool. Plus the two fire stations on the route both had firmen outside hosing water! Plenty of water stations, which were all slightly treacherous, as all the runners veered over to one side, and lots of pushing and collisions ensued. I took a bottle each 2 or 3 stations, and carried it until I'd finished it, to reduce the number I used and also reduce the number of times I had to try to get one! 

Finish report: I enjoyed very much the last mile, running down Birdcage Walk and past Buckingham Palace and onto the Mall. It was great to see Matt at the end - thank you for the Freddo - and Oggy and Sunny!

Post race report: Annual picnic in Horsegaurds parade, catching some sunshine with good friends (thank you for all the lovely snacks and drinks) = good times! 

5 x 50 km in 5 days with Phoenix Running (10.04.2025 - 14.04.2025)....

 ....just to see how many "f"s I could get in one sentence!

Early pre-Easter mini break, and five days of socialising on and off the towpath.

Weather report: Great weather, much sunshine, blue skies, and nice and toasty on some days. Making a start on those running tan lines nice and early in the season!

Route report: Alternate days going east and west on the towpath - 9.5 laps each day for a 50 km.

Snack report: Jazzies, shrimps, squishy strawberries, pretzels, peanut parcels, and lots of cake afterwards.

Wildlife report: Tiny ducklings! Swans, pink blossoms, and lush green leaves. 

Sightings of note report: Boat races on the river. Unicorns and pandas bouncing over hedges. Kilts (long AND short).

Chat report: So much great company and so many catch ups! It really was good to catch up with so many pals. Thank you Sarah and Gavin for all the laps we shared - such good fun!!

Leg report: I felt really good, and plenty of stretching and walking around in between the days seemed to keep the legs ticking over nicely.

Outfit report: stars, gold, humming birds, funny faces, and flowers vests (with vest twin Sarah, and matched to medal colours)

I do like a multi-day event, and being in a little bubble - great company, lots of randomness, laughs and hugs. I initially was planning on doing the whole thing, but sometimes things change, and that's OK and you have to go with it - but hopefully next year. 

Thank you Rik and marshals for a brilliant experience, and good luck to all doing the rest of the series!

Hike up Little Wyvis, and marathon along Loch Lochy

Little Wyvis hike, 05.04.2025

My first Corbett since moving to Scotland!

Little Wyvis is part of the view from our house, so it felt like a good one to be the first.

Left home early, and parked at the car park at Silverbridge, then followed a route from Walk Highlands. Over the river, up through some estate land (deer, lambs!) and then on along good tracks up the hill (with a coffee break) for about 3.5 miles to the top. Beautiful views! It was very peaceful. On the way up it was just Andrew and me, plus a chap carrying his wee daughter up her first mountain. On our way back down, there were a few others on their way up.

Picnic by a lochan near some friendly deer!

Got back to the river, and then did a 5 mile loop along the most gorgeous river path, followed by some off piste bush whacking to get to Garve, and then back along lanes and forest tracks, to complete 12 miles.

Marathon along Loch Lochy from Laggan Locks to Gairlochy and back, 06.04.2025
I believe I may have been quite uncomplimentry of the unoriginality of Loch Lochy's name in my last post.

I would like to retract this.

Having spent a morning running along its magnificent banks, through the magical pine forests that wrap around it, across it's idyllic beaches, and admiring the perfect views over it's dark blue waters towards Ben Nevis, I conclude that it's everything you could want from a loch. So Lochy is the perfect name, it doesn't need anything else. Plus anyway, in early Gaelic, it means "Loch of the dark goddess", which is quite a dramatic name, after all.

Plus it's got it's own legend; the River Horse, a supernatural being which emerges from the lake and assumes the shape of a horse and feeds on the banks of the loch. I didn't know supernatural beings needed earthly nutrition, but there you go. Take that, Nessie!

And, there is actually a loch with and even less inventive name than Loch Loch. And that is Loch Loch. It's true, there is.

Loch Lochy (not Loch Loch, or any other lochs or locks) is about 16km long, 1km wide and is the third deepest of Scotland's lochs.

I ran from Laggan Locks at the north eastern end along the northern side down to Gairlochy, along the Calendonian Canal for a mile or so to make it up to 13.1 miles before turning round and doing the route backwards.

Met Andrew (who was cycling/ walking) at the Gairlochy swing bridge, which was open to let some boats through, providing the perfect opportunity for a pause and a coffee break.

Then back along to Laggan Locks, via a chat with a nice couple walking the Great Glen Way. 

Highlands Double Marathon

Friday 28.03.2025 - Cabrich to the Great Glen Way (solo marathon/ultra #87)

Ran from home up to the Great Glen Way (7 miles on lanes), along the GGW towards Inverness for about 6.5 miles, and then back, 26.2 miles in all.

The weather was varied, and was an immersive experience! Started off quite sunny with big gusts of wind. Heavy rain showers gradually turned into a persistent downpour of rain and hail, and winds got up to almost 50 miles an hour, at which point I regretted choosing a route along a ridge, particularly when turning round at half way and heading straight back into the wind and being blasted in the face with hail all the way home. I gradually added all the spare clothes I had, and eventually warmed up, just in time to finish. I even got a nice red glow from the hail, which isn't as good as a tan, but you have to take what you can get.

It was amazing though, watching the rain approaching, and even rainbows made it through the clouds once or twice. It's a nice route as well, and in good weather, the views would be fab. I shall choose my return after a more thorough studying of the forecast! 

Saturday 29.03.2025 - Marathon from Laggan Locks to Fort Augustus and back, along the Great Glen Way (solo marathon/ultra #88)

Started at Laggan Locks, which is at the north end of Loch Lochy, which is surely the best and most creatively named loch in the whole of Scotland. Then followed the GGW along Loch Oich, which (in my opinion) comes a very close second in the loch naming stakes. 

The weather was appalling, although in fairness not as appalling as I expected, and probably not as bad as yesterday. 

Andrew cycled, and I ran, and it was epic, such a fun day! 

Path down through the forest near the Well of the Seven Heads

View down to Loch Oich

Checkpoint!

Some of the colours were almost like autumn

The Bridge of Oich

The locks at Fort Augustus

Nessie + baby Nessie (all legends need a good succession plan)

Waterfalls in the forest

Amazing tree!

The rhododendrons will be spectacular here in a few weeks

The finish at Loch Lochy