My fourth running of the Montane Highland Fling and I was feeling fairly positive and determined to get under 11 hours at last. I've never had a good run in this race despite being convinced I should be able to get nearer 10 hours - maybe this year would be different.
My problem in previous years has been debilitating cramp which kicks in around 30 miles or so and sees me hobbling between bouts of muscle spasms in my hamstrings and calfs. I had a new strategy this year and had changed my drink of choice and had even put in some ready salted crisps at the Inversnaid drop bag to prevent the dreaded 30 mile threshold.
The weather was stunning and I set of feeling good and reached Drymen in about 1:55 - slightly faster than I had planned but feeling very comfortable. I trotted up through what remains of the forrest and then started the climb up Conic Hill. As I reached the top and was admiring the view, my right hamstring cramped up! - I couldn't believe it - only 20 miles in and I was suffering already.
The rest of the race kind of went downhill from there! - I was mentally defeated by the time I reached Rowardennan and for the next 25 miles I shuffled along at a snails pace. Every time I started to run at a reasonable pace, my hamstrings would cramp up and then, after a while, obviously feeling left out, my calfs and quads decided to join in.
The heat didn't help I'm sure but I don't think that was the only cause. I had one spectacular moment climbing the hill just after going under the road at Carmyle cottage when my hamstring and quad both cramped at the same time! - It was impossible to stretch either of them as the opposing muscle just screamed in objection!
Anyway, the long and short of it was that I plodded on and crossed the line in a personal worst of 12 hours 5 mins feeling pretty pissed off. The icing on the cake was that I was told that the cold bottle of Coors that was meant to be given to each finisher wasn't there as they had run out!
So what to make of all this?
I'm sure my problems come from my hydration and nutrition strategy and so with this in mind, i've booked in to see a Nutritionist next Monday to get some advice. Hopefully this will give me some confidence back for the rest of the season. Despite running more miles so far this year than in the previous two years, I haven't had many long (25mile +) runs which I think made a difference.
On the positive side, I didn't give up, despite it crossing my mind a few times and although I wasn't able to run, I could have kept walking beyond Tyndrum so, with the reduced pace of UTMB in mind, that's no bad thing. However, what is also clear is that I need to get the finger out and put in some serious hill time and long miles.
As with every year though, the Fling is a fantastic race, superbly organised by Murdo and Ellen (despite running out of beer!) and I'm sure I'll be back next year to try and rid these deamons!
7 comments:
Well done on toughing it out Graeme. Like you, I so wanted to stop but somehow carried on.
I'm sure the heat was a major factor for everyone on Saturday. Fortunately I don't seem to suffer with cramp but then I've been using Succeed capsules prophylactically for years.
I can't say that they definitely work as I'm too scared to run in the heat without them. Never done a proper trial. I know Chris Ellis isn't convinced by them but I think they work for me.
Well done Graeme.
It does sound as though you had a pretty tough run so well done on sticking it out. That will help you on the UTMB.
Like Tim I used succeed tablets and haven't suffered with cramp but it's hard to know if that is the reason!
Hope you can get it sorted.
Hi Graeme,
Great report.
You could tell by your shirt how much salt you had lost. My black cap was completely white at the end. I don't usually suffer from cramp, but my quads were twitching for the last 15 miles.
Well done.
Debs
Sorry to hear you lost so much time later, Graeme. But might help to know that was the first time this year I've gone past 25 miles myself, with the key factors for me being constant (year-round, day & night) trail/hill-running with numerous outings of 10–20 miles (which I don't regard as 'long' runs) and the sheer time on rough ground this gives me. So (judging purely from that) I'd put time on your feet above miles for something like this when true off-road running generally takes longer per mile.
Well done on completing Graeme. I think last year you also had a tough Fling but a good WHW. Have a think about how to deal with the sun though, it gets pretty hot in Chamonix!
Well done in finishing! That's the main thing (I reckon)
While reading your report I thought "lack of salt intake"; and Tim's comment mentions Succeed caps. So....... lack of salt (I reckon)
Murdo t M
Well done Grum on sticking it out - it was a hot (and windy - in Edinburgh) day so conditions would have been hard. I know you will repond positively to this - I can relate to the the need for more miles on hills (2 wheel assisted though!). Boris
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