Run > Race

The Loch Ness Marathon 2014.
Natalie Wood ran it too.

Started just north of Fort Augustus on high ground. All runners were bussed up to the start, leaving Inverness at 07:30, arriving at the start at about 08:30. Start was busy, there were large queues for the toilets and hot drinks that were provided. I had a pasta meal the night before and porridge and a banana prior to the start, along with a Lucozade sports drink. After going to the loo, we had about 40 minutes until the start. We got changed and put our bag on the baggage lorry a few minutes before the cut off at 09:45. We did some warm up jogs and stretches before heading to the start line further along the road; which left us about 5 minutes to line up prior to the start.

It was literally a race of two halves. The first half was fast and down hill to a large extent. I was feeling good and PB my half marathon time, crossing the half way point at about 1hour 33 minutes 38Secs. Just after halfway a runner collapsed with an epileptic fit, I stopped to help and was there for 10 minutes until the Red Cross Ambulance arrived. Three of us stopped. The first guy left after another stopped to help. We put the man into the recovery position and got the two army cadets manning the half way point to call 999. I took over the call from the cadets as there were a little unsure. The red cross ambulance came - not impressed with the first aider! We told him that it was an epileptic fit and that we have called 999. The first thing the guy said was 'why did you call 999' nothing about the casualty! I told him roughly how long ago the guy collapsed and that he was conscious a breathing; but was dizzy; before heading off.

I carried on running with the other guy that stayed to help for a little until he stopped for the loo. I was going well and pretty fast; I thought I might be able to make the 3:30 mark, that was until exactly 3 hours into the race when my right IT band spasmed. I had to stop to stretch it. After that I had a further nine spasms of my quad muscles; which prevented me from running forcing me to stop and stretch. I also had cramping in my right foot several times; for which I had to stop and take my shoe off to stretch it. I even had to stop several times in the last half mile to stretch my quads and ham-strings - including about 200m from the finish line! The hill between mile 18 and 20 were tough too; they were not huge, but after 22 miles felt massive!

Finally crossed the finish line in (628th / 2478) Inverness's Bught Park after 3 hours 49 minutes and 25 seconds, with very saw quads, a bloody right nipple and a bloody blister on my right foot.

Split Summary
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1) 1m - 6:37(6:37/m) 142cal
2) 1m - 6:51(6:51/m) 146cal
3) 1m - 6:42(6:42/m) 144cal
4) 1m - 6:44(6:44/m) 145cal
5) 1m - 6:57(6:57/m) 146cal
6) 1m - 7:24(7:24/m) 144cal
7) 1m - 7:02(7:02/m) 145cal
8) 1m - 7:25(7:25/m) 147cal
9) 1m - 6:56(6:56/m) 144cal
10) 1m - 7:16(7:16/m) 145cal
11) 1m - 7:31(7:31/m) 147cal
12) 1m - 7:33(7:33/m) 147cal
13) 1m - 8:02(8:02/m) 146cal
14) 1m - 17:27(17:27/m) 153cal
15) 1m - 7:36(7:36/m) 147cal
16) 1m - 7:50(7:50/m) 147cal
17) 1m - 8:30(8:30/m) 146cal
18) 1m - 9:19(9:19/m) 145cal
19) 1m - 9:34(9:34/m) 143cal
20) 1m - 11:33(11:33/m) 136cal
21) 1m - 8:20(8:20/m) 147cal
22) 1m - 11:14(11:14/m) 145cal
23) 1m - 10:16(10:16/m) 141cal
24) 1m - 9:43(9:43/m) 145cal
25) 1m - 10:17(10:17/m) 144cal
26) 1m - 10:59(10:59/m) 139cal
27) 0.36m - 3:49(10:29/m) 48cal