WHW 09

McStecko · WHW 09

Just a quick update on this year's WHW Race. Full gory details will appear soon here or on the blogs:

http://doctorontherun.blogspot.com/
http://whwrunner.blogspot.com/

and results soon at:

www.westhighlandwayrace.org

Two Harriers started and, I'm pleased to report, finished this year. Ian well and truly slayed any remaining ghosts from 08 by finishing strongly in a little over 23 hours (23.11 I think).

Phil T took nearly 2 hours off his PB to finish in 25.40. I ran with him from Glencoe Ski Centre to the end and can assure you that as he reached the top of the Devil's Stannah Staircase (78-ish miles) having eaten virtually nothing since Inversnaid (36-ish miles) he looked a dead cert for a DNF. But through a sterling mind over matter effort he pulled himself together and plugged on to the end even managing a 10k-pace push for the line from the Braveheart Car Park.

Congratulations too to Dario for organizing yet another superb event and, this year remaining uniformly cheerful (at least until 3.30 when we left the rec).

Finally, thanks to Al and Kaz for their support of Phil and Ian and indeed their respective support crews. Did I see, out of the corner of my eye, Kaz making recce notes Question

wendy

Well done those stalwarts!!
I can only imagine the highs and lows of such an event. Hope one day to support someone (Karen were you really taking notes??) and get a glimmer of the pain, anguish and elation of the WHW.
Looking forward to reading the blogs..
I guess you'll be both taking a well deserved break.
Congratulations again on such a physical achievement. Wink

Tanconsult

Brilliant - well done to Ian & Phil and to all the helpers. Sitting here nursing the results of a mere 13 miles, I just can't imagine how the WHW is possible. Clearly there are more folk here who were born on Krypton than we suspect....

Very Happy

Colin

kaznicholl

They were both true heroes!

I am so impressed - it is such a long way and such a long day - I kept waking last night and thinking: 'Phill is still running (1am)'or I hope he is done now (3am)'.

It cannot be emphasised enough what a huge undertaking this is and that any body who has done it, even just once in their life, shows true mettle!

Well done, again both of you! Hope your aches and pains ease away gently and that bask in your own glory!

Kaz

ian

Thanks for all the kind comments, and thanks particularly to Phil M, Liz M, Kaz and Al for your support at various points during the race. It was greatly appreciated, even though I may not have shown much appreciation at the time.

My main thought at the moment is that 95 miles is a hell of a long way to run, particularly on that surface. No doubt these thoughts will pass as the week goes on, and the pain is dispaced by the positive memories. At the moment, however, it is probably useful to remember and record how much of a slog this event is. When you get to Bridge of Orchy, feeling dead on your feet, and knowing you are going to be out there for another 9 hours or so over some of the most difficult terrain on the route, it is hard to keep yourself going. I had a 20 minute section on Rannoch Moor where I hit a real low and just couldn't run at all. While I didn't ever consider packing it in, I did think I would have to walk all the way to FW, which was not a pleasant thought. Thankfully I got over it, and had a strong spell shortly afterwards. That is very typical of the event.

I should add that this is a team event, and I am hugely indebted to my support team of George and Alison. They have both been with me since my first successful WHW completion in 2000, and I am greatly appreciative of all their efforts.

Blazebuster

I am once again in awe at your remarkable feat of endurance! Shocked

I’ve said it before...I don’t know how you do it?

I can just about understand why, it must be a fantastic feeling to accomplish something that less than 0.00001% of the population could ever do!

I’m going to say ‘well done lads’ but it just doesn’t seem enough and I can’t think of anything else to say to express my respect.

I’ll maybe do it next year.....do you get a medal for a DNF? Wink

ian

Just to say I have now written a detailed report of Saturday's WHW race, which is on my blog if anyone is interested. Ian
http://whwrunner.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-race-report.html

Liz

Very well done to Philip and Ian. I have now supported Philip and Phil a total of 4 times altogether and i can honestly say i'm never tempted to do it myself it always looks like hell on earth to me! It obviously demands huge amounts of mental and physical fitness and puts enormous stresses on the body.I am therefore in awe of your achievements but hopefully i can have a year off next year??? Cool

Hill Fairy

Thanks to everyone for their kind words.
I will post a link to my blog when I have written it up but it might take a few days.
My thoughts at this stage are that I am delighted with what I achieved on the day and enourmously grateful for all the support before,on and after the day.
It is a completely devastating undertaking both physically and mentally and I wouldnt have got close to the end without my wonderful support team of Phil and the 2 Lizs. They put up with bad temper, tears, belching, worse and vomitting. I can never thank them enough. But of course I will try.
More to follow at some point.

runningpix

Very well done both - definitely not tempted though!

allybea

I've updated my blog on how it was from a backup perspective

www.whwracebackup.blogspot.com

Liz

I enjoyed your blog Ali, much easier to read than a lot of them! You sum it up very well. Smile

Graham

Well done guys. Amazing! Having tried and failed at the WHW race I'm utterly in awe of anyone who completes it, let alone at the pace you two managed! Brilliant achievement!!!

Hill Fairy

My report can be viewed at
http://doctorontherun.blogspot.com/2009/06/whw-2009.html