My Devil O’ the Highlands – Greig Turner
My 4th Devil ‘o’ the Highland footrace. 42.37 miles of bonnie Scotland encapsulating approx 6000 ft of elevation gain and my favourite ultra of them all.
After a mis-timed camper van breakfast routine, Kev Craig and I completed a 1.7 mile run to the start line, arriving at Brodies in Tyndrum with minutes to spare. The weather was perfect, dry and with a cool gentle breeze at our backs, the atmosphere was electric. With a time target for the event of sub 8 hours in mind, the countdown begun and the starter’s horn sounded at exactly 6 am. Off we all set to take on the remainder of the West Highland Way northwards, with the sounds of the Rolling Stones song ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ blasting out the race speakers. At least someone has a sense of humour at that time in the morning. Apart from a trio of disgruntled highland cows giving us abuse from the sidelines I arrived in Bridge of Orchy Check Point 7 miles in with no issues. Here I was looked after by fellow club member Elaine Medinelli, volunteering for the day and it was great to see her cheery face.
Upon leaving Bridge of Orchy the terrain took a dramatic upwards trajectory for the first significant climb of the day as I stomped my way up the poetically named Jelly Baby Hill (with no jelly babies at the top). After summitting in decent condition I cautiously descended the ankle breaking decent into Inveroran and shared a brief chat and mile with former club member Alison Locke who was met by a chorus of excitement from a group of Wild Heart Runners at Victoria Bridge. Surprisingly I skipped along the mighty Rannoch Moor section with relative ease before coming into the Glencoe Ski Centre checkpoint at 17 miles and where I was greeted by a resounding crescendo of cow bells.
After a short stop filling my stomach with fresh pineapple and Coke I made my way downhill towards the Kingshouse Hotel contemplating what was soon to come, the mighty Devils Staircase. I was able to set a steady pace up the staircase, hands on thigh’s marching up this bumper of a climb having to dodge tourists as I went. As I stomped, I recalled previous years here being eaten alive by midges but thankfully not this year. At the top I was able to get my prized jelly baby from Pauline Walker, sister of the infamous WHW legend Fiona Rennie, then started the dizzying descent into Kinlochleven checkpoint, smashing my quads in the process. When I came into the Kinlochleven checkpoint I had to give my quads a bit of a talking to but otherwise I felt I had plenty left in the tank.
After a quick stretch to mitigate cramps I was through Kinlochleven and onto the biggest climb of the race, summiting onto the vast Laraig Mor. As I got to the top I checked my watch and was pleasantly reminded I was still on track for sub 8 finish. As reliable as the sun setting the inevitable wall hit me, at the large gate at the far side of the Laraig Mor at around 32 miles in. I was floored with waves of sudden noxiousness, dizziness and lethargy thus dramatically impacting my progress. Very familiar with this feeling from previous events, I remained determined, and battled through staggering up to the checkpoint at Lundavra at 36-ish miles in. As i tried to steer clear of the marshals who might question my ability to continue I quickly re-stock with water and electrolytes and headed up the next climb but approximately 1 mile after the checkpoint I was relieved of the contents of my stomach, throwing up gallons to immediately be rewarded with a second wind. I was engulfed with one thought- “Could I make up for the lost time?” I’d be giving it my all that was for certain. I then catapulted myself into a short gorge before climbing to the Fire Road at the top of Glen Nevis, I then threw myself down the 2 mile decent trying not to do myself an injury on the rocky trail. Onto the sting in the tail, Cow Hill. I started on it mumbling profanities not safe for work as I went, only for karma to strike putting me on my backside. After rising to my feet I then hurried myself about a further mile on the trail before I cleared the wooded area and into the finish line field. A short skip to the finish line, compered by John Cassidy from YHRF podcast, seen me finish in 8 hours 37 minutes, knackered but deeply happy. All that remained was a short stagger to the post event shower and buffet and a meet up with other fellow Greenock Glenpark Harriers for a post race picture. Devil o’ the Highlands, I’ll see you see you next year for round 5.
