In a small suburb to the north west of Glasgow a man named Ian once penned a song. That song goes like this:
“Ding Ding! The Highland Fling
The Highland Fling, The Highland Fling
Ding Ding! The Highland Fling
The Highland Fling for me (and you).”
That man was Ian Beattie. Ian is the Chairman of Scottish Athletics and his endorsement of a race should tell you a lot about the pedigree of that race. The race in question is called The Highland Fling, it’s a 53 mile ultra marathon that starts in Milngavie (pronounced “Muln-guy”) and works it’s way north to Tyndrum for just over the first half of the West Highland Way which ultimately ends in Fort William. The Fling, as it is affectionately known, started life as a training run for the West Highland Way race which is run in May. It has since fallen to John Duncan (Johnny Fling to anyone that’s been involved in the race) to grow this event from humble beginnings to one of the largest ultra marathons in the country. John employs the services of around 250 volunteers every year to make the event go off without a hitch.
I picked The Fling for my first step into ultra marathon running on the recommendation of a good friend, Nick Dunk. Nick had run this race twice amongst a host of other ultras and knew the route and terrain well. The race entry was done by way of a ballot for the first time this year. The minimum requirement for entry was one of the following prior to January 2017:
- A sub 5 hour road marathon
- A trail marathon of any time, or
- An ultra
1200 people entered for 1000 places so understandably there was some disappointment. The capacity of the race is around 750 as the team know that 25-30% won’t make it to the start line. There is a generous refund process; 100% if you pull out before Christmas and 50% if you pull out before February. A lot of races could learn a thing or two here! The entry fee is £47, less than £1 a mile (road races take note!)
Nick had entered along with me and a few others from my running club, Witham Runners, but sadly due to injury I was the only one to make it to the start line. My first debt of gratitude surrounding this race goes to Nick who, despite pulling put the race, said he was still willing to drive up to Scotland, organise the hotel, marshal and then drive back on the Sunday. This meant that I wouldn’t have to think about anything on the weekend of the race other than making sure u had my kit and that I made it to the start line in one piece.
To race day. Nick and I awoke at 4am in our Glasgow hotel. Coffee and porridge did the trick and I managed the infamous pre-race poo before leaving the hotel (too much info, I know!) We drove to Milngavie station where the race started and due to Nick’s marshal status we parked in the station car park. I sorted out my drop bags and got them to the cars which take them to the respective check points. The idea of drop bags is to mean that runners need as little support as possible. Having not used them before I was anxious about getting the contents right sand included a mixture of sweet and savoury in each one. Contents included cooked new potatoes, date and banana bars, banana soreen and my trusty Tailwind nutrition to mix with water. The next I would see of my bags would be at the check points on the route.
Nick took the opportunity to introduce me to some of his friends, Ian who I mentioned previously and his wife Sandra, Susan and Andy (hi if you’re reading this). We took some snaps and then a quick queue for the portaloos for a follow up drop. All too soon the clock hit 05:45 and it was race briefing time. Johnny Fling stands on top of his van and uses a PA system to shout something about not getting lost, mandatory kit and not faffing about at check points. Then it was over to the start pens where the smell of deep heat was… intoxicating! I’d positioned myself at the back of the 10-12 hour pen as I was secretly hoping for something with an 11 in it although Nick had said he thought I was capable of sub 11. The klaxon went and the elites and sub 10 runners set off through the town. 5 minutes later we shuffled forward and then it was our turn.
I deliberately hadn’t set my watch to show pace as I thought it would be demoralizing in places so for the first 5 miles I had no real idea what my pace was but I settled into what was comfortable and I think it was around 10:00/mile. The terrain was relatively flat to start with and then came a short, sharp hill on which i took the opportunity to eat a small square of my date and banana bar despite not being hungry at that point. I knew to eat little and often would be the key to managing my energy levels. I hadn’t made much of an effort to talk to people for the first couple of hours as I wanted to run my own race and not get caught up running at someone else’s pace.
Around 6 miles in I realised I had my first problem; I suffer with chronic blisters due to swimming too much and having soft feet. I manage it by taping my feet with zinc oxide tape but in the heat of the race prep in the morning I realised I hadn’t applied enough tape and the inside of each arch was developing as small blister. No problem, I thought, I had a roll of tape in my pack so could apply compeed and then reapply my tape. I stopped and took my pack off and discovered to my horror that I had left my tape in the hotel room. Not ideal. I stuck a compeed over both feet, kit back in and on my way. The heat in my shoes meant that within a mile the compeed was coming free, again not ideal. I asked a random runner whether he had any tape and thank the gods he did. He patiently waited with me for 15 minutes while I reapplied my tape and then we were on our way again. Sadly, these two stops had cost me about 25 minutes and I know at that point that my sub 11 and probably sub 11:30 we’re both out the window. 12 hours became the new target.
The fist checkpoint came into view with no further incident and I arrived in 12:15. No drop bags at Drymen, just water so I refilled both soft flasks with Tailwind and walked out the CP munching on more date bars. I’d planned on drinking 500ml every 6 miles and so far was going well.
Out of the checkpoint you work your way through what looks like the scene of a nuclear warzone, a massive deforestation project was in progress and it made for a barren but still stunning landscape. It’s then the slog up to the summit of Conic Hill, The biggest climb on the route. Conic rises approx 1000ft over about 7 miles and it’s a proper drag. During the build up to the race I had asked friends on Facebook to suggest songs for a playlist and now seemed as good a time as any to listen to some tunes to help on the climb. A few questionable choices but then Whole Lotta Rosie BY AC/DC came on and I picked up the pace. I obviously stopped concentrating too as I slipped on a rock and rolled my right ankle pretty badly (more on the repercussions of that later). I also kicked a big rock pretty hard with my left foot, something which would have a big effect on my race later. I switched the tunes off and settled back to a walk to get to the top of the hill. There were photographers at the top but they gave you a couple of seconds to start running again to take the best shots. At the top of Conic I took a moment to get a photo of Loch Lomond before settling into the descent. I love descending and this was a great hill to get stuck into although I was careful not to trash my quads too much with 37 miles still to run.
Off the descent of Conic you run through a stunning pine forest and into the first major check point at Balmaha at just over 19 miles. Time to refill the bottles with Tailwind again and get some solid food in me. I elected for banana soreen and another date bar. I made sure I didn’t waste any time in the CPs and head out walking and eating on the route to the half way point at Rowerdennan.
This part of the route was fairly runnable so I put in a good few miles. The ankle was starting to hurt a bit but I maintained my plan of walking the hills and running the downs and flats. 27 and a bit miles was the next check point and where I’d see Nick for the first time in the race. At 25 miles I started to feel a bit low, the weather had taken a turn for the worse and I had no waterproof. I think my energy levels were down too and I needed the CP badly. Jogging into the CP I saw Nick and Susan ushering people down the line. My head was down but they told me I looked strong and to keep going. It’s worth noting here that the CPs were run with military precision, as you approached a marshal shouted out your number and it went down a line so by the time you arrived at the drop bags there was a marshal holding your drop bag open ready for you and shouting encouragement. Incredible! Another water and tailwind refill and food stock, more soreen, date bar and a banana this time. The banana was like nectar and the soreen provided time stodge.
On to the some loch side roads and paths, across a beach (!!!!) And then we started to climb. I ran with an Irish chap called Conor for an hour or so. He was going through a bad patch but was using this as a training run for a 120km race in the Dolomites in Italy. We chatted about race history and previous experiences but after a while we naturally drifted apart. As I came to what is known as “the loch side section” I ran with a lass called Libby. We were together for a good 3-4 hours and covered most subjects from her husband’s running to my son’s day nursery! The loch side was really technical and in places we were scrambling between rocks and over tree routes. A lot of people fell on this part of the course but I stayed upright and aside from kicking lots of roots and rocks with my mashed up left foot I made it though unscathed.
In to Inversnaid CP at 34 miles. 19 to go. More potatoes and soreen but this time the soreen wasn’t doing the business and I struggled to eat it. After 10 minutes of minute bites I gave it up as a bad job and focussed on getting a full 2 flasks of tailwind down me before the next checkpoint at Beinglas. Libby and I continues to run together along more technical terrain, we were climbing around trees and between small caves. Whilst it wasn’t runable it was good fun but this section splits opinion and it was clear to see why. Libby left me on the run in to Beinglas, my ankle sand toe were really hampering progress and I was struggling, walking more than I was running. I’d received a text from my mum saying they were waiting a couple of miles after Beinglas and I was looking forward to seeing a friendly face. Beinglas was a big CP, more Tailwind (this time caffeinated) and my first taste of ultra Coke. Never has warm, flat coke tasted so good. I also grabbed another date bar, soreen and a couple of mini bags of Haribo from the table and set out into the last 12 miles. Mentally I was struggling with the fact I’d still have almost a half marathon left with no more support. What mum hadn’t told me in her text was that they were below the path, not on it and they shouted and waved as I trudged past. Not quite the pick me up I needed.
43 miles in and there’s a swine of a hill that seems to go on for ever. Not what I wanted to see but at this point a couple of good friends were messaging me with words of encouragement. Special thanks to Jo for “Now is not the time to be shit.” And Sophie for “your dot is still moving and that means so are you.” Perfect timing!
I slogged out the hill and got the top. There were a couple of walkers at the top and I asked to share the rock they were sat on where I did some repair work to a blister I’d developed on my right heel. We had a chat and they gave more words of encouragement and kindly tool the packaging from the plasters. At this stage I was walking most of the time. My ankle was in pieces and running caused stabbing pain across the front of it. Still 9 miles to go and this wasn’t great. Mum and dad popped up again near an underpass with more words of encouragement. They said they’d see me at the finish. I put the music back on again and set off on a march through the pain. Out of the blue from behind me I heard an Irish voice telling me to run, it was Conor. I’d obviously passed him at one of the CPs but he’d caught up as my pace plummeted. We ran together for another half an hour or more although chat was minimal, the company was nice. Another couple of runners joined us and left us and we made progress in determined silence. A tricky ascent to a mountain side forest was too much for my ankle and Conor set off into the distance. Sadly now I couldn’t even descend at pace. I bumped into a chap who was moving slower than me, he told me he was struggling with nutrition and had zero energy. I fished out my last mini bag of Haribo and gave him it, must have been a bag of magic sweets because after 10 minutes he shot off. I think he eventually finished about 15 minutes ahead of me.
More music time to help me through the pain. This time, D’ya know what i mean by Oasis did the business. Some funny looks from runners as I ran past them singing it at full volume. The motivation lasted about a mile and then with 3 miles to go my ankle decided it really had had enough. Another text from mum told me they were about half a mile up the road. This time close enough for a chat and a refill of some water. I left them with spirits raised a little, knowing that even at a walk I had less than 40 minutes left until the end. I took some time after leaving them to strap up my ankle with a bandage over my sock., I should have done this 10 miles previously but that’s what fatigue does to you. A European chap helped strap it tightly and taped it up for me. Suddenly I could run again! This was magic. I flicked through the music until I found AC/DC again and set off with purpose. Less than a Parkrun to go, to quote a previous Fling competitor… “any **** can run 5k.”
2 miles of relatively flat terrain to cover and it flew, before I knew it I could see a road and caravans in the distance. Across a car park and on to a solid level path. There was a lone piper playing and emotions ran high. People started to appear through the trees and then some fencing, directed by the marshals i could see the finish arch above but behind me. Around a corner and I was met by a wall of noise, flags and a 50m red carpet. Nick was there filming my finish and my parents were on the other side of the carpet. There’s always the energy for a sprint finish and the race photographer managed to get a flying feet photo! 12 hours and 20 minutes after I started, on crossing the line a medal is placed around my neck and goody bag is handed to me along with a beer. The bag has a t-shirt, a buff, an insulated mug and a bottle of prosecco! Mum kindly bought me a hoody which was great value at £25 (I haven’t taken it off yet!)
I’m still not entirely sure how I made it round 53 miles but it’s done. Collateral damage seems to be limited to a few nasty blisters and an infection on my left big toe from the constant battering it took on the terrain. There’s a good chance that toenail won’t make it either sadly.
My thanks for the day go something like this:
- Nick for suggesting I sign up and being driver, roomie, training buddy and guide
- My parents for making the 8 hour journey to witness my adventure
- My other half Sharon and son Archie for supporting during training and via WhatsApp videos on the day
- Conor and Libby for some good chat
- Which ever runner left the Haribo on the table at Beinglas
- Sam for suggesting AC/DC for the playlist
- Jo and Sophie for the perfectly timed words of encouragement
- Keith and Mark at The Lincolnshire Runner for the advice and kit.
On reflection this race was perfect for many reasons. It is absolutely possible to complete for a first ultra and I can’t think of a better place to run. The scenery is breath taking, brutal and relentless. The support is unmatched in any race I have taken part in. I will absolutely be back to tackle The Fling again but for now I’m going to bask in the glow of completing something that most people thought I was mad for even attempting. Thank you Scotland, it was emotional.
Kit List
- Sunglasses and black Nike cap
- SUB sports compression vest
- Underarmour long sleeved top
- Montane Fang 5 ultra vest with 500ml soft flasks
- Montane boxer shorts
- Karrimor 5” shorts
- Hilly Ultra Marathon socks
- Inov8 Roclite 305s
Food and drop bags
- Tailwind nutrition
- Homemade Date, banana and pecan bars
- Boiled and salted new potatoes
- Mini banana soreen
- Bananas
