Monday 27 April 2009

Highland Fling 2009

Curious to see just how mad is ultra running, Joka (the dog) and I joined Ally and Liz at Derrydaroch to watch Ian, Kaz and Phil T. (Actually, I didn't know A&L would be there - I just abandoned Beinglas as clearly an unwelcoming location. Seems the Constabulary was invited not long after I left but I shook them off. A&L also abandoned the self-same madness.)

Phil appeared first - the photo here of two GPs can no doubt be used to encourage patients in Comrie not to try this at home. Might also make a good caption competition - entries on a postcard. Considering the remarkable distance he'd already run (about 42 miles, I think), I thought he recovered very quickly and was soon on his way (more anon).

Kaz appeared next - suffering pain (unsurprisingly) that Liz leaped to fix with a selection of substances that I could only guess at. No doubt all excellent examples of the Doctor's art as Kaz was in much better fettle when next spotted (see film below taken at around the 50-mile mark near the remains of St Fillan's Priory.

Ian was not long after Kaz and suggesting he wasn't going well - all a matter of opinion to me as finishing his 4th successive Fling (as he did only a little while later) would be remarkable to most normal people.

I left Ally & Liz and parked at Auchtertyre Farm then wandered down to St Fillan's Priory where I met Phil again - going very well considering he'd got around 50 miles behind him



- then Kaz a little later.


I ran a little way with Kaz but had to leave to get back home so couldn't see the trio across the line. Great to see the three of them though near the end and to hear they all made it and without major incident (more than one of the other runners bore the signs of damage as unprotected parts of their bodies met Scotland rather too quickly).

As some-one who's never got past about 18 miles, the idea of running three times as far is hard to comprehend. I'll just settle for remembering the worst day I've had running, walking or cycling and trying to treble it. In the meantime, when I'm suffering on the Strathearn Harriers Club runs - the slow runs, that is - hopefully I'll remember the mantra for our stalwart ultras. RESPECT!

Colin Tipping