Science of Achievement AND the Art of Fulfilment

Been a long time since I last blogged............such a lot has happened in life and to be honest, I think I lost my way a little after losing my Dad in 2014.  My last post was actually almost 2 years to the day.

But lets leave it there in terms of explaining a prolonged blogging absence..........its in the past and that's where its staying.

The reason for restarting is I revisited one of my blogs from 2 years ago and received such lovely comments that I thought I should pick this up again.  It also helped remind me of where I had come from and in a rather timely fashion, gave me a retrospective insight into my mind post Hoka Highland Fling 2 years ago...........just a week before I attempted it again.

So.....journey starts in October, one Sunday evening with 2 laptops, a tablet and an iphone ready to go when entries open for the 2016 race.  Its rumored to be a record sellout year.........and having withdrawn in 2015 as I wasn't strong enough due to an illness late in 2014, I wasn't going to miss again.

Training commenced in November as I'd just been ticking over in September and October following 87 miles of Ring O Fire in early September.

I entered the Herbalife Level 10 Body Transformation Challenge to take me from November through to February with the aim of building lean muscle and strength to prepare me for Feb, March and April hard running.

90 Days - 11lbs muscle on, 2.5% body fat down

I gained 11lbs lean muscle and dropped 2.5% body fat in this time so was pretty pleased with progress and really looking forward to a 12 week 'run' in,

The first 4 weeks were steady mileage building and nothing really of note.

8 weeks out from race day and I'm starting the phase of arriving on race day in peak performance.  My goal is to take at least 2 hrs off my previous time of 14hrs 15mins.

Started on a Monday morning with a 7am Functional Training session.............during which in a shuttle run set, I tore my left calf muscle.


Hearing the 'pop' and feeling the snap I went down like a sack of spuds.  Oh shit, this isn't good.

I get home, elevate it and get ice on.  Start the self diagnosis (via Google) and then decide to ring my physio's at First Class Physiotherapy, Glasgow and get booked in.

Diagnosis confirmed.  Grade 2 tear.  6 to 8 weeks recovery time - with the race now less than 8 weeks away.

What followed was the normal dance you'd expect between a professional physio and a pushy, 'I'm indestructible' amateur runner.  One exercising caution, the other pushing the boundaries. Guess who was who!!

Acupuncture, ultrasound, tissue massage and a suite of exercises - plus I did actually do as I was told..........for 3 weeks.

Needles!!!!!

Coupled with this treatment I had also adjusted my nutrition and increased the amount of turmeric and amino acids as well as removing any residual toxins that would inhibit repair.

So all was going well, healing nicely and becoming weight bearing.  I get the all clear to commence light running again for Easter weekend.  Which was great as we were away in one of our all time favourite places in Scotland near the Torridan mountains.

On crutches for 8 days

I'll cut to the chase....I pushed too hard and went into the hills, knee deep in heather and high running burns and then along sand dunes and the inevitable.........the damage I had done had not yet repaired so I was close to being back to square 1!

Almost beside myself thinking I had blown all chance of getting to the start line, I was back in for my weekly physio and this time, I was rather more humble.  I accepted that I would not really be running before the actual race.  This was my best chance of being able to make the start line.

Only thing worse than a DNF is a DNS.  I have never DNS and never aim to either.

So I followed the advice from Joanne, Nicky and Rachel at First Class (yes, it took 3 physios to get me to the start line!) and did my exercises and resigned myself to no running prior to the actual race.  My new goal...........be able to make the start line!

The imbalance as the left calf still swollen just a week before.

I kept up my core strength and did some swimming and cycling, but really laid off the running.  Instead I worked my mind as hard as I could in an effort to replace the physical preparation with a stronger mental condition.

This was going to hurt - no doubt about it, so I needed a mechanism and tool set to get me through.

I was already booked to see Tony Robbins, the giant of a man with a gift for inspiring people to unleash their inner strength, at the beginning of  April and the timing couldn't be better.

If I actually tried to write about the 50hours spent in that seminar I would seriously go on for hours and hours and hours.

Unleash The Power Within - London 2016

Instead, the key takeaways I will share with you all were:

1. Pain and Suffering are different.  You cannot be in a suffering state if you can appreciate and be grateful for the things you do have.
2. You can change your state in a heartbeat - just recognise the monster and kill it quickly.
3. I walked on burning hot coals just 3 weeks before an ultra race in my bare feet and survived! WTF!!
4. The energy unleashed in that 50hours did not leave me exhausted.  So a 14hour ultra should be a doddle!

But the most important part for me was that you can achieve something you are aiming for and still be unfulfilled.  True happiness can only come once you have succeeded AND enjoyed the journey to achievement and where it leaves you.

So I came back, 3 weeks to go with a complete and utter different mindset.  I knew physically I was going to have a challenge but mentally I had not felt stronger.

Paradoxically I entered the 2016 Highland Fling in a less prepared physical condition (running prep) but a lot calmer, confident and a believe I could finish.  Something I had not had before.

The day before I went to The Carrick Spa and spent several hours relaxing.  Again, something completely new for me.  Floating in the heated outdoor infinity pool looking across Loch Lomond at the snow capped mountains was a surreal experience.

Part of my preparation was to put my fuel into 'drop bags' or in my case 'drop pots' for collection at stages en route.

I wrote a key message to myself on each one.  At 34 miles, the message read: 'Think about how far you have come, not just today but the last 4 years. Today is YOUR day!'

I look back, several days after the run and can recall many a moment where I was able to smile, enjoy what I was doing, the scenery and people around me and the experience I was getting.

'I'm on the Highway to Hell!'

Don't get me wrong, it was hard physically, but I chose not to suffer.  Instead, I caught the monster and quickly found something to smile about.

One moment in particular, just 5miles from the finish, was running down the 'rollercoaster' near Crianlarich with my headphones in and singing along to my playlist.  I arrived at the bottom belting out 'Highway to Hell' to a bemused Vicky, several other spectators and the A82 road crossing marshal.  Funny!

But there was one thing above all else that gave me a huge amount to smile about and be grateful for.  True, I had some fantastic friends out on the course, in fact I had run with many of them for many miles.

But to know that Georgia, my youngest Daughter (11) was going to run the last few miles in with me was exciting and had me energised for the finish like nothing else could.

She had given up the chance to have a sleepover at her friends and also not played in her teams football match so she could come and support me with Vicky and Lauren (13).

But her Sister also had plans.......and coordinated a surprise 'ambush' just half a mile from the finish line from Jacqueline, Paul, Reece and Kieran who jumped out on us.













An emotional moment and one I will treasure for many a year to come.

And that brings us to the red carpet.  A wonderous and joyful finish where no matter your time, you get a welcome like you were the first one home.  In fact, having acted as sweeper to the course last year, the last person home usually gets the loudest cheer.

Georgia and I crossed the line.  I had finished.  53 miles of the West Highland Way in 13hrs, 59mins and 30seconds.

To finish was enough, but to finish quicker than my previous time was just fantastic!

There are many people who made this possible and also who helped capture the memories.  At the risk of missing someone out, here are a few.  Please don't be offended if I don't mention you personally, rest assured, I know what you did and am grateful!

John Duncan (RD) and all the marshals and volunteers.
Monument Photos.
Joanne, Nikki and Rachel at First Class Physios
The PT team at Tollcross Leisure Centre
Our entire Herbalife team for their support and encouragement.
Alison McLaren for running with me for 33+ miles
Yvonne for the lift to the start line.
Paul Deveney
Vicky, Lauren and Georgia for being there on the day.
Jacqueline, Paul, Reece and Kieran.
And every person who clapped, cheered or wished us well in person or on social media.
Thank you all!


Here's some of the details for those that are interested in terms of my running kit and nutrition on the day.

Nutrition Plan and Body Stats

• Starting weight: 15st 1lb (taken 29th April)
• Body Fat: 13.4%

Total calories burned - 11534cals

• Finishing weight: 14st 13lb (taken 2nd May)
• Body Fat: 10.3%

I used a mix of liquid and solid fueling throughout the race due to the duration in order to get maximum calories without causing GI distress.

Carrying options for both Prolong and CR7 Drive gave me alternatives based on the conditions and how I was feeling.  As the temperature was quite warm, I swapped to CR7 later in the race and increased the solid food fuel.  

Using Prolong at the outset enabled me to carry less for the longest section before reaching the checkpoint where my drop bag was.

Race day breakfast:

• 4.00am: Herbalife24 Formula 1 Sport shake
• Multivitamin, B12 supplement, Thermocomplete, Roseguard, Fibre & Herb
• 4.30am: Porridge with 10g added protein

Milngavie to Balmaha - 20miles

• 2 x 500ml of Herbalife24 Prolong
• 1 x 9Bar Carob 

Balmaha to Rowardennan - 7miles (27 culmulative)

• 1 x 500ml Herbalife24 Prolong
• 1 x 500ml Herbalife24 CR7 Drive
• 1 x wholemeal sandwich thin
• 1 x Trek Bar (Morning Berry)

Rowardennan to Inversnaid - 7miles (34 culmulative)

• 2 x 500ml Herbalife24 CR7 Drive
• 1 x wholemeal sandwich thin
• 1 x 9Bar SuperSeeds
• 1/2 tin of baked beans (cold)

Inversnaid to Bein Glas - 7miles (41 cumulative)

• 2 x 500ml Herbalife24 CR7 Drive
• 1 x wholemeal sandwhich thin
• 1 x mini pork pie
• 1 x espresso shot

Bein Glas to Tyndrum - 12miles (53 cumulative)

• 2 x 500ml Herbalife24 CR7 Drive
• 1 x 500ml Herbalife24 Hydrate
• 1 x mini pork pie
• 1 x espresso shot
• 1 x 9Bar Carob

Post Run

• 1 x lentil soup
• 1 x Herbalife24 Rebuild Endurance
• 1 x Herbalife24 Rebuild Strength
• 1 x Herbalife Niteworks
• 2 x Herbalife24 Restore
• 2 x Herbalife Roseguard
• 1 litre Herbalife24 Hydrate

Running Kit

• Hoka Rapa Nui TR2s trainers
• Karrimor drymax socks
• Kalenji runderwear
• Nike CombatPro 3/4 leggings
• Saloman Ultra shorts
• RatRace compression top
• Nike DryFit H24 Tshirt
• Karrimor gloves
• Montane Litespeed jacket
• Nike RZR cap
• Innov8 RaceVest Ultra 8
• Bose waterproof earphones
• Iphone6 in a Survivor case