Race / Event Report for Ultra-X Scotland:
The event has two distance options, 2 day stage event totalling 110km or the 1 day 50km. Day 1 the athletes run from Inverness to Fort Augustus (North to South) along the Western side of Loch Ness. The athletes then camp / sleep in Fort Augustus for the evening on the banks of Loch Ness in Fort Augustus. I only took part in day 2 which is 50km with >1300m vert. With my A-event for the year coming up next month, I decided the 50km would be a good training run to test gear, nutrition etc. For Day 2, we started at 08:00 where the overnight campsite was. We would then make our way back North to Inverness and finish at Dores Beach, along the Eastern side of Loch Ness.
While putting my gear on I heard the â30 secondsâ to start call from the announcer, so I skedaddled to the back of the starting grid. In an attempt to compose myself and not get flustered, I purposely crossed the start line last. But alas thatâs where the game plan and maturity (boys will be boys) ended.
I started to steadily make my way through the back of the pack but with the first 2.5km @avg 8.2% gradient, my Zone2 plan went straight out the window. Luckily we were gifted with a brief downhill into CP1. Noticing the queues at the tables and me having enough of my own nutrition I decided to take the opportunity and jump a few places by pushing on. There was a haze hanging around for the whole weekend, strangely enough for the Highlands, it wasnât the usual Haar or Driech, but rather humidity which topped out at over 90% at some areas.
Climbing out of CP1 was a 4km @avg 6% hill, which took us straight into the haze. One would be forgiven for thinking you were in the middle of a blizzard minus the snow. Visibility was more than a 5-10m. Needless to say the term âsweating ballsâ was an understatement. I quickly went through my tailwind hydration (Flasks in front of vest, as I carried 2 x 500ml more in the backpack) and started to stress about fluid intake but put it to the back of me mind very quickly.
Due to a bridge crossing being washed away, we had to be diverted along a 4km tarmac section, meaning CP2 which was as we got off the tarmac, couldnât come quick enough. This was my longest time spend at a CP on the day, spending 8min. At this point I noticed my ADV Skin 12 tore on the rear flank pocket leaving me poles hanging and all my nutrition that was in that pocket having fallen out along the way. While filling the front flasks with me tailwind I noticed that the mouth piece of one of the flasks had fallen off too. Luckily I had the 2 buddy bottles, which I filled one with water as the second was still full with tailwind. After making a plan for me poles and grabbing some oranges & bananas I was off again.
Although the terrain for the next few kmâs was a slight decline @ -1%, with the culmination of humidity & stupidity, I was already feeling the effects and we werenât even at the 20km mark yet! When we climbed to the top of Foyers falls, I expected CP3 to be there but alas only public toilets which had queues so I pushed on but it wasnât until a few km down the track that I realized I only has Âœ a flask of tailwind and zero water left. This was an interesting time for mind games to say the least. When CP3 did come, it felt like a godsend. Refilled everything with water and grabbed whatever nutrition I could to sustain me for the second half of the event. After climbing the 1.7km @8.2% hill out of CP3 we were treated to a lovely 2.8km switchback single track descending @ -4.2%. Luckily the humidity had lifted by this time to reveal spectacular views of Loch Ness and the forests on the Western side of her. Even though living here for almost 3 years now, the views of Loch Ness never get boring.
With two climbs remaining, both being over 6km long, the back end of the day was truly vasbyt. The worst part being the final 830m over grass fields, with the noise from the crowd and finish line awaiting one. I have never had to walk so close to the finish line before.
All in all, a lot of lessons learned, some extra food for thought for the A event in 4 weeks time, Iâm happy with the Sub7 result and might incorporate this annually going forward as a training event for the rest of the seasons.
One thing that has become apparent is that Iâm getting to the age where recovery takes noticeably longer than it used too.
The event organizers were great, CP staff were amazing. They has a massage table at CP3 & 4 but i never used them. Each CP werenât overly complicated by supplying only bananas, chips, oranges, smartie eggs and water. CP4 had some new high sugar chews.
