https://youtube.com/shorts/BH8qk_ZNyIY?si=yxJ3yEnbgmHGxQ7_
I'm at the start of The Great Glen Way in Inverness and I had a bus to catch at 5:40pm from Fort William. It was the last one of the day.
It's 5:36 am.
Let's go!
Quiet streets and paths out of town to the start of the trails. Sunrise is imminent but headtorch is still very much needed.
I try to not go too hard as I'm very fresh and eager to move.
Warming up and feeling good.
10 mile mark and my target was 1:19:01.
I was 1 second off so that was a real confidence boost.
Morning light is beautiful and I'm moving well towards Drumnadrochit. Hitting the tourist office carpark with a 2 minute lead on my splits and 6 minute lead on the record.
Going well.
Long slog out of town, passing the soon to be opened upgrade to the GGW just past the Clunebeg lodge guest house.
Starting to climb more on the way to Invermoriston and the legs are feeling it. Pace slowing as I'm at the 30 mile mark descending to the road and I'm seriously considering stopping and getting the bus back.
I'm behind my splits now but as I pass the bus stop and see some hikers with big packs waiting, the switch in my brain says nope! I'm still 8mins ahead of the record!
Let's go!
Steepest climb out of Invermoriston and the views out and down towards Fort Augustus are epic. The negative thoughts gone and I'm flying down some lovely single track with the half way point now passed.
Fort Augustus and 40 miles, I have a 13min lead and have to go for it now.
I had always had this point as my no return. Now or never.
So passing the Locks and leaving Loch Ness behind I hit the canal path and tried to put the hammer down.
My goal was to be consistent here and be well under 9min miles.
Relentless flat track I was able to put down some 8:33, 8:24, 8:56 (had to walk a fence to not get wet feet) 8:18, 8:25.
Hitting the 50 mile mark and I was at 7hrs 30 which was a PB for me and I'd made 10min!
23min lead, surely that meant it was in the bag.
Over the Laggan Locks and along the side of Loch Lochy there's a new upgraded section of the trail that climbs maybe 50m higher and dog legs back on itself. The lower shore section completely closed. This added some time.
Hit the road at Clunes 59 miles and I can't believe i still had the 23mins lead. On the road I'm able to turn over nicely and keep the pace.
Mile 61 and I see the little marker to the left! Oh no! There's a new section added and I'm being taken off the road to some lovely single track along the shore line. Normally I'd be loving this trail, but I knew it was going to suck time back. I'm panicking but pushing on.
After an added .3 of a mile and some extra climbing I'm back on the road and hitting Gairlochy for the start of the canal path and the final 10 miles. I'd lost 7 minutes.
I have a 15 minute lead over the record! Surely I could not lose this over the last bit.
The flat canal path into Fort William is hell.
Just never ends.
I'm hurting and slowing.
Neptunes Staircase and mile 70 is a welcome sight and I can sense I can do it.
Hurting bad and navigating the last little turns and trying to be vigilant of cars and excitable dogs and walkers.
Last little surge past the shinty pitch and I see the roundabout! Don't get run over now.
It's there! The giant marker stone I've been chasing for over 11 hours!
I touch the stone in 11 hours 17 minutes and 1 second.
Wow.
I was hemorrhaging time but managed to be 11 minutes 35 seconds under the record.
I've taken over 2 hours off my last run at this in 2020.
I'm sure someone can take this under 11 hours soon enough.
With a quick restock of some calories and fluids from the Morrisons that's right there I get on my bus bound for Inverness.
Job done.
Nutrition used:
3x Styrker 90 powders,
3x homemade rice cakes,
1x 250ml homemade PB sweet potato gel.
1x bag of Candy Kitten sweets.
1x Turkish delight.
1x 100ml maple syrup and 150mg caffeine
10x salt tabs
2x paracetamol
Nutrition not used:
1x Styrker 90
2x rice cakes
10x medjoul dates
4x nakd bars
I feel this was my biggest mistake. Not enough fuel was taken onboard and the last couple of hours I was in a hole.
Lessons learned.
Replenished water at safe looking water sources along the way. (Higher ground and away from farmland or houses)