Two sponsored events in one year, this has definitely made me realise how many friends I have with dosh!

Alec Keith made the latest challenge, my Lowe Alpine mountain marathon partner, who highly recommended the route through the Fisherfield Mountains in the remote corner of Wester Ross. The GWC is a 25 mile trail race over rough paths and trails with some 3,500 feet of climbing or thereabouts.

I stayed overnight at Alec’s in Inverness, avoided the customary dram, even though it was fine malt. Alec, a veteran of this race had won it several times, as usual it was very dependant on who turns up and what the weather is like. Footwear was to some extent dependant on the weather but I chose to wear Adidas Davos, while Alec had some old Saucony Jazz. On the Saturday morning we woke to see clear blue skies and on the journey over from Inverness to Poolewe, the scenery was fantastic. Ben Eighe was majestic and Loch Maree gorgeous with the fringing Scot’s pine woods shimmering in the reflection of the loch.

We arrived just in time to register and catch the bus to the start at Corrie Hailie near Dundonnel. This is a fine setting in itself with An Teallach dominating the scene. It was going to be hot for Scottish standards, a rare event this year. After a brief stop at Dundonnel Hotel for last minute unloading of excess food and water, we were ceremoniously dumped at the side of the road and piped to the start. It was quite a warm, friendly atmosphere with some trepidation as to what lay ahead.

Alec and Damon Rodwell set off at quite a pace with Andrew Thin not far behind. I just hung on up the track for a bit before deciding to let them go as it was too early to get involved in a race. They were never quite out of sight some 100m ahead and I passed Andrew after a few miles. As the view opened up and we left the main vehicle track it became rougher and more suitable for me. The views to the right up to An Teallach were incredible. It flattened out over a boggy path for a few miles before dropping steeply to Shenaval bothy. Just before the descent I passed Alec who was having trouble with a floppy shoe, the sole was coming away from the upper and he was tying it together! Bye Alec. Been there done that.

Damon was now on his own but Andrew and Alan Smith had caught me up as I fumbled for water on the descent, I really should be concentrating. The rough descent to Shenaval is probably the rockiest part of the course and local route choice may make a difference here. The bothy was reached by crossing a bog, a really intricate one with lots of sinking bog moss and cotton grass on deep peat. Alan and I disappeared a few times both reluctant to lead so we could see the other disappear first, ha. Made it across and Damon was still firing on all cylinders some 200m ahead. Andrew was level with us. On the way up Clach na Frithealaidh I pulled away from Alan and Andrew and I kept hitting warm air pockets, quite a nice feeling but warm. Water, keep taking water I said to myself and I kept topped up using the small streams near the top of the pass. It was also time for a bit of food, my current favourite orange jaffa cakes. Damon appeared to get away a bit on the climb but I didn’t panic, just kept going with a plan to get closer on the descent. The top of the pass was beautiful. I was passing walkers regularly now. Unfortunately I took my eye of the path for a second and fell over landing on my shoulder. I got up a little shaken but didn’t feel much so carried on. I decided to up the pace on the descent to try and catch Damon who was now out of sight. The view of Slioch and Letterewe were amazing, exposed rock and cliffs to the left as I approached Carnmore. And then turning a corner on the descent I saw Damon only 100m ahead going quite slowly. I was surprised but belted on and passed him near the bottom, where some marshals had set up camp and were giving out cakes and water – just the ticket.

We crossed the causeway between Fionn Loch and Dubh Loch and the path got markedly better. It was now a fine gravel and quite smooth making running much easier. The route ahead was gently undulating and very runnable so I chatted to Damon just behind me as we sped on. No sign of anyone else now, where had they got too? On the last wee climb on the path before we reached the forest there was a large number of marshals enjoying the sun. It would have been nice to stop. Little did I know, as I grabbed some water, that Damon did. I couldn’t hear him any more after a few hundred metres, maybe he’d gone for a quick nap – should I do the same and be sociable. I’d have to go back up the hill and the finish wasn’t that far away. Onward on my own and it now seemed hard work for the first time, especially as I reached the last aid station some 3 miles from the finish. It was hot too so I kept slurping my water and had my last jaffa cake. I eventually saw Loch Maree and the River Ewe, and then ran through some pleasant birch wood before the final descent to the finish. I took it easy over the last mile, no sign of Damon. The finish line was full of people cheering; the local community were out in full support. It took 3 hours 5 minutes, not bad for a first timer.

Damon followed in 3hours 17 minutes and had suffered over the last few miles. Chris Davies, no relation, pipped Alan Smith in third and Alison Powell won the ladies race in 4 hours 15 I think. Alec strolled in almost barefoot, with a strange looking running style resembling a monkey. He was tired too, having completed the Adrenalin Rush, a 5-day continuous adventure race across Scotland two weeks before.

The after-race food and drink was endless, soup, sandwiches and cakes, as much as you could eat, really well served by the army of helpers for the local community. They were brilliant. It was lovely sitting in the sunshine, chatting away to Alison, Chris and Damon, while the gentle breeze kept the midge away. The celeidh was a hoot too, although it was a shame so many runners had gone home early. Had they run out of energy?

Alec, Alan and the other lads and lassies proceeded to get me rather leathered which was a nice way to celebrate my first GWC.