I love my running friends. They know just what to say to get me interested in a race. I can come up with a million reasons why I shouldn’t run a race but once they’ve sparked that idea they know I won’t say no. So this time last year, I signed up for Tiree Ultramarathon despite having only ever run two half marathons, badly. I had a year to get fit. All would be fine. What could go wrong running 35 miles around a Scottish island?
Well I didn’t get fit. I got injured. Then I hated running. The closer the race got the more it loomed heavy on my horizon. The weekend before Tiree I had an awful 10k race. The worst race I’ve ever had. I also had a stressful week, was sleeping badly and not really eating. When I got into Jo’s car for the long drive to Scotland I felt sick. What on earth was I doing? Was I going to make a fool of myself? It was too late to back out so I decided to make the most of it. Jo was unwaveringly positive on my behalf though. “Once you start running all will be well. You’ll feel great”. I wasn’t convinced but heck Scotland here we come.
We stayed in a B&B in Oban on
the Friday night but didn’t sleep that well as we were anxious about getting
the 7am ferry – the only ferry. On the
boat we met up with more friends – a mix of experienced ultra-runners and
ultra-virgins like me. We chatted, we
laughed, it was beginning to feel more like a holiday than a race. The 4 hour ferry journey was stunning and we
were all in high spirits.
Once we arrived the rest of the
day was spent catching up with old friends and making new ones. Everyone was so friendly. I was having so much fun I’d almost forgotten
I was here to race. I haven’t laughed so
much in ages.
On Sunday morning the nerves
returned. Arriving at the start I was
fidgety. I looked the part with my
ultra-vest and gaiters but I felt a bit of a fraud. I stuffed another brioche roll into my mouth
to try to calm the nervous swirl in my stomach.
I was quiet as we walked down onto the beach to the start. It was so atmospheric with a piper, happy
chatter and the beautiful Tiree scenery.
During the ferry journey Vicky and I had decided we were going to run
together. I was glad of the company
especially as she is so cheerful and bubbly. Running up the beach with a small
band of runners on this remote island was one of the most amazing things I have
ever done. It felt so surreal, like a
dream.
The first 8 miles of the race are
the most remote. Rugged beaches, squishy
bogs and the only real hill of the island slowed our pace which was a good
thing as we’d set off far too quickly.
We were on a total high, taking plenty of photos and giggling at
everything. All the nerves had
disappeared I was having the time of my life.
Jo had been right of course.
The weather was changeable. We had everything from bitter, squalling rain
storms to gorgeous sunshine and heat. I
had my windproof jacket (borrowed – thank you Chris) on and off about a million
times. Let there be no doubt 35 miles is
a long way and it was tough but the beautiful scenery and great company kept me
going. The final check point was a wonderful
sight, laden with food. I’d already
stuffed my face from the picnic stashed in my vest but I still managed two
cheese scones and an egg sandwich. I
almost choked on one of the scones and joked that surely I would be the only
DNF caused by a cheese scone related incident.
We had a little celebration when we reached 26.3 miles as this was now
officially my longest ever run.
The final 9 miles were the toughest
– so many bogs and beaches including one which was 4k long. Our feet were wet and blistered and our legs
were tired but we were going to do it and well inside the 10 hour cut off too. As we reached the last beach we could see the
finish up on the cliff and started to run with a final burst of energy. Vicky and I tried to chase down the “man in red”
who we had been leap frogging all race but he just had the edge. It was perfect to run down the finishing
funnel together being cheered on by friends.
We waited to watch Tracey, Julie and Steve finish and then after a brew
and some pizza we headed for the beach to wade into the sea for an ice bath.
I had completed my first ultra of
35 miles in 9 hours and 24 minutes. In the end though it was about much more
than the race. This whole weekend was
about friendship, adventure and proving to myself I can do so much more than I
ever believed.
I couldn’t have wished to
have run with a better bunch of people.
Vicky, Jo, Frank, Jilly, Dwayne, Julie, Steve, Brenda, Jen, Alexa,
Vikki, Tracey (& family) and all of the other runners made this one of the
best experiences of my life. Will has
created a very special race and the people of Tiree welcomed us all so
warmly. This one weekend entirely
changed my outlook on myself and my running.
Instead of criticising myself and focusing on what I can’t do. I realised just how far I have come in two
years. I couldn’t have loved it
more. I will be doing many more ultras
I’m sure including a return to Tiree I hope.
I sat down to write a blog about a race but it ended up being just as
much about people.
The best people you
could ever meet. Runners.
Fi x @Fi_Wright
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