Fast people like Iain tell me it is important to warm up before a race, in particular if it’s a short one like Scolty… although I’m not sure Jasmin and I got it quite right. On Saturday morning (2am) we met Nick Spinks at the Glen Nevis YHA to support her on her — eventually successful — Ramsay Round record attempt. Also in attendance was Alex McVey. Alex showed true dedication, having left a group of scouts he was leading down the West Highland Way in Glen Coe, driven to the end of Glen Nevis where he left his car and having already jogged the 4 miles back to the YHA. Dawn came on top of Ben Nevis when darkness gave way to what was shaping up to be a cracking day with cloud inversions stretching out over Rannoch Moor to the south and towards the east. Nicky’s pace was rather relentless and support runners were dropping off and joining at various points as we made our way over the Annochs and Grey Corries, including Alex who made it to Sgurr Choinnich Mor before having to rush back to the car and his scouts. Jasmin and I dropped off at Stob Ban and jogged back along the glen. We then spend the rest of the day tapering for Sundays double dash up Scolty. Meanwhile Nicky kept a good pace going and even managed to pick up an extra 40 minutes over the last leg to finish in 19:39 for a new ladies record, the 2nd fastest time ever recorded and only the 2nd sub 20h round. Some photos can be found here
Konrad
So after resting for 8-9 days after picking up a niggle in my right knee I felt good and travelled to Fort William on Friday to do my final recce of Ramsay’s Round before the 14 June when I plan to go for it. The recce had many purposes: first and importantly, as support to Nicky Spinks who was going for the female record on the route with a target of 20hrs 15 mins. Second, I wanted to run the first 10 munro’s from Glen Nevis to Fersit covering Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg, The Aonachs, Grey Coires and the Easian’s which is 34km and 3600m ascent for training; and lastly, check out the route and timings.
The first objective was OK for the first 30 mins until Nicky and her super fit support runners crept ahead. Having support runner on leg 1 like Jasmin Paris, Konrad Rawlick and Pete Duggan who are super fast, and Spyke who did all the Munro’sin 39 days non stop, all made me feel very much like the tortoise amongst the hares and I lost them ascending the Aonachs to be mere specs in the distance for the next hour, periodically being spotted on the ridges or tops. Nicky went on to smash the female record in around 19hrs 39mins which is frankly awesome and will surely not be matched by many for a long time. My second objective was achieved as the pictures show. It was a fantastic day, great to be running in the dark and hitting the top of the Ben as the colours in the sky lit up the silhouettes of the summit, then see the skies lighten further and the sun rise and cast magic light across the snow patches and warm the air. Oh the poetry of the morning hills. The last objective for me was partially met in that the route was checked fine but I was a tad behind schedule. This was partly due to a recurrent niggle and running too slow on the descents. That is ok, it is a lesson learnt and means that for my Round I have to go faster and lighter. Now, it is rest, eat and prep kit for what I know is going to be the toughest thing I have ever attempted.
Mark