So in terms of magnificent views, organisation and running banter I am not sure you could beat the Loch Ness marathon. A great mornings run along the south side of Loch Ness.
The day kicked off at about 7.30am where all 3,500 runners met at Bught Park so they could get transported to the start line at the other end of Loch Ness – somewhere in between Fort Augustus and Foyers. The start was literally in the middle of the hills with only sheep there to cheer you on.
The first two miles were straight down hill which was probably my first mistake – I think I made the first mile marker in 5 minutes 40 seconds….ooops there goes the big marathon alert buzzer for stupidity. Anyway caught up in the fever I continued onwards at a slightly slower pace but enjoying the view and watching the miles burn away. I think my 10k time was about 38mins, 13 mile time of 84 mins and implosion time at 20 miles of 132mins. Things were going quite well up until then. Unlike the Edinburgh marathon in May when my entire body went into meltdown this time it was just the legs…but boy did they buckle. From there on in it was head down and a really tough last six miles to the finish. Final time of 3hrs 15mins. It literally took an hour for me to complete the last six miles. Pacing, Pacing, Pacing….must remember that for the next time!!!
Despite all that as a marathon course and event I thought it was excellent and after the largest bad boy burger one could buy and consume quickly it was back home to Edinburgh on the train…happy days.
The one extra prize of the day was receiving a free tin of Baxters soup in the goody bag at the end. The only thing that topped that off was seeing one of the other punters on the train drink his cold from the can on the way home….I think he got off in Kirkaldy!!
I would certainly recommend this race for next year if anyone is looking for a good marathon experience. No sign of any other Harriers so apologies if I have not made any particular mention. I think maybe Vicky was doing the 10k.
Cheers, Mark
Hi Mark,
Start slow and get slower, was a tip I got, alomg with 20 mile warm up and 6 mile race, sure it was Dave he passed on those words of wisdom to me, oh so easy to get caught up in the moment and suffer later, bitter personal experience!!
Beautiful part of the world but gosh Mark you did put yourself through it! Another great Marathon time that littles like me would die for, just not the experience you’d hoped for. The burger sounded good though 🙂
Well done great time.Its a fab marathon better than Edinburgh
I hope to it again next year.That hill at mile 19 is a killer
though!!!!!
Crikey, Mark, that’s a great time for quite a hilly Marathon and such rubbish pacing! What you need is a Kenyan pacer programmed to go at 6:25 and you would get under 3 hours easy! I am sure Mike or Rob or even myself would pace you at the Skyline for a beer or three.
Must’ve been that massive hill coming out of Dores at 20miles that did for you Mark, sure your werent the only one!
Well done Mark (or Snoddy, the only other Snoddy I remember was a character in “Dr Findlay’s Casebook”).
I like the strategy – start quick – suffer later.
Is that not how it is supposed to be done?