Wow what a roller coaster of a last few days it’s been. The week’s highlight beyond doubt was seeing
my best running pal Amanda finally realise her dream and completed the 54 mile
Hoka Highland Fling foot race. As did my
other lovely friends from the Ultra Dafties fb site Noanie, Davie Mooney and
Peter Hunter. Soooo unbelievably happy for all of you.
Have to say it’s been a nerve wracking few days. I honestly
believe I felt more nervous for you all than you felt for yourselves, the
butterflies were running riot in me on the lead up. Saturday morning arrived
and I was awake at 6 knowing you were all up and getting underway. Setting off to come out in support did not
get off to a good start. Dunno why but on occasions like this I always forget
vital kit like my phone. So back I went and picked up the offending gadget off
the sideboard where I left it while I was busy hunting for my missing van keys.
Hey ho, self-organisation failure today.
What’s this? A txt from Amanda, She’s reached Drymen already in 2hrs 13 and I’m thinking OMG
she’s going too fast. Based on our other runs I thought she’d be around 2:30
but hey, given her finish time what do I know J
Anyway, I got to myself without further cock up to a vibrant
Balmaha and checked out all the bags checking them off according to my list. PH
nope, Davie he’s gone, Amanda, she’s still to come as is Noanie. So I settled
myself in to wait and enjoyed the atmosphere. Wasn’t long actually that Amanda
bounded in looking thoroughly in control. Suddenly I’m thinking, on the telly
in these circumstances the trainer always comes out with some gob-smackingly
motivating speech that has their athlete bounding into the distance with
renewed vigour but all I could think of to say was “you’re doing fine” original
eh, sorry Amanda J
Next came Noanie, or was it Noanie before Amanda? I can’t
remember but in she came all bubbly and happy and we had a big hug before she
raced of in a blur of effervescent glee into the distance. Nothing much changed
with Noanie on the entire run. If she was a dog shed be a spaniel whose tail
would be in permawag mode. A person who has and will many times to come make me
smile even if I can’t see her such is her infectious laugh that carries so far.
Next stop was a battle against the traffic on the road to Rowardennan
and a brief but futile hunt for a parking space. Luckily I had my bike with me so parked back
down the road and road back. So there I
was, peering at the mass of bags checking the numbers when I became aware of an
official giving me the hard stare. I’m thinking “hold on, this guy thinks I’m
sizing up the bags seeing which one to nick. Don’t make eye contact and he’ll
bugger off” “BOB!” he shouted “jeez!” I jumped as the realization that the
official was in fact the Gannet and I hadn’t even noticed. Sorry Alan J
Happily the wait for the gang was made all the more pleasurable
as John and Helen Munro arrived and got my second hug of the day. Once again
Peter had “just gone as you arrived” a phrase I heard a number of times during
the day and was flying along I heard. Soon came Dave who was clearly not in the
best fettle but there was a look in his face that left me in no doubt that this
man would be a finisher that day. Next
came Amanda looking relaxed and confident. I never once saw that confidence
slip all day as she just got on with it. Finally in bounded Noanie still waggy-tailed
and full of happiness and soon they were all on the way.
So off I went heading for Ben Glass and again the bike came
in handy as parking at the farm was permit only and I was far too tight to
possess such a pass. Helen and John had
arrived first and were able to confirm that once again I’d just missed Pete who
was going along nicely. My biggest fear
now was with the other three on the hardest part of the route, what shape would
they be in when they emerged at this check point. Would I be compelled to think
of a gob-smackingly motivating Churchillian speech to get them home where thus
far I hadn’t exactly shone in that area. I shouldn’t have worried. These guys
were so determined it didn’t matter what I said. First Noanie bounded and
wagged her way through and deposited a ton of gel wraps that others had
littered the route with. Shame on you others and you know who you are. Off she went in no doubt that she was soon to
be a finisher.
Then came Amanda, steady and confident as ever. Thankfully
she needed little from me except a few words of encouragement but I was so
relieved to see her going so well I gave her a big hug as much for myself as
for her and sent her on her way.
Finally come David a few minutes later, going well but
clearly feeling it. As I said before though nothing about this guy would make him quit. All my friends today will have had the voice
in the head telling them to stop but they’ve all told the voice to stick it up
the arse and they’ve beaten it.
My time was up at that point and I knew they were all on the
last leg, Clark was on his way out to meet Amanda at the finish and all I had
to do was wait for word to come in that it was done. Peter who stormed round
was already in. Then came a text from Clark, Amanda was 5 mile from home and on
for a sub 12hr finish. Then came a text from a delighted and emotional Noanie
who was there, job done. Then Amanda, a fantastic 11:58 finish, and then David rounding
up a full house.
What a fantastic thing to have been part of and I’m ridiculously
happy for you all. Seeing all these folk on this run and the atmosphere of happiness
and sportingness it truly restores my faith in humanity.
