The West Highland Way Race
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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 12) |
| Author | Comment |
Fiona Rennie
 Apr 15, 08 - 8:18 AM |
A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
This will be my fifth WHW so I thought I would pass what I know, I’ve had a PB every year I’ve ran and I have no intention of breaking that tradition this year. It has been said that we are all an experiment of one so just take from this what may help you. But when I was born I brought with me my own crash test dummy. (Sorry... Pauline, I mean my identical twin sister!). When I was a race virgin in 2003 Pauline had already ran the WHW four times so I was slightly better placed than most virgins as what worked for her would work for me. Between us we have ran nine WHW’s with the other supporting and this will be the first year we’ll both be running, but not together, Miss Speedy-pants can dad on, I run no ones pace but my own! The nutritional stuff I prefer real food, it is something to look forward to at checkpoints, at Balmaha I have my first boost, rice pudding with honey and banana and my first mug of coffee in a month (I cut out caffeine pre-race) and my feet don’t touch the ground until Rowerdennan! I nibble on Nutri-grain bars, rice krispie squares, Mars bars, Kendal mint cake and ginger jam sandwiches through out. One of the best things for gut problems is crystallised ginger which I also munch through out. I have Scotch broth at Tyndrum, hot chocolate and rice pudding at Bridge of Orchy, pasta at Kingshouse, a mug of oxo and a ham roll at Kinlochleven. I drink flat diluted ginger beer the whole way and some boggin’ flat coke usually on Lairig Mor (Yeech! another caffeine boost and it’s also supposed to be good for dodgy guts.) Last year I worked it out well and had no gut problems at all. The practical stuff My support will have several lists to work from, one for what food and drink I’ll want at each checkpoint plus what to put into either my backpack or bumbag which will be refuelled and ready to swap over with the slick precision of a 4 X 100 metre relay team’s baton with no slowing down also alternating between bumbag and backpack cuts down the risk of strap rubs and a change is as good as a rest when weight bearing. Another list is for checkpoint ETA’s plus my support will log time in and out keeping stops to a minimum, the only time I’ll sit down is to change socks and shoes, I walk with my food, I may not be moving very fast but with every step Fort William gets closer and if you don’t sit down you don’t have to try and stand up with wooden legs! Far too hard! All my clothes and shoes will be bagged and labelled in the order I may want them although so far I have finished wearing what I started in (what a minger!) I’ve just added or removed layers. Mind you, I don’t break sweat until Lundavra! I keep a very easy pace in the early stages, nice and steady after Loch Lomond and the roller coaster, a bit of effort to Kingshouse, working to Kinlochleven, and from Lundavra I’ve instructed my support to keep out of my way and keep up! The motivational stuff Life will undoubtedly give us all at some point a tough challenge which maybe a lot harder to deal with than this. So it is a privilege to run the WHW, the luxury of facing a challenge of our own choosing. Don’t get too bogged down or blinded by the science or too reliant on electronic gadgets, magic pills and potions. The most important thing to carry en route is self belief and determination. Keep it simple, it’s running not rocket science. Listen to your body; you should know it like... well, the back of your hand! Just keep upright, put one foot in front of the other and don’t stop until you’re in the Leisure Centre, there will be a bit of pain and exhaustion but these are short lived and nothing compared to the sense of achievement which will stay with you forever. Let’s embrace this life enhancing adventure and enjoy. Fiona |
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Phil Robertson
Apr 15th, 2008 - 10:59 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Awesome post, Fiona. Thanks a lot! |
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Dave Waterman
Apr 15th, 2008 - 12:41 PM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
If that ain't the best piece of race advice I've read in three years then I'm a monkey's uncle. 
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Bob Allison
Apr 16th, 2008 - 1:58 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
...excellent Fiona.. ...and may I also add these magic words of advice you gave to me a number of years ago.... "fear not that of moving forward but that of standing still" ...and take with you a large quantity of sense of humour. I'll have the Thorntons waiting for you. Cheers, BOb |
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George Reid
Apr 16th, 2008 - 3:06 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Thanks Fiona You have touched this Virgin. |
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Jen J
Apr 16th, 2008 - 4:09 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Brilliant post, thank you. I'll be prinitng this off and handing it to my support crews for sure. |
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John King
Apr 16th, 2008 - 5:13 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Now that is agreat common sense post that makes great reading Well Done Fiona
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Pauline Walker
Apr 16th, 2008 - 5:50 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Crash test dummy eh! Glad to be of assistance Big Sis! All good advice though. Pauline x |
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Fiona Rennie
Apr 16th, 2008 - 6:03 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Thanks, wee sis! Just let every one know I'm the oldest and the fattest! It's just 10 minutes and half a stone! |
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Debs
Apr 17th, 2008 - 2:11 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Great read. Thanks, Fiona. Running 96 miles seems do-able. But giving up coffee for a month? That's plain crazy. |
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Jon Cornall
Apr 17th, 2008 - 5:12 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Debs You're just showing off now!! Doing a mile more than everyone else, or do you know something we don't? Jon C |
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Fiona Rennie
Apr 18th, 2008 - 3:03 AM |
Re: A few words for race virgins from a race trollop
Debs, Yeah, it is crazy, I don’t know if it really works or just psychological but it’s worth it. Just think how easy Conic Hill will be when you know what’s waiting for you on the other side. I don’t give up the other black stuff though. On the weekend before the WHW Pauline and I are heading up to the Isle of Skye for a gentle stroll round the Half Marathon. For us it’s always been more of a social event than a race so if any one else is going up we’ll see you in the Tongadale for some pre-race carbo loading. Fiona |
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