Glasgow to Edinburgh Race Report

11 Oct 2024 at 17:01 // under Running Personal

On Saturday morning, at 6am, I started running. That is pretty normal for me. What was different this time was that I was starting from the Riverside Museum in Glasgow and was about to run 57 miles to Edinburgh.

I had entered the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultramarathon organised by GB Ultras. This would be my second ultramarathon and the furthest yet. Last year, I had volunteered with the event so I had some idea what to expect. Unlike most ultramarathons, this one is incredibly flat as the majority of the course is on canal towpaths. At the time it seemed like a very daunting challenge, but as a reward for volunteering, you get a free entry to the following years even, which I decided to take up.

Race Run Through

Pre-Race Preparations

As we arrived at registration, the rain had just began.

I was very lucky that my Dad was not only willing to give me a lift through to Glasgow for 04:30 to register in plenty of time, but he was also going to support me the whole way by meeting me at all the checkpoints he was allowed to be at as well as a couple of other non-checkpoint locations along the route.

Every time I had looked at the forecast in the week running up to the event it had swapped between 'you might get lucky' and 'you are probably getting wet'. At this point it looked like it was 'probably going to get wet' and I accepted that. After collecting my number and race tracker, I got everything together then waited in the car for a bit. My plan was to do a short 5 to 10 minute warmup jog about 30 to 40 minutes before start time, just to get the body ready for what was coming but hopefully without losing too much energy.

During my warmup, I was very conscious that, as far as I could see, no one else was doing the same. I tried not to let it bother me too much but went back to the museum, hoping to get a photo at the start line. When I arrived though my dad pointed out that there was a significant queue for the toilets. Priorities first.

After the necessities were sorted, it wasn't long before we were being asked to line up in the start area. I was unsure of where I should really start. I knew I was not going to be one of the folk going out and trying to win it, nor did I want to get dragged along with those that set off too fast. Yet at the same time, I was aiming to go at a 'decent' pace and didn't want to be trapped at the back and start to panic. I think I did pick a nice spot about 5 rows of runners from the front. Then the nerves hit as we waited under the start banner. Nothing else to do now. Just wait and mentally get ready.

The First Steps: Along the Kelvin

Once the race started, my main thoughts were focused around "don't mess this up". That meant both "don't go too fast" and "don't get lost". I was very conscious that during my previous ultra experience, I set off too fast at about 5:10 mins/km and burnt up at about mile 20. This time I had set myself a 'speed limit' of 5:30 mins/km, at least for the first half.

As we meandered our way along the banks of the river Kelvin, I looked at my watch. 5:06. Whoops. I tried to slow down a bit (without just stopping) but realised we had already broken up into packs and there was a big gap between the pack I was in and the one behind. I decided it was better to stay with the group, the pace didn't feel too bad and it was probably more important to not get lost. Everything would be fine as long as I killed the pace a bit once we got onto the canal and there was no chance of getting lost.

Despite my worries about going a bit fast, I did enjoy running as a pack, along the river paths through the city. Other than looking at the route on the map, I didn't really know where we were going. I didn't know when the path would get tight and twisty nor when it would open up, but that just added to the fun and it was lovely, just running in the pack. Keeping an eye on the reflective tape to confirm we were still on the correct path.

Finding My Rhythm: Forth and Clyde Canal to CP2 Kirkintilloch

Once we had zigzagged our way up onto the Canal, the packs of runners seemed to spread out. The man I was running beside asked me what time I was aiming for. I admitted that with my lack of experience, I wasn't sure what I was capable of, but I had set off faster than intended. My plan was to set off aiming for 9 hours and hope to hold it and not slow down too much. Somewhere between 9 and 10 would be nice. He admitted that he was also aiming for about 9 hours and was a bit faster than plan, but it would be fine.

We followed the up the locks till the Stockingfield junction with the spur from Port Dundas in the centre of Glasgow, and got to run over the Stockingfield Bridge. To get over the bridge we switched back on ourselves and got a beautiful view of the runners ahead and behind us as we all snaked our way along the path and over the bridge. Each runner with their headtorch on peering into the dark. At one point, I think I spotted the lady I had spent over 10 miles running beside during my last ultra running ahead of me on one of the points the course switched back on itself. During the last ultra she had continued on at the same pace when I blew up. I was kind of glad that I had seen her ahead of me, at least I wasn't going to run too fast beside her again.

The next section was pretty uneventful. I continued to run in a group, but the pace had dropped down to about the 5:30 min/km I was looking for and we settled in. We flew through the first checkpoint (8km), we were past it before I even realised it was there. I hadn't intended to stop at that one anyway so was happy to continue on.

Not long after the checkpoint, the lady I had ran with during my previous ultra caught up with our group. I was a bit confused, though presume she must have stopped at the checkpoint. She was in good spirits and said hi to everyone as she passed. She recognised me from the previous event and we both wished each other well. At this point, the pace that the group was going was starting to feel slow, and it was very tempting to latch on and run with her again. NO. I was NOT making THAT mistake again. I forced myself to keep with the current group. Conserve my energy. There was a very long way to go.

My dad was waiting for me at Cadder Wharf, I had a quick chat while still running, explained everything was going fine and that the only thing I would need at the next checkpoint was help refilling the water bottles.

Back into the country and then we approached Checkpoint 2 at Kirkintilloch (18km).

The Middle Miles: CP2 Kirkintilloch to CP4 Falkirk

Between my dad and the checkpoint volunteers, both my bottles got refilled very quickly and stuffed back into their pouches. I grabbed a couple of jam sandwiches and a small handful of salted potatoes and headed back out. Unfortunately the folk I had been running with had not stopped at the checkpoint, and I found myself running with a different group of runners.

I had intended to hold the same pace as before, and just focus on consuming the extra food I had picked up. After I finished eating, I had an excess of salt on my hand from the potatoes and instinctively wiped them on my shorts. Unfortunately that was where my number was pinned and as a result, the number got ripped at one safety pin and at another the pin popped off and was lost. Luckily it was still holding on with the remaining two pins, but didn't look great and losing another pin was likely to lose the number completely. There wasn't much I could do about it, so I pressed on and thought I would ask dad to see if he could find a safety pin or two next time I saw him.

Despite my intentions, it turns out that I had actually been pushing it a bit hard. I had an average pace of 5:10 min/km since leaving the checkpoint. I tried to back off the pace, but at the same time, I could see the folk I had been running with earlier and ended up, unconsciously, pushing on to catch up with them.

Just as I was about to catch up with the person I had been running with earlier, he jumped off the path into a bush. I assume nature was calling. Slightly annoyed that my attempt to run alongside another runner was thwarted, I settled back into continuing along the canal path and it wasn't long until we got to checkpoint 3 (28km).

This was one of the checkpoints that Dad was not allowed to go to. As I approached, I did a quick check of my water bottles and decided that I had enough so just went straight on. At this point I found myself in a much more thinned out field. Most folk had stopped and whereas before there were lots of folk along the canal that I could see, now there was only a few.

At this point, not only had the landscape opened up but it was a long straight section of the canal that lets you see into the distance. This was a long slog.

I spotted one of the other runners doing some heel kicks and high knees. I had never thought of doing such drills once warmed up but, after thinking about it, I was starting to seize up and the range of motion of my legs was getting less and less. After a few similar exercises, my legs did feel like they had loosened off significantly. Not quite back to fresh legs, but certainly better and I was again moving nicely. I checked my pace and I was moving at my target 5:30 min/km, so settled in until the end of the straight.

At the next set of lock gates, my dad was waiting with a couple of his kayaking friends who lived nearby. I quickly mentioned that I had lost a safety pin and asked if he could find one for the next checkpoint. I then headed off along the canal.

On the whole, I still felt good. I was starting to feel confident. Perhaps I had been more sensible and that I won't crash and burn like my last ultra. I then remembered that I was only an third of the way through and that it was far too early to consider such thoughts.

As I was approaching the Falkirk Wheel and checkpoint 4 (41km) I was considering an important question. This in the one section of the course with a decent hill to climb. So... do I run up the hill or not? Usually, when completing an ultra, you would 'walk the hills', however considering that I had ran so much of this race, and I regularly run up this hill in training, it is tempting to run it now. At the bottom of the hill, I spotted one of the other RTC warriors doing the same marshal position that I was doing last year. She shouted her support to me and before I had thought about it any more, I found I had ran up the hill.

Dad took some more photos as I approached the checkpoint and again with his help and the help of the checkpoint volunteers, my water bottles were refilled. Dad pined by number back on properly (his friend at the lock gates was able to get a spare safety pin - thanks!) and grabbing myself some more jam sandwiches and salted potatoes I set off up the hill and into the Roughcastle tunnel.

Familiar Territory: CP4 Falkirk to CP6 Linlithgow

The section between Falkirk and Linlithgow is my home section and well known to me. After leaving the checkpoint I was a bit slow (over 6:00 min/km), but it was uphill and I was still eating. Once I was on the flat of the Union canal and I had finished my food, I wiped my hands (very carefully this time) then encouraged myself to pick up the pace and aim for the 5:30 min/km again.

Perhaps it is because I knew this section of the canal so well that I don't remember much of this section. I remember passing and getting passed occasionally, but there were no big groups or long sections where I was able to run with others.

I vaguely remember going through the long Falkirk tunnel (46km) and seeing a boat coming towards us in the dark. I remember seeing a friend on one of the bridges over the canal. I didn't recognise them, even when they shouted my name. It wasn't until I saw their WhatsApp message after the run that I found out who it was (sorry). But that sums up the level of thought I had at that point.

Checkpoint 5 (48km) was at the point where I join the canal for most of my runs. While I had a quick chat with Dad and rearranged some stuff from my pack, I didn't wait long nor refill my bottles, but continued on to Linlithgow.

This was the section where I realised that, when running alone, it was very easy to slip into a much slower paced jog. This slower pace wasn't doing me any favours though. Sure every minute it used slightly less energy than when I was running faster, but I covered much less distance and as a result it was much less efficient per meter covered. I tried to retain as much focus as possible and keep running efficiently.

After the Avon Aqueduct, I met a couple friends as they were walking their dog along the canal. I shouted a greeting to them, to which one responded:

I didn't know you were doing this. Well done.

I thanked them and continued on.

Just outside Linlithgow, I spotted my Mum walking the dog. It was nice to see her. She tried to take some photos and she shouted her support and I thanked her and continued on.

That was the theme for this section. Not thinking about too much. Just continuing on.

The Long Haul: CP6 Linlithgow to CP7 Ratho

At the Linlithgow checkpoint (59km), I was once again helped by Dad and the volunteers to reload my water bottles and grabbed my preferred food of choice. Before setting off again though I asked Dad to dig my headset out of my bag so I could listen to some music.

The music helped. What also helped was that soon after leaving Linlithgow, the man I had been running with back at the start of the Forth and Clyde canal caught up with me and I was able to run with him for a section. We caught up with a couple of others and while the first guy continued on at pace, I settled into a new group of the others we caught up with and were working well together.

Before the race, I was worried that the section between checkpoints 6 and 7 was a bit long (about a half marathon) and that I might need an extra top up mid way. I had asked Dad to meet me at Winchburgh to give me the option of an unofficial checkpoint. As we approached Winchburgh though I was feeling really good and we were working so well as a group, that I didn't want to ruin it so instead when I saw Dad, I said I was fine, thanks, but will continue on.

Of course round the next corner the wheels came off. The man who had been in the lead of our group seemed to slow down, and the lady pushed on. I tried to stay with her, but as we left Winchburgh there was nothing I could do as she pulled ahead into the distance. She went on to finish 10 minutes ahead of me.

I was once again on my own.

At this point I realised that I may have made a mistake on my fuelling. I had ran out of my gels and only had the flapjacks left. By this point I was fed up with dealing with the flapjacks. They were dry and required a significant amount of chewing before swallowing. While I was chewing I was not breathing easily and this just required more effort. However I needed to eat so I forced myself to have one anyway.

The section of the canal between Broxburn and Ratho seemed to keep meandering and going on forever. On a few occasions I was cursing the canal builders for not building it straighter 200 years ago!

I did pass the odd other person who had blown up, either they were walking or jogging very slowly. There was one runner who was doing a good impression of running like a zombie, except arms were hanging at their side rather than out in front.

At some point I caught up and passed the man who I had started on the Forth and Clyde canal with and who had powered on between Linlithgow and Winchburgh. At this point he was walking and said that he had been struggling to keep fluids down.

There was another lady that I caught up with as she was walking. With a bit of encouragement, she ran beside me for a section, which was very nice. I keep saying it but it was so much easier to run and run at a decent pace, when running beside someone else. But not before long, she sped up (or I slowed down - difficult to tell) and I was on my own again.

I was very thankful when I made it into Ratho village and spotted Dad on the bridge. I was a bit surprised (and annoyed) at how far off the canal path the last checkpoint (81km) was but at the same time I was glad for the chance to re-fuel. Bottles refilled. A couple of gels grabbed from the spare bag as well as my usual potatoes and sandwiches and I headed back to the canal for the final slog.

Just before I set off though Dad mentioned that I was doing 'bloody well'. It is odd that when you are in the middle of the race, you don't see the big picture of where everyone else is, you just see the few people around you. This comment definitely helped fortify my will to push on, at the best pace I could, all the way to the end.

The Final Push: CP7 Ratho to the Finish

Up until this point I had ran the whole way outside of the checkpoints. However this time I decided to leave the checkpoint at a walk and focus on eating the handful of food properly before resuming the run about 200m outside the checkpoint.

Just as I was leaving the village, I caught up with the lady I had seen earlier who was walking then after a bit of encouragement had ran with me before leaving me behind. This time she was walking with a friend and looked properly done. She thanked me for helping earlier but was certainly not about to try running with me this time.

The section between Ratho and Edinburgh seemed deceptively long, with very little in the way of landmarks that I noticed. But Dad's comment helped keep me going through the monotony.

Just outside the Edinburgh city boundary, the man who was part of our group between Linlithgow and Winchburgh caught up with me again. I used this as an opportunity to push on and run with him for a while. We crossed the bypass together, him sitting on my shoulder, and then through Wester Hailes together. This was a much higher pace than I had been running recently, possibly too fast, but it felt like the end was near (we were in Edinburgh after all) and I was keen to make the most of running with the other person.

But the section of the canal is deceptively long. After running with this other man for 4km, he pulled ahead of me. Perhaps I could have pushed a bit harder to stay with him, but I was pretty spent and had no idea how many 'one more corner' sections I had.

As soon as I was on my own, I slowed down again. It was a relief to reach the final aqueduct and then walk down the steps towards the Water of Leith. This was the only non-checkpoint location that I walked. I decided that after 90km, it would be REALLY STUPID to try and run down them, only to trip and seriously injure myself.

The last bit down the paths beside the Water of Leith seemed again to go on forever. It was only just over 2km. But boy was it a slog of a 2km. My pace had dropped to over 6:30 min/km by this point (although that does include walking the stairs, and having to wait at the traffic lights to cross Gorgie Road) and I was very glad once I eventually reached the point I could see the athletics track. I managed to find some energy to pick up the pace for the last half kilometre and enjoy myself as I rounded the track and then crossed the finish line.

Concluding Thoughts

Looking back, I have a lot of things to be grateful for.

The weather was perfect for the event. Overcast most of the day, not too hot, nor too cold. What wind there was was coming from the south.

My fuelling on the whole worked very well. There was the odd occasion when my stomach took a bit of a turn, nothing major, but enough for me to pause trying to add any more at that time. I think I was running on the edge of eating the maximum I was capable of all day.

Looking at the Strava Flybys, I can see that I did really well with the checkpoints. There were many runners who were faster than me on the course, but I was in and out of the checkpoints quicker. In some cases this meant I finished ahead of them.

The volunteers and supporters along the route were amazing at helping keep you going as well as those who I got to run alongside, even if it was for a short period. I think it would be impossible for me to try and run anything like that outside an event like this.

And finally I really need to thank my Dad for his help and support all day. It really made a huge difference seeing him regularly and helping at each of the checkpoints.

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