louise harrison race story 2019 · one of the reasons i entered the event – i had seen all of the...
TRANSCRIPT
West Highland Way CHALLENGE Race 2019
A Competitors Tale – Louise Harrison’s story.
Introduction from the Race Organisers
In the spirit of helping others, staying true to the aims and ethos of The WHW CHALLENGE Race and celebrating adventure, we wished to share the following tale from Louise Harrison. It was Louise’s first attempt at a serious long distance Ultra (96 miles). Previously the furthest distance she had achieved in an event was 50 miles. Please enjoy reading her brave and honest account of the highs and lows she experienced whilst jogging and walking the glorious West Highland Way. Thanks again Louise for writing and sharing your story.
Quote from Louise: “A super event. Very friendly”
Now over to Louise. Here is her race story:
WestHighlandWayCHALLENGERace–May2019
TakingontheWestHighlandWayhadbeennigglingmysideforsomeyearsandlikemostniggles,itpersisted.IcameacrosstheWestHighlandWayChallengeRacewebsite,likedtheethosandthoughtitsoundedanidealopportunityto‘haveago’.Ifilledinmyentryformbutditheredformonthsbeforesendingitin.Afewdayspassed,Jimphonedandacoupleofhourslater,IwasconvincedIhadmadetherightdecision.Inthemonthsleadinguptotheevent,IheldaveryfragilesecrethopethatIcouldcompletethefullroutebutIneverreallybelievedthatIcould.Isubsequentlysetmyselfanothergoalinstead–togetatleastasfarasBridgeofOrchy.
Ididn’tmakeittoFortWilliam.After25.5hoursonmyfeet,Iwaswalkingasleep.Hereismystory-ifyouhaven’ttriedthistypeofeventbefore,maybeyou'llfindatoptipfromafellownovice!
Fridaydidnotgotoplan.IhadanticipatedthatIwouldgettimeforasleepduringtheday,howeverforvariousreasons,wokeat7amanddidn’tgetachancetogetanapatall–IwasawareandagitatedtoknowthatIcouldpotentiallybeawakefor52hours(letthisbealessontousall–scheduleinsleepduringthedayonFriday).Iwasn’tconfidentinmanagingmuchmorethan33hours,whichIhaddoneearlierintheyeartravellingoverseas.
IarrivedattheTownHallinMilngavieandwasexceptionallynervous.Nearlymutewithanxiety.I
registeredwithsupportfrommyhusbandScott,whothensuggestedIgetsomefood.IwasstilltoonervoustoapproachthefoodtableonmyownsoScottcameupwithme.Soundssillynow,butIreallywaspetrifiedandeveryoneelselookedsocapableandfit.ItwasSteve,oneoftheeventteammembers,whofinallybrokemystateofmutepanic–herememberedmefromotherevents(anexcellentmemoryhehas)andchattedforafewminuteswhileIatesomedeliciouspasta.Therewasplentyoffoodanddrinksavailablepre-race.Steveturnedouttobeaconsistentandverymuchappreciatedpresenceduringmyjourneyuptheroute.
So,nervesreducedsomewhat(toadullroar),IreconciledmyselfwiththeideathatIwouldjusthavetostartandseehowIgoton.Iputmytrailshoeson,brieflythoughttheyfeltabitnippybutthoughtthatIhadchangedtheinsolessoallmustbewellandstartedwiththeotherparticipantsatone
secondaftermidnight.
Mystrategywastowalkmostlyandjoganythingthatwaseitherflatordownhill,whichworkedreasonablywell,andIwouldapproachitagainthisway.
Thenight-timehourspassedquickly,somespentonmyownbutthelast2-3hoursofdarknesswerespentwithMarkKirke,chippingawayatthemilesandcoveringaveryextensiverangeoftopics,fromcyclingtopoliticsandofcourseourhopesandfearsforthehoursahead.WeapproachedtheclimbtoConicHillatdawnandMarkpromisedanamazingviewfromthetopofLochLomondandthedottedislandsthatmarktheHighlandBoundaryfault.Markwasright.ThesunrisebehindusasweclimbedupConicHillwasgloriousandthebestpartaboutwalkingatthebackofthefieldisthatyouhavethesensethatyouhavetimetotakeintheviewandtakephotos!ThelittlelineofdottedislandsonLochLomondwasindeedinsightaswecrestedthehill.Weremarkedthatwithoutthisevent,wewouldnothavebeeninclinedtobeupatthistimeandwouldneverhavehadthisexperience.Itwasspecial.
TheConicHilldescentisawesome(alsotechnicalanddifficultinthedarkorearlymorninglight).IfIwasdoingashortdistanceandlessfatigued,Iwouldhavelovedtorundownthepath(lesstoputatriskinashortdistanceevent).Asithappened,myenthusiasmgotthebestofmeandIstartedtojog,tripped,landedonmyownlegandhitmykneeonarock.IthurtbutmostlyIfeltlikealemon.Anothertoptip–ifyouarenotanamazingtechnicaldescenderbutlikeit,dothis
descentbutnotwhensleepdeprivedorwhenfacinganother80orsomiles.
Oncewewerelakeside,MarkwasabletojogfasterandIwasonmyowntotakeintheearlymorningtranquillityandbeautyofthearea,whichisnotsomewhereIhaveseenbefore.ThiswasoneofthereasonsIenteredtheevent–IhadseenalloftheWHWfromNorthofTyndrumbutnoneofthesouthernhalf.
IstoppedatRowardennanbutonlybrieflytopickupadropbag,beembarrassedbyScottringingacowbellandshouting‘Allez!Allez!’andsprayonsomeSmidge.ThemidgeswerefiercethereandIcouldn’ttakeit.IwasalonethenuntilthenextwaterstationatInversnaid.AttimesIwonderedifIhadgonethewrongwaybuttherewerenooptionstohavegonewrong,soIploddedon.Thelakesidetrailisbeautifulandtechnical,muchmoresothanIhadanticipatedandIreallyenjoyedit.IthinkitmadethefactthatIwasresignedlargelytowalkingtherouteeasiertoaccept,becauseitistoohardformetorunit.
AtInversnaid,ImetAaronO’BrienwhoIwaswithuntilInverarnan.Aaronwasatonicandprovidedmanyinsightsintohowtoapproachlifewithzest.ThefinalsectionsaswelefttheLochsidewerearelief–ithadfelttobethelongestlochintheworld–andalsoofferedmorestunningsceneryaswelookedbackfromtheslightrise.MarkjoinedusforthelastfewmilestoInverarnan.Havingalittlegroupmadeitfeelverysocialbutalsohelpsdistractfromthelittleboutsofanxietyandpainthatcreepinfromtimetotime.
FromInverarnanIwasonmyownagain,havingwantedtokeepmovingtotryandstayaheadofthe‘clock’.MorescenicdelightswereencounteredatFallsofFallochandthetrailwasinterestingunderfoot.IhadstartedtoconsiderthepossibilitythatImightactuallyfinishtheevent…
ItwasonthelonghighsectionbeforeAuctertyrewhereImetanotherMark(Andersen)whotravelsfromDenmarktoparticipateintheevent.Heenjoysitsomuchthathehasdoneitmultipletimes.Again,MarkandIdiscussedarangeoftopicsandhegavemesomeusefulpointers,thingsthathehaslearnedfromyearsofultra,ultra,distancerunning.MarkandItravelledtogetheroffandonuntilthesunstartedtogodownonSaturdayevening.
BetweenTyndrumandBridgeofOrchyIhitabigoldwall.Iwasonmyownandtheslightdrizzlethathadbeenpersistingforafewhourshadbecomearealrain.Iknowthatsectionoftheroutewellbut
forsomereasonkeptthinkingIwasclosertoBrideofOrchythanIwas.Andmyfeethurt.Everythinghurt.WhenIfinallyapproachedthestationandScottsteppedouttomeetme,Icried.Theloudundignifiedcryofaverytired,verycoldperson(orchild!).
BridgeofOrchywasasupercheckpoint.Iwasprovidedwithfoodanddrink,everyonewasdoingeverythingtheypossiblycouldtogetmebackupand‘running’.
Therewasevenachipbutty!Yum.Ithastobesaid,thatatallthecheckpointsandfeedstations,therewasalwaysplentyoffoodanddrink.Iamalwaysoneofthelastrunnerstocomeintocheckpointsandoftenitisslimpickings–crumbsandfruitoftentendtobetheonlythingleft.Notsoforthisevent.Iatewellandplentifullyallday/night.
Itookoffmyshoes–thediscomfortIhadinitiallyfeltwhenIputmyshoesonhadpersistedandresultedinseveralverylargeblisters.UnusualasIhavenothadblistersbeforelikethis(thereasonbecomesclearduringthefollowingdayswhenIamunpackingonreturnhome).ScottandI,withStevelookingoneagerly(alwaysofferingsupportandencouragement,pluschipbutties!),sortedouttheblistersandanoddlyelevatedpurpletoenail,bandagedmyfeetupandIputonmyoldshoes,cleandrysocksandafullchangeofclothes.Warm,dry,fedandbandagedupwithinaninchofmylife,Iwasdeterminedtogoon.
TheascentoutofBridgeofOrchywaspleasantenough,chattingwithMarkfromDenmark.Hedepartedatthetop,wantingtorunabit.ThiswasthelastIsawofhimandIsawfromtheresultsthathedidcompletetheevent,somassivewelldonetohim.IstartedtostruggleasthedarknesssettledinonceIhadpassedInveroran.Iwasalone,thoughawarethattherewereacoupleofpeoplenottoofarbehindme.MarkKirkecaughtupwithmeandwaslookingstrongsowebothagreedhebestgoonahead.
Iwastryingtoconquerthepainandstiffnessinmylegs,tellingmyselfthatmylegswilldowhatmymindtellsthemto.Itriedtomakemylegsgofaster–usuallythisworksbutIincreasinglycouldn’tdoitandwasslowingtoaround2-2.5mph.Istartedlistingalltheinspirationalpeopleinmylife,peoplewhohavefacedgreaterchallengesandsurvivedenormouslevelsofemotionalandphysicalpain,tellingmyselfthatIdidn’thearthemcomplainingandtogetonwithit.IamsureithelpedonthedaybutitwasalsolovelyandspecialtorealisejusthowluckyIamtoknowsomanyamazingpeople.
ThelackofsleepcaughtupwithmeandIwasstrugglingtokeepmybalance–mywalkingpolescameintotheirownhere.Theroadissortofcobbledalongthissectionandmyfeetweresotender,Ifelteveryrockasifitwerepokingthroughmyshoe.Havingspokentoothersafterward,Iunderstandthatthiswascommon.Wewereallseekingtowalkinthesandysectionsalongthesideofthetrailwhereverpossible.Hopefully,withmoreexperienceandmilesinourlegs,ourfeetwill
hardenandthiswon’tbeanissue??!Iwantedtoliedown.Anywhere.ButitwasrainingandIkeptinmindthatIshouldtryandgettothecheckpointtobesafe.
ApproachingtheriseuptowhereindaylightyouwouldbeabletolookdownatGlencoe,IwasabletoseeareallybrighttorchlightinthedarknessandknewitwasScottcometogetme.Ihaveneverbeensohappytoseehim(orhisobscenelybrighttorch).Ireallydon’tthinkIwouldhavekeptwalkingdownthehillwithouthim–Iwasmoreinclinedtoliedownonarockandwasstrugglingtokeepmyeyesopen.IknewIneededsleepbutifIhadarest,Iwouldmissthenextcut-off.Eventhen,IknewifIstoppedIwouldbetoostifftogetmylegsgoingagainforthesignificantclimbsfurtheralongtheroute.IcriedsomemoreabouthowrubbishIam,howstiffandsore,howsillytohavethoughtIcouldeverdoit.Cryingduetoasenseoffailureandimmensefatigue.
IwastrulydevastatedwhenIcametothedecisionthatIwouldneedtostopatKingshouse.WhatwascleartomeeventhenwasthatifIaskedforit,IwasconfidentJimwouldhaveallowedmetohavearestandcontinueon(withinreason,obviously)evenifthatmeantextendingmytimeslightly.Iwasabletomakeanautonomousdecisionaboutwhattodo,ratherthanbeingdisqualifiedforbeingslow.
IwokeupearlySundaymorninginthebackofourvanonthesideoftheroadatKingshouse,stillwearingrunningcompressionlayersundermypj’sandstartedtoconsiderwhatIhadachieved–theshiftinmythinkingcontinuedoverthedaysthatfollowed,providingamorepositiveangleonmyeffort.Myfriendshaveallpointedoutthat72milesismassive,whichitis.Andtherouteitselfwasbeautifulandwellworththeeffort.Ipushedmyselfandfoundanewlimit.
OnMondaywhenIwascleaningmygearandpackingthingsaway,IsawthatIhadnotinfactchangedtheinsolesintheshoesIworeforthefirst60milesandthereasonmyfeetweresomincedwasbecausetherewaslessspaceatthetoes.IthinkthatIfailedtotrulyregisterthisatthebeginningbecauseIwaspreoccupiedwithnerves.Anotherlessonlearned–whenstressed,takeextratimetonoticeandprepare.Checkandthendoublecheckthings.Especiallythemostbasicaspectsofkit.Theymaybebasicbuttheyarealsoessential.
JimandhisteamdonotuseDNFontheresultspageandindeed,advertisetheeventasonetocomeandchallengeyourselftogetasfaruptherouteaspossible,pushingindividualPB’sratherthancelebratingonlythosewho‘finish’(thosewhodofinisharedemi-godsanddeservetobeworshipped).Theeventteamtrulydeliverontheethosadvertisedforthiseventinthewaytheyshowsupportandcongratulationstoall–IexperiencedwarmthandsincerecommendationforwhatIhadmanaged.Iwasnotmadetofeelasifthevolunteerswerewastingtheirtimebeingouttherewaitingforme,onlyformenottofinish.Theeventattractstherightkindofcompetitorandtherightkindofeventteam.ImostcertainlywouldnothavegottenasfarasIdidunderthecutofftimesusedinotherevents.
Itwasandstillis,thedistancethatishardtoconsiderasachievable.However,IcanseethatothershavedoneitandknowthatifIpersist,Icandoitalso.Iwillbeslow,Iwillbeinpain.ButIknowthatwhateverIputintoit,Jimandhisamazingteamwillmatchandmore,tokeepmemovingforward.Anotherhugethankstotheteamandtotheotherparticipants.Muchrespecttoyouall.
Ihavefilledintheapplicationformtoattendnextyearandwillbewalk/jogginginthebackcrewtoseeifIcannudgealittlefurtherthistime.Seeyouthere!
LouiseHarrison
14/06/2019